Image: Finesse without fussiness.
Last Updated: July 2026
Overview:
Marcus Samuelson gained fame as the chef at New York’s Aquavit cooking in the niche tradition of Swedish cuisine. He shifted to soul food opening Red Rooster in Harlem. That combination of fine dining and casual, European, American, and African roots create the elements of Marcus DC. The thing, however, that makes Marcus DC stand out is that Marcus is not that prominent. Samuelson brought on board two chefs with local ties to build out the menu and run the kitchen. The restraint of ego (other than his name on the sign) pays off and creates something distinct for D.C., avoiding the trap many out-of-towners make when planting a flag here.
The food is global in sources of inspiration, but filtered through an American lens, especially the mid-Atlantic region where Chef Anthony Jones grew up. More than one dish has DMV references, including the biggest hit of crab over rice.
The crudo was fresh with ingredients – including the fish – able to stand out separately. The baked sweet potato combined the best of mashed with crispy, and a little roe on top. Like the crudo, the black bass popped with spring flavor. Dorothy’s collard greens with miso create a trend that any dish with a proper name in it can’t miss. This includes the heaping dish of rice and crab named for Mel, who ran a shack in Maryland that young Jones would feast from. One twist is that the crab rice dish chock full of ingredients is the one that deviates from the style of defined, popping flavors. It is a melding of texture, brine, heat that is at once bright and decadent.
Desserts deserve a separate shout-out. Pastry chef Rachel Sherriffe was the second major local hire. The showstopper is the praline cake that is served on a big cart with assorted accoutrements. We had a strawberry Breton cake with a tart sauce matching the sweet breaded roll.
The wine list is solid but not that sizable. Cocktails pick up on some of the same themes and spices of the menu.
The space is a big, spacious room full of light and festive colors. Over the years, we have been a bit skeptical of famous, out-of-town chef coming to deign D.C. with their presence. All too often they mail it in thinking Washington is not sophisticated enough for anything other than another steakhouse or a cookie-cutter version of some generic concept. Marcus DC shows the other option, and it shows how well it can work.
Other Guidance: In the modern Morrow hotel building. Ramp or stairs into the main dining room. Many will be dressed up, for date night or a special gathering. Vegetarians and GF can do well.
Summary:
Cuisine: New or Old American
Neighborhood: NoMa
Address: 222 M St NE, Washington, DC 20002
Website: https://marcusdc.com/
Reservations: Opentable on Website
Other Critics/Voices:
Washington Post: Tom liked it.
Washingtonian: #23 on the 2026 Top 100.
Rick Eats DC: Who had a very similar meal to us. And it made his Top 25(ish) list.