Guide to Restaurants

The Nation’s Capital is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world. It is home to immigrants from every country, drawn here in search of a better life. Thankfully for everyone concerned, they bring their customs and native recipes with them. Whatever your taste buds have a yen for is available in Washington, D.C. area restaurants. Following are some of the favorites of NAHC staff members.

2941
Its location is deceiving. The suburban office park setting is not where one usually finds a restaurant this good. Chef Jonathan Krinn has created a beautiful restaurant which also delivers on its food. New American Cuisine and one of Zagat’s 10 Best in the D.C. area. 2941 Fairview Park Dr., Falls Church, Va., (703) 270-1500. Expensive.

Ben’s Chili Bowl
No other restaurant in the U Street area was able to withstand both the 1968 riots and the construction of Metro’s Green Line in the late 1980s – except Ben’s Chili Bowl. Ever since it opened in 1958, Ben’s has been a gathering place and has since become a Washington institution. No other place in town attracts such a cross-section of the city – students from Howard University, tourists, lawyers, lobbyists, and basically anyone who likes a good bowl of chili and a half smoke. 1213 U Street, NW, (202) 667-0909. Inexpensive.

Bistro Bis
Hip and sophisticated, warm and intimate, Bistro Bis is a wonderful, very modern version on a French bistro. Located inside The George Hotel on Capitol Hill, the restaurant is a favorite among senators, congressmen, celebrities and powerbrokers. 15 E Street, NW, (202) 661-2700. Expensive.

Blue Duck Tavern
Located in the Park Hyatt Hotel in Georgetown, this restaurant captures the region’s unique historic and natural attributes. Handcrafted furnishings and heavy, uncovered wood tables keep the restaurant warm and contemporary. Fresh produce and ingredients, arriving daily from regional purveyors and artisans, are an integral part of the seasonal menus featured at the Blue Duck Tavern. Many of the dishes are prepared in the wood-burning oven, a focal point of the inviting open kitchen and the heart of this restaurant. Blue Duck Tavern’s menus change often, based on the availability of specific seasonal ingredients. 24th & M Streets, NW, (202) 419-6755. Moderate to Expensive.

Café Milano
Who could resist a place that George Clooney visits when he’s in Washington? This is definitely one of those trendy, see and be seen kind of places but for good reason – this is a fantastic Italian restaurant and is in the heart of Georgetown. 3251 Prospect Street, NW, (202) 333-6183. Expensive

Capital Grille
This is the “in” spot on Capitol Hill, located just six blocks west of the U.S. Capitol. The menu features the best of steaks and chops. It is also one of the best places in town to watch the rich and the powerful raise a glass. Reservations are a must. 601 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, (202) 737-6200. Expensive.

Central Michel Richard
Enter a joyful refuge in a convenient setting at Central Michel Richard. Enjoy the playful use of earth-toned hues and clean lines with a brilliant combination of light woods, marble and glass. Surprising details such as a see-through meat locker in the corner, cut glass enclosed wine cellars each lit with its own color, and a smiling portrait of Michel Richard himself in a striking shade of magenta greet you at every turn. The atmosphere inspires a warmhearted vibe and encourages you to relax and make yourself comfortable. 1001 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, (202) 626-0015. Moderate to expensive.

City Lights Of China
This Dupont Circle restaurant is committed to providing you with the finest Chinese cuisine, an elegant atmosphere and a first-class service. The menu offers a broad selection of Chinese cooking, from authentic gourmet home-style to tasteful vegetarian dishes. Cozy and relaxing surroundings are an integral part of dining at City Lights of China. 1731 Connecticut Avenue, NW, (202) 265-6688. Inexpensive.

DC Coast
Located at 14th and K streets, DC Coast is a great place to have lunch, drinks or dinner. A giant mermaid stands as a sentinel at the entrance to this New Orleans and Cajun-inspired seafood restaurant. Chef Jeff Tunks’ food is masterful. 1401 K Street, NW, (202) 216-5988. Moderate to expensive.

Filomena Ristorante Of Georgetown
Many people think this is the best restaurant in town. Your first view of the eatery is of charming middle-aged women making fresh pasta, dressed in authentic Italian peasant costumes. It gets better and better. The food is wonderful and desserts are to die for. 1063 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, (202) 337-2782. Moderately expensive.

Firefly
This quintessential urban neighborhood restaurant offers contemporary American comfort food to the city’s many regulars who dine out several times per week. Upon arrival, you will immediately notice the floor-to-ceiling “firefly tree”, hung with lanterns and lit by candles. The menu is designed to utilize products from local farms. Firefly also has an award-winning wine list from small winemakers that is hand picked to complement the cuisine. 1310 New Hampshire Avenue, NW, (202) 861-1310. Moderate.

Kinkead’s
Located in Foggy Bottom, an area around George Washington University, west of the White House but east of Georgetown, Kinkead’s is one of the top-rated fish restaurants in the city. They are also famous for their jazz pianist named Hilton, who has played there for years. Reservations required. 2000 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, (202) 296-7700. Expensive.

L’auberge Chez Francois
Great Falls, Virginia is famous for three things: first, the magnificent falls created by the Potomac River which inexplicably drops several feet successively; second, it is the place where the CIA headquarters is located; and third, this restaurant. It is the finest French restaurant in the area. Reservations are almost as hard to get as Washington Redskins tickets. 332 Springvale Road, Great Falls, Va., (703) 759-3800. Expensive.

Market Inn Restaurant
This restaurant is located three blocks SW of the Capitol, tucked up against the railroad tracks, but the restaurant and its food are legendary. Lobster is the specialty of the house but you can get other things, even steaks if you like. 300 E Street, SW, (202) 554-2100. Moderate.

Michel Richard Citronelle
Washington Post Food Critic Tom Sietsema calls Citronelle “the most sophisticated food in the city and some of the best, anywhere.” Located near George Washington University, this French restaurant is brought to life by French native, Chef Michel Richard. Don’t think about the check (because, it will be expensive), just enjoy the superb French cuisine. It wouldn’t be unreasonable to try to make reservations several months in advance. 3000 M Street NW, (202) 625-2150. Very expensive.

The Monocle
This restaurant is the closest restaurant and watering hole to the U.S. Senate. Here your chances of running into a Senator and other important government officials are excellent. The walls are lined with photos of the rich and the powerful who have dined here. This is also a favorite spot for political fundraisers. The food is good old fashioned American cuisine. 107 D Street, NW, (202) 546-4888. Moderate.

The Palm
For more than 80 years, The Palm has been renowned for its aged USDA prime steaks, jumbo Nova Scotia lobsters, Italian entrees, warm smiles, outstanding service and an atmosphere like nowhere else. 1225 19th Street, NW, (202) 293-9091. Expensive.

Morton’s Of Chicago
The Steakhouse This chain featuring ample portions of aged beef and lamb has been such a hit that it has popped up in almost every major U.S. city. You get your money’s worth that’s for sure — just check out the doggie bags that follow most diners home. 1050 Connecticut Avenue, NW, (202) 342-6258. Expensive.

Pizzeria Paradiso
A tiny restaurant featuring the best thin-crust pizza you’ll ever put in your mouth. Of course, they don’t take reservations. Please be prepared to wait. There is usually a line out the door and down the steps, but it moves very fast and is worth the wait. 2029 P Street, NW, (202) 223-1245. Inexpensive.

Penang
This chic Malaysian restaurant close to Dupont Circle is a great choice for a nice, affordable dinner or is a great place to stop by for a drink with friends. The menu is creative and inspiring. 1837 M Street, NW, (202) 822-8773. Moderate.

Poste Moderne Brasserie
An upscale contemporary brasserie located in Penn Quarter neighborhood in Washington DC, Poste Moderne Brasserie features modern American cuisine emphasizing fresh, local ingredients. Poste is located within the Hotel Monaco and is accessed through a historic carriageway portal, and makes its home in the original sorting room of the 1841 General Post Office. The 16–foot cast-iron ceilings and skylights from the original post office have been fully restored, and overlook the inviting dining room of raised platforms, plush booths and original paintings by American artists. 555 8th Street, NW, (202) 783-6060. Moderate to expensive.

Sea Catch Restaurant And Raw Bar
Many people say this restaurant offers the finest seafood, steaks and chicken in D.C. Located in an 1842 historic landmark overlooking the C&O Canal, this facility provides a romantic setting along with great food. It is located in Georgetown adjoining the Georgetown Square, an indoor mall. 1054 31st Street, NW, (202) 337-8855. Expensive.

Sushi Kappo Kawasaki
This is one of the most recommended sushi restaurants in downtown Washington. 1140 19th Street, NW, (202) 466-3798. Moderate.

Tabard Inn
This place is described as a country inn in downtown Washington, D.C., Diners are invited to partake of their cozy Victorian settings, seats by the fireplace or in the garden. It is picture perfect, and the food is pretty good as well. 1739 N Street, NW, (202) 785-1277. Moderate to expensive.

TenPenh
Another one of Chef Jeff Tunks’ restaurants, TenPenh focuses on cuisine that is Asian-Pacific inspired. Tunks mixes the textures and tastes of Asia with his French, American and Creole cooking background, and turns the menu at TenPenh into something that is awe-inspiring. 1001 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, (202) 393-4500. Moderate to expensive.

The Source
This is the first fine dining restaurant in the nation’s Capital headlined by Chef Wolfgang Puck. The three-level restaurant is the signature dining experience at the brand-new Newseum. The ground floor bar and lounge where guests enter offers approachable dining in a casual setting with a menu designed for a relaxed, quick-bite. Upstairs, guests can enjoy a menu that features modern interpretations of Asian dishes. 575 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, (202) 637-6100. Moderate to expensive.

Tortilla Coast
This Tex-Mex inspired restaurant is one of the closest eateries to the House office buildings. Understandably, it is a very popular spot for lunch and dinner. Look for many House staff members trying different kinds of tequila drinks. 400 First Street, SE, (202) 546-6768. Moderate.

Urbana
Named one of Washington, DC’s “Hottest Restaurant Bar Scenes,” this is a destination in and of itself. It is centered in Washington, DC’s energetic Dupont Circle and transported from the vibrant wine regions of Italy and France. Reminiscent of a modern-day Tuscan wine cellar, Urbana brings to life an imaginative and approachable menu, influenced by Northern Italy and Southern France. Choose from signature pastas, pizzas from the wood-burning oven, grilled meats and seafood. 2121 P Street, NW, (202) 956-6650. Moderate.

Zola
Located in the historic Le Droit Building, next to the International Spy Museum, this restaurant’s American cuisine focuses on an imaginative combination of the freshest of ingredients, which makes Zola a truly memorable dining experience. 800 F Street, NW, (202) 654-0999. Moderate.