For those of you who live in DC or visit it a lot, let’s say that you have to choose three or four places to eat before the world ends. I plan to visit Best Cellars for a couple cases of wine, and lunch will probably happen somewhere in Chinatown where (preferably) they don’t speak English, but other than that the slate is clean. If you have a special tolerance for boring then send an email and I might arrange something.
Bleg!
by Tim F| 69 Comments
This post is in: Bleg
mlk
Look up Birch & Barley/ChurchKey, especially if you are a beer geek. On 14th just south of Rhode Island. Birch & Barley is the restaurant and ChurchKey is the upstairs bar – food is really good, beer is GREAT.
goblue72
The Tabard Inn is a can’t miss – Seasonal, regional food, top notch cocktail program, all set in one of DC’s oldest hotels – there’s a common room with fireplace and leather chairs that’s perfect for a pre-meal drink – http://tabardinn.com/restaurant
Also good is PS7, they have a market driven menu and like Tabard, an excellent cocktail program – http://www.ps7restaurant.com/
goblue72
Birch & Barley is also the bomb – great charcuterie plate and an extensive beer menu – http://www.birchandbarley.com/
John H.
The dc Chinatown is fake. It’s the arena district, and it’s not ethnic per se. If you want the best authentic Asian food it has all move to suburbs (like the Vietnamese cluster at 7 corners)
But “Chinatown” still has great food. Zaytinya is my personal favorite in that area.
Are you limited by train accessibility?
goblue72
I’ll shut up after this, but there are a couple of bars I’d recommend as well:
The Gibson – a speakeasy similar to SF’s Bourbon & Branch or NYC’s Milk & Honey, but I’d say a little less pretentious maybe? Great cocktails: http://thegibsondc.com/ They do limit their capacity, so I’d go on a weeknight unless you want to have to wait to get in.
They have an offshoot called the Passenger with slightly lower priced drinks and you don’t need to worry about the waitlist is, but it can get a bit crowded – http://www.passengerdc.com/
mlk
I also recommend Proof – since you are a wine fan: http://www.proofdc.com/.
Really nice wine selection and you can get tasting servings so you don’t have to commit to a varietal that you’ve never tried before and are experimenting with.
And the charcuterie is AWESOME.
And the best french fries in DC (along with some other food) is at Brasserie Beck – it’s a Belgian restaurant. http://beckdc.com/
Chris Martinez
@John H.: I second Zaytinya, heartily. So freaking good. It’s Lebanese/Greek-style small plates. Very urbane crowd.
Another favorite for me is Founding Farmers, in Foggy Bottom (Pennsylvania Ave.).
mlk
@John H.: I agree about 7 corners and the Vietnamese. And go to Annandale for Korean.
Chris Martinez
@mlk: Yes to Brasserie Beck. Oh, if you don’t mind dropping some dough, for some fantastic Asian-inspired food by Wolfgang Puck, try The Source.
Also, the same chef who does Zaytinya (was on one of those cooking reality shows) also runs Jaleo, my favorite Spanish tapas joint by far.
TD
Kinkeid’s Seafood is top notch. Expensive, but worth it.
mss
Ray’s Hell Burger, Zaytinya, and especially Rasika—some of the best Indian food in the US.
Chris Martinez
Well, if you’ll be in Arlington, you could get nasty with Ray’s Hell Burger (the place where Obama went and caused a diplomatic incident with Real Merica by getting mustard but no ketchup).
You will have to beat a path through the hipsters, however.
mlk
@Chris Martinez: Have you been to Estadio? http://estadio-dc.com/ Beats Jaleo by a mile…. My new favorite DC restaurant.
Southern Beale
So, funny story: this National Organization for Marriage dude devotes the past 5 years of his life to fighting marriage equality and then suddenly today decided he’s actually FOR marriage equality and all of the anti-gay marriage folks he’s been hanging out with these past few years are assholes.
True story!
Nick
2Amys in Cleveland Park for pizza, apps, the whole menu. A nice walk from metro but worth it. I’ve been in exile from DC for a few years, but make a point to taxi there straight from National when in town for work.
