Restaurants in Washington, DC
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A
Afterwords Café & Kramerbooks
Generations of DC intelligentsia swear by this combination awesome bookstore and awesome squared brunch spot. Food is simple but very pleasing stuff, stick to your bones but pleasingly innovative – pecan-crusted catfish with hollandaise, anyone? Browsing the stacks before stuffing our guts is a favorite way to spend Washington weekends.
reviewed
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B
Old Ebbitt Grill
The Grill is something of an institution, having occupied its prime, adjacent-to-just-about-everything (the White House, the Mall, Penn Quarter) real estate since 1846. This is as down to earth as fine DC dining gets. Political players (and lots of tourists) pack into the brass and wood interior, the sound of their conversation rumbling across a dining room where good burgers, oysters and fish-and-chip type fare are rotated out almost as quickly as the clientele.
reviewed
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C
Ben’s Chili Bowl
Ben’s is to DC dining what the White House and Capitol are to sightseeing: a must-visit. To take that analogy a little further, while the White House and Capitol are the most recognizably important symbols of DC as capital, Ben’s holds the same status as regards DC, the place where people live. Opened and operated by Ben and Virginia Ali and family (it’s now adjacent to Ben Ali Lane; Ben Ali died during the research for this book, which left a large hole in the U St business community), the Bowl has been around since 1958. It’s one of the only businesses on U St to have survived the 1968 riots and the disruption that accompanied construction of the U Street Metro stop. Th…
reviewed
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D
Bistro Bis
Jeff Buben is the chef behind the nouveau Southern fare at Vidalia, and he takes a Southern approach – big portions and rich flavors – to the menu at Bis. The combination works; there’s a rustic affability between classical Southern American and French cuisine, and the two seemingly disparate cultures find delicious common ground in this warm dining room. Concrete examples? Try the crisp frisee salad accompanied by big, sweet sides of applewood bacon, or a smoky duck confit offset by tarty sweet kisses from big cherries. Bistro Bis opens for breakfast, one of the few restaurants in its class to do so, making it the perfect spot to squeeze in a gourmet omelet and glass of …
reviewed
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E
Nora
Nora Pouillon remains the queen of the Washington food scene. She made her reputation serving food from farmers and ranchers – this was by many accounts the first organic restaurant in the country – and a list of the farms that provided your food is included on the menu. The way these fresh ingredients are combined is in the New American style, and while this school of cooking has been done to death, Nora was one of the originals and still executes it so well that each bite is like rediscovering what the nation can do with its ingredients: Alaskan halibut arrives on a bed of corn succotash, while Amish chicken livers soak deliciously in their own jus. All this happens in …
reviewed
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F
Poste
Named for its previous incarnation as the mail sorting room for the city post office, Poste has been busting out its A game these days. The menu is playfully attractive, divided between ‘pasta, ’ ‘pasture’ and ‘garden’ sections; the outdoor courtyard is one of the best alfresco dining spaces in the city; and the food lives up to this high bar. Chicken and corn? Sounds boring; executed flawlessly. Wreckfish with a wine-poached egg? Silly, sexy, beautifully presented and prepared. And give them credit for lightening up the fearsome tête de veau (head of cow) by rolling quail eggs, black truffles and frisee into a lovely terrine of veal cheeks. Come evenings, th…
reviewed
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G
1789
If one restaurant were to exemplify not only Georgetown, but all that George-town represents – the brownstone political aristocracy of Washington, DC – it would be 1789. Located in a smart Federal row house, the setting is colonial, cozy and distinguished all at once. As a bonus, the food is excellent. This kitchen was one of the first high-end geniuses of the ‘rustic New American’ genre, so if you’re going to try local ingredients sexed up with provincial flare, such as roasted Virginia rabbit with country ham and English peas, this is the spot to indulge your taste buds. Formal wear (jacket) is not only expected, but required for dinner.
reviewed
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H
Pho 75
For a no frills dining experiment offering only pho (a beef noodle soup), this place is amazingly successful. Hordes of tourists, locals and Vietnamese pack communal tables each slurping their own unique variation of the soup - some add brisket or tripe, meatballs or flank steaks; others douse it with lime, hot sauce and Asian basil. Whichever you choose, odds are it will be delicious.
The name means soup, but this local chain is so much more than a beef noodle soup shop. For a cultural experience visit on a Sunday, when fathers teach their first generation American daughters how to slurp slippery white noodles simmering in richly flavorful broth.
reviewed
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Meskerem
As you make your way across DC, you’ll see loads of places offering Ethiopian food, but Meskerem, named for the first month of the Ethiopian calendar, remains one of our favorites. This spot is a stalwart of quality despite many years on the block. It’s the just-seared lamb served in spicy sauce, the wat (stew) scooped with spongy injera (pancake-like bread) and the vegetables, all deliciously spiced, not hot but rich, complex and savory. This is remarkably easy food for the most conservative palette, best washed down with some imported honey wine.
reviewed
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J
Montmartre
One of the better pure French spots in town, Montmartre is ensconced in a warm, neighborly location cluttered in a mamman’s dining room kinda way, complimented by great wines and some very fine steak, served bloody and yummy. This is more of a neighborhood spot than a political dinner date, which adds to the feeling of cozy authenticity. The homemade pâté is silky and rich, deserts are delightful, and all in all this is a place French expats take their friends to give them a taste of home – the praise doesn’t come much higher than that.
reviewed
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K
Bangkok Bistro
Don’t expect a cute little hole-in-the-wall plucked straight outta Thailand; Bangkok Bistro is big and brash and usually packed. To be honest, it’s not so much Thai as Thai-American, influenced by Asia but distinctly Yankee in its huge, arm-waving ‘look-at-me’ approach, modern decor, slick waitstaff and somewhat watered-down Thai. But it’s also popular as hell, so they’re doing something right. We always like the drunken noodles and curry mains, plus the inevitable people parade that marches by.
reviewed
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L
Matchbox Pizza
Lines stretch round the block, the buzz is deafening and happy, the smells lead you in like a lost, cheesy lover: welcome to one of the most popular pizzerias in town. The pie here has rocketed into the DC gastronomic universe, and you can’t come here now without finding Matchbox packed with the curious and the satisfied. What’s so good about it? Fresh ingredients, a thin, blistered crust baked by angels and more fresh ingredients.
reviewed
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America
Claiming to be DC's 'only 50-star restaurant,' this place takes the theme as far as it goes, with menus shaped like maps and mains from every state in the Union (from New York steak to grilled Mahi-Mahi, and don't forget Boston cream pie for dessert). The varied menu draws Hill-rats during the week and tourists on weekends. It's a good place to bring the family; couples might find the mall atmosphere un-romantic.
reviewed
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Penang
You can eat like a king at this authentic Malaysian restaurant when cheap meal deals are offered, 11:30-15:00 Monday to Friday. For around US$8 you get a soup, salad, appetizer, drink and noodle dish. Otherwise portions are large, delicious and almost all can be made vegetarian. Try the Kari Mee noodle soup (around US$7). Don't let the outside discourage you: inside the place is intimate Asian chic.
reviewed
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O
Wok & Roll
At this inauspicious address, Lincoln's assassins plotted their scheme and were later hanged for it. These days, much happier plotting takes place here, such as deciding between the light, fresh sushi or steaming, spicy noodles for lunch. The selection of teas - black, green, hot or cold - is impressive; try one of the delicious and healthy milk varieties.
reviewed
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P
Bombay Club
No bad sitar music and clunky curry here; this is India done up by several notches. The seafood curries like the Goan fish or lobster cooked in fenugreek and garam masala are solidly wonderful, and plates like wild boar vindaloo are as tasty as they are novel. Action stars agree; Bombay Club is popular with the likes of Harrison Ford and Bruce Willis.
reviewed
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Q
El Tamarindo
The waitstaff arrive with water, chips and spicy homemade salsa as soon as you sit down at this friendly, family-run Salvadoran restaurant. Young urbanites flock here early to fill-up on inexpensive taco dishes before heading out to the clubs. The food is cheap; the margaritas or pitchers of Sangria, strong and tasty.
reviewed
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R
Union Street Public House
Gas lamps out front welcome tourists and locals into this spacious taproom for frosty brews, raw-bar delights and nightly dinner specials. Inside, the atmosphere is equally inviting: a wide bar, heavy wooden furniture and exposed brick provide equal parts retro-and-warm atmosphere.
reviewed
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S
Armand’s Pizzeria
The best pizza on the hill is served Chicago-style (deep crust) and pleasantly greasy. It’s almost next door to the right-wing Heritage Foundation, so depending on your politics, you can share some pie with Newt Gingrich or throw it at him.
reviewed
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Capital Q BBQ
A must for Texas-style BBQ lovers, with piled-high portions of smoked meat and plenty o' slaw on the side; try the brisket sandwich. A very casual eating environment, usually packed at lunch with journalists, office workers and other city folk.
reviewed
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Moby Dick House Of Kabob
Why it's called Moby Dick is a mystery, but this is another hole-in-the wall joint serving tasty Persian food into the wee hours. The highlight is the pita bread, fresh and warm from the clay oven. Daily lunch specials are around US$7.
reviewed
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Booeymonger
Create your own sandwich or choose one from the big board. Ingredients are fresh and service is quick, which explains why this local institution is often packed at lunchtime.
reviewed
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Cosi
Get your coffee straight up in the morning, and with a few shots of booze in the evening at this friendly café where the mood is all about mellow lingering. Fresh salads and ciabatta sandwiches keep your stomach happy as you toil away on your laptop or devour the morning's Washington Post. After 16:00 the place serves liquor - choose from alcoholic coffee cocktails and a range of wine, spirits and beer. There are numerous locations around the city.
reviewed
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Five Guys
From just three locations a few years ago, this hometown burger chain has grown to more than 20 locations across the city. The burgers are mouthwateringly juicy with just the right amount of grease and a dizzying choice of condiments, the fries done right. Sit at the long bar and fill up on peanuts while your food's being fried.
reviewed
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Y
Vidalia
Is it fair to call Vidalia ‘Southern?’ Chef Jeff Buben, who also runs the kitchen in Bistro Bis, is a man who likes his French influences. But there’s clear Southern roots in his focus on mixing the rich with the filling – ‘Southern’ ain’t just grits, after all. Although with that said, the shrimp and grits here are something else, a sort of Platonic ideal of the shrimp and grits concept. Fare that’s a bit more unique-sounding but just as accessible to the everyman palette (and just as appreciable to a hard-core foodie) includes a cold cucumber soup of sea trout, squid ink and roe – pretty much like a spoonful of winter ocean – and rabbit loin and leg served under smoked …
reviewed
