Love the decor of the place and the dancers where great but not impressed with the bartenders skills. The drinks were nasty, super sour margarita. I heard the food was over priced small portions so luckily I ate b4 I came. It's still a cute spot for the girls to go and enjoy a night out.
Review Source:This place is a lot of fun. The atmosphere is definitely its strongest feature. It's French burlesque-themed, so all the decorations are really ornate and they have these plush booths big enough for groups. The stage where the dancers and musicians perform is behind a two-way mirror above the bar. When the performances begin, the lights go on in the room behind the mirror and when they finish, it just looks like a mirror again. The staff and servers are friendly and helpful, and they're all in costume. We went on masquerade Thursday, so we got free masks to wear. They also brought around free shots for everyone, which was a nice touch. The food was good, but not outstanding. The desserts were not memorable. They have a decent wine list, though. It's a great place to go with a group for a celebration. I'd go back again!
Review Source:Look, the decor in here is awesome - dark, sexy, discrete. I can almost picture 2008 Gilbert Arenas getting an old-fashioned from a groupie in a back corner after another 24 point loss to the Clippers.
Anyway, really cool setting. Food and drinks are good, but not great, and pretty damn expensive. Don't come here hungry and sober without expecting to spend near 100 bucks a person minimum. If you take it easy and enjoy the atmosphere you can get out for far less.
Would've given it four stars but our server could best be described as "aloof". Maybe an off night, but it was annoying trying to track her down.
Celebrated my bday here and every moment was priceless. The performances were sultry, sexy yet tasteful. Magical moments can be made here and if you are there with a date: dining here will get you to her after after party(wink) unless you are really lame then you will be left with a lighter wallet and cold shower ;)
If you are in the mood to splurge then your $$$ will be well spent!!
This restaurant/lounge is #BarbieApproved ;)
Took the boyfriend out for a late anniversary celebration. I wanted to try this place and it didn't disappoint. Â The decor is completely lavish, very dimly lit with all gold interior. Â We were greeted with champagne for our anniversary. A very nice touch, I love when restaurants acknowledge an occasion. Â
We got sat immediately right in front of the bar and stage. Â It was during their Sunday brunch, but the place was pretty packed. Â The complimentary mini muffin-sized bread were so cute and sweet. We ordered the blue crab fondue to start and it came out quickly. Â It was okay, a little overly salted for me, but nothing too special. Â I ordered the lobster hash and the boyfriend got the lobster burger. Â Both were good, but not anything amazing, maybe 3-3.5 rating on the food alone. Service was attentive. Â Shows come on about every 15 minutes and are the length of a full song.
For a completely different atmosphere, this is a really fun experience. Â But it was only because this is probably a one-time special occasion, I don't see myself coming here on a normal outing, maybe for those special occasions of a birthday or bachelorette party.
We had a great time celebrating my cousins bachlorette party here lastnight. Unfortunately I lost my pink cannon camera which held some of the best memories of our day. Sax tried to help me find it and no luck. If you accidentally tool it can u please return it to Sax so they can return it back to me. There is a reward. Thank you
Review Source:21+ entrants only.
On Saturdays, there is a $75 cover charge, but on Sunday, there is no cover charge. I went that day and all the good seats in the front were taken. I sat in a booth in the back, but still felt the seats were good.
Got there at 2pm and was pleased with the performance that went to every 15minutes and ended at 4pm.
My brother ordered a $25 unlimited oj mimosas, he drank too much, not going to say how much, but.....
Anyways, my mom ordered the black star ($10), delicious amaretto cream and strong espresso with alcohol.
I like water, but the food was good. The lobster flat bread was nothing special, as well as the super salty cheese fondue with salty bread.
Though the charcuterie & formage tower and kobe burger were excellent. Lots of sliced meats and cheese on a prety display and the burger cooked to medium tasted excellent. Mini pearl onions and cheddar cheese on top, created a perfect burger for me.
I really enjoyed the dancing, the costumes, everything. I felt out of place, but really enjoyed the experience, and my waitress was great! I would definitely go back!
I really loved this place! But why 1 star? Yes I was gonna give 5 stars all the way but I am so furious about the waitresses. Ok, me and my girlfriend, just the TWO of us spend girls night out Friday dinner at Sax and food drinks, show were all absolutely amazing! Sax became my favorite place that day. Throughout the night we had two waitresses. Forgot their names but in my receipt it said Maite. So one's name is Maite I guess. we sat at L2 table BTW! So today I just found my receipt and I am furious!!! because we left over 20% tip while they charged us 18% gratuity already and didnt have a decency to mention that. Of course we were gonna leave more tips as thank you anyways because we were so happy. But those sneaky witches were fooled us! Bitch! I hate that kind of sneaky people. So yea! Beware of the servers sneaking service charge in!
Review Source:There's a $35 pre-fixe  Wednesdays so we all went with that. My first course was the prawns with carrot ginger butter and cilantro. The prawns were cooked well and it definitely had a good flavor. My second course was the bass. The fish was cooked well and it definitely had a good flavor also. My third course was the carrot cake. It's was good. The meal was high quality. I really enjoyed my meal.The name of the cocktail I ordered is called Melange
I didn't like the drink. It tasted like cough syrup.
The combination of  friendly and accommodating staff and good quality food at reasonable prices and fantastic burlesque shows is definitely worth a visit.
I'm a big fan, and I won't hesitate to recommend this place to anyone.
My boyfriend and I went there for some dinner and entertainment. Â I believe our reservations were at 8:00, and at that point the place was pretty dead. Â The performances were only so so when we first arrived, but they kept getting better and better, and by the end of the evening they were great (keeping in mind that this is a burlesque show and not the Kennedy Center). Â The food is only mediocre, but that really isnt the point of going. Â Overall, I would definitely return for a special occassion.
Review Source:Ambiance is off the chain!! Awesome wait staff!
Food is mediocre at best- not horrible, but so overpriced for the quality you get.
I did like the shows but having a dance/ theater background myself I do have to say there is room for improvement...
I would recommend this place because it is definitely an experience.
This place is sultry, sexy, classy, and entertaining. If you're looking for a more unique and upscale lounge experience, SAX offers burlesque shows while you wine and dine. There's a show every 15-20 minutes. Make sure you "dress classy, not trashy" because even the bartenders are dressed to the nines in their suit and tie. The drinks are expensive, but made strong and go down nice and smooth so I'd say they're worth it!
Review Source:SAX - Bringing Sexy Back to DC! I love this place and usually drop $40 - 100 each time. From the elegant, opulent atmosphere to the sophisticated martinis and Moulin rouge dancers, this Vegas sexy lounge is my favorite spot in DC!
I'll warn you it's a pretty penny, you are literally paying for the performers (the cost of the performance is embedded in those $16 drinks, but they are so delicious!) The Melange drink has a spicy kick to it and the Eve & Eve is a nice fruity cocktail. Â
The food is just as indulgent as the drinks. The creaminess of the macaroni and cheese is delightful (much better than Oya's) and I savor each bite of it. It just melts in my mouth and coupled with the martini it is bliss! The perfect ending to my meal is the molten chocolate cake, so warm and goey especially with the sweet vanilla ice cream.
The burlesque dance performances are mesmerizing, artistic, and classy. The girls and guy (yes there's a guy!) are really talented and have thematic dances from Bollywood to strip pole. There is a show every 15 minutes and some of the performances are classics (repeat) while most are new. The shows don't get old and there is a good variety of performances.
My only complaint and why it's short of 5 stars is the customer service. When I went here with a girlfriend, the server had trouble with our credit cards and we had to pay $100 in cash. Instead of apologizing, he snootily looked at us and charged us an obscene amount (way above our original bill). An argument later, he fixed the bill and sincerely apologized. The apology would have been better with a couple of free cocktails, which didn't happen. The waitresses are pushy with the food and drinks. I have been back many times but always check my bill and avoid eye contact with the waitresses. Â
Since there is a minimum on the weekends, ($60 minimum on Friday and $75 minimum on Sat), I recommend coming here on Wed, you receive complimentary champagne. Your wallet is spared as there is no minimum.
If you're looking for indulgence and a classy night out with a group of friends, it's worth the pretty penny.
