December 2024 Replace:
Incoming — Osteria Mozza (#8); a.kitchen+bar (#13); Minetta Tavern (#18)
Outgoing — Bar Spero (closed); Mi Cuba Cafe (closed)
I’m all the time grateful when folks ask me the place they need to eat. But additionally panicked. My psychological rolodex goes bonkers — flipping by way of longtime favorites, updating with latest finds, after which cross-tabulating by no matter schlepping, dietary, or different restrictions I used to be given. I freeze in place for what appears like without end — possibly half-a-McConnell — earlier than my mind can formulate a response.
I’d wish to spare myself additional trauma. This web page is a one-stop store for my favourite eating places within the DC space. It’ll be a residing doc that I’ll replace as usually as I can. The High 25 is my present record of favorites, no matter delicacies or value. The focused lists under the top-25 are further choices inside explicit cuisines or classes.
1. Moon Rabbit, 927 F Avenue NW, Washington DC (Penn Quarter)
I’d comply with chef Kevin Tien anyplace — and I’ve, from Himitsu, to Emilie’s, to Moon Rabbit #1, and now to the recently-opened Moon Rabbit #2. And that’s simply up to now 5 years. The most recent incarnation of Moon Rabbit occupies a beautiful Penn Quarter house that when housed CoCo Sala, DC’s first — and hopefully solely — chocolate-themed restaurant. Tien’s cooking at MR2 is grounded in his Vietnamese heritage punctuated with riffs from his Louisiana childhood and different influences. As all the time, Tien’s meals is advanced and artistic — there’s all the time rather a lot happening — however unfailingly scrumptious. If I needed to choose one DC chef to make my final meal, I’m going with Tien. However earlier than I get overly fan-boy — too late, I do know — don’t miss Beard-nominated pastry chef Susan Bae’s choices. They’re the right complement to Tien’s savory dishes and replicate the identical creative-without-sacrificing-deliciousness sensibility.
Shrimp Thermidor with shellfish sabayon, nice herbs, Meyer lemon (somebody advised getting an order of Bae’s annatto bread to sop us the chic sauce and I’m all for it)
Squid Boudin with charred eggplant puree, crispy chickpeas, herbs
Inexperienced Curry Sponge Cake with avocado sorbet, soursop mousse, fish sauce caramel, finger lime
2. Queen’s English, 3410 eleventh Avenue NW, Washington DC (Columbia Heights)
Like Moon Rabbit, Queen’s English is a extremely private restaurant delivering one-of-a-kind Asian flavors reflecting the chef’s roots. My common reader (hello, mother!) gained’t be stunned to see them each main the pack. Queen’s English is run by husband-and-wife crew of Henji Cheung and Sarah Thompson. Henji’s cooking relies on the Cantonese and Hakkanese flavors he grew up on, whereas Sarah runs the entrance of the home and the top-flight wine program (Sarah was named Michelin’s DC Sommelier of the 12 months for 2023). That is the place to strive substances that could be much less acquainted or that some could also be squeamish about (strive the pig-ear salad). Veggie dishes just like the Mushroom Mushroom and the Truffle Dumpling are so good you gained’t miss the meat (which is a trope I hate as a result of it’s not often true; so you may belief me on this).
Crispy Pig Ear w watercress, lychee, goji French dressing
Mushroom Mushroom w royal trumpet, pickled shimeji, tofu ranch, dill
Truffle Dumpling w edamame, shallot, corn espuma
3. Albi/Yellow, Albi 1346 4th Avenue SE, Washington DC (Navy Yard); Yellow 1524 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington DC (Georgetown)
Chef Michael Rafidi is one other native treasure who hit his stride by channeling his roots. Rafidi grew up in Maryland however the cooking on the upscale Albi and the extra informal Yellow is impressed by his household in Ramallah and what his grandparents cooked at dwelling. Albi showcases a wood-fired open fireside, which not solely imbues lots of the dishes with smoke and char however elevates the entire vibe of the place. Like Maydan — and to a lesser extent The Dabney and Centrolina — Albi’s open hearth creates a primal feeling of security and neighborhood in gathering round a hearth to eat. Yellow is a superb spot for breakfast or lunch (test it out within the DC episode of Anyone Feed Phil on Netflix). Each spots have wonderful hummus, baba ganoush, and felafel to fill out your order. And don’t miss Yellow’s Batata Tots (stacked potato squares) or the stacked potato column referred to as Batata Harra at Albi. They’re culinary and architectural marvels. (June 2024 Replace: Chef Rafidi gained the James Beard award for Excellent Chef!)