Chris Martinez
@mlk: I haven’t, but if it beats Jaleo, I’m there.
mlk
I need to stop… I can recommend restaurants all night. This is why I’m poor. :-)
FoxinSocks
I don’t eat out a lot and my taste in food is questionable at best (I’m eating something food-like from 7-Eleven as I speak), but I second the love for Jaleo. Mmmm, so good.
I also love Bistro du Coin on Connecticut Ave., just up the street from Dupont Circle, but again, my taste is questionable, so maybe they’re really good or maybe I just like so-so food.
Felanius Kootea (formerly Salt and freshly ground black people)
@Southern Beale: I laughed out loud when I saw a comment at that site along the lines of “good luck to him and his secret gay partner.” I guess enough people have picked up on the fact that many gay-bashing Republicans are actually closeted, self-hating gays.
Many dining options mentioned here that I’ll have to remember the next time I’m in DC for an NIH review. Which will happen now that the shutdown has been averted (I learned at the last review I attended that research grants, etc. can’t be reviewed without at least one NIH/govt employee present).
Yutsano
I don’t live in DC (I live in the other Washington) but I do have friends there. One of them is a major oyster hound, so if you’re in the hunt for a good oyster bar/seafood place let me know, I’ll ask him.
Tyro
Cava. Get the flaming saganaki and the grilled octopus.
Corey
DC’s a crazily underrated restaurant town. Try Ripple in Cleveland Park, Brasserie Beck and the aforementioned Jaleo in Penn Quarter, Zola in Chinatown. I haven’t been to Komi yet but it’s been the #1 restaurant in Washingtonian for a few years running. I like Bistrot du Coin too, but not sure it’s on a DC restaurant bucket list.
I’m going to be the dissident here from the ChurchKey party line and suggest that if you want a great beer selection and a cool, unpretentious atmosphere, head to the Bier Baron in Dupont or Black Squirrel in Adams Morgan (my favorite). And everyone’s right, most of the real ethnic food is in the suburbs.
meh
Lebanese Taverna – any of the ethiopian joints in Adams Morgan – another vote for Cava – the Inn at Little Washington (if you have a spare hundred or two lying around)
Tyro
Of the Ethiopian places, I like Dukem on U Street a lot.
Comrade DougJ
@Corey:
I went to Komi a few months ago. I liked it but I wasn’t knocked out.
I do like Jaleo.
Ben
May I plug Ben’s Chili Bowl? Their chili fries are really good…
Of course, I didn’t eat really hi-end stuff while living in Washington, so if you want something classier than that go with the above posts.
Jason
Jaleo, Birch & Barley/ChurchKey, Kosta’s Greek deli in Dupont for a weekday lunch. Also: Buck’s out on Connecticut. Pharmacy Bar in Adams Morgan for drinks if you’re in Adams Morgan.
iriedc
if you love mussels head to Dr. Granville Moore’s on H street NE in what we now call the Atlas District. The beer is excellent I’m told, but I don’t drink beer. I do eat mussels though and can tell you these are excellent
maye
— Oceanaire Seafood Room
— Lebanese Taverna
— Tenh Penh
opie jeanne, formerly known as Jeanne Ringland
@Southern Beale: Great story.
Mojotron
If you’re looking for Chinese food in Chinatown, the only place really worthwhile is Full Kee on H. The place whose name I forget that makes noodles in the window is good if you stick to the noodles, everything else is bleah. RFD has a great beer selection but avoid their food. I’ve heard good things about the Korean place Mandu that’s walking distance from Chinatown (5th and K NW) but have not tried it.
Mojotron
Glossed over the “places to eat in DC before the world ends” part. I’d go with Inn at Little Washington (barely counts as DC), Ray’s Hellburger/Ray’s the Steaks (Arlington), Atlas Room (H Street NE), and the Greek Deli (downtown but they’re only open during the week for lunch).
MikeJ
I will give a 17th to Lebanese Taverna.
If you’ve got the cash, I really like Equinox.
