Washington DC must eats?

Hi Forumites,
My family is planning a weekend trip to DC for Presidents Day, in late February. We are accomplished cooks and rather adventurous eaters, with particular interest in creative fusion cuisines, unpretentious atmosphere, and local delights. I'd be grateful for your advice on what-not-to-miss gastronomically in DC.

I believe it is spelled Zatania. It is a greek/ middle eastern mezze place down town DC. One of the best meals I ate last year. They make there own phillo dough for crying out loud!

It is owned and operated by Jose Andres also if your into the celeb chef thing. The food however is the real reason to go.

Regards,

Bourbon

annak-

There are several threads on Washington DC with current info. I did a quick search and found two:

viewtopic.php?f=15&t=12970
viewtopic.php?f=15&t=21294

Enjoy!

In particular, look for info on the other threads for Full Kee (Cantonese in DC's tiny Chinatown), and Lebanon Taverna, just steps from the Woodley Park Metro and some of the very best middle eastern food I've had.

Lebanese Taverna is the name of the place just FYI.

DC has very large Ethiopian and Vietnamese populations. That is where I would look. Avoid Mexican restaurants at all cost.

annak wrote:Hi Forumites,
My family is planning a weekend trip to DC for Presidents Day, in late February. We are accomplished cooks and rather adventurous eaters, with particular interest in creative fusion cuisines, unpretentious atmosphere, and local delights. I'd be grateful for your advice on what-not-to-miss gastronomically in DC.

budget? sticking to DC only or MD and VA on the plate as well? The best ethnic food is rarely in DC (save one or two ethnicities)

Bourbon wrote:I believe it is spelled Zatania. It is a greek/ middle eastern mezze place down town DC. One of the best meals I ate last year. They make there own phillo dough for crying out loud!

Zaytinya is fine. I've probably been close to ten times. It's acceptable for what it is (occasionally great), but truly isn't memorable and can be disappointingly inconsistent. I think you get far better Greek and Middle Eastern here in Chicago - - granted, in a less trendy setting.

If you've heard of Jose Andres and want to try one of this restaurants, I'd recommend Minibar at Cafe Atlantico, a creative, small plates counter (only six seats). Cafe Atlantico's Sunday Latin dim sum can be fun, too.

teatpuller wrote:Lebanese Taverna is the name of the place just FYI.

DC has very large Ethiopian and Vietnamese populations. That is where I would look. Avoid Mexican restaurants at all cost.

Agreed. Ethiopian and Vietnamese are spectacular in D.C. I'd only go for Vietnamese if you have a car and are willing to drive a bit into the burbs (if so, let me know, and I'll make some recommendations). If you're limited to downtown D.C., I'd recommend trying Ethiopian on 9th St., NW. I've previously written about my adoration for Habesha Market and my affection for Etete. And, yes (other than the tasty taco truck at 16th and Columbia, NW), I'd avoid all Mexican food in D.C.

IMHO, Lebanese Taverna is only okay. Perhaps a nicer interior than some of our local Middle Eastern spots. But, I think the food quality really declined over the years.

As I've also stated before, my favorite pricey spot in D.C. is Komi in Dupont Circle.

Much of what's above I flushed out in greater detail in other threads:
here and
here.

Ronna

I believe I read in the Times that Roast Crow will be a featured entree in many of the high end DC dining establishments for a while.

Marshall K wrote:I believe I read in the Times that Roast Crow will be a featured entree in many of the high end DC dining establishments for a while.

funny. Though crow is usually braised

Marshall K wrote:
I believe I read in the Times that Roast Crow will be a featured entree in many of the high end DC dining establishments for a while.
funny. Though crow is usually braised

Some of the newer chefs are experimenting with foaming it. Makes it easier to gag down...

Geo

teatpuller wrote:DC has very large Ethiopian and Vietnamese populations. That is where I would look. Avoid Mexican restaurants at all cost.

Thirded when it comes to Ethiopian. With all due respect to Ras Dashen and Ethiopian Diamond, dinner at Queen Makeda in DC was one of those "okay, NOW I get it" moments. Etete, across the street from Queen Makeda, comes even more highly recommended from a friend I trust. The former's a little more ethnic / hole-in-the-wall / loungey while the latter is, to my understanding, a little more polished.

Dmnkly wrote:

teatpuller wrote:DC has very large Ethiopian and Vietnamese populations. That is where I would look. Avoid Mexican restaurants at all cost.

Thirded when it comes to Ethiopian. With all due respect to Ras Dashen and Ethiopian Diamond, dinner at Queen Makeda in DC was one of those "okay, NOW I get it" moments. Etete, across the street from Queen Makeda, comes even more highly recommended from a friend I trust. The former's a little more ethnic / hole-in-the-wall / loungey while the latter is, to my understanding, a little more polished.

Etete is definitely more polished than all of the other Ethiopian restaurants I've been to. It serves quite a few Ethiopians, but is also happy to cater to folks who aren't as familiar with Ethiopian food. Queen Makeda and the other spots across the street (including Habesha, my favorite) serve primarily Ethiopian customers (in my experience, at least). Always received friendly service on 9th St., though, no matter where I went.

Ronna

I was in DC for a conference and took my recently-relocated older son and his sweetie to the Bethesda outlet of Lebanese Taverna (a brisk walk from their house), after enjoying it many times across from the Woodley Park/Adams Morgan Metro stop.

They're apparently an industry now, with six restaurants and five cafes including 7141 Arlington Road in Bethesda.

We ordered two apps:
"Build Your Own" hummos at $5 plus $2 for one tiny sphere of falafel quartered on top was very good hummos, but not at that price. House-made pita oblongs were tasty, but a little leathery. There are three kinds of hummos (vanilla (no not really), garlic and spicy), about a dozen "toppers", and other dippers (french fries, veggies, etc) that can be added for a buck or two.
Lamb short ribs were a special: four riblets braised then crisped, probably in a brief fryolator jacuzzi. Delicious fatty and chewy shreds.

I didn't taste from the kids' plates (lamb chops and salmon), but my dish was a bit of a disappointment. I'd had fatteh at the Woodley location in the past, and it's a glorious peasant dish: layers of yogurt soaking into toasted pita, chick peas and shreds of meat, garnished with pomegranite seeds and radish. This was a much more composed dish, with a lot of lamb -- probably expected at this point -- and chickpeas and toasted pita relegated to garnish along with shreds of radish and pine nuts (pom seeds out of season). Still delicious, but the balance is gone.

Dessert was a honey-drizzled pile of little donut holes with a milk/yogurt sauce, whose name I can't remember (or find on the website). Very tasty, more like a fried eggy dough than a Dunkin Munchkin.

Service was spot-on. Not a wait for drinks and everything timed nicely. Decor in Bethesda is upscale soft earth tones and decorated with a lamp motif.

It's a slightly pricey, tasty placec to eat, but at this point, not something I'd nominate for a DC GNR.

Bumping this up in case anyone wants to add anything new. And my family is NOT adventurous, so I'm doubtful I can get them to Ethiopian... Would be happy for a great burger or a good spot for crabs. We WILL have a car and no problem with driving (may even be sleeping in Bethesda).

Thanks.

I dunno sujormik. DC is really expensive if you don't want ethnic.

The Old Ebbitt Grill is a favorite with tourists. Capital Grill is a good but very pricey steakhouse. Avoid the Maine Avenue seafood places. Drive three hours to the coast for good crabs.

Bethesda is littered with restaurants. Austin Grill is ok Tex-Mex.

If your family is ok with Indian food, Ethiopian should be an easy stretch - lots of lentils and slow-cooked vegetables that you eat with pieces of injera, a sourdough crepe.

I also recommend Sea Catch in Georgetown (31st & M) for the happy hour every day from 5-7 - select oysters are $1, great wine list. The Georgetown Bagelry down the street is good for pizza, especially when they have the bacon-scallion on offer. Ben's Chili Bowl at 13th & U is a must-visit - get a half-smoke, split, and the chili-cheese fries. Bistrot du Coin in Dupont Circle is excellent.

Going there later this week.
Recommendations for places in Georgetown and DuPont Circle areas? Any other recs apprecated. Will be there for conference, without car, and will be doing mostly the tourist thing. No car.

Specific cuisines of interest: Indian, french. Nothing too fancy. Thanks!

I quite enjoy Zaytinya and Rasika, both are in Penn Quarter, a short walk from the Newseum and other tourist attractions. Rasika is more upscale Indian, and popular for dinner, so I would consider lunch. Another option is Proof. Paul Bakery isn't too far either, it has excellent croissants.

It can be difficult to find good eats around the tourist attractions as civilization is usually a good 30 minute walk from a monument or memorial. Plan ahead!

If you're into cocktails, a visit to the Columbia Room is in order. Prix fixe, reservations only. Seasonal cocktails and snacks pairings.

And if you don't have good Creole where you are, try Acadiana.

La Chaumiere in Georgetown is a lovely, authentic French resto. Never had a meal that wasn't excellent.


Geo

Geo wrote:La Chaumiere in Georgetown is a lovely, authentic French resto. Never had a meal that wasn't excellent.


Geo

Thanks for the tip!
Is it a fancy place? Can I go there wearing dress shirt and slacks, or even blue jeans and dress shirt?

Hi Schad,

It prides itself on being a true "auberge", so it has the sort of relaxed feel of a mountain lodge: I think you'd feel quite comfortable in a nice shirt and pants--that's the sort of thing I always wear.

The staff is extremely welcoming; they obviously are doing precisely what they want to be doing. If you know a teeny bit of French, that'll make things even more comfortable.

Report back on your experience!

Geo

Back from DC.

-Went to La Chaumierie and it was AWESOME. Excellent food! These are the lamb chops I got as my entree.



Also went to Heritage India in DuPont Circle. Old decor inside but the food was tasty and very rich. Excellent.

Went to Rasika, which was more trendy indian food. Also great. More of a modern take on indian food and would be good for a younger crowd or group that wants a more trendy atmosphere as opposed to old school indian.

Made my usual trip to Clydes in Georgetown to get the skillet-grilled calamari appetizer. Highly recommend it. haven't ordered anything else everytime I've been there.

Thanks for the suggestions! La Chaumierie was the best!

Glad to hear that La Chaumiere hasn't lost its touch to charm, Schad! Those lamb chops (which I've ordered myself, more than once : ) look just delish.

Geo