Hummus (Yellow Cafe)
Felafel w pickled onion (Yellow Cafe)
Wooden-Grilled Branzino w Batata Harra (Albi)
4. Lutece, 1522 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington DC (Georgetown)
There’s a lot to like at this jewel-box French spot that helped cement the re-foodie-fication of Georgetown. Signatures just like the charred Napa cabbage, duck breast, Parisian gnocchi, and honey semifreddo are constants, though the particular preparations range and many of the menu adjustments with the seasons. Seize a seat inside for those who’re into close-quarter conviviality. I normally go for a desk on the sidewalk, which tends to be extra peaceable aside from the periodic Metrobus or when Yellow subsequent door is working a wait.
La belle farm duck w beets, kumquats, sauce bigarde
Parisian Gnocchi w inexperienced garlic, tomato
5. L’Ardente, 200 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington DC (Capitol Crossing, between Union Station and Chinatown)
Chef David Deshaies (additionally of Unconventional Diner) educated below the late-great Michel Richard at Citronelle, so it’s no shock that the dishes he places out shall be beautifully-executed and sometimes include a contact of caprice. However don’t let the whimsy idiot you. These are critical dishes which have the arrogance to not take themselves too severely. A few of them you could know from social media — the 40-layer lasagna could also be DC’s most Instagrammed dish ever — however they style nearly as good as they appear. By the best way, in contrast to many prime eating places, L’Ardente can also be nice lunch spot. My go-to is among the wonderful salads or possibly a pasta, after which casually ask my table-mates if we must always order a funghi pizza for the desk. I don’t expressly say that my day shall be ruined if they are saying no, however possibly they’ll sense it. To date nobody’s mentioned no.
Lunchtime Salad Verde with Prawns
Funghi Pizza w morel mornay and wild mushrooms
The 40-layer lasagna with short-rib sugo, truffle mornay
6. St. Anselm, 1250 fifth Avenue NE, Washington DC (Union Market)
St. Anselm is my favourite steakhouse in DC and the closest factor we have now to a positive factor. Nobody doesn’t get pleasure from consuming right here. The menu is stuffed with crowd-pleasers like the enduring biscuits with pimento cheese, blue-crab deviled eggs, salads that don’t attempt to reinvent the wheel, the sleeper salmon collar, and properly-cooked steaks starting from the butcher’s reduce to the ax-handle ribeye. It appears like a recent, bumped-up tackle what’s comforting and acquainted with out shedding what made them comforting and acquainted within the first place. See Caruso’s Grocery, under, for one more profitable instance of updating the classics.
Biscuits with Pimento Cheese
Salmon Collar
Ax-Deal with Ribeye
7. Thip Khao, 3462 14th Avenue NW, Washington DC (Columbia Heights); Baan Mae, 1604 seventh Avenue NW, Washington DC (Shaw), Padaek, 6395 Seven Corners Middle, Falls Church, VA
There are such a lot of nice dishes within the DC space. But when I needed to choose my absolute favourite, it’d must be Chef Seng Luangrath’s Naem Khoa (Laotian crispy rice salad). It’s all the time on the menu at her flagship Thip Khao and Padaek in Falls Church (though it’s not on the latest opening menu at Baan Mae, I hope it’s only a matter of time). The salad begins with coconut rice, evenly crisped and a bit heat (take-out sadly loses the crisp) after which tosses it with peanut, lime, scallion, cilantro, bitter pork, mint, banana blossom, crimson onion, and a sprinkling of pixie mud. It comes with lettuce leaves for wrapping. It’s crunchy, nutty, candy, bitter, porky, salty, spicy, herbaceous, heat, cool, and funky. Should you’re somebody who hates it when completely different meals contact in your plate, it might not be for you. However for those who’re like me and also you’re consistently forking dibs and dabs from completely different sections of your plate in search of that excellent chunk, that is your holy grail.
ps – There are many different nice decisions to fill out your order. Simply know that a lot of it’s spicy, and after they say spicy, don’t be like me — consider them:
Nevertheless it’s form of ache
Naem Khao — Crispy coconut rice salad, preserved pork sausage, banana blossom, mint, scallion, cilantro, onion
Tapioca dumplings, preserved radish & peanut caramel, cilantro
Crab Curry with lychee and snap pea
8. Osteria Mozza, 3726 M Avenue NW, Washington DC (Georgetown)
Osteria Mozza may have gone the best way of Pink One, the Rock’s enormous vacation bust that couldn’t ship on its funding. Like Pink One, the wager on Osteria Mozza was an audacious one: LA-based/James-Beard-winning Chef Nancy Silverton teaming up with restaurant impresario Stephen Starr to re-make the outdated Dean & DeLuca house right into a sprawling Italian restaurant/market/pizzeria/mozzarella bar overlaying 20,000 sq. ft.
So far, the audacious is paying off. Even at 312 seats, it’s one of many hardest reservations on the town. The eating/bar areas are completely gorgeous. And the meals is great.
Begin with the focaccia di Recco, the skinny, crisp flatbread that Silverton labored on for 2 years to get precisely proper (at lunch, go for the pizza). Then get the radicchio or Caesar salad and a pasta or two (beloved the unctuous Bolognese). The mains are additionally superb, essentially the most iconic being the Hen Diavolo (sure, the chicken is a bit dry — for me, it nearly all the time is — however with the sauce and the hen drippings-soaked bread, I’ve no complaints. I’ll by no means not finish with Silverton’s well-known Butterscotch Budino. I haven’t had it since I used to be in LA a few years in the past and it’s nearly as good as I bear in mind. It’s the Platonic very best of butterscotch pudding.
My worry with huge operations headed by distant, celeb cooks is that the preliminary glow fades over time. And these days they make a straightforward goal for on-line sorts who’d like nothing higher than to publish that they beloved Mozza when it first opened however sadly it’s slipped. It’s a lazy take that hopefully gained’t come to cross. I believe Silverton has an excessive amount of integrity, and is simply too invested on this explicit challenge, for any vital drop-off in high quality.
Focaccia Di Recco with stracchino cheese
Pasta Bolognese
Hen Alla Diavolo Su Crostone
Butterscotch Budino, caramel sauce, creme fraiche, maldon sea salt
9. Namak, 1813 Columbia Rd NW, Washington DC (Adams Morgan)
Namak, the brand new eastern-Mediterranean restaurant within the outdated Mintwood house, is an efficient reminder that execution is among the most underrated features of consuming out. We fetishize the sourcing of native substances. We pore over menus on the web. However we not often deal with the precise cooking course of — the kitchen’s potential to squeeze the utmost deliciousness out of no matter substances they’re given. The Namak kitchen, led by Turkish-American chef Tolgahan Gulyiyen, will get the cooking half proper. Take the Adana kabob, a Turkish floor lamb skewer just like the Persian kubideh. Too usually, floor meat kabobs are overcooked — you, Moby Dick — however I nonetheless organize them as a result of hope springs everlasting and yogurt sauce can do wonders. Namak’s Adana kabob is juicy and succulent by itself; no yogurt sauce wanted (ditto for the shrimp kabob, one other protein that’s straightforward to overcook). Or take one in all my favourite bites of the 12 months — the feta saganaki — during which the kitchen deep-fries sesame-coated feta to a greaseless golden brown whereas bringing the inner feta temperature to an ideal ooze. The substances could also be top-quality, but it surely’s the execution that makes the dish.
The one caveat I’d have on Namak is that it’s not for the dill-averse. Contemporary dill makes an look in most dishes. You could possibly, in fact, ask that they go away the dill out so long as you’re not consuming with me.
Feta Saganaki – sesame-crusted fried feta w honey
Roasted Cauliflower w turmeric, tahini, and garlic
Adana Kabob — spicy floor lamb w lavash
10. Anju, 1805 18th Avenue NW, Washington DC (Dupont Circle)
Anju, with its mixture of conventional and up to date takes on Korean homestyle dishes, stays a tricky reservation nearly 5 years after its opening. And it’s a favorite of the meals cognoscenti as nicely — Washingtonian named it the #1 restaurant within the DC space for 2020. Anju’s starters are all wonderful, particularly the craveable fried hen with gochujang glaze and white bbq drizzle and the meat tartare (I do discover myself wanting a greater conveyance for the tartare than pretty-but-fragile lotus chips). For the principle course, I beeline for no matter variations of fried rice and/or rice truffles are on the menu after which choose a protein (or two). At brunch, it’s exhausting to withstand the consolation of the Shrimp Juk. Until it’s the decadence of the PB&J French Toast.
Yukhoe — Beef tartare with palm sugar, chili basil seeds, pine nuts, lotus crisps
Chikin — Half-fried hen with spicy gochujang glaze, white bbq drizzle
11. Centrolina, 974 Palmer Alley NW, Washington DC (Metropolis Middle)
Chef Amy Brandwein by no means seems a nasty dish. Not as a result of she doesn’t take dangers. She does, usually defying settled expectations. I can’t think about what number of occasions her waitstaff has needed to clarify that, sure, the Bolognese sauce is white. Her dishes really feel each grounded in elemental strategies — charred, pickled, burnt, or confited parts are frequent — and but utterly elevated. It’s what our ancestors might need aspired to out on the savannah with higher product and a little bit of method. Put in a different way, Chef Brandwein can be nice on a tenting journey.
Roasted Chanterelle with Parmesan creme brulee
Squid Ink Fusilli with octopus ragu
Merely Grilled Sea Scallops
12. Pastis, 1323 4th Avenue NE, Washington DC (Union Market); Le Diplomate, 1601 14th Avenue NW (Washington DC) (14th Avenue hall)
Not since Crew Edward and Crew Jacob have Washingtonians been compelled to decide on sides like this. We’ve got dueling Stephen Starr productions designed to move you to the Parisian culinary setting of your desires — the quintessential bistro (Pastis) and the quintessential brasserie (Le Dip). So which is best? My wishy-washy take is that they’re roughly equal and it’s best to go together with what sort of “crowded” you’re in search of — the comfortable type (Pastis) or the bustling type (Le Dip). The extra nuanced reply is it relies upon what you’re within the temper for. Should you ‘re a bread-head, it’s benefit Le Dip for its bountiful basket over Pastis’ sliced sourdough. Should you care about frites, it’s Le Dip once more for its thinner/crisper fries, though the Pastis fries are properly salted. As for the steak accompanying these frites, I like Pastis’ succulent bar reduce higher than Le Dip’s hanger steak that may be excellent one go to and gamey the subsequent. Each do wonderful inexperienced salads however the leeks French dressing at Pastis provides it the sting from the backyard (I do just like the Heat Shrimp Salad at Le Dip however that’s extra of a light-weight meal than a starter). For dessert, Pastis’ textbook creme caramel will get the nod over Le Dip’s been-there-done-that creme brûlée. I do know some folks swear by the profiteroles at each spots, however I’m not a fan of pate a choux, the identical dough that’s used for different unlucky concoctions like creme puffs. So that you’re by yourself there.
Bar Steak Frites at Pastis
Creme Caramel at Pastis
Bread Station at Le Dip
Steak Frites at Le Dip
13. a.kitchen+bar, 1 Washington Circle NW, Washington DC (West Finish)
With all of the high-profile restaurant openings these previous few months, you will have missed the quiet opening of a.kitchen + bar within the AKA Resort – Washington Circle. The primary a.kitchen+bar opened in Philadelphia in 2014 however the DC location is not any mere outpost. We bought our personal A-Crew, beginning with Chef de Delicacies George Madosky, who served as Govt Chef on the much-loved Fork in Philly earlier than transferring to DC. Madosky and Govt Chef Eli Collins prove shareable, French-influenced plates which might be well-conceived and superbly executed. There wasn’t a clunker within the bunch however the one can’t-miss dish on the menu is the cold-smoked duck with fries and duck-fat bearnaise. The crispy oyster mushrooms, inexperienced salad, bluