Interesting restaurants in DC?
July 10, 2010 6:09 PM   Subscribe

We'll be in DC in the first week in August, and we're looking for restaurant suggestions. Good food and an interesting experience are our top criteria; cheap to moderately expensive is okay - but not interested in stuffy or super-expensive fine dining.

We've looked through websites and guides, but thought the hive mind might have some experiences to share. Many thanks!
posted by Chanther to Travel & Transportation around Washington, DC (30 answers total) 23 users marked this as a favorite
 
For lunch, I recommend Chinatown Express. Don't let the appearance fool you - they have amazing noodles and excellent dumplings. All very cheap.

If you are interested in Ethiopian, I happen to think Etete is great.
posted by joanofdark at 6:31 PM on July 10, 2010


Ooh! I was born and raised in DC and can't recommend Cactus Cantina enough. You could also go to their sister restaurant Lauriol Plaza. Same food...different vibe. The bottom line is that you must have the Chicken Fajitas. I have had fajitas all over the place from New York to LA...and this place makes the best Chicken Fajitas you will ever have. Period.
posted by jnnla at 6:49 PM on July 10, 2010


Help me pick a restaurant is my favorite game...

Rasika has AMAZING Indian-fusion food. One of my favorites in town.

Agora just opened a month or two ago. Mediterranean type food, tapas, plates are small enough that each person can order 3 or 4 things. I went twice the first week I discovered it.

Posto has great modern Italian food.

If you're looking for a quick lunch, check out Taylor's. Amazing sandwiches.

I've heard consistently good things about Dangerously Delicious Pies. Haven't had a chance to try it yet, but it's on my short list.

Kushi is a great Japanese gastro pub that just open.

DC has quite a few Ethiopian restaurants. Dukem happens to be my favorite. Worth noting that if you ask 100 different people in this city about their favorite Ethipoian, you'll get 100 different answers.

Bistro Du Coin is a French bistro and my default go-to these days for a weeknight meal out.

If you need any help finding a certain type of food/restaurant, just let me know.
posted by ASM at 7:05 PM on July 10, 2010


Must go to Rays Hell Burger in Arlington...unbeatable burger IMHO

Also suggest you look at Yelp's DC page, as it has a ton of great suggestions if your looking for anything more specific...and I am available to answer any questions of ya have any!
posted by knockoutking at 7:09 PM on July 10, 2010


I'd seriously suggest skipping Cactus Cantina and go to 2 Amy's next door. Lauriol Plaza is a better bet if you want an experience and you want mexican. 2 Amy's is truly one of the best authentic pizza places in DC and its not too expensive.

I love nando's peri peri in Gallery Place China Town, as well as Matchbox, Clydes. For a quick, but delicious salad, go to Chop't - in Gallery Place and metro center, also in Dupont. If you venture in to Arlington, go to Liberty Tavern in Ballston, Eventide in Clarendon, or Mei Jana for some lebanese in Courthouse.

Jaleo and Rosa Mexican in Penn Quarter area are fun too.

Meskerem for Ethiopian is Adams Morgan is good - as are the yummy el salvadorean restaurants there. Check Yelp for suggestions in DC too.
posted by dmbfan93 at 7:10 PM on July 10, 2010 [1 favorite]


Ooh! I was born and raised in DC and can't recommend Cactus Cantina enough.

I love Cactus, but I think you should go next door to 2 Amys instead for really delicious pizza.
posted by sallybrown at 7:11 PM on July 10, 2010


I will second Rasika - it's my favorite Indian restaurant in the city (Indique Heights is my second favorite).

I also really like Zaytinya in Chinatown (bonus if you're a Top Chef fan - this is the restaurant Mike Isabella cooks at, it's mediterranean mezze style). Brasserie Beck downtown is fantastic and has an amazing beer menu (as does Birch & Barley on 14th street). Lebanese Taverna is an old DC stand by - great lebanese food, I don't think they get enough credit. I also love Sorriso in Cleveland Park for great pizza (near the zoo, if you happen to be headed there or on your way back). Sushi Ko in Glover Park has great sushi.

If you get a chance, check out the Ask Tom archives at washingtonpost.com and the Todd Kliman chats at washingtonian.com - they're the food editors at each of those publications and usually have great recommendations.
posted by echo0720 at 7:18 PM on July 10, 2010


On preview, I know it's a matter of personal preference, but I think that 2 Amys is totally overrated - I prefer the place I mentioned above, Pete's Apizza in Columbia Heights, Pizzeria Paradiso in Georgetown, etc....
posted by echo0720 at 7:20 PM on July 10, 2010 [1 favorite]


I've never been to DC, but if I did I would certainly try some places recommended in Tyler Cowen's Ethnic Dining Guide.
posted by ssg at 7:59 PM on July 10, 2010 [1 favorite]


Seconding Ray's Hell Burger, Vietnam Georgetown is ok, if you want to deal with Georgetown, and if you want a cheap old school diner, Bob and Edith's on Columbia Pike, also in Arlington.
posted by umberto at 8:32 PM on July 10, 2010 [1 favorite]


Maybe over-rated but I really like all of Jose Andre's restaurants, all of which are within in a few blocks of each other in the Gallery Place/Penn's Quarter section of DC. They include Zaytinya (Greek/Turkish/Lebanese inspired mezza plates), Jaleo (Spanish tapas), Cafe Atlantico (harder to define, I think that it's supposed to be Latin American fusion) and Oyamel (Mexican). My favorite is Oyamel. It's traditional Mexican food with a twist rather than the more familiar (in the U.S.) Tex-Mex. Great tacos (try the Pork Carnitas), delicious ceviches, fresh guacamole made table side and tasty margaritas (try the Oyamel, with "salt air").

Note that the Gallery Place/Chinatown/Penn Quarter area is very crowded during the week at lunch time as local office workers compete with tourists. Chop'd, which someone recommended frequently has lines out the door and half-way down the block. If you can go right at 12:00 or after 1:00 you'll fare better.
posted by kaybdc at 9:20 PM on July 10, 2010


I am personally underwhelmed by Nando's Peri Peri in Chinatown and near Dupont but I think they are the only US locations and it's cheap.

When it comes to pizza, it's been a while but I remember 2 Amys as being crowded and relatively inaccessible unless you have a car or for some reason need to take the bus to that general area. Pete's Apizza has been my go-to pizza place recently - cheap, good, and I never have to wait for a table. My husband is a pizza snob and he likes Pete's. He also likes Pizzeria Paradiso. Both locations are good but the one in Georgetown has a great beer selection. Georgetown is a special creature but there are always, um, interesting people to watch (my husband and I are still talking about a girl we saw there not too long ago).

The new trendy place that just opened is Meridian Pints. I haven't been there so I can't comment. I can however comment on Birch and Barley/Churchkey in Logan Circle. If you're a beer snob, you'll really dig Birch and Barley. If you don't like crowds, skip it.

There's a place called Marrakesh on New York Ave NW. I haven't been there in years, and when I was there, it was my husband's company holiday party so I wasn't paying, but if you want an experience, that's a place to go. Assuming you like belly dancers.

My favorite secret quiet place is a cafe in Georgetown called Cafe La Ruche. It's a little French restaurant and they have a lovely courtyard. It's wonderful for brunch - great wine, great pastries, great atmosphere. Even sitting inside, it's warm and inviting.

Also, this may sound silly but I've been totally into Frozen Yo lately. It's on F St NW between 10th and 11th (though there's one in Columbia Heights now and more opening) and they have self serve frozen yogurt. The flavors are pretty diverse - you have your standard chocolate and vanilla but also mango, cookies and cream, red velvet, banana and I've also had lemon and snickerdoodle - you add your own toppings, and pay by the weight. When my brother and mother in law visited, I took them there and they loved it though caution - with some of the yogurts it can be *very* easy to accidentally put in more yogurt than you planned. But my mother in law asked when they were coming to NYC, she liked it so much. And it's reasonable - with Maggie Moo and Coldstone charging $6+ for ice cream, I've been into Frozen Yo because it's fun and it's rare that I spend more than $5 on ice cream (though it's possible ...)
posted by kat518 at 9:55 PM on July 10, 2010


I like Cava on H Street. Sort of trendy Greek fusion. Really good and it's in a cool part of town. Very middle of the road prices.

