Washington DC Dining

Just as the faces in government change with every election, so too do restaurants come and go more quickly in Washington DC than just about anywhere else in the US. Within this constant flux a few longstanding favorites endure. Certain neighborhoods - Connecticut Avenue around Dupont Circle, 18th Street and Columbia Road in Adams-Morgan, M Street in Georgetown and downtown's Seventh Street and Chinatown - always seem to hold a good range of dining options. There are handy food courts in Union Station and at the Old Post Office and National Place, the last two both on Pennsylvania Avenue. A few citywide chains, like Teaism, Firehook and the Chesapeake Bagel Bakery, offer good coffee and quick snacks; otherwise, the cafés in the main museums are good for downtown lunch breaks.

The Grill - Foggy Bottom
1150 22nd St NW, Ritz - Carlton Washington DC, Washington, DC 20037 · 202-835-0500
Description: Housed in the luxurious Ritz-Carlton, the Grill is known for its upscale dining options. American-Continental cuisine focuses on simply-grilled, top-quality vegetables, meats, and seafood. Chef's favorites include grilled salmon with saffron chutney and lasagna layered with cheese fondue, mushrooms, and ham. A lavish Sunday brunch greets weekend early-birds, and jazz piano and dancing appeal to late-nighters Thursday through Saturday. Private dining facilities available. Smart casual dress. Reservations accepted. Sunday brunch Adult $60, Child $30.

Roof Terrace Restaurant
2700 F St NW, The Kennedy Center, Washington, DC 20566 · 202-416-8555
Description: This is rooftop dining at its best, and awe-inspiring views of the Washington skyline and the Potomac compete with the impressive spread laid out in the kitchen for Sunday brunch. Prepare to sample crab cakes, grilled salmon, custom-made omelets, French toast, pasta dishes, fresh squeezed juices, champagne, fresh breads and muffins, and desserts like chocolate-pecan tart and dense flourless chocolate cake. Brunch $34/person. METRO: Foggy Bottom

Marcel's
2401 Pennsylvania Ave, Washington, DC 20037 · 202-296-1166
Description: Warm, burnished tones with accents of wrought iron and terra cotta envelop diners at this elegant establishment. An exhibition kitchen takes a position of prominence, serving notice of the wonderful things that await. These "things," French and Flemish in nature, include saddle of rabbit stuffed with foie gras, pan-seared duck with couscous, and veal osso bucco with wild forest mushrooms and pomme purée. Appetizers like gratin of PEI mussels also titillate the senses. Service is impeccable, and the wine list is divided by region. METRO: Foggy Bottom

Kinkead's
2000 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20006-1812 · 202-296-7700
Description: This two-story establishment grants guests the option of dining casually in the downstairs area or more formally upstairs. The menu features a number of seafood standards, including roasted cod with crab imperial and Virginia ham spoonbread, and monkfish wrapped in applewood-smoked bacon. Other tempting choices are braised lamb shank with gigante beans, or grilled chicken with polenta, sun-dried tomatoes and mixed mushrooms. Be sure to leave room for dessert because Kinkead's will win you over with chocolate dacquoise, pecan carrot cake and a trio of crème brûlées. METRO: Foggy Bottom

Legal Sea Foods - Foggy Bottom
2020 K St NW, Washington, DC 20006-1806 · 202-496-1111
Description: Legal Sea Foods operates on the motto, "If it's not fresh, it's not Legal." And they make good on their word. The variety of tasty seafood dishes and their clam chowder are near-legendary in the area. Appetizers are also popular, and Maryland crab cakes are a special treat. If you're ordering at the bar, lobster or shrimp roll sandwiches are terrific choices, as are oyster po'boys and lobster salad. For dessert, don't forget to try the famous marionberry and blueberry cobbler. METRO: Farragut West or Farragut North

Asia Nora
2213 M St NW, Washington, DC 20037-1416 · 202-797-4860
Description: This restaurant is a romantic favorite in DC, and its Asian artifacts create one of the loveliest dining rooms around. Exquisite carvings, Chinese screens and Japanese helmets are displayed along bold green and gold walls. The gourmet cuisine stretches the boundaries of Asian cooking, with sea bass grilled in a banana leaf, Chinese dumplings in ginger, and smoked trout with Fuji apples. For dessert, the mango and banana spring rolls are a brilliant idea well executed. Perfect service from waiters clad in black satin pajamas. Reservations recommended; business casual dress. METRO: Foggy Bottom or Dupont Circle

Mr. K's
2121 K St NW, Washington, DC 20037 · 202-331-8868
Description: This Chinese dining room is upscale and old-school. Service is meant to impress, and the menu includes salads, soups, lamb, beef, and fish. Start with a steaming bowl of velvet crab soup or a crisp salad. Then, order savory Empress Beef. Some might say the pink interior goes a bit over the top, but others are delighted by it. Smart casual or dressy attire. Reservations recommended, especially at lunch. Private dining rooms available.

Melrose
1201 24th St NW, Park Hyatt Hotel, Washington, DC 20037 · 202-955-3899
Description: This elegant hotel restaurant features contemporary American cuisine and places an emphasis on seafood and Pacific Rim specialties. The dining room's large windows afford views of a lovely terrace with a central fountain. The menu changes seasonally, and a large, well-selected wine list features varieties from across the globe. Live music is available on weekend nights, and Sunday brunch pleases weekend diners. Dressy attire suggested - jacket and tie requested. Reservations accepted. METRO: Foggy Bottom

Galileo
1110 21st St NW, Washington, DC 20036-3303 · 202-293-7191
Description: With each new menu created, chef Roberto Donna and his sous-chef reinvigorate their culinary talents. In a subdued, spacious environment, they present Northern Italian cuisine at its freshest, delighting diners with fried zucchini blossoms, roasted pheasant, lobster with chestnuts, and an array of lush risottos. Desserts include rich chocolate confections, poached fruits and icy granitas. Three nights a week, diners can sample an 11-course, prix fixe meal (made by Donna himself) with food so incredible that each course competes with the one before it for your favor. Business attire. Reservations recommended. METRO: Foggy Bottom

Prime Rib
2020 K St NW, Washington, DC 20006-1806 · 202-466-8811
Description: An Art Deco-style tribute to high society and excess, Prime Rib serves some of the region's best aged beef and freshest seafood. With a decidedly festive air, Prime Rib is, even in the eyes of Washington's elite, an upscale place to celebrate. The shining black bar, leopard-skin rugs, tuxedoed waiters, highback leather chairs and live piano are extravagant touches. Choose from a phenomenal wine list, and enjoy steak au poivre and center-cut veal chop served in its natural juices. Later in the evening, the bar is a stylish place to be seen. METRO: Foggy Bottom