Restaurant recommendations in DC?
July 19, 2018 7:11 AM Subscribe
Looking for a good, cheap restaurant nearish the Kennedy Center in DC.
I'm going to the Kennedy Center on Saturday night with a friend. We'd like to grab dinner beforehand. Any recommendations?
Anything within a few metro stops of the venue is fine. We're both fairly adventurous eaters (although anything super-meaty is a no-go for me). We're not trying to spend much money – we're aiming for something like the "two dollar signs" rating on Yelp or Google. We'll probably want to have a couple of drinks with dinner.
Thanks!
I'm going to the Kennedy Center on Saturday night with a friend. We'd like to grab dinner beforehand. Any recommendations?
Anything within a few metro stops of the venue is fine. We're both fairly adventurous eaters (although anything super-meaty is a no-go for me). We're not trying to spend much money – we're aiming for something like the "two dollar signs" rating on Yelp or Google. We'll probably want to have a couple of drinks with dinner.
Thanks!
About 25 years ago, a young Spanish chef named Jose Andres opened a tapas restaurant in a desolate DC neighborhood. That restaurant, Jaleo, helped spark a downtown renaissance, and today you'll have to fight crowds as you walk down 7th St. Plus, the food is still damn good. It's about a 10 minute walk to Metro Center, which is a few stops from Foggy Bottom.
Andres has a small empire of restaurants, many of which are nearby. Also consider Zaytinya for Mediterranean and Oyamel for Mexican. Both are deservedly popular, so make a reservation well in advance. (Oh, and Andres has a side gig helping out in Puerto Rico, where he's helped serve a few million meals to people recovering from Hurricane Maria.)
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 8:43 AM on July 19, 2018 [1 favorite]
Andres has a small empire of restaurants, many of which are nearby. Also consider Zaytinya for Mediterranean and Oyamel for Mexican. Both are deservedly popular, so make a reservation well in advance. (Oh, and Andres has a side gig helping out in Puerto Rico, where he's helped serve a few million meals to people recovering from Hurricane Maria.)
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 8:43 AM on July 19, 2018 [1 favorite]
Raskia is excellent, absolutely recommended.
The easiest safe choice is probably the Circa at Foggy Bottom. It's nothing super exciting, but the sandwich menu is cheapish and reliable. When I'm in that area looking for a cheap quick bite though, I usually eat off the hot bar at the Whole Foods by the metro (beer/wine available).
Another option if you have the time and energy is Chaia in Georgetown for awesome and creative tacos. It's maybe a mile walk from the metro, but you'd have a nice waterfront walk back to the Kennedy Center.
posted by veery at 9:09 AM on July 19, 2018
The easiest safe choice is probably the Circa at Foggy Bottom. It's nothing super exciting, but the sandwich menu is cheapish and reliable. When I'm in that area looking for a cheap quick bite though, I usually eat off the hot bar at the Whole Foods by the metro (beer/wine available).
Another option if you have the time and energy is Chaia in Georgetown for awesome and creative tacos. It's maybe a mile walk from the metro, but you'd have a nice waterfront walk back to the Kennedy Center.
posted by veery at 9:09 AM on July 19, 2018
Thirding Rasika West End, although it can be on the pricey side and you will likely want to make reservations well in advance...they get busy.
An alternative is Bindaas. I haven't been there yet, but it's by the same owner as Rasika/Rasika West End, with more of an Indian street food cuisine slant, and cheaper.
About a 15 minute walk from the Kennedy Center.
WAPO review here.
posted by Preserver at 9:43 AM on July 19, 2018 [1 favorite]
An alternative is Bindaas. I haven't been there yet, but it's by the same owner as Rasika/Rasika West End, with more of an Indian street food cuisine slant, and cheaper.
About a 15 minute walk from the Kennedy Center.
WAPO review here.
posted by Preserver at 9:43 AM on July 19, 2018 [1 favorite]
Another easy safe choice is Tonic, which is more of a bar and grill type thing, but is only a few blocks from the Kennedy Center. I work in Foggy Bottom and the immediate area around the Kennedy Center is something of a food desert, unfortunately. I've eaten at Tonic for lunch a few times, but I don't know about its dinner crowd.
posted by backwards compatible at 9:57 AM on July 19, 2018
posted by backwards compatible at 9:57 AM on July 19, 2018
Ah yeah, the Kennedy Center is basically in a reasonably-priced-sit-down-restaurant desert. I work on the other side of the Foggy Bottom metro and totally sympathize; everything around here is pitched to the lunchtime crowd and/or GW students. Most people go to Founding Farmers, Circa, or District Commons but I think they are more $$$ than $$; most entrees are $20+ but you can get away with a $$ if you order a sandwich or salad. Jaleo and Zaytinya are $$$-$$$$.
A few alternative recommendations:
-Tonic is that rare non-chain restaurant on the GWU campus. I've only been there to drink beer and eat tater tots but I had a very nice time and I like the decor. Definitely reasonable prices.
-La Piazza at the Avenue Suites hotel. No one seems to know this place exists so there's never a crowd, and I really like the Italian snacks, cocktail specials, and happy hour deals.
-Stoney's is an old-school DC dive bar. The food is good if you like comfort food and big portions; their famous specialty is a grilled cheese sandwich so that should give you an idea. They partition off the happy hour area so you can avoid the post-work crowds.
-Cafe Deluxe has diner-style food in a French-inspired setting. The bar area with the big windows is really pleasant to sit down in, and the flatbreads on the happy hour menu are delicious.
Since you did say you were willing to go a metro stop or two in, I can recommend Nooshi near Farragut West for Asian-inspired noodles and sushi. However, I do not recommend doing this (or walking to Georgetown) for time reasons.
On preview, I went to the other Bindaas location in Cleveland Park and it was awesome, so I would heartily second that recommendation.
posted by capricorn at 10:01 AM on July 19, 2018
A few alternative recommendations:
-Tonic is that rare non-chain restaurant on the GWU campus. I've only been there to drink beer and eat tater tots but I had a very nice time and I like the decor. Definitely reasonable prices.
-La Piazza at the Avenue Suites hotel. No one seems to know this place exists so there's never a crowd, and I really like the Italian snacks, cocktail specials, and happy hour deals.
-Stoney's is an old-school DC dive bar. The food is good if you like comfort food and big portions; their famous specialty is a grilled cheese sandwich so that should give you an idea. They partition off the happy hour area so you can avoid the post-work crowds.
-Cafe Deluxe has diner-style food in a French-inspired setting. The bar area with the big windows is really pleasant to sit down in, and the flatbreads on the happy hour menu are delicious.
Since you did say you were willing to go a metro stop or two in, I can recommend Nooshi near Farragut West for Asian-inspired noodles and sushi. However, I do not recommend doing this (or walking to Georgetown) for time reasons.
On preview, I went to the other Bindaas location in Cleveland Park and it was awesome, so I would heartily second that recommendation.
posted by capricorn at 10:01 AM on July 19, 2018
Walking-ish distance from the Kennedy Center
- Rasika is incredible, but not $$
- Circa and Founding Farmers are solid, reliable options, if somewhat devoid of character
- Tonic, Stoney's have more charm, but are also relatively standard americana.
If you're willing to go a bit further out for more adventurous food, I'd recommend ditching the Metro (especially on weekends) and taking a Lyft to:
- Any Ethiopian place (Das in Georgetown is cheaper than you'd guess and excellent)
- Lapis in Adams Morgan for reasonably priced and super delicious Afghani
- Purple Patch in Mt Pleasant for Filipino food that's almost as good as Bad Saint for much cheaper
posted by matrixclown at 12:23 PM on July 19, 2018
- Rasika is incredible, but not $$
- Circa and Founding Farmers are solid, reliable options, if somewhat devoid of character
- Tonic, Stoney's have more charm, but are also relatively standard americana.
