Sequoia Restaurant Reviews

My husband and I had our ceremony and reception at Sequoia in mid-October and could not have been happier with our experience! Lila, Sequoia's Private Event Manager, was a delight to work with and was our point of contact from day one. Throughout the planning process, Lila and her team were incredibly responsive, accommodating, and helpful. Lila was present for our tasting and final walkthrough, and even provided us with an extensive list of vendors, from which we chose our fabulous band 24K.

As for the venue, Sequoia was a fantastic space for our ceremony and reception. For our wedding, we had access to the full dining room, indoor balcony, and a portion of the outdoor balcony, which provided more than enough room for our 140 guests, band, and a large dance floor. The floor-to-ceiling windows provided tons of natural light and made it feel like we were at an outdoor venue without having to worry about the possibility of bad weather. The views of the Kennedy Center, Potomac River, and Georgetown were breathtaking, particularly at night, and made a beautiful backdrop for our pictures. The dining room chandeliers also made great additions to our photographs.

We had a cocktail reception with several hor d'oeuvres and a seated dinner. For both, we got to choose from a large variety of food and drink options, which were prepared by Sequoia's in-house catering team. All of the food was delicious, and several guests told us that it was one of the highlights of the wedding.

All-in-all, Sequoia was everything we were looking for and more! Excellent staff, delicious food, and a beautiful and timeless space. We would highly recommend to anyone.

This is on the Georgetown waterfront, and the location and space is stunning, modern, and romantic. It's fresh, and spacious and can be converted for any size wedding.

To work with Lila Dougly the Private Events Director, was the best experience in the entire wedding process. Her vast knowledge of weddings and the venue made it easy to navigate the needs of the bride and the family. She had genuine concern for the brides wishes and feelings about the experience. We were treated like royalty when we visited the event space, and any questions or concerns we had were handled promptly and carefully. She was there for all meetings and the day of the event. I cannot say enough about her professionalism and her kind character.

We had the ceremony, cocktail hour and reception at the restaurant. The timing for all of these were perfect. The wait staff was excellent, flawless execution. The food was excellent, well beyond typical wedding food. We had a full bar, signature drinks, hors d'oeuvres for the cocktail hour, salad, main course, and as we danced into the evening, dessert bar and espresso martinis. Everything was wonderful. The staff also helped with the set up, and the room looked amazing. We had an evening wedding, the venue over looks the Potomac and the Kennedy Center, beautiful views! They were able to accommodate a live band and DJ, and live music for the ceremony and the cocktail hour.

If you're looking for modern elegance, smooth planning process, great food and drinks, this is it. Thank you, Lila and thank you Sequoia!

We knew Sequoia was the spot for us the second we walked in, the space is absolutely gorgeous. Lila was our point of contact and she was an absolute pleasure to work with, her team was very responsive and helped make our day very special. Ruben and Lila managed multiple vendors and put on a seamless ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception, along with a team of high quality servers and bartenders! All our guests were blown away with the quality of the food and drinks. If you are looking for a truly beautiful venue on the Georgetown waterfront where everything is taken care of by an exceptional group of people, please look no further than Sequoia! Additionally, the complimentary suite at the Watergate was stunning. They were also able to seamlessly manage a wide range of guests with allergies and dietary preferences.

Tatum, Ruben, and the whole Seqouia staff ensured that we had the wedding of our dreams! They went above and beyond, accommodating numerous changes, running our rehearsal, rapidly answering dozens of emails, and on our wedding day they made sure that I (bride) never had an empty glass of wine! The whole event went seemlessly and our guests wanted for nothing. Seqouia anticipated problems before they could affect anyone, like light in their eyes during the ceremony. There was never a line at the bar, though there was competition to snag glasses of one of our 2 signature drinks (a Seqouia creation) because it was so popular!!!

We loved having our wedding at Sequoia--the night was perfect and the planning process was so organized and easy. Tatum is amazing and super responsive and easy to work with. They were great about allergies and dietary restrictions, and all the food was delicious! A lot of our guests said it was the best food they've had at a wedding (appetizers were AMAZING--especially the pork belly sliders!). We had 135 guests and the cocktail hour space seemed like it would be very tight with more people, but there was plenty of room downstairs for dinner and dancing so I could see the space working well with a larger event too. Everything is wheelchair accessible except the mezzanine where we did cocktail hour.