If you’re drunk and it’s 3am and you’re in gtown Georgetown Cafe.
Corey
@Comrade DougJ: One of the reasons I’ve been avoiding Komi is that, at this point, there’s no way it’ll live up to the hype. Seems kind of silly to drop $300 on something that will probably disappoint.
opie jeanne, formerly known as Jeanne Ringland
We also live in the other Washington, but we visited a couple of years ago. Primi Piatti was the restaurant that stands out my memory. Over on 2013 I Street Northwest. We stayed at the Hotel Lombardy, got into town a little late so we decided to just walk down the street to find some food. It’s pricey but it was wonderful.
Menu: http://www.zagat.com/r/primi-piatti-washington/menu#name-anchor
asiangrrlMN
@Southern Beale: Good for him. I’m glad he not only walked away from what he created but pushed back so strongly at it.
Admittedly, the first thing I thought was that he found out he was gay. Whether or not that’s true, it’s a good example of how people can change their minds.
@Yutsano:Hey, you. How you be?
John Dillinger
Dogfish Alehouse at 7 Corners in Falls Church for beer. Take a cab from East Falls Church Metro. Burma in Chinatown.
Yutsano
@asiangrrlMN: Meet me upstairs in teh open thread so we can indulge our wrongness proper-like.
MikeJ
@John Dillinger: Does Dogfish still do that nonsense with filtering the beer through 37 pounds of hops in between the tap and the nozzle? Neat gimmick that doesn’t lead to good beer.
asiangrrlMN
@Yutsano: I’m there! And, if lovin’ you is wrong, then I don’t want to ever be right.
protected static
Yet Another Vote for the Lebanese Taverna.
The Tako Grill in Bethesda was also one of our favorites when we lived in DC.
Todd
Go to Keren. Eat their ful with fresh bread. That is all.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/keren-coffee-shop-washington-2
qtip
I’ll add my votes for The Gibson and the Tabard Inn.
You can call and make a reservation at The Gibson if you don’t want to wait. It’s a bit pricey, but a nice change from most bars. Their website has almost no info on it, but this menu was pretty accurate last time I visited.
JR
Chinatown Express. GREAT noodles (and my meat-eating friends speak highly of the pork buns). And yes, a pretty strong language barrier.
I’m also a fan of Zed’s Ethiopian, Bossa in Adams Morgan, Luna Diner in Dupont Circle, Matchbox in Chinatown (if I have a reservation), and take your pick of cupcakeries. And Founding Farmers deserves a shot. Perhaps Busboys and Poets (which I find tasty yet overrated). And there’s an international chain called Fogo de Chao that, for meat-eaters, is a special sort of prix-fixe heaven.
Oh, and you should probably give Spike’s place a try (Good Stuff Eatery) and the ever-popular Ben’s Chili Bowl.
David Manhattan
Ditto to Founding Farmers. Nora has a great reputation, but I think it’s hard to get a reservation and anyway it was too expensive for me ever to try; depending on your circumstances it could be what you’re looking for, or not.
Magnolia
Don’t go to Lebanese Taverna or Busboys and Poets. Both used to be good, but have gone downhill in direct proportion to trying to expand.
I can’t believe no one has mention Palena. Most people I know in the food industry swear by it.
I would second recommendations for Birch and Barley, Brasserie Beck (though if you go there, eat at the bar), Estadio, Two Amy’s. You might also want to try out CityZen’s bar. They do a three course meal at the bar for $50. People love Central and Kushi is sort of the new hotness in DC.
Oh, and if you are going to be in Alexandria, you have to go to Restaurant Eve.
If you want to do Chinatown right go to the New Big Wong late at night and ask for the fried pork ribs and cold tea.
Steeplejack
@mlk:
Seven Corners is in Falls Church, VA, just so Tim knows. My ’hood! Excellent Vietnamese, also good Thai and at least one good Chinese restaurant (Fortune).
bago
The d’orc across the street from Ford’s theater is a nice little French place with a good wine bar upstairs.
protected static
Too bad to hear that the Lebanese Taverna has slipped… it was a great place to go with a large group, particularly if you needed to accommodate a wide spectrum of dietary requirements.
