Little Pearl

Little Pearl exceeded every expectation. My husband and I visited last Friday and left completely in awe, this place is special in the most understated, genuine way. The venue itself is unique and intimate. It feels considered, personal, and wholly its own thing. The service matched perfectly, it was warm and friendly without ever losing that thread of real knowledge and care. Our team knew the food, knew the story, and made us feel genuinely welcomed rather than just seated. And the food. Chef Ben has always had a gift for making adventurous cooking feel exciting rather than alienating, and he is absolutely thriving here. Every dish was delicious in a way that also surprised us, which is a rare combination. We knew Chef Ben from his time in St. Pete, so getting to experience what he's building in DC felt meaningful on top of everything else. Watching a talented chef find his footing in a space that's truly his own is something worth celebrating and absolutely worth the trip. We will absolutely be back. Little Pearl is one of those restaurants that earns a permanent spot on your list from the very first visit.

Little Pearl is the less expensive, smaller cousin to Pineapples and Pearls. The food is a fixed menu of a number of small plates as has largely become standard for high-end restaurants. The food was excellent and the service was impeccable. I especially enjoyed the pork main dish which was unbelievably tender. The price is reasonable for this level of restaurant and a lot cheaper than Pineapples and Pearls. The only complaint I have was that it was a bit noisy for such a small space. The music was probably a bit too loud.

Top tier DC restaurant focused around chef prepared 7-course tasting menus. Highly creative, innovative, and delicious. Excellent for dates when you are trying to impress someone or for celebrating something major.

A charming gem set back from a main thoroughfare in the city. Everyone was friendly and the service exceptional. The food and wine pairings were amazing, and they easily accommodate dietary restrictions. They change the menu every few weeks, so it's something to experience at least seasonally.

Overall good experience but I do have some notes! First course was the angel egg and asparagus tart. I absolutely loved the angel eggs, the white meringue like part had a sweet after taste that balanced the creamy yolk part perfectly. The asparagus tart may have been the star of the entire night, the pineapple was very refreshing with the asparagus. The New England clam chowder was good but it is definitely one of those dishes where you should eat everything together each bite. If you eat anything separately it isn’t balanced at all. Amazing though! Another star was the spring egg custard, I was pleasantly surprised by this one. It practically melts in your mouth and the peas give a great crunch. Surprisingly the wagyu beef salad was not our favorite. The flavors were great, but a few of our pieces had gristle or were just straight fat ends with no actual meat to it. With the price and high rating for this place we didn’t expect this. It’s mostly why I ranked it a 4 overall. Lastly the palate cleanser and dessert were stellar. I love toasted coconut so it may be one of my top 5 desserts of all time! We left the restaurant satisfied but not overly full. This may sound big back but I would’ve loved either slightly bigger portions or one other course! With the price I do love leaving the restaurant feeling like I’ve got my money’s worth!