We had the best wedding we could imagine at Sequoia. The ceremony was beautiful with the natural light and our guests loved the balcony and waterfront views. We barely did any decorating because it was so beautiful. We worked with Tatum who was a god-send. She was so patient with us during the entire process and despite my many anxieties, never made me feel like I was being too much. We could tell her team truly wanted us to have a great night. We also loved our honeymoon suite at the Watergate and took amazing pictures in their lawn and on their rooftop. Our wedding was the best night of our lives and it was all made possible by Tatum and the team at Sequoia.

Working with Lila and the team at Sequoia was wonderful. From our first walkthrough to our tasting to the big day, the service was exceptional. The food is REALLY why we said yes...virtually everyone said it was the best wedding food they'd had. Because the space is so full of light and elegant, we did not feel the need to go big on decor/flowers/linens etc. Could not recommend this venue more. Get on the waitlist!

Photos by Jon Fleming Photography

When checking out potential venues for our wedding, my then-fiancé-now-husband and I had just a few requirements in mind (indoor, modern, with lots of windows). But Sequoia immediately blew every expectation we had out of the water. It's obviously an absolutely stunning place for an event, with lovely views of the Georgetown waterfront, and the food is outstanding. But the most incredible thing about our Sequoia experience was easily the service. Tatum, the Director of Catering, was always attentive to our every little question (and we had a lot of them), and we always felt valued and supported throughout the planning process. We feel very lucky to have gotten married here, and would absolutely recommend Sequoia to any couple checking out venues in the DC area.

I can't say enough good things about the Sequoia as a wedding venue. Lila and her team were incredible, responsive, easy to work with, and very experienced. The team worked like a well oiled machine. The food was FANTASTIC. I keep hearing my guests tell me about how good the food was, far better than typical wedding food. The view is why we booked the Sequoia and it did not disappoint. Looking over the Georgetown waterfront with the evening lighting made for a really gorgeous event. Everyone who attended has been so complementary. I recommend Sequoia without any hesitation!

I would highly recommend Sequoia for a wedding. I got married in June 2020 and worked with Lila, the catering manager. She is amazing and I can’t say enough good things about the whole experience. Lila knew all the answers to my questions down to the tiniest detail and always responded very quickly, even on the day of my wedding. She honestly made my wedding day so much easier because I knew I could trust that her and that she would make sure everything at Sequoia ran smoothly. The manager for Sequoia, Ruben was also very helpful and so accommodating at our food tasting and wedding day. The food was amazing, everyone talked about how delicious the food was compared to other wedding and how good the portions were. No one had to wait at the bar for drinks, the staff was super friendly and attentive of all our guests. The restaurant itself is so beautiful, all the windows and lighting makes for very pretty pictures and view for guests. I am so happy I had my wedding reception at Sequoia!

The pandemic has brought many challenges for those of us planning events. When COVID-19 hit, we had to scramble to identify a new location for our wedding events. Luckily, we found the Sequoia and Lila Dougly, the Catering Sales Manager. From the minute we called, Lila to control. It was a Friday afternoon and within 24-hours, we had a plan in place and could breathe. The outside space gives the feeling that you are on a luxury liner. It's perfect for mingling and cocktails. The interior is sleek and modern, but not ultra-modern. Coming from Florida, I loved the light fixtures! The food is delicious and what really impressed me is that the soup was actually hot and so was our main dish. This doesn't happen often!  All-in-all, if you're looking for a lovely venue with many entertainment options and a person to help guide you through the entire process, head to the Sequoia! 

My husband and I married at Sequoia in May 2022 - we could not be happier with the decision on venue. From start to finish they design and entirely personalized event and are generous with their offerings and flexibility. They also handle the majority of activities in-house, so they cover the venue, food, staff, etc. We only needed to hire a photographer, day-of coordinator, and a DJ, the rest was covered!
Tatum, the event manager at Sequoia, is absolutely fantastic. She helped us with planning and was highly professional and a thought partner throughout the entire process (including helping us navigate the changing COVID environment). Her team and staff were wonderful and the events were smooth, seamless, and coordinated
Highly highly recommend!

