Westend Bistro

There’s some intimidating talent behind Westend’s kitchen: the restaurant was founded by Eric Ripert, who has a small constellation of Michelin stars under his belt, and the chef de cuisine is Joe Palma, who has come up through some of the best kitchens in DC and New York, including Citronelle and Le Bernardin. Those sort of names attract some gushing hype, attention which is pretty justified in this gem of wood and warm tones. The French-American menu is a mix of rich haute cuisine and a playful wink; you can snack on truffled popcorn at the bar, then enjoy a fish burger dressed with a delicate saffron aioli that hits like a delicious whisper – and at $16, that burger isn’t costing you much more than a night at Red Lobster. Good food, good deals – what’s keeping you?