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Café Milano
DC's most famous people-watching spot, it draws everyone from high-class call girls to diplomats and white house insiders for Italian food like you find in Italy, but more importantly the opportunity to see and be seen. Followers of mode and mafia fight for prime tables and service can be snotty. If you want to be treated like royalty you'd better dress the part.
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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.
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Cascade Café
Oh what a lovely place for a bowl of stuffed tortellini or a croissant sandwich. You can dine in the shadow of IM Pei's waterfall at our pick for museum dining on the Mall. Located in the East Building of the National Gallery, it offers a range of American cuisine along with specialty menus that complement current exhibits (eg regional African American dishes in honor of the Art of Romare Beardon).
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Cashion's Eat Place
Restaurateur and chef Ann Cashion is somewhat of a local celebrity for the original menu and inviting decor she has invented at this little bistro, lauded as one of the city's very best. Cashion's serves food that can be light and rich at the same time (or just rich and rich, as in duck breast served with foie gras). The mismatched furniture and flower boxes create an unpretentious setting to enjoy her work.
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Charlie Palmer Steak
In the shadow of the Capitol (you can see the marble dome through the plate glass windows in the dining room), this place simply oozes power. And while the place has the requisite swirling cigar smoke and old boys club feel, it's also got a muted blue and orange color scheme and a bold, award-winning modern menu with an all-American wine list. The downside? Prices at celebrity chef/owner Charlie Palmer's restaurant are appallingly high.
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Ching Ching Cha
A serene interior takes you far away from the Georgetown traffic outside the front door. This Asian teahouse is filled with plush red pillows that encourage lotus-style lingering. There are more than 48 different teas to choose from along with lots of small appetizer plates (meant for nibbling over pots of smoky tea) and healthy mains. The place is most vibrant at lunch.
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Circle Bistro
For romantic dining and delectable French cuisine at reasonable prices, you can't beat Circle Bistro (it's one of the few places in the city where you can impress a date on less than around US$100 ), a respectable hotel restaurant tucked into a quiet part of town. Try the juicy roast chicken bursting with smoky flavor or the gooey leek-and-goat cheese tart. On the downside, the menu won't satisfy picky eaters - it's not big on variety.
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Citronelle
Tucked away inside the Latham Hotel , this elegant, bi-level restaurant is one of DC's most acclaimed. Chef Michel Richard began his career as a pastry chef, so you can't go wrong with menu items such as shrimp wrapped in filo or, well, dessert. Reserve your table in advance and dress up for the occasion.
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City Lights Of China
It's not much to look at, but City Lights is actually one of the better inexpensive Chinese restaurants in DC. The house specialty is Peking duck, but all the old favorites are here. For the more health conscious, the menu now offers some of these, such as General Tsao's chicken, with sautéed white meat instead of deep-fried batter and served with steamed broccoli and brown rice.
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Colonel Brooks' Tavern & Island Jim's Crab Shack
This friendly bar fills with regulars at lunchtime and happy hour. In the wood-paneled dining room, it serves pub grub and Southern fare. Live jazz bands play in the evenings. If you are feeling tropical, head to the tiki bar next door. Romp in a palm tree-shaded sandpit or sip umbrella drinks on the outdoor deck. Try the 'Kick Ass Margarita - hot and spicy, cold and icy.' Boogie down to live music on Wednesday evenings. Life is good, mon.
Read more about Colonel Brooks' Tavern & Island Jim's Crab Shack
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Coppi's Organic
This old-school U Street restaurant fires up the wood-burning oven nightly to serve perfectly crusted, crispy pizzas along with other seasonal, generally tasty Italian delicacies. The owner is crazy about bicycles; the cozy restaurant is jammed with bikes and cycling memorabilia. It gets packed on weekends when locals flock in to partake in Italian dishes and good cheap wines. The only downer is that non-pizza mains may seem a bit overpriced.
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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 the place serves liquor - choose from alcoholic coffee cocktails and a range of wine, spirits and beer. There are numerous locations around the city.
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DC Coast
Although the Art Deco space is rich, the scrumptious seafood is the reason to come to this perennial DC favorite. Who can pass up a 'Tower of Crab' with spicy, citrusy Tabasco butter? It does a serious lawyer-and-lobby lunch trade; the dull roar can be intrusive or exciting depending on your mood.
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Deli City
Deli City sees no class or color. No, this faded orange building in a faded Northeast neighborhood attracts everyone from the haggard to the haughty craving a perfect over-stuffed sandwich south of New York. Eat in or take-away, this no frills place also does solid soul food like gravy smothered pork chops and fried fish at bargain prices. There is no nearby metro station, you'll need to drive.
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Diner
Late-night breakfast and satisfying comfort food hit the spot around the clock. Crowds of bar-hoppers agree, as they flock to this retro diner for refueling. Cartoons on the big screen are a nice touch.
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Eastern Market
Fresh meats and cheese, colorful produce and sweet-smelling baked goods fill the cases at Eastern Market. Particularly lively on weekends, it's a treat anytime to buy fresh ingredients straight from their source.
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El Pollo Rico
Drooling locals have flocked to this Peruvian chicken joint for decades now in search of tender, juicy, flavor-packed birds served with succulent dipping sauces, crunchy fries and sloppy 'slaw - lines form outside the door come dinnertime. You can eat at rather unappealing plastic tables inside or do the recommended thing and take the precious stuff back to your hotel room to chow to the noise of HBO dramas and taste of icy mini-fridge beer.
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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.
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Elysium Dining Room
Inside the posh hotel Morrison House , the highlight of the Elysium is its one-of-a-kind Chef of Your Own experience. Chef Ulrich visits with each Elysium guest before preparing a custom-made meal, designed to fulfill each guest's desires. Suggested wines complement his creations. It's quite a dining adventure.
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Firefly
This happening bistro inside the Hotel Madera draws consistent crowds for the creations of chef John Wabeck, known for his use of fresh, seasonal ingredients. Although you wouldn't expect it from the trendy menu, the best thing to order here is the big juicy burger done up gourmet-style. Low lights and earth tones lend an intimate atmosphere indoors, while the sunny terrace is perfect for warm summer nights. The adjacent cocktail lounge packs a glam crowd.
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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.
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Florida Avenue Grill
A Washington institution that has been around for almost 60 years, this place has a loyal clientele from around the city swearing by its down-home grits, meatloaf and barbecued ribs. It's a greasy spoon in the truest sense and that's part of the charm. Its walls are lined with signed photos of singers, actors and politicos who have enjoyed its soul food, as well as Southern memorabilia and kitsch.
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Full Circle Café
Linger on the breezy patio and people watch while downing a beer or two. The menu is loaded with soups, salads and sandwiches.
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Full Kee
At the best dive in Chinatown, fill yourself for next to nothing with a simple noodle dish or gorge on a wondrous stir-fry. Better still go for one of the rich savory casseroles you won't find at other places, like eggplant and short ribs or pork and bean curd. No alcohol, no credit cards.
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Gadsby's Tavern Restaurant
Set in a former 18th-century tavern, Gadsby's is named after the Englishman who operated the tavern from 1796 to 1808 (it was then the center of Alexandria's social life). This place tries hard to emulate an 18th-century hostelry. The overall effect is rather kitsch but it's all good, clean and historical fun. Besides, who isn't curious to try 'George Washington's Favorite,' duck stuffed with tart fruit and topped with sweet Madeira gravy?