Have your wedding at Sequioa! Nothing but positives to say about the venue, Lila, Ruben, and the staff. They were the most helpful, fun, and supportive team! They made the wedding process easy and exciting throughout! Our guests cant stop telling us about how amazing the staff, venue, and food was at our wedding. Simply wonderful. Also, Lila might just be the best gift for any bride! I had such fun working and talking with her. She was so supportive and helpful!

I LOVE Sequoia so much! I have been blessed to work with them for years and I Pray for years and years more to come. One of the most organized and kind event teams you could ever work with (Lila, Tatum , Ruben) know what they are doing and they make it look so easy (even thought its not). every time myself or my team come we are given the support we need to do our part. Aside from the amazing people, the views, the food, the drinks, the location and more. This is just the perfect place for weddings and other events!

Book Sequoia DC! It was the perfect venue for our wedding reception, for 150 guests, and our vendors’ conveniences and requirements. Lila Dougly, Sequoia’s Catering Sales Manager, is the definition of professional and thorough and a pleasure to work with. Once our vendors were all contracted, Lila worked with them directly, informing them of the terms we all agreed on and Sequoia’s requirements. There was no ambiguity as to what we were expecting or their delivery. The food (outstanding surf and turf), bar (open), indoor and outdoor setting overlooking the Potomac, was special for everyone. To Sequoia’s entire staff, thank you! You were there, it happened, never were we wanting!

As the Mother of the Bride, I have relived and retold many stories about our daughter’s marriage. It was one of the happiest weekends of our lives. The wedding ceremony was held at Dahlgren Chapel, on Georgetown Campus, and the reception was at Sequoia DC in November 2021. At the end of each retelling I close with, “I would not change a thing.” I must give credit where credit is due.

Sequoia made us feel special from the first time we sat down with Lila, before we had committed to having our reception there. After that reception, we looked at very few other options and decided on Sequoia very quickly, and I am so glad we did. The process was wonderful and easy, and our reception was the most fun evening of my life. Everyone we worked with was unbelievably professional and just wanted to make our experience the best possible.
The food was incredible, I can still close my eyes and taste it. My husband and I look forward to going back every year for our anniversary.
The setting is magical, and the dance floor was bumping all night. There is not one thing I would have changed about that day, and I am forever grateful to everyone at Sequoia for making it our perfect day!

I could not be more pleased with my experience at Sequoia! Our guests stated it was the best wedding they had ever been to! The food is outstanding and the service matches it. Working with the coordinator, Tatum was an absolute pleasure. She is incredibly responsive and accommodating. She made outstanding recommendations for the band and other vendors. She even asked my coordinator how my mother was doing the day of because she noticed she was stressed out and wanted to offer her assistance! The value for the quality is unmatched. With many options for the food and open bar service you can't go wrong. The servers passed our signature cocktails to guests as they waited in line during cocktail hour so no one ever was left wanting anything all night. They are absolute professionals and go above and beyond from the moment you reach out to the end of your event. The venue itself is beautiful inside and out offering several locations for the ceremony and cocktail hour you can have everything all in one place! It truly was a magical night and I am so grateful to the Sequoia team for making our wedding so special!

We had our wedding in Oct, 2021 and cannot be happier to have chosen Seqouia. First off, the venue is beautiful and you can't beat the location. our guests loved having cocktail hour outdoors facing the river and staying close to Georgetown for pre and post wedding events. Lila helped with our planning and she was super understanding and helpful with every step of the planning process. She made the wedding more than what we had envisioned. Everyone raved about the food and service (and trust me, we had some hard core foodie guests). I'd highly recommend sequoia and Lila.

We hosted a rehearsal dinner, followed by desserts and drinks for additional guests, at the Sequoia restaurant. What a pleasure it was to work with Lila Dougly, Catering Sales Manager. Lila made the process easy and enjoyable! What could have been difficult was not! Lila made sure to assist in numerous ways, and went above and beyond to make our event memorable and perfect. From the beauty of the venue, to the drinks, food, service….our experience was over the top!