Zed's in Georgetown is great Ethiopian food. Little pricier, but still what I would call moderately expensive.

I really like Bar Pilar for brunch. They have bacon bloody mary's and many other fun things.

As for Cactus Cantina, for DC it's good Mexican food and it's a fun restaurant, but emphasis on for DC... DC isn't exactly known for its Mexican, but then again I'm a southern California Mexican food snob...
posted by whoaali at 10:26 PM on July 10, 2010


I second Etete. It's the best Ethiopian food I've ever had (so good I went there twice in one week!). Comet Ping Pong also has pretty decent, if somewhat overpriced, artisan pizza, and it's right next to the awesome political bookstore. I know it sounds totally weird, but the Mitsitam Cafe, the restaurant in the National Museum of the American Indian, is really quite tasty and has traditional-ish food from different Native American tribes.

If you're in Alexandria for some reason, try Eamonn's Fish and Chips. It's right off the King St Metro stop.
posted by calistasm at 11:09 PM on July 10, 2010


Thai X-ing is definitely interesting... if you like authentic Thai food and unconventional "restaurant" (it's basically just some dude's basement) experiences, try this place. I recommend reading the Yelp reviews so you know what you're getting into.
posted by illenion at 2:17 AM on July 11, 2010


Ben's Chili Bowl, possibly the most famous restaurant in DC.
posted by chrisulonic at 3:22 AM on July 11, 2010 [2 favorites]


Oh, Ben's Chili Bowl is a must.

Bistro du Coin and Zaytinya are two of my favorites. And while Ray's Hellburger is good, Good Stuff is better.

I hear great things about Founding Farmers (especially for brunch) but haven't made it there yet myself.
posted by katopotato at 5:04 AM on July 11, 2010


I've only visited DC, but have to put in a good word for Busboys & Poets and Tryst. Both places were very similar: couches, free WiFi, snacks-plus-slightly-upscale-food. I loved them both because they weren't quite a "restaurant" scene, more of a "hangout with delicious food" scene.

I'm not sure the food itself justifies a visit to either place, but the food plus ambience was really compelling for me. So they might cover your "interesting experience" desires. Plus, they're both in areas that a fun to walk around (U Street and Adams Morgan, respectively).
posted by lillygog at 8:07 AM on July 11, 2010


I will nth Ben's Chili Bowl, Matchbox, Rasika, Zaytinya, and Jaleo. Note you will want to make a reservation for popular dining times for Rasika and Zaytinya. Seconding that if you are on the Mall, eat lunch at the Mitsitam Cafe at the National Museum of the American Indian, which is one of the better dining experiences to be had in that area. The various cafes at the National Gallery of Art also do a decent job, but Mitsitam is a cut above. Another good lunch (or breakfast) place are the various Teaism tea houses. The one in Penn Quarter is closest to the tourist areas.

I will nth the recommendation for Ray's Hell Burger. If you don't have a car, it is about midway between the Rosslyn and Courthouse Metro stations in Arlington, VA - walkable from either one. Good Stuff Eatery is ok but I like Hell Burger better. Note that it is popular and so the lines can get hellishly long. They have just opened another Hell Burger a couple doors down from the original called Ray's Hell Burger Too, which actually has table service. As someone mentioned, Me Jana, also in the Courthouse area of Arlington (a short walk from the Metro), is a great place. Minh's in the same neighborhood (also a short walk from the Courthouse Metro) is a good inexpensive Vietnamese restaurant.

(Note: if you have a car, skip the above and go to one of the places at the Eden Center for great Vietnamese food.)
posted by gudrun at 9:21 AM on July 11, 2010


Down by Ford's Theater is a Hard Rock Cafe. Across the street from that is a lovely little bistro, the name of which I can't remember. Casual, amazing food, lovely staff.
posted by cooker girl at 9:25 AM on July 11, 2010


Brunch at Bar Pilar is good but skip the steak and eggs. The steak was maybe four bites.