Nora was great both times I was able to go.
Redshift
Zed’s Ethiopian in Georgetown. Ethiopian food is one of the few cuisines I could be happy eating almost all the time.
Judge Crater
Cafe Ole on Wisconsin Ave. next to Fannie Mae. (Cleveland Park) Despite the name it is Lebanese/Middle Eastern. It’s a hidden gem. The prices are reasonable, the menu is diverse and the food is great. It has an outside eating area as well. I’ve never been disappointed.
Paul Belliveau
All the Ethiopian restaurants mentioned are good. But the best Ethiopian food is in Downtown Silver Spring, just over the DC line in Maryland. Go to Addis Abbaba on Fenton street, especially on a weekday or weeknight, and you may be the only non- native Ethiopian there. Food is amazing and inexpensive. Especially the Dora Wat.
Paul Belliveau
In fact, depending on the date and time, I’d treat at addis Abbaba. I owe you for motivating and guiding me about calling my reps drink the HCR debates.
mlk
One other recommendation, although again it is in the suburbs, but not too far from a metro is El Pollo Rico in Arlington. Peruvian chicken. THE BEST Peruvian chicken. All they do is chicken.
http://www.elpolloricorestaurant.com/
And it is the cheapest meal in the DC metro area.
Cheryl from Maryland
Don’t go to a Chinese Restaurant in Chinatown — go to Burma if you are in Chinatown. Cowgirl Creamery on F between 9th and 10th NW is awesome for lunch. Teasim is also good for lunch. Best museum food is at the National Gallery of Art. Rosa Mexicano in Penn Quarter has a great bar, interesting wine list, and duck tacos. Their lamb dishes are also wonderful. Oyamel is another jewel in Jose Andreas’ crown — lighter Mexican fare with regular chef specials — I had a delish octopus salad there just a few days ago.
If you get out to Rockville town Center — Spice Xing and La Canela are great — be careful at La Canela as the pisco sours can put you under the table.
LarsThorwald
Pardon me for saying so, but almost every listing here (at least the first half dozen) are to be avoided, because they are the conventional wisdom of what is good. Tabard Inn? Kincaids? Seriously? Tourist traps. Nonsense.
Rasika is one of the the best restaurants in D.C., and hands-down the best Indian food I have ever had.
If you want fancy-shmancy, try Sei, but this is not a very good sushi town.
There is a brand new Thai place in a building across from the Verizon Center (I work in a federal building right there) called Absolute, and it’s a Thai restaurant, and it is authentic and delicious, and no one there speaks English.
LarsThorwald
And God Bless mlk for mentioning El Pollo Rico, which is simply fucking delicious.
Tim
I’m horrified that Dino’s hasn’t gotten a mention. They don’t have a wine list, they have a wine book. And Dean often sits at the bar and checks with customers.
Brasserie Beck has a beer book (you can tell where my priorities are), and they often have a couple of beers that aren’t listed but they offer if they like your selections. Sit at the bar for those.
Palena is seriously tasty. The hamburger is excellent if you don’t want to spend a lot (a contender for best burger), and they have a nice set of options that changes based on their seasonality. They recently expanded, but seem to be coping with the expansion.
I don’t know Ethiopian restaurants well enough (and other people in these comments clearly do), but it’s tasty and not common elsewhere, so find an Ethiopian place and chow down.
kerFuFFler
@Southern Beale: Thanks for the link. So heartening to hear of someone changing their mind and renouncing a hateful position.
Walker
@LarsThorwald:
Then what is a solid seafood place? There is no point in being in this part of the country and not going some place that handles blue shell. Asian and asian fusion can be found elsewhere — and is often better elsewhere.
mlk
@Walker: You can’t get MD blues this time of year. It isn’t crabbing season. Any blues you find are imported from NC and south. But if you want a good crab shack in the DC metro area, I recommend Quarterdeck in Arlington. It ain’t fancy, but the crabs are good.
mlk
@LarsThorwald: Thanks!
qtip
I ate at Rasika several days in a row when I was on jury duty and found it high quality, but not that tasty. I love Indian food, it’s my favorite…I lived in London for a year and really enjoyed exploring all the Indian restaurants…but Rasika isn’t close to the best Indian I’ve had. I’m not trying to be argumentative, just pointing out that the differences in opinion here could be due to individual preference.
