Where to Eat and Drink in Washington, D.C.

The best bars, restaurants and hotels in Washington, D.C.

March 20, 2014

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Politics aren’t the only reason that Washington D.C. is the center of national attention. The capital has developed serious culinary cred, with new restaurants sprouting up at record pace and obliterating old stereotypes of steakhouses and lobbyist lairs. Neighborhoods like Logan Circle and the Atlas District have become hubs for interesting dining concepts, including new ventures from homegrown heroes and forays from restaurateurs in New York, Philadelphia and beyond, all looking to capitalize on the capital’s culinary scene*.* Here's where to eat while you're there.

California native Erin Hartigan never knew a day without avocados until she moved to the East Coast for college. She spent the next 12 years prowling Washington, D.C. for the best dining distractions as an editor for WashingtonPost.com, DailyCandy, and Tasting Table. She's chronicled her travel adventures in numerous publications, including USA Today, DC Magazine and Harper’s Bazaar. Now a proud Brooklynite, she still makes guacamole at least once a week. You can track Erin’s dining adventures on Twitter at @erinhartigan.

1/14
The Hot Newcomer: Le Diplomate
As buzzy inside the beltway as the latest political appointment, Le Diplomate on 14th Street kept insiders guessing on its concept and ownership for nearly three years. This classic brasserie from Philadelphia restaurant scion Stephen Starr has more than lived up to the hype, channeling Paris with a charming patio, a clattering dining room, and towering shellfish platters that keep diners raving long after the meal has ended. 1601 14th St. N.W., Logan Circle; 202-332-3333; lediplomatedc.com (Photo: Courtesy of Jason Varney)
Alicia Griffin
2/14
The Tasting Menu: The Source by Wolfgang Puck
Spicy tuna tartare in snappy sesame-miso cones often kick off chef Scott Drewno’s seven-course tasting adventure at Wolfgang Puck's Washington outpost. ____ An edible show-and-tell for the chef’s frequent trips throughout Asia, the menu is a stage for the recipes and techniques Drewno picks up for classics like quivering soup dumplings, Hong-Kong style bass and lacquered duck, as well as hybrids like the Singapore chile crab cake. 575 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W., Penn Quarter; 202-637-6100; wolfgangpuck.com (Photo: Courtesy of Wolfgang Puck)

3/14
The Leisurely Breakfast: Blue Duck Tavern
Power breakfast in D.C. is practically a sport, and Blue Duck Tavern has changed the rules, luring all manner of early riser for local-egg frittatas and house-smoked salmon in the bright window-lined corner space in the Park Hyatt. Instead of coffee, many opt to try rare brews from the vast tea cellar as a pairing for the wood-fired pecan sticky buns. 1201 24th St. N.W., West End; 202-419-755; blueducktavern.com (Photo: Courtesy of Sergey Koulpeav)
4/14
The Quick Lunch: Restaurant Eve
Irish super-chef Cathal Armstrong takes quick lunch seriously with the aptly named Lickity Split bargain lunch menu, served in the lounge of his flagship, Restaurant Eve. For just under $15, the option lets diners mix and match any two items, including entrees, wine, cocktails innovated by the talented Todd Thrasher, and the signature birthday cake, just because. 110 S. Pitt St., Alexandria; 703-706-0450; restauranteve.com (Photo: Courtesy of Ken Wyner***)***

5/14
The Hole-in-the-Wall: C.F. Folks
One of the few old-school lunch counters left in town, Dupont Circle’s C.F. Folks looks the part, with formica tables, swiveling stools, and a jovially gruff mastermind working the register. But look beyond the classic deli sandwiches—including an excellent almond-chicken salad—and you’ll find daily specials like sautéed frog legs on pommes boulangère, creamy chicken korma and other impressive dishes often sourced from the dog-eared classic cookbooks lining the back wall. 1225 19th St. N.W., Dupont Circle; 202-293-0162; cffolksrestaurant.com (Photo: Courtesy of C.F. Folks)
Photo by Scott Suchman
6/14
The Ethnic Standout: Rasika
At most Indian restaurants, the most popular palak dish is creamy and paneer-studded, but at Penn Quarter’s sleek, hip Rasika, spinach is flash fried to a glassy crisp for palak chaat, served with yogurt and tamarind sauce. Such is the visionary approach of executive chef Vikram Sunderam, who uses unexpected ingredients and seasonal touches to create some of the best modern Indian food in the country. 633 D St. N.W., Penn Quarter; 202-637-1222; rasikarestaurant.com (Photo: Courtesy of Scott Suchman)