My bf and I walked in here one night impromptu. Â We had oyster burgers and it was amazing. Â Much better than the lobster burgers. Â The drinks, I cant say I was too impressed with. Â There were some dancers which were very lazy and not giving enough of a show. Â I felt like this place is for those who want to put on their finest and pretend and thats nice-everyone deserves a good time. Â
Anyway, I have been going to this place since it was called Ortanique and it had fish tanks in the bar, so this venue and its predecessors always impresses. Â I actually preferred it when it was called Ortanique becuase there was a full bar upstairs and it was more interactive. Â I am not impressed with the bathroom. Â I dont want to take an elevator and I dont want to walk downstairs. Â
This place is also kind of pricey. Â It is good to go once or twice, but I am not going to frequent this place until its heels are dug in, since it has changed ownership and management at least thrice over
Oh yea, the seats are very comfortable and this is a good place for photos. Â Its very victorian-esque in ambience and I cant see how this will make anyone look bad.
Me and my fam went here for mother's day. From the front door of the restaurant to the breezeway, to the waiting area, to the actual Restaurant. It was...sexy. Very seductive. I felt like a celeb entering a high end, exclusive joint. Ughh...gorgeous. Everything dripping in gold and red velvet with beautiful crystal chandeliers. It was pretty dark tho, but not to the point you couldn't read a menu. They run a 5 minute burlesque show  every 10-15 minutes, a couple of sets were kind of cheesy, but there were a couple that were done very nicely. I think we saw 4 or 5 total. Unfortunately from where i was sitting (on the side, against the wall), some of the stage, which is elevated, was cut off by the balcony we were seated under. I didn't care though because i was seated on a beautiful, comfy, cushioned couch.
The Eats: My brother and I had the lobster burger (pretty good 7.5 out of 10). A bit of filler, but definitely good lobster in there - maybe it would have been better with higher quality bread. My parents got the Kobe burger (delicious 8.5/10) and the chicken panini (mother enjoyed it, i was not thrilled..wouldn't get it again 5/10). Truffle fries were pretty good - not too much truffle oil.
The Drinks: We enjoyed the bottomless mimosas. $25 pp. So...our bill at the end of the night was +200 and over half of it was due to the drinks. I had the grapefruit mimosa, which was good and i definitely got enough champagne in it. Everybody else got the pomegranate mimosa, which was great - i probably would get that one next time.
HENCE I SAID NEXT TIME, SO I PLAN ON COMING BACK (with friends though - it was slightly awkward with fam cuz the experience screams DATE or NIGHT OUT.) Be prepared to drop a pretty penny, but i think it's worth it!
Atmosphere - absolutely delicious. Sexy, scandalous (in a good way), and fun. We had a great time at Sax on masquerade Thursday. We couldn't find the place initially - because there is no clear sign that you can easily see from the street. We were greeted by two bouncers and then upon walking in, asked if we wanted to wear a mask for the masquerade - so fun! We thoroughly enjoyed the dancers - one performance included a cellist, who did a great job. Our food was good but...a la the other reviews, who comes to Sax for the food? We were impressed the entire night. The wait staff is friendly and attentive. We loved our shots and mixed drinks. Gotta go back!
Review Source:Atmosphere - sexy, dark and comfy
Wait staff - very friendly and accommodating. Â We celebrated our anniversary here and they provided champagne and cake... very thoughtful. Â They don't mind taking pictures!
Food - actually, NOT THAT BAD. Â We had the sea bass (moist meat, crispy skin) and the scallops (a TAD rubbery, but the sauces were exquisite).
Valet - so convenient and very friendly... $20
Let's be honest here, nobody goes to SAX for the food. Â Yes having food and snack options are nice but really, REALLY, we go to immerse ourselves in the sex appeal. Â The restaurant oozes sexuality through the dimly lit decor, the scantily clad waitresses and the oh not so subtly suggestive dance performances. Â We go to get wrapped up in the moment with whatever fantasy playing along on an alternate plain in our heads. . . At least my head totally did that ;-)
There is a dress code and thank YOU Aphrodite that they were lenient on us that night. Â See the boy and I were going to grab a sexy teasing bite before our throw back 90s dance party. Â As you can imagine, we were anything but sexy or even classy for that matter - baggy jeans, mid drift shirt, punk/goth accessories for me and the ever so colorful zubaz for the boy. Â They understood that a night out is a night out, we went all out for ours and should not be punished for exuding 90s spirit.