If you don't read the rest of this, just take this one advice: order the scarlet fog drink as your signature drink, it'll dazzle your guests. From the moment I walked up the stairs of Sequoia during our site visit, I knew this was our venue. The venue is modern, with a beautiful view of the river, and beautiful tall ceilings. As a bonus, since this is a restaurant, we knew the food was going to be incredible, compared to a catering company. We had to change our wedding date a few times due to the Pandemic, but Tatum was flexible with our changes. Tatum is awesome, and we couldn't have our incredible wedding without her guidance. When our date finally arrived, we were really nervous about the pandemic and wanted to avoid any outbreaks. Tatum assured us that their entire staff is vaccinated, and as a bonus, they also set up an outdoor bar for us on the patio with the beautiful river view during cocktail hour. They also helped us create a more spread out floor-plan during dinner for guest comfort. During our tasting, they helped us customize every single item to what we wanted. The food was delicious and plentiful, leaving our guests full and happy. I'm so happy we chose Sequoia for our wedding, I really feel like we had an unforgettable wedding and it was worth every penny.

We hosted our September 2021 wedding at sequoia in their state room. The room was exquisite with gorgeous chandeliers, but also still intimate. The food was outstanding. Everyone loved it! Service was great. Very professional. They made my husband and I feel very comfortable! Highly recommend!

Tatum and Sequoia were incredible to work with while planning our reception during the pandemic. Tatum was EXTREMELY flexible and understanding with constant changes to guest count & DC regulations, and she made sure we had the most amazing day. The food and venue were absolutely incredible, and our guests haven't stopped talking about how perfect the evening was. Thank you all again!

Review 2 of 2: Post-Wedding. Sequoia totally lived up to its expectations! The whole staff was on point! Food was amazing, which was very important to us, service was impeccable, drinks were also amazing, and the space speaks for itself. They really made us feel like the most important people in the world on our special day. If we wanted something, we had it. If there was an issue, it was handled. We were met with “yup, we’re on it” or “yup, already take care of” or “yup, coming right up”! And Tatum is hands down the best events manager I have ever had the pleasure of working with. I would book the Sequoia over and over just to work with her if I could! So my final review is: if you want a place with amazing views, amazing service, food to die for, and a magical event, then go rent out Sequoia! And definitely be prepared to be wowed!



Review 1 of 2: Pre-Wedding. Let me start by saying that their customer service is amazing! We worked with Tatum and she’s totally awesome, super professional, nice, has answers to absolutely everything... I really can’t say enough about working with her! We really wanted our wedding here so we decided to bite the bullet and shell out the $$$ (cause I’ll be honest, this place is NOT cheap!) This made us super nervous when COVID happened and it was clear we would have to reschedule our wedding. Ugh! what about fees?... would we get the same rate?... should we just cancel and see how things go?... WELL LET ME TELL YOU THEY WERE AWESOME! They are extremely flexible! There was no change of date fee, they made their cancellation policies more flexible, and they even kept our contract price the same! No extra fees of any kind, no revisiting of price due to inflation or change of day or time or anything (even though we shifted it out almost a whole year so normally the prices would have increased naturally due to inflation... but there was none of that!) It was REALLY AMAZING! So while we are still in the midst of being nervous at the idea of having a big wedding and everything that it will mean given the current state of the country, we do NOT regret reserving Sequoia, not for one second. We were met with “no problem” and “we can work with you on that”... and them honoring the contract and certain agreements we had despite the changes really solidified their credibility in our book and made us feel comfortable and safe at the choice we made of reserving The Sequoia. They really make you feel like they care about your big day in every way... kind of like you are VIP for them (at least until your wedding. Hahahaha). I will write another review once the wedding happens to give feedback on their performance and final thoughts but for now: BRAVO in every way!

My husband and I got married at Sequoia on June 19th, 2021! My guests are still talking about how amazing the food, drinks and views were for the reception. I started working with Tatum in September and she was absolutely wonderful to work with. Tatum made the planning and coordination seamless for me. I can't thank the team at Sequoia enough for making my special day perfect! We can't wait to come back to Sequoia this summer for some more blueberry mojitos on the patio!