7/14
The Old Standby: Palena
Frank Ruta has been a favorite of Washington bigwigs since his days at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, cooking for the Reagans and Bushes as a White House chef. Since 2000, the James Beard Award winner has ruled the range at Palena, and its casual new sibling Palena Café, serving ultra-seasonal Italian-inspired dishes and a legendary spice-brined roast chicken that lure plenty of statesmen uptown. 3529 Connecticut Ave. N.W., Cleveland Park; 202-537-9250; palenarestaurant.com, (Photo: Courtesy of Palena)
Dakota Fine
8/14
The Midnight Snack: Toki Underground
Good late-night food is hard to find in D.C., so in-the-know H Street bar-hoppers queue en masse for ramen and dumplings at Toki Underground, which serves until midnight on weekends. In a space decorated with repurposed games and skateboards, chef Erik Bruner-Yang ladles robustly salted hakata broth, flavored with red miso or garlicky kimchi, all best boosted with a drop of homemade sriracha—called endorphin sauce—and sake on tap. 1234 H St. N.E., Atlas District; 202-388-3086; tokiunderground.com (Photo: Courtesy of Toki Underground)

9/14
The Can't-Miss Street Cart: Fojol Bros.
The colorful, music-playing trucks of the Fojol Bros., a self-proclaimed traveling culinary carnival, are a savory, grown-up answer to the Mr. Softee truck. Channeling the fantasy world of Merlindia, the employees don turbans, fake mustaches, and colorful jumpsuits as they dispense Indian curries, Ethiopian stews, and Thai noodles. Though their approach is fantasy-oriented [WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?], the owners’ priorities are strictly down to earth: The team uses compostable serving vessels and donates a portion of proceeds to at-risk youth programs. Various Locations, fojol.com; twitter.com/fojolbros (Photo: Courtesy of Fojol Bros)
10/14
The Wild Card: Little Serow
Nabbing a table at Little Serow often means queuing outside for more than 90 minutes before doors open at 5:30. Commit to the wait, and James Beard Award winner Johnny Monis will steer you on a chile-packed seven-course journey through Northern Thailand’s herb-laden specialties. The kitchen doesn’t hold back on spice (and declines substitutions), so gear up for dishes like nam prik num and whiskey-marinated pork ribs with icy Thai beer or homemade vermouth. Little Serow, 1511 17th St. N.W., Dupont Circle; no phone; littleserow.com (Photo Courtesy of Dakota Fine)

Jim Webb, jim@snacksize.com. All Rights Reserved.
11/14
The Shot-and-a-Beer Dive: The Passenger
With its well-worn seats, spot-on selection of greasy food, and high-decibel soundtrack, The Passenger checks all the necessary dive-bar boxes. But co-owner Tom Brown takes his liquor seriously, ensuring that the beers are primarily local, and the oft-changing cocktails among the best in town. Brown’s brother, Derek, oversees the Passenger’s antithesis in the back of the bar: the reservations-only Columbia Room, a serene temple to classic craft cocktails. 1021 7th St. N.W., Downtown; 202-393-0220; passengerdc.com (Photo: Courtesy of Jim Webb)
Greg Powers Photography
12/14
The Mixologists’ Lab: Barmini
Molecular gastronaut José Andrés is constantly pushing the envelope at minibar, his epic 24-course tasting haven. Barmini, the liquor equivalent situated on the other side of minibar’s glass wall, is the Spaniard’s new frontier, with a massive list of libations that pays tribute to the classics and also incorporates futuristic new combinations from cocktail innovator Juan Coronado, who hand-carves ice and steams wood to capture smoke for offerings like the sherry-based La Sevillana. 855 E St. N.W., Penn Quarter; 202-393-4451; minibarbyjoseandres.com (Photo: Courtesy of Barmini)

13/14
The Great Cup of Coffee: Peregrine Espresso
With three locations around D.C., Peregrine Espresso aims to always keep Washingtonians within reach of micro-brewed single-origin Counter Culture brews. Opt for a coffee classic or try the monthly specials, like mulled cascara or the hops- and grapefruit-laced Wishful Drinking, which are developed by the baristas in monthly in-house competitions. 660 Pennsylvania Ave. S.E., Capitol Hill; 202-629-4381; peregrineespresso.com (Photo: Courtesy of Peregrine Coffee Bar)
14/14
Sleep It Off: The Jefferson
Just a few blocks north of the White House, The Jefferson is a fitting tribute to its namesake, with a replica of Monticello’s dumbwaiter in the private dining room and an exclusive selection of Red Flower bath products inspired by the botanicals growing in the third president’s gardens. The restaurant, Plume, is perfect for discreet business dinners, though it’s rumored that loyal fan Hillary Clinton prefers to meet in the nearby library nook. 1200 16th St. N.W., Downtown; 202-448-2300; jeffersondc.com (Photo: Courtesy of Stirling Elmendorf)