View Full Version : Recommendations for DC Restaurants
Saturation
04-13-2010, 18:38
I will be spending about 3 nights in Washington D.C. next month and would like to request recommendations from those who know the area.
Primary limitation is seafood is a no go for my purpose.
Searched through Gourmet Guerrilla and the rest of the site- other cities were mentioned but not D.C.
Thanks!
armymom1228
04-13-2010, 18:42
Chinatown work for you?
Wok n Roll on I between 7th and 6th, Just around the corner on 6th is a tiny chinese place that makes awesome dumplings by hand.
Mezzeluna if you do middle eastern, its up in the Adams Morgan area.
Am sure others know more than me.. those are my favorites.
lonewolf726
04-14-2010, 05:34
Bobby Van's Steakhouse in NW DC. I believe it's on the corner of New York Ave and 12th St. We went there following Col. Howard's funeral back in Feb. Very impressive place and the food was excellent!
Ret10Echo
04-14-2010, 06:15
Bobby Van's Steakhouse in NW DC. I believe it's on the corner of New York Ave and 12th St. We went there following Col. Howard's funeral back in Feb. Very impressive place and the food was excellent!
Bobby Van's is a good choice (for more reasons than one)...also convenient to Metro if you are without wheels (Metro Center Metro is about 1-1/2 blocks south) Website with menu here (http://www.bobbyvans.com/Bobby_Vans_Steakhouse/1201_NY_Ave.html)
M&S Grill is also a good spot for steak also (600 13th St NW)
If you are interested in German/Austrian then Cafe Motzart (http://cafemozartonline.com/zgrid/proc/site/sitep.jsp;jsessionid=aokAhQXKdlNd)...1331 H St NW. Don't be put off when you walk through the door...you have to pass through the deli to the restaurant in the back. Occasional live music and good German food and beverages here in the District. I try to get in any time I find myself in town late or on the weekends.
If you want the best steakhouse around (and not as expensive as bobby' van's, yet much better in my opinion) - Ray's the Steaks. It's in Arlington, but it's metro accessible and well worth it I assure you.
Ask any DC local that's been there and they will tell you it's phenominal.
Enjoy your stay.
mffjm8509
04-14-2010, 07:53
Not a fancy place, but no visit to the area would be complete without a stop at Hard Times Cafe in Alexandria, about a block east of the King St Metro. Best Chili around!
r/mp
Not a fancy place, but no visit to the area would be complete without a stop at Hard Times Cafe in Alexandria, about a block east of the King St Metro. Best Chili around!
r/mp
There is also a Hard Times Cafe right across the street from the Clarendon Metro Station.
It is "fast food" but it is the best Chicken I have ever had.
El Pollo Rico
Wheaton
2541 Ennalls Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20902
+1 on Ray's the Steaks.
Ray's Hell Burger in Arlington. fSame owner as Ray's the Steaks...Great place and great burgers. Just don't order any French Fries, they don't make them. Obama made that mistake.
Saturation
04-14-2010, 16:02
Many thanks for the suggestions- will be using this list and love the variety from great steak to fast food.
Follow Up Culture question-
When in Baltimore I (out of habit) would order 'unsweet tea' (when placing a non-grown up drink) and always got strange looks. In the "North" SA is NOT specifying unsweet. Should I presume that being close to Baltimore, D.C. will be the same?
:p
90% of the time they will ask if you want sweetened or unsweetened. I always ask for unsweetened. Not sure how the southerners drink that sugary stuff :rolleyes:.
http://www.jaleo.com/
Go here breakfast/lunch/dinner if they let you. Spanish tapas bar which can run you about $100.00 for two. If you like Spanish/mediterranean food there is no equal.
Slantwire
04-14-2010, 17:52
I'll second the recommendation for El Pollo Rico, and any of the Ray's spots. Haven't tried the other spots recommended.
I'm surprised no one has mentioned Ben's Chili Bowl. Sure, TotUS made a scene about going there, but it is good. Another good place downtown is Tony Leung's, right next to the Chinatown gate. (Upstairs is a seafood restaurant, which you've already nixed, but downstairs is a Mongolian grill.)
The food is nothing special, but the Brickskeller sure has plenty of beers to choose from. Over a thousand on the list, and a Guinness entry to show for it (the book, not the beer, which I'm sure they have).
Will you be in DC proper, or the DC metro area? I've got all sorts of recommendations for northern Virginia, which may be inconvenient for a three-day in the middle of the city.
Saturation
04-14-2010, 18:24
Will you be in DC proper, or the DC metro area? I've got all sorts of recommendations for northern Virginia, which may be inconvenient for a three-day in the middle of the city.
DC Proper
Dragbag036
04-14-2010, 18:45
If you like Irish Pubs, James Hoban is one of the best www.jameshobansdc.com
If you are in the mood for Italian, Il Porto in Old Town Alexandria is one of my favorites anywhere.
If you are in the mood to try something different, go to Zeke's in Georgetown, it is Ethiopian and outstanding!!
For an Irish Pub, Sine at Pentagon City Mall is pretty good, lots of beer on tap.
From the Zagats Guide:
1 Kinkead's Foggy Bottom Seafood 26 21 24 $59
2 Citronelle Georgetown French (new) 28 25 26 $88
3 Jaleo Multiple Tapas 23 20 19 $33
4 Zaytinya Penn Quarter Mediterranean, Middle Eastern 25 25 20 $39
5 TenPenh Downtown Pan-Asian 24 24 23 $48
http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/dc-restaurants.html?g=1&cre=2518231300&keyword=best%20restaurant&wpsrc=AG0001669&s_kwcid=best%20restaurant|2518231300
Slantwire
04-15-2010, 14:24
TenPenh Downtown Pan-Asian
I would skip this one. Geared for the hipster set. Trendy decor with expensive drinks and lackluster food.
Citronelle Georgetown French
A buddy of mine used to be a sous chef in a good French restaurant in DC. He has recommended Citronelle to me in the past.
just where are the "United Provinces of Atlantica"?
Warrior-Mentor
04-19-2010, 21:41
Thai Square on Colmbia Pike. It's a small place, but great food.
Sine Irish Pub in Pentagon Row.
Slantwire
04-20-2010, 05:40
Thai Square on Columbia Pike. It's a small place, but great food.
This is where the local Thais go for authentic food. A couple blocks away, the Bangkok 54 grocery (not the Bangkok 54 club) sells pretty authentic street food as well.
(Columbia Pike is in Arlington, 22204 if you're looking for maps.)
Neisha Thai and Tara Thai (both NoVa local chains) are also high quality restaurants, just not quite as "authentic."
PedOncoDoc
04-22-2011, 20:41
This thread is a great resource. I'll be in DC for 3 days next week, staying near the National Zoo. Any recommendations for a good breakfast place nearby?
Aslo - any recommendations for where to get a good cigar in the vicinity?
Dozer523
04-22-2011, 21:18
we had a great meal at the Founding Farmers on PA Ave not far from Dupont Circle
Breakfast is breakfast, how can you ruin eggs, cheese, coffee?
But for dinner, just northwest of downtown, several really good Ethiopian restaurants nearby. If you're stuck downtown, my favorite is on M street, called DAS Ethiopian.
I've copied, pasted the link:
http://www.google.com/search?q=ethiopian+restaurant+washington+dc&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7ADBF_en
Good luck, enjoy!
WD
edited to read: p.s., cigars, walking distance from restaurant
Ret10Echo
04-22-2011, 22:20
Aslo - any recommendations for where to get a good cigar in the vicinity?
Curtis Draper on the 600 block of 14th Street NW (near the National Press Club and White House).
Shelley's Backroom is nearby on 'F' Street as well if you want a place to enjoy a cigar and your favorite beverage, but I wouldn't buy the cigar there....
Both are accessible from the Red Line train...exit at Metro Center 12th and F street.
R10
Five-O http://www.jaleo.com/
Go here breakfast/lunch/dinner if they let you. Spanish tapas bar which can run you about $100.00 for two. If you like Spanish/mediterranean food there is no equal.
I have to wholeheartedly agree. I always hit Jaleo when in the DC area!
Breakfast is breakfast, how can you ruin eggs, cheese, coffee
WD, with all due respect, imho The hardest thing in the world to cook right is an over easy egg, where the albumen and egg yolk are perfectly set.
So many times I just order "lightly scrambled" just so I am not frustrated by the inattentiveness of some undisciplined cook.
And coffee? Wow, thats whole can of worms.
I can't in good conscience recommend anything with regard to DC except that you exfil that hellhole as quickly as possible.
nousdefions
04-23-2011, 08:47
Shelly's is a great place to enjoy a fine cigar. I brought my own the last time I was there. The food was very good also.
1331 F St NW, Washington, DC 20004
(202) 737-3003
Google Map (http://maps.google.com/maps?oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=maps+shelly%27s+back+room+washington+dc&fb=1&gl=us&hq=shelly%27s+back+room&hnear=Washington+D.C.,+DC&cid=0,0,7631517508406864698&ei=1-ayTfLSM9KgtwfL-f3pDg&sa=X&oi=local_result&ct=image&resnum=1&ved=0CBUQnwIwAA)
Robert
PedOncoDoc
04-24-2011, 13:48
I just received email confirmation that a friend has reserved a table for us at Palm Restaurant - looks to be quite good.
WD: I agree that eggs are fairly hard to mess up, but not all bacon is equal, and sausage varies greatly from restaurant to restaurant. Sometimes a restaurant is known for the scenery that is the wait staff or a nice view from outdoor seating.
The Fish Market in Old Town Alexandria, VA is a good place to start. After dinner look for a place called Bilbo Baggins for some fantastic beer selections! If you are near Dupont Circle, look for the Brickskeller.
Breakfast for us kids on the ranch was crispy bacon, eggs/cheese, and spilt coffee grounds in the fix perfectly served on grandma's butter milk biscuits. I agree, a perfect restaurant served egg is tough to find, I was just happy to get something, my bad.
PedOncoDoc
04-28-2011, 11:28
I had a great time in DC - it was mid-80's and sunny the whole time I was there. The steaks at Plams Restaurant (On 19th between M and N) were excellent, and the company was even better. I had the delmonico, and a friend and his wife got the 36 ounce NY strip which they needed some help finishing - both were cooked perfectly and were well aged. The atmosphere was a bit hokey (the walls were adorned with drawings/charicatures of celebrities - many of whom we could not identify as such), but a good time and meal was had by all.
I walked the area streets the morning before the conference started and stopped for breakfast at a little place call Luna - nothing special but the wait staff were good people.
After breakfast, I walked another 6 miles or so, watching people and seeing the sites and enjoyed a fine cigar from a little wine shop on M between 18th and 19th - the selection of cigars wasn't huge but was very nice.
Thanks again for all of the input - I only had to cover 2 meals and the rest were provided with the working conference.