Never been to Thai X-ing but it's on my list.

Ben's is a must. It's cash only but they have an ATM.

My husband loves Founding Farmers.

Busboys and Poets is good - very welcoming, reasonably priced, food is solid and it's fine if you just want desert or drinks too.

I don't know if you're on OpenTable but they do reservations for a lot of the fancier places like Rasika.
posted by kat518 at 9:31 AM on July 11, 2010


Eastern Market lunch counter for breakfast and lunch! Ben's, of course. Cafe Mozart downtown for German food. Nora's near Dupont. La Chaumiere has been in Georgetown for over 30 years. And, of course, the Old Ebbitt Grill on 15th across from Treasury. I have lunch from them almost every day. Nthing Bob and Edith's, especially for breakfast.
posted by jgirl at 10:58 AM on July 11, 2010


I absolutely LOVE Dino in Cleveland Park. Very authentic modern Italian. It fits my definition of "moderately expensive," but given how high-quality the experience is, I think it's a very good bang for the buck. Firefly (New American) in Dupont Circle is also really good, but may be too pricey.

For excellent brunch food (served around the clock), try The Diner in Adams Morgan. Can be a bit of a wait on weekends, but tends to move pretty quickly (and worth the wait). For Japanese, I liked Sushi Taro (also in the Dupont area). It's definitely more interesting than your average corner sushi joint.

2 Amy's is not bad, but as some have suggested, maybe not worth it. (DC in my opinion is not a great pizza town.) My wife seconds the suggestion of Dukem (the Ethiopian place).
posted by Conrad Cornelius o'Donald o'Dell at 3:40 PM on July 11, 2010


cant beat eastern market for lunch, but so you know its a crazyass line

dino is very good, and dont forget about the huge screen/movie theater thats (basically) across the street...
posted by knockoutking at 5:03 PM on July 11, 2010


DC is a big place. Do you know where you'll be be exactly? Will you be in one particular area, or all over (e.g. neighborhoods and MD and VA?)

Of all the parts that I like about DC, the one aspect that underwhelms me the most is the food. Generally, unless you like ethic food, which there is a decent amount of, the food is very overrated. There are a lot of overly trendy places that totally lack fine details. Usually this means a lot of great veneer covering a lot of 'meh, i've had that more interesting and better cooked in another city'. Seems like some rich people dumped a lot of money into restaurants, but they forgot to add heart and creativity. Meaning DC is no California.

DC has a lot of ethnic populations. And, since many ethnic communities are in the burbs, it sometimes makes sense to get out to MD and VA.

That said:

Falafels: I like Amsterdam in Adams Morgan. It's nothing fantastic, but it's super cheap and it's fun to pile as much from the pickle bar as possible into the little cone of pita and falafel balls.

Desserts: The salty oatmeal cookies at Teaism are great, but expensive. The pastries from Leopolds in Georgetown are fantastic. Get a $3 brownie, better than a $3 cupcake. But, for yogurt, try Mr. Yogoto in Dupont Circle. It's fun.

Ethiopian: Lots of good places around, and the U street area is particularly noted. However, ask most cabbys (a lot of whom are Ethiopian), and they eat in MD and VA, where they live.

Korean / Vietnamese: Falls Church has a lot of great restaurants, too many to choose, but probably the best in terms of variety.

Dim Sum: Ping Pong in Chinatown was super interesting, but on the expensive side.

Hamburger Sliders: We always go to Matchbox in Chinatown, but I hear there are a couple different locations. These are flawless fun appetizers. Get a large plate of them.

Vegetarian: ?? - There are no good American fusion vegetarian restaurants to be found, strangely enough. Although Busboys and Poets has a really good Vegan menu.

Beer: People rave about Churchkey, but I think it's overrated. The ambiance is nice, but I've had much better beers in other cities, like Chicago or San Diego or NYC. The favorite dive is the brickskeller in Dupont Circle.