Alex
I’m nearly 40 years old, and I’ve spent 3/4 of my life living in the DC area. If I could only go back for one time, one night, and one meal, I would go to Ben’s Chili Bowl. The food is fantastic, and you won’t get a more authentic DC experience anywhere in the city. Nothing else even comes close on either front.
If I were allowed 2 meals, I would have the second one at Lauriol Plaza, which is a high-end Spanish and Latin American restaurant. And I say that as someone who currently lives in Austin, Texas.
As for the recommendations that most of y’all are giving, I just don’t get it. They aren’t restaurants where people who actually live in the city eat. They’re all big destinations for tourists, federal government workers, lobbyists, and suburbanites. If you want good food AND you want to get to know what DC is actually like for the people who call it their home, go somewhere were you cannot see a single museum or federal building. The food will be better, and you’ll get to know the real DC!
guido from the Bronx
Thought I’d help repay the enjoyment I get reading your blog.
While Best Cellars is a nice little wine place (emphasis on the little) with a good batting average for wine choices, I suggest you get over to McArthur beverage (also known as Bassins) for a world class wine store experience. There are a half-dozen wine people each with their own “canton” or area of specialty. Their prices are remarkable good, and the best price extends to individual bottles. Very good if you would like to try new wines. Worth the visit. For a pretty good discount wine store, Pearsons wine
does well with old-world wines at the lower and middle end. Ignore their inflated “original” prices ’cause they usually discount 30% (it’s a minor quirk. They have a good staff, and they usually have a dozen or so wines open to taste. Better to spend your money buying wine that blowing too much on mostly forgettable food in DC, IMHO
Armadillo
Eating Chinese food in DC Chinatown would really be an epic mistake. Full Kee and the hand-pulled noodles places are the best of a weak bunch. Sort of like Paul Ryan’s budget was better than the proposals Michelle Bachmann came up with. It’s true, but still not very good. Or something.
If you want ethnic food in DC, you’re better off getting Salvadoran (not Mexican, Salvadoran) or Ethiopian food, or Ben’s Chili Bowl.
Ethnic food outside DC would be Vietnamese at the Eden Mall in 7 Corners or Korean further out in Annandale, VA. Fortune in 7 Corners was going downhill about 6-7 years ago, and I stopped visiting. There’s Indian food in the closer MD suburbs, along with some Peruvian grilled chicken places.
If you really need to eat Chinese food, go to Rockville in the Maryland suburbs: Bob’s Noodle 66 for Taiwanese food, A&J for northern food, Joe’s Sichuan for Sichuan (duh) and New Fortune in Rockville/Gaithersburg for dim sum.
Armadillo
Burma Resturant in Chinatown would be a mistake as well. I went, once, about 8 years ago. They use lemons instead of limes, because it’s cheaper, and claim that there’s no difference in flavor. You make the call.
RFD in Chinatown is not remotely Chinese, and the food is nothing special, but it does have a good beer selection.
Tim
Also, if you’re looking for food you can’t get elsewhere, Nando’s Peri-Peri is great for lunch or a cheap dinner. It’s South African/Mozambiquan chicken with hot sauce. It’s not ground-breaking in its culinary adventurousness, but it’s fun and DC has the only locations in the US, including one right in Chinatown.
Mojotron
Jeez, what is with all the Ben’s Chili Bowl recommends? Have any of you eaten there sober?
Lebanese Taverna is good but overpriced for what it is, in general do not get pizza or Mexican food in DC (and Salvadorean doesn’t quite cut it), there’s good Indian food to be had but mostly in the suburbs (Jaipur, Raaga), and if you’re going to try Ethiopian food DC’s the place to do it but there’s a good chance you may not like it (vegetarian dishes are usually better).