The sips and bites were more buck for your bang but they were still succulent, especially the sips. Â Oh wowee the drinks were strong and delicious. Â The Scandalous is probably my fav, sweet with an unexpected back kick, the heat trickles down your throat. Â For our meal, we went with the three course menu for $50. Â Again, remind yourself that you aren't there for the food. Â It's good but it's not going to blow the mind.
Now on to why you are there - the show. Â There's a show every 10 minutes or so and I loved all four that we stayed to watch. Â If I didn't have that darn dance party to go to, I would have just occupied my table for hours.
Nevertheless I had to go but the siren calls are strong at SAX. Â I will have to be back.
It was date night for me and my boyfriend and we also utilized the Living Social deal that was being offered. I will say this, the interior of the establishment is really beautiful and very lavish. Perfect for a sexy date night.The mirrors on the walls, the colors and the corsets on the chairs.There are two floors, with big cushiony chairs and views of the stage. Oh the stage, awesome, the dancing, awesome be prepared to see the view of several body parts. The burlesque dancers were absolutely breathtaking. I really enjoyed the show
Now on to what I did not like about Sax. If you are hungry, I strongly advise do not eat here. The menu which is very sparse to begin with, does not offer the patron too much to choose from. The food was absolutely horrible. The beef short ribs were the very bland and dry. Pretty much tasted like a bland pot roast, there was not sauce on them at all. The cognac shrimp with saffron rice, well I didn't taste any hint of saffron at all, very disappointing, The carrot cake, tasted like it was right out of a box, very dry. No pizazz what so ever. Our server was really good and she brought our meals promptly and quickly, considering the slight mix up with my appetizer. The cocktails were really good, just wish they had a more extensive list to choose from. Overall, if you are just looking to see a show. Go to the show, but please, please eat elsewhere before coming to Sax.
Its sad because I really enjoyed eating at their sister restaurant OYA. I was really excited to come  here considering a few of my friends had birthday gatherings here.But all in all it was not worth the price point for an expected dance routine, bad food and poor selection of cocktails
So a group of 4 ladies gave this place another try this weekend for Sunday Brunch. What a difference in this experience. Felt like I was trying this place for the first time. I decided to take the metro this time, the Metro Center stop is only about 2 blocks from Sax. Save yourself the headache of trying to find a parking spot in DC. The front desk was very friendly and took us right to our seats. We were seated on the balcony in the center. This had to be the best seat in the house, the view was awesome! **Tip try to ask for center floor or balcony seating, the view from the downstairs side view doesn't do the show justice. Â Our lovely server, Shannon, took wonderful care of our group. Our bottomless Mimosas were just that, she kept them well filled the entire afternoon. Our table ordered the short ribs and the lobster hash, both dishes were well prepared and just enough food for brunch. Not too heavy and left plenty of room for more Mimosas. Plan on spending about $60 per person if you get brunch, drinks, tip, and tax. But remember, you are also getting a show every 15 minutes. The dancers in the shows are very talented and keep the attention of everyone in the room when the show starts.
Very relaxing way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
My review is a 2.5 I did NOT round up, Hmph!
It's a birthday party for one of my besties. Sunday brunch, as soon as I heard this I was too excited! Brunch is my absolute fav BTW. Fast forward I love love love the interior! It is beautiful, lavish even. The mirrors on the walls, the colors and the corsets on the chairs. LOVE. There are two floors, with big cushiony chairs and views of the stage. Oh the stage, awesome, the dancing, awesome be prepared to see the view of several body parts.
The menu... disappointed. I thought that there would be better choices. I wasn't really pleased as I didn't think I had many options. I decided to get the lobster burger with truffle fries. Underwhelmed. I think I ate it because I was hongreh.
Everyone that has been there says they love it, but I just thought the food was awful. Maybe it would be better on another day? Meh. I don't know.
Service, um she was new, and perhaps the service industry isn't thee best thing for her to do. She generally forgot things, didn't explain anything on the menu or the restaurant. I mean it was my first time. She appeared to get flustered rather easily when valid questions were asked of her.
Based on this experience I won't go out of my way to return. If you want to see the show, go, but eat beforehand!
SAX is a serious rip-off that serves terrible food and is rather judgmental in the enforcement of its dress code, frankly.
Went for a birthday party last night and service was fine. She was polite and friendly but drinks took a very long time to come from the bar (even wine so it wasn't just because the bartender had to make specialty cocktails or something) and food courses were served on top of each other.
Food was terrible. Seriously the worst short ribs - so dry, have you heard of sauce, SAX chefs? - I've ever had and the carrot cake tasted store-bought, frozen and day-old. NEVER eat here. It's overpriced and not worth it.
Wine and cocktail selection was okay though there seemed to be a lot of repetitiveness - two gin and st. germaine cocktails on your short list of specialty drinks? - and was way overpriced. I happen to know that a bottle on their list retails for about $15 but they were charging $80! Completely ridiculous.
The burlesque itself was okay. They opened with the very expected Lady Marmalade and they didn't have many performances as we saw repeats. The birthday girl, who is a straight, self-proclaimed strip club enthusiast, wanted to see more skin as they were wearing pretty standard looking lingerie for much of the night. Also the elevated stage is understandable so many patrons can see but the glass wall enclosing the performers made the show feel seedy like we were watching a peepshow at a creepy sex shop (comparable to Sex World in Minneapolis, if you have been).
Lastly, one member of our group arrived late and, yes, was wearing slacks with a (nice) tee and tennis shoes, he was denied admittance due to dress code policy. We had to tell them the group would be leaving if our friend couldn't join so they relented but we noted another guy in a frumpy flannel and tennis shoes and a girl wearing cut off jean shorts shortly thereafter so it really seemed like they were not very consistent in enforcing whatever the dress code was (which we were not informed of when we made the reservation, by the way).
I love OYA so had really been looking forward to their sister restaurant SAX but all in all it was not worth the price point for an expected dance routine, bad food and poor selection of cocktails.
What a fun, unique experience! I had absolutely no idea that this place (or any place even like this!) existed in DC. SAX is a sexy, dark, vintage bar/lounge (and restaurant too, I guess, although we didn't taste any of the food except the complementary popcorn) that offers burlesque-style entertainment in 15 minute intervals. SO much fun.
From the minute we hopped out of the cab, I felt like I was transported to another era. The outside of SAX is very unsuspecting, just red carpet and well-dressed doormen/bouncers, and walking in is like walking into an underground club in 1960s era Paris. Red velvet and gold everywhere, a beautiful woman in feathers and rhinestones and a see-through hoop skirt there to greet you at the front desk.
We reserved a table (which comes with a pricey per person minimum, be warned) and were seated right away. As we were there for a special occasion (bachelorette party), they brought over complementary (er, well, I think they were complementary) shooters for our whole party to kick things off, and then we purchased a bottle. This is NOT a place to come if you're on a budget. The whole experience screams opulence and big night out and is not a place for penny pinchers. But they have to pay the dancers somehow!
The servers, waitresses, and bouncers all seemed to be really on top of things. At once point someone knocked over a glass that shattered on the floor and there were like 3 people already on it before I could even turn around to flag someone down.
If you're looking for a really fun, unique nighttime experience, I highly recommend giving SAX a try at least once. I can't speak for the food, which according to other Yelpers seems to have mixed reviews, but just the place in and of itself is just worth experiencing!
Went to Sax last night and happened to get the anniversary deal on Living Social (pay $100 and get a $100 cert and two $50 certs to use at any of the three restaurants - Sei, Oya, Sax). We already had reservations for Burlesque Wednesday, so I jumped on that deal.
I must have passed this place tons of times and never knew what it was. Note: It's the door with the red velvet ropes out front. Nice. The door was opened for us and, upon entering, you see the over the top decor. The hostess was very nice and directed us to the complimentary coat check. Awesome.
The space is nice because it's different for the DC area. We got seated at a semi-circular booth pretty center of the stage, which was elevated and surrounded by glass to ensure great views.
I was worried about the dancing and the food here after reading some of these reviews, but I figured, we had to check it out ourselves. Well, I'm glad we did. The first few dances were nice but didn't wow me. If the performances stopped there, I'd have probably been disappointed. However, as the night went on, it's as if each performance was better than the last. The 'production' to each one definitely improved and so did the music and routines. We got there as it opened, at 6PM and stayed until quarter to 10. If we all didn't have to work the next day, we would've stayed longer and seen more shows, which I'm sure would have been great.
