The handwritten menu and the array of antipasti change daily, but some gems do reappear. Thrills on a recent menu included meatballs studded with pine nuts; ultralight arancini; chocolate polenta cake
This brasserie and beer hall is a multipurpose space—great for blowing off steam with coworkers, downing platters of oysters and pints of beer, enjoying a hearty meal or a leisurely weekend brunch.
There are other places to go to seal a deal, but we haven’t met one that better blends sophistication with culinary finesse. A great spot for people-watching and celeb-spotting.
One of the area’s most interesting places to eat. The impressive wine program includes big-ticket Champagnes and Cali Cabs but also good choices for the value-minded.
During the day, deals are made over bacon cheeseburgers and the best corned-beef sandwiches in town. Ties are loosened at night, and cocktails keep a crowd around the bar.
What keeps us coming back is the zip of Mike Isabella’s small plates and pizzas, which seem tossed off but involve layers of work and detail. The cooking pulses with a big heart.
When was the last time you picked up a mezcal-spiked cocktail and ate it like a snowball? José Andrés’s 27-course menu kicks off with just that and follows up with other mind-bending surprises.
What to get: Tuna-topped crostini; burrata with heirloom tomatoes and basil; meatballs with a sunny-side-up egg; pappardelle with ragu of Scottish hare; lasagna with morels and truffles.
With its cobblestone foyer, wood-paneled dining rooms, and formal service, this Georgetown restaurant is a lovely throwback. What to get: Tagliatelle with clams and bacon & rockfish with lobster farro
Look for dishes with an Asian accent—such as tempura-fried turbot fin with yuzu vinaigrette—or with a regional American feel, such as pastrami-cured sweetbreads.
When we crave a thick, bloody steak, this is the place that leaps to mind. We prefer restaurateur Michael Landrum’s for its value, its warmth, and its scale. This is a steakhouse for the common man.
Steaks are of very good quality, from the $19.99 hanger to the $35.99 rib eye called a cowboy cut. They no longer come with free sides, but in steakhouse land, $5 for mashed potatoes is a steal.
What to get: Gougères, light-as-air cheese puffs; salmon tartare; rich chestnut soup; 72-hour braised short ribs; fried chicken with mustard sauce; roast salmon with lentils and shallot dressing.