Mussels: We try to go to Granville Moore on H street (NE) at least once a month. It's a fun time. While on H street, check out the Palace of Wonders, get drunk at a couple of the bars there, eat fish from Horace & Dickie's Seafood Carryout, just for fun. (And, on the way back don't get mugged.)
posted by TheOtherSide at 8:13 PM on July 11, 2010


Yes, you absolutely have to go to Ben's. It's especially good if you've been drinking!

One thing DC has going for it is lots of good, reasonably-priced food, probably due to all the young government and non-profit staffers. Anyway, here are some of my favorites.

The first two places are in Mt Pleasant. No reason to go there for tourism, but a really nice little village-like neighborhood, for when you want something off the monuments-and-museums path.
El Pollo Sabroso - does what it says on the tin (in Spanish)! Juicy, delicious rotisserie Peruvian-style chicken. Not a great ambience though - take the food to go.
Adam's Express - unbelievably good to-go Korean food. Again, take it to go.
There are also a few pupuserias in the neighborhood - ie, places that sell pupusas, thick Salvadoran corn tortillas with beans, cheese and/or pork inside. Yum.

Other great places around the city:
Thaiphoon near Dupont Circle. Nice ambience, great food, very reasonable prices.
El Tamarindo at 18th and U NW has good Mexican food and excellent margaritas. I like it better than Lauriol Plaza, which has pretty bland food, but Lauriol Plaza has a more festive atmosphere.
Astor Cafe in Adams Morgan is another take-out orientated place (although they have tables and not a bad ambience) with really, really great Greek food. I love the chicken kababs with salad and rice. So good!
Cashion's Eat Place, next door, is also supposed to be really great though I've never been there.
Busboys and Poets is a really place for people-watching - great mix of many of DC's subcultures. It's a bar/coffeeshop/bookstore/community center/restaurant. The food isn't outstanding, but it's a good place to go after dinner or for breakfast.
If you're near Union Station/Capitol Hill near breakfast, check out Bagels and Baguettes - great bagel sandwiches.


One thing to note: DC in August is almost unbearably hot and humid. Lots of places have patios, which is great. Almost all places have AC, which is even better!
posted by lunasol at 8:17 PM on July 11, 2010


Oh, I forgot some.

As mentioned above, DC is also noted for having a lot of El Salvadorian places. Try a pupusa at El Rinconcito.

Super fancy, expensive cocktails aren't my usually thing, but you should try The Passenger, just for fun. They do make some serious drinks.

One of our new favorites is a place in Arlington called The Liberty Tavern. For some reason it doesn't get rated very well on Yelp, but we always have a great time, great food, and great service.

Oh, another ethnic food to try in DC is Kabob. I've been to a lot of good places, and I don't have a specific one to recommend (there are so many). Try Yelp though.
posted by TheOtherSide at 8:26 PM on July 11, 2010


Filomena in Georgetown. Excellent Italian food and good ambiance.

It is usually packed but you may still be able to get a reservation for early Aug...
posted by nineRED at 4:09 AM on July 12, 2010


Response by poster: Many, many thanks for all of the great suggestions! We're looking forward to trying some of them out. (Now I wish we were staying a lot longer so we could try more of them - it will be hard to choose!)

Thanks again.
posted by Chanther at 8:51 AM on July 12, 2010


Response by poster: Just got back from the trip in question. We had great dining experiences all around.

We went to Mehran Kabob (a little hole in the wall place that had good Indian/Pakistani food) It was said to be popular with the local college crowd, and I can see why: it was good and cheap.

We had a really good dinner at Etete - I would go back there in a heartbeat. Makes me wish there were more Ethiopian restaurants closer to home.

Enjoyed the burgers at Ray's Hell Burger (Too). I thought about ordering the Punisher, but worried it would be too spicy, so ordered something a bit more rational. But while a great burger, the one I ordered wasn't terribly spicy. So next time I'm in town I'll have to try the Punisher.

And we also went to Founding Farmers, which was excellent - the food was wonderful from beginning to end, but the service also couldn't be beat. Came up with some great stuff when we said "surprise us."

Sorry we couldn't try everything in this thread. We'll definitely have to go back and check some more off the list. Thanks again for all the suggestions - you steered us well.
posted by Chanther at 10:09 PM on August 9, 2010


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