Service was really good all the way around, from hostess, coat check, to our server. I had only one drink which was nothing to write home about. I think it was called scandalous. No one was really impressed with the mixed drinks so maybe the best bet would be to stick with the beer and wine.
There's a $35 pre-fixe on Burlesque Wednesdays so we all went with that. My first course was the prawns with carrot ginger butter and micro cilantro. The prawns were cooked well and it definitely had a good flavor. Again, I was pleasantly surprised, since I prepared myself for not-so-good food. My second course was the mushroom ravioli. It was good. Did they make the ravioli there? Probably not, but it was cooked well, and the sauce, complete with tomatoes and olives gave it a great flavor. The description said it had capers, though I didn't see any. Mayhaps the olives were subbed that night for the lack of capers? If so, I liked it. Dessert was the disappointment here. I'm a carrot cake fanatic. Give me a moist cake, preferably with some walnuts or pecans, and cream cheese frosting, and I'm in heaven. The carrot cake here was probably brought in, I'm damn sure of it. It was dry with very little cream cheese taste to the frosting. It was just bad. Well, 2 out of 3 ain't bad, I s'pose.
So, given the decent food I got and the different experience this place gives you, I'd come back with others in the future - and maybe stay later next time.
Note: On Fridays, there is a $50/pp minimum and Saturdays the min is $75/pp.
Our bill came to about $130, without tip. So, maybe next time I'll hit it up on a Friday and stay late.
Loved the interiors . The performances were really good and elite.
Food was decent. Â We were a group of 8 and as it was a Wednesday we were given on the house champagne and a a round of free shooters as it was one of my friends bday.
Unfortunately when I did a reservation I mentioned please give us a nice table where we can see performance, whereas they gave us the corner table and half of our group could not see anything. On trying to speak to the manager it was not such a pleasant experience . he was quite shrewd and had a not so caring attitude. That was something we did not expect from a Fine-dining restaurant.
Other than that, our server was really nice and very friendly! Was patient with us and took good care!
Experience was overall Good!
Came here on a date. I have always been interested in the place but this was my first time and for some reason on this day I was a bit weary, a bit skeptic. Maybe that's just my normal reaction to dates but that is neither here nor there.
I found the service to be exceptionally attentive and friendly from the hostess to our waitress and the woman who was her shadow (maybe a waitress in training?). The whole ambiance was decadent and romantic and sexy. I loved that the place catered to groups of friends, couple and groups of ladies alike. The performance was fun, delightful and though a woman at the table next to me felt like it was "degrading to women" I found it tasteful, sexy and artistic. I really enjoyed it.
The striped bass was super yummy though none of the other courses was really that memorable. I loved the sweet spiciness of the Scandalous cocktail.
I would definitely return, perhaps for brunch!
I'm a generous person when it comes to reviews----I like to give places the benefit of the doubt. Â Unfortunately, I cannot condone stealing----so this place truly deserves the 1 star rating. Â
SAX was really not bad----it's a nicely decorated little spot with some interesting expressive dance going on behind their glass-shielded stage. Â I wouldn't really call the dance strictly "burlesque" unless you consider wandering around stage with you arms in the air (and the odd removal of a piece of clothing or two) burlesque dance....(all you red palace fans, probably look elsewhere). Â The food is so-so, it's certainly a place you go for ambiance over anything else. Â
The waitresses at SAX do appear moderately miserable, however-----maybe those simple black corsets have been cinched too tight for too long----but they uniformly doubled our bill post-signing of the receipt (essentially giving themselves a 100% tip). Â Now, I consider the addition of a few dollars to your designated tip bad form---it's not very ethical, but entirely changing the tip to 100% of the bill is outright STEALING. Â I unfortunately can never bring myself to go back to the venue or recommend my friends to this restaurant------I will, however, send my haters there.
***Note: Transparency is important to me, so I'm providing an update to my review at the request of SAX management. Â SAX informed me that the surplus charge was made in error and entirely the fault of their inexperienced waitress. Â They refunded the charge and asked that I delete/modify my review. Â As a sign of good faith I have done this---and bumped up their rating to 2 stars, which is like 100% times better than 1 star! Â SAX clearly doesn't want a bad rap out there---however, they may consider investing a little more effort in training their staff than convincing their patrons to write only positive reviews online.
I went to Sax on a random Wednesday night, and fell in love! I have no idea a sexy place list this existed in this fairly conservative town. I can't wait to visit on a weekend!
