Tucked away in an unassuming brick row house, this gem of a restaurant is truly a Washington landmark. Frilly, romantic and cluttered with chintz and velvet, it looks like a cross between grandma's attic and an elegant parlor and makes all the romantic-dining shortlists. The food seems to take a back seat to the fancy decor, but nobody is complaining about the fine mains, such as roasted duck, seafood pasta or the signature quail.

There are great lunch and happy hour specials, including around US$12 bottles of wine on the patio and around US$10 'Senator's Lunch', which includes a chefs pick of main, soup and salad. If you're interested in learning how to taste wine, ask your waiter about the seminars the restaurant runs.