Chef Jon Sybert is the co-owner of Rye Bunny, a counter-service restaurant in Washington D.C., known for its fancy-fun comfort food. He previously co-owned the acclaimed Tail Up Goat and Reveler's Hour. Sybert is...
Rye Bunny is a hospitality-driven, counter-service restaurant in Washington D.C., known for its seasonal fare. It is helmed by award-winning chefs Jill Tyler and Jon Sybert, who are also behind the acclaimed Tail Up Goat. The unique service model involves ordering savory dishes at the counter upon arrival, followed by table service for drinks and desserts. The restaurant aims for a casual yet high-quality dining experience.
Customer Perception
Customer feedback is mixed but generally positive regarding food quality and ambiance. Many praise the delicious and fantastic food, particularly vegetable dishes, fried chicken, focaccia, and ravioli, as well as the friendly and knowledgeable staff. The atmosphere is often described as cozy, beautiful, and well-decorated. However, common criticisms include small portion sizes for the high prices, a sometimes confusing or stressful counter-service model, and occasionally disappointing desserts or small cocktail portions. Despite the casual vibe, the pricing is considered upscale.
Additional Details
Rye Bunny is a new venture from the team behind the well-regarded restaurant Tail Up Goat. They donate proceeds from two nightly OpenTable reservations to local charities, @doldc and @amica.center.
As a first-come, first-serve counter service spot for most tables, arriving early for walk-ins is advisable. They offer two nightly reservations via OpenTable, with proceeds benefiting local charities (@doldc and @amica.center).
Outstanding. From the moment you walk in we were greeted and had our drink order taken so while we waited to be seated we able to start enjoying our time at the restaurant. Our food order was placed before we sat down and the servers were very fast to bring out dishes at a reasonable rate. The food was outstanding and fun. It felt like everything on the menu would have satisfied our want for an enjoyable dinner. The restaurant space is very very cute and located in a beautiful neighborhood. Would return and recommend
TLDR: Get there early as the line builds, but the wait is completely worth it. Rye Bunny offers a warm, remarkably intentional dining experience with service that makes you feel at home and food that is genuinely laugh out loud good. Jill, Chef Jon, Nicholas, an the rest of the team are worth it to visit alone.
When you arrive, you're met with warmth, a quick introduction to their concept, and a drink order right away to pass the time. The space feels like an upscale home; unpretentious, almost like sitting under a tent, paired with an upscale dining experience.
What really sets Rye Bunny apart is the intentionality behind the service. You notice it in the heft of the silverware and the perfectly chilled cider glass. Jill checked in multiple times. It genuinely feels like eating in the home of someone who cares about you, yet they haven't lost their fine-dining polish. They replaced plates after every course and folded our napkins when people got up. They also had my strict dietary restrictions completely mapped out before I even ordered and everyone on staff just knew exactly who I was without me having to explain a thing.
I came back a second time and everything, from the bites to the service was just as good as the first. Highly recommend.
Food: 5/5
Service: 5/5
Price Point: 4.5/5
Atmosphere: 5/5
Overall: 5/5
5
I’ve never been to a restaurant with this exact concept and I actually loved it. The flavors in the dishes were unique and so yummy. I loved the ambiance and service. Everyone was so nice too.
The fried chicken was the perfect level of crispy but was not dry at all. It was juicy and had flavor in every bite. The ribeye was also cooked perfectly as welll and had the perfect amount of flavor. The pork loin could have been a little more tender but still had good flavor. I’m not a big fan of chocolate in general but I actually enjoyed the chocolate angel food cake. The fudge has sea salt and it was yummy. The only thing I could have really done without was the nuts on some of the dishes, but other than that, the food here was yummy! Also thought it was nice they brought a sample of their non-alcoholic wine for us to try. I loved it and almost ordered a glass of it!
5
Was lucky enough to win a pre opening dinner from an Instagram giveaway. Food was incredible and the vibes were amazing. you walk up and order whatever you want at the counter and they walk you through the menu and the order every dish will come out in, and then when you sit you have a server checking on you the entire time if you want to order more.
the vibes and atmosphere are amazing. think “cozy kitchen with your best friends” with some of the best food you’ve ever had. the staff was so friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. the food was delicious and i want to go back and try the rest of the menu.
MUST order potatoes, fried chicken, ravioli + focaccia (dip the bread in the sauce!), grilled beef
5
the food was really fantastic! no doubting that. really solid cocktail and wine menu, loved all the vegetable dishes, and a fantastic angel food chocolate cake at the end.
the counter service vibe combined with the decor makes it seem much more casual than it actually is. expect a hefty bill, each dish is $20-40 per dish for quite small portions. this is a beautiful meal for a small appetite — but not fine dining. 5 people and the whole menu - like 15 dishes, was apparently appropriate lol.
definitely would still recommend, the kitchen is doing great work! but go in knowing it’s $$.