The bartenders really know what they are are doing, and can make anything you want. The drinks are pricey, so I suggest hitting up a cheaper spot (or pregaming) before hitting Sax.
What a fun, flirty, and sexy way to spend an evening! Â I'd just been to Paris in October and almost forgot that I was in DC. Â Very decadent and dark interior...huge crystal chandeliers hang from the ceiling in front of rich red velvet walls and mirrors with gold accents. Â Sitting at the bar gives is a front-and-center experience; it's right in front of the glass case that displays the moves of the sultry burlesque dancers. Â It feels like a high-brow strip club, except that the goods are covered, but I'm fine with that.
I enjoyed the food, the crab fondue to share and the striped bass with mushroom ravioli was very tasty. Â The presentation is well-done though the portions are on the small side in general. Â I would've preferred some sliced apples in addition to bread for the fondue. Â
However, the real foodie star are the drinks; I am not an experimental cocktail kind of gal...but their drink list was just too impressive. Â I had some fruity fabulous concoction with raspberry absolut; it was undeniably pricey $16, but ohhhh so good! Â I haven't had a cocktail that good in Seattle ever.
SAX is a really nice place I have to admit, valet, the decor, the provocative dancing...all these things were fantastic in my book, the things I did not enjoy was having to get no less than $150 worth of food/beverages for 2 ppl which was made quite clear when I made the reservations but I was hoping that the food was going to be 10 times better than it was for that type of money and granted I've paid upwards of $200 for meals on special occasions and I understand that good ambiance and a different experience often comes with a price...again loved the valet, the decor and the burlesque but the food definitely could have been better. Â
Oh yeah the waitresses were f***ing hot, all of them, in fact the waitresses should have been the dancers.
Additionally, while I did enjoy the burlesque, there were inadequacies like sometimes the ladies were completely out of sync or their were noticeably better dancers than others. Â I liked that the stage was raised and above everyone but I would have preferred to be engulfed in the performance and for the stage to have been on the audiences level and the dancers could have included the audience in the performance. Â If there place were to have better food and to have the dancers interact with the audience during some performances it would be the upscale strip joint with good food, good ambiance, sex appeal, that a "big spender" (hence the song I am sure plays there every night) would not mind coming back for more time after time.
Me? Â I am not compelled to go here no more than once a year, two or three times if things improve, make the audience feel like they are part of the experience, a lot of ppl like up close and personal.
I'm really sad to be updating this review -- but it's definitely changed for the worse since I was here for Restaurant Week a year ago.
To start, our reservation was at 8:30. Â When we arrive, the hostess says they don't have the space for our party of six, and it'll be a 10-minute wait.
OK.
Forty-five minutes and several people in my party going to the hostess stand to check, they tell us they STILL can't seat us, but offer my party a round of drinks to apologize. Â A classy move, though suggested to them by a more bold member of our party. Â Their drinks are expensive, so that was definitely a generous play on their part.
One hour later, we're finally seated. Â Our waitress was extremely nice and knowledgeable, so definitely +1 for that. Â The shows were still solid, so +1 for that as well. Â Was a little disappointed that both of the $40 wines that went with Restaurant Week were sparkling/white and rose. Â Would have loved to see a red wine on special.
Anyway, the food was waaaaaaay downhill since we had visited the year before.
I got the Arancini to start, which was overfried to the point of being crunchy -- this led to the risotto inside being slightly mushy. Â Not super enjoyable to eat. Â My boyfriend got the pate, which he also seemed less than impressed by.
Everyone in our party got the Lobster Mac and Cheese or the Short Ribs and no one finished either of the dishes. Â The Mac and Cheese was incredibly flavorless - definitely did not have the truffle oil the menu mentioned in it. Â To quote one of my friends "I could have made this at home, it tastes like it was made by Kraft". Â The Short Ribs were extremely overcooked/dry and the lentils were tasteless. Â
Won't be coming back, and disappointed/embarrassed that I was so excited about this place from last year that I made it a point to drag all my friends this time around. Â Never again.
I have absolutely nothing bad to say about SAX. It is a really sexy place. I really love the decor, it makes me feel like I should be in Paris. Everything about this place oozes sex appeal, from the decor to the staff, to the bartenders, to the drinks (and overpriced "bites") and of course to the sexy dancers.
What I love most about SAX is that while everything is very sexy, it isn't at all trashy and the performances are very tasteful. I came here with my bf the first time and  I think I liked the performances a little bit more than he did, who knew? I wish I had those skills.
The drinks here are typical for upscale DC lounges, expensive. However, since the drinks were actually so damn good, they are actually kinda worth the $15 price tag. I haven't tried one drink that I don't like (and boy did I indulge when I came that first time, probably a little too much), but my hands down favorite of all the drinks is "Scandalous", which I proceeded to call "Seduction" all night (like I said, I indulged quite a bit). Definitely can't wait to go back here. I may try the brunch next.
Hello DC!  Finalmente!  A hidden secret in DC.  I stumbled upon SAX a couple of months ago.  My cousin was visiting me  and we were killing time taking a stroll around downtown in the cold...coming to a close from our long stroll we happened to see (out of the blue) a red carpet, ropes, a small canopy and a handsome feller standing outside.  (It's easy to miss)  Had it not been for the outside props I would have missed out on a SAXi experience.
I am a vocal performer/entertainer so the red carpet and ropes got my attention right off the back. Â My cousin was reluctant but I approached the gentleman and he greeted us with smiles. Â He was very kind. Â I asked him about the place and I asked him what was his name. Â (Chris) Â Don't worry, I told him I would YELP-IT.
I was impressed with what he shared and asked to take a peek inside...now, keep in mind I wasn't dressed up but it was a slow night and Chris was quite the salesman. Â Moreover, he said- why not, and escorted us into the place. Â I went inside and got a free tour of the place and ordered a drink. Â Thanks Jay! (Bartender) Â I had a "Station 8." Â It was good but too much ice. Â Next time, I'll order a martini chilled.
To save time, I will bullet this part.
* Â Gold trimmings that remind you of one of those luxurious rooms in the Palace of Versailles.
* Â Dark with sexy written all over the decor. Â
  **  Vegas-like
  **  Gold and red colors (Red Velvet)  Makes you think of sex.
  **  Chandeliers and mood lights
  **  Frenchi, Classi, (Not upscale) but definitely sexi.
* Â Nice ambiance
* Â The staff members had remarkable hospitality and customer service. Â Made you feel like you should be there and that they've missed you. Â
* Â Entertainment- Yesss! Â This can help make or break the atmosphere. Â I see much potential for the Burlesque dancers. Â I want more...I'm glad they're doing it.
* Â Great for private parties who want to splurge for a night.
  *  I have my birthday in mind...
I hope to perform there one day. Â I'm thinking of VALENTINES. Â I would love to see you there when I do. Â It's going to be a sexy time.
Issues:
* Â Go prepared to spend MONEY. Â
* Â Dancers should interact with the audience more. Â FLIRT! Â It makes great customer service. Â Event Hooters employees flirt. Â It makes ya feel good and return.
Congrats SAX in DC.
Thanks for a SAXI experience.
JC
Do you remember Paula Abdul's "Cold-hearted Snake" video? My best friend and I used to be absolutely obsessed with it.
A pre-teen's fascination with provocative dance, fishnets and a captain's hat seems pretty normal right? The dry humping, the writhing on the floor, the lifts? (Totally still talking about dancing, kids.)
Anyway, the performance sets here take me back to those days. Kind of scandalous, but not really.
Sax overall is able to deliver sexiness, even without the bump and grind. The interior is splashed with reds and golds, and although I cannot recall specifically...there has got to be some velvet up in there!
The majority of my visits have been for special events, when I've been able to take in a complimentary cocktail or two, but more recently I joined a group for dinner and truly enjoyed myself.
Yes - the food is overpriced. That's obvious. But the small plates we gave a try were pretty tasty and in this environment, I understand that I'm also paying for the ambiance as well as the entertainment.
I also once had a little credit card mishap here and I was impressed with the way it was handled. A charge of almost double my receipt that I signed appeared on my statement, so I gave them a call. I spoke with a manager that was happy to look into the issue and informed me that they would be in contact with me the very next day. They made sure to follow-up in a timely manner and happily made the adjustment, making my life just that much easier.
This is a great option for ladies night! You won't be swamped by creepers and can most likely enjoy the space, entertainment and company.
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