If you're willing to go a bit further out for more adventurous food, I'd recommend ditching the Metro (especially on weekends) and taking a Lyft to:
- Any Ethiopian place (Das in Georgetown is cheaper than you'd guess and excellent)
- Lapis in Adams Morgan for reasonably priced and super delicious Afghani
- Purple Patch in Mt Pleasant for Filipino food that's almost as good as Bad Saint for much cheaper
posted by matrixclown at 12:23 PM on July 19, 2018
Rasika West End is amazing, but getting a reservation there before a sold-out show can be very hard. I don't know if they still have the $35 special pre-theater menu, but if so that's probably the thing to get if you want value for money. Ordering a la carte there wouldn't be my idea of "cheap" eats, though YMMV.
Tom Sietsema apparently doesn't think very highly anymore of Kingbird, which is too bad as it's right next to the Kennedy Center, but he does recommend Marcel's — specifically, though, the $85 prix fixe menu (5:00-6:30pm). So not exactly cheap eats either, but it does come with car service to and from the Kennedy center? Which is nice.
Personally? When we go to the Kennedy Center we usually eat ahead out in the 'burbs (if we're driving) or elsewhere in DC (if not), so as not to be limited to places right near the Center, and then just grab a drink at the cafe and do a lap around the terrace if it's a nice night, before we head into the theater itself. The whiskey lemonade that comes out of the tap in the cafe is pretty good…
posted by Kadin2048 at 1:21 PM on July 19, 2018
Tom Sietsema apparently doesn't think very highly anymore of Kingbird, which is too bad as it's right next to the Kennedy Center, but he does recommend Marcel's — specifically, though, the $85 prix fixe menu (5:00-6:30pm). So not exactly cheap eats either, but it does come with car service to and from the Kennedy center? Which is nice.
Personally? When we go to the Kennedy Center we usually eat ahead out in the 'burbs (if we're driving) or elsewhere in DC (if not), so as not to be limited to places right near the Center, and then just grab a drink at the cafe and do a lap around the terrace if it's a nice night, before we head into the theater itself. The whiskey lemonade that comes out of the tap in the cafe is pretty good…
posted by Kadin2048 at 1:21 PM on July 19, 2018
Yes, closest Metro is Foggy Bottom. There are SO MANY restaurants within two to three metro stops of there. That said, I think many of the places mentioned so far (Rasika, Jaleo, Zaytinya, etc.) would be $$$ and not $$, IMHO. Great food, but pricey. I do like Founding Farmers and Farmers Fishers Bakers, though.
Personally, I usually go to Campono if I need to eat near the Kennedy Center before a show. It's pizza/sandwiches/salad, and you order at the counter, but it's decently priced and the food is pretty good. Can be super busy and hectic, so having more time makes for less stress, but it moves quickly and once you are seated it's fine. I had wine there once only, so can't say anything about the quality of the drinks.
Note that you can now get wine to bring with you in to (some of?) the performances. Buy it at the cafe on the top of the KC. Strolling on the roof terrace with some wine is a fine way to start the evening before a show, and it's a great view of the city.
posted by gemmy at 9:59 PM on July 19, 2018 [1 favorite]
Personally, I usually go to Campono if I need to eat near the Kennedy Center before a show. It's pizza/sandwiches/salad, and you order at the counter, but it's decently priced and the food is pretty good. Can be super busy and hectic, so having more time makes for less stress, but it moves quickly and once you are seated it's fine. I had wine there once only, so can't say anything about the quality of the drinks.
Note that you can now get wine to bring with you in to (some of?) the performances. Buy it at the cafe on the top of the KC. Strolling on the roof terrace with some wine is a fine way to start the evening before a show, and it's a great view of the city.
posted by gemmy at 9:59 PM on July 19, 2018 [1 favorite]
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Foggy Bottom:
Beefsteak - vegetarian, quick food, not sure about alcohol
Founding Farmers - american, will be crowded on a Sat night
Rasika West End - creative indian, a bit more expensive and further north, but delicious
Georgetown (if you're willing to walk)
Farmers Fishers Bakers
Metro Center:
Momofuku CCDC
Astro Doughnuts and Fried Chicken (probably no drinks there though)
TaKorean - korean tacos
posted by BeHereNow at 8:20 AM on July 19, 2018