Restaurant in Washington DC, United States · Inside The Ritz-Carlton, Washington, D.C.
The Saga
400Pearl PointsOAD-ranked Spanish-Latin worth the splurge.
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About The Saga
The Saga is one of Washington D.C.'s most credentialled Spanish-Latin restaurants, ranked #46 on OAD Top Restaurants in North America (2025) and holding a Michelin Plate. Chef Enrique Limardo's ingredient-driven menu — arroz, reimagined tapas, and sharing mains — justifies the $$$$ price point. Book well in advance; this one is hard to get into.
Is The Saga worth booking for a special occasion in Washington, D.C.?
Yes — if Spanish-Latin cooking at the top tier of D.C.'s dining scene matches what you're celebrating. The Saga holds an OAD Leading Restaurants in North America ranking of #46 for 2025 (up from #77 in 2024 and #32 in 2023, suggesting a kitchen that's still climbing), a Michelin Plate, and a 4.5 on Google across nearly 300 reviews. For a $$$$ night out anchored in bold, ingredient-driven cooking, this is one of the clearest yeses on the D.C. map.
The Room and the Food
Walk into The Saga and the first thing you register is restraint: cream walls, pale wood, glass, and almost no visual noise. The minimalist interior, positioned just beside The Ritz-Carlton on 22nd St NW, signals that the kitchen is the point — not the décor. That calculation pays off. The menu, built by Enrique Limardo (the force behind Imperfecto), takes Spanish classics as its foundation and pulls in Latin American technique and flavour at every turn. It is a combination that sounds familiar on paper but reads with genuine conviction on the plate.
The ingredient choices here are not incidental. Dishes like the arroz morada , pink-hued rice built around a salt-baked beet purée, roasted vegetables, fava beans, and a pine nut vinaigrette , show a kitchen that sources and prepares with specificity. The beet is not a garnish; it is the structural decision that makes the dish. The pan con tomate and patatas bravas, both reimagined from their Catalan and Spanish originals, demonstrate similar care: these are not lifted wholesale from a tapas template. The lamb shoulder, sized for sharing, anchors the meat-forward main section for tables that want something substantial to centre the meal.
The arroz section is worth particular attention. Devoting an entire menu category to rice is a commitment , it signals a kitchen focused on technique over crowd-pleasing breadth, and the arroz morada alone justifies that decision. For the right diner, this is exactly the kind of ingredient-led editorial cooking that warrants a $$$$ price point. For someone who wants a wider survey of Spanish classics without the reinterpretation, [Del Mar](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/del-mar-washington-dc-restaurant) or [Xiquet by Danny Lledo](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/xiquet-by-danny-lledo-washington-dc-restaurant) may be a more comfortable fit.
Why the OAD Trajectory Matters
Saga has moved from #32 to #77 to #46 across three consecutive OAD North America rankings , an uneven climb that nonetheless confirms it belongs in the top tier of the continent's Spanish and contemporary dining rooms. For a special occasion where the credential matters as much as the food itself (a business dinner, an anniversary, a milestone birthday), that ranking provides cover. You are not taking a risk; you are booking a kitchen that reviewers with serious track records have consistently placed at a high level. Comparable benchmark restaurants nationally include [Le Bernardin in New York City](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/le-bernardin), [Alinea in Chicago](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/alinea), and [The French Laundry in Napa](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/the-french-laundry) , The Saga occupies a similar tier of intent and execution in its own category, if a different register entirely. Internationally, [ZURRIOLA in Tokyo](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/zurriola-tokyo-restaurant) and [Arco by Paco Pérez in Gdańsk](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/arco-by-paco-prez-gdask-restaurant) represent the kind of serious Spanish cooking this kitchen is in conversation with.
How It Compares in D.C.
Against the rest of D.C.'s $$$$ tier, The Saga sits in a distinct lane. [Albi](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/albi) and [Causa](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/causa-washington-dc-restaurant) both operate in the same price band and are comparably hard to book; Albi is the stronger choice if you want Middle Eastern flavour profiles, Causa if Peruvian-Japanese technique is the draw. [Bresca](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/bresca) and [Gravitas](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/gravitas) lean further into New American and contemporary French registers. [Oyster Oyster](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/oyster-oyster-washington-dc-restaurant) is worth noting for plant-forward diners at a lower price point. The Saga is the right call specifically when Spanish-Latin cooking with genuine ingredient focus is the goal , it does not try to be everything, which is part of what makes it work.
Know Before You Go
- Cuisine: Spanish with Latin American influence; tapas, small plates, arroz, and meat-forward mains
- Price: $$$$ , budget for a full meal with drinks at the higher end of D.C.'s fine dining range
- Address: 1190 22nd St NW, Washington, DC 20037 (adjacent to The Ritz-Carlton)
- Booking difficulty: Hard , reserve well in advance, especially for weekends and special occasions
- Format: Tapas and small plates for sharing plus larger main dishes; the arroz section is a highlight
- Occasion fit: Anniversaries, milestone dinners, business meals , the room and credentials support the occasion
- Awards: OAD Leading Restaurants North America #46 (2025); Michelin Plate (2024); Google 4.5/5 (298 reviews)
- Chef/Concept: Enrique Limardo (also of Imperfecto)
Alternatives Worth Knowing
If The Saga is fully booked or the Spanish-Latin format is not the right match, [Xiquet by Danny Lledo](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/xiquet-by-danny-lledo-washington-dc-restaurant) is the most direct D.C. alternative for serious Spanish cooking. For broader D.C. options across all price points and cuisines, see our full guides: [Washington, D.C. restaurants](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/washington-dc), [Washington, D.C. bars](https://www.joinpearl.co/bars/washington-dc), [Washington, D.C. hotels](https://www.joinpearl.co/hotels/washington-dc), [Washington, D.C. wineries](https://www.joinpearl.co/wineries/washington-dc), and [Washington, D.C. experiences](https://www.joinpearl.co/experiences/washington-dc). For travellers comparing Spanish cooking across other cities, [Lazy Bear in San Francisco](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/lazy-bear), [Emeril's in New Orleans](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/emerils-new-orleans-restaurant), and [Single Thread Farm in Healdsburg](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/single-thread) illustrate the range of ambition operating at this level nationally.
FAQs
What should a first-timer know about The Saga?
Come prepared to share. The format is tapas and small plates alongside larger mains, so the table is the unit , not the individual plate. Order across sections: the reimagined tapas (pan con tomate, patatas bravas), at least one arroz dish, and a main to share. The room is quiet and spare, which suits conversation. At $$$$ in D.C., you should expect to spend accordingly on drinks as well as food.
Can The Saga accommodate groups?
The sharing format is well-suited to groups of four to six; the small plates structure means the table builds naturally around multiple dishes. For larger groups or private dining, contact the restaurant directly , no booking details are confirmed in Pearl's database, so call or check availability online when you reserve.
Does The Saga handle dietary restrictions?
The menu includes vegetable-forward dishes (the arroz morada with beet purée, fava beans, and roasted vegetables is one example), but the kitchen skews meat-forward overall and the concept is not built around dietary alternatives. If restrictions are significant, contact the restaurant before booking , Pearl does not have confirmed dietary policy details on file.
Is The Saga good for a special occasion?
Yes, clearly. OAD Top 50 in North America, a Michelin Plate, and a minimalist room next to The Ritz-Carlton all position this as a credentialled, occasion-appropriate dinner. It is a better fit than most D.C. $$$$ options if you want something that reads as serious without being stiff. For a louder, more atmospheric celebration, [Albi](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/albi) may suit better; for a quieter, more intimate setting, The Saga is the stronger choice.
What are alternatives to The Saga in Washington, D.C.?
For Spanish cooking specifically, [Xiquet by Danny Lledo](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/xiquet-by-danny-lledo-washington-dc-restaurant) and [Del Mar](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/del-mar-washington-dc-restaurant) are the closest comparisons. For $$$$ dining in other cuisines: [Bresca](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/bresca) for modern French, [Causa](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/causa-washington-dc-restaurant) for Peruvian-Japanese, and [Albi](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/albi) for Middle Eastern. If budget flexibility matters, [Oyster Oyster](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/oyster-oyster-washington-dc-restaurant) at $$$ delivers serious cooking at a lower price point.
Is the tasting menu worth it at The Saga?
Pearl does not have confirmed tasting menu details on file for The Saga. What the awards record and menu structure do confirm is that the kitchen operates at a level where a structured, multi-course format would be consistent with the concept. If a tasting menu is available when you book, the OAD #46 ranking gives reasonable grounds to trust the kitchen's editorial choices across courses. Verify directly when reserving.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should a first-timer know about The Saga?
Go in with a plan: the menu rewards navigation. Tapas and small plates anchor the early meal, the arroz section is a genuine highlight, and mains are sized for sharing rather than solo plates. The room at 1190 22nd St NW is deliberately understated — cream, pale wood, glass — so the food carries the show. At $$$$, expect to order several courses to get the full picture, and note that The Saga has held OAD Top Restaurants in North America placement across three consecutive years, which is the clearest external benchmark for what you're paying for.
Can The Saga accommodate groups?
The sharing-format menu makes The Saga a reasonable choice for small groups of 4 to 6, since mains and large plates are explicitly sized for the table. For larger parties, check the venue's official channels — no private dining details are confirmed in current records. Parties looking for a guaranteed private-room option may want to call ahead before committing, given the $$$$ spend per head.
Does The Saga handle dietary restrictions?
The menu skews meat-forward on main courses, but the arroz and vegetable sections offer real options — the arroz morada, for instance, is built around beet purée, roasted vegetables, fava beans, and pine nut vinaigrette. No specific allergy or dietary accommodation policy is documented publicly, so flag any restrictions when booking rather than assuming the kitchen will surface options unprompted.
Is The Saga good for a special occasion?
Yes, with the right expectations. The Saga holds a Michelin Plate and an OAD #46 North America ranking for 2025, which puts it at the credentialed end of D.C.'s $$$$ tier. The minimalist room is stylish without being loud, which works for dinners where conversation matters. If you want theatrical tableside production or a set tasting-menu format, this is not that restaurant — the Spanish-Latin sharing format is the occasion itself.
What are alternatives to The Saga in Washington, D.C.?
Xiquet by Danny Lledo is the closest direct comparison for Spanish cooking in D.C. and worth checking if The Saga is fully booked. For a different angle on ambitious, ingredient-driven cooking at the $$$$ tier, Bresca and Gravitas are both credentialed alternatives. Albi and Causa occupy the same upper range but with Middle Eastern and Peruvian focuses respectively, so they serve a different brief rather than a substitute one.
Is the tasting menu worth it at The Saga?
No tasting menu format is confirmed in current records for The Saga — the documented structure is à la carte small plates, arroz courses, and shared mains. At $$$$, the spend adds up through ordering rather than through a set sequence. That format suits tables that want to control pacing and focus on specific sections like the arroz dishes, but it means the value calculation depends on how deliberately you order rather than on a fixed menu price.
Location
1190 22nd St NW, Washington, DC 20037
Washington DC, United States
Compare The Saga
Also Consider
- Albi — United States, Middle Eastern, $$$$
- Causa — Peruvian, $$$$
- Oyster Oyster — New American, Vegetarian, Vegetarian (Sustainable), $$$
- Bresca — Modern French, Contemporary, $$$$
- Gravitas — New American, Contemporary, $$$$
At $$$$ across the board, The Saga competes directly with [Albi](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/albi), [Causa](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/causa), [Bresca](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/bresca), and [Gravitas](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/gravitas) for D.C.'s top-tier dinner spend. The clearest differentiator is cuisine: The Saga is the strongest option in the city for Spanish-Latin cooking with genuine ingredient focus, while Albi wins on Middle Eastern depth and Causa on Peruvian-Japanese technique. Bresca and Gravitas sit in the modern French and New American registers respectively — both are worth considering for diners who want more familiar European fine-dining frameworks.
On booking difficulty, all five venues are competitive. The Saga's OAD Top 50 North America ranking (2025) makes it the most externally validated of the group for a celebration meal where the credential matters — if you are taking someone to dinner to impress, that ranking provides a clear signal. Bresca carries strong local critical recognition and is a reliable choice for date-night atmosphere at the same price tier. Gravitas offers a tasting-menu-first format for diners who want the kitchen to drive the decisions.
If budget is a consideration, [Oyster Oyster](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/oyster-oyster) at $$$ undercuts all of them while delivering serious, plant-forward cooking with its own critical standing — it is the pragmatic choice when $$$$ is a stretch. For Spanish cooking in particular, [Xiquet by Danny Lledo](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/xiquet-by-danny-lledo-washington-dc-restaurant) and [Del Mar](https://www.joinpearl.co/restaurants/del-mar-washington-dc-restaurant) are the most direct alternatives to The Saga within the city, and worth comparing on availability before you commit.
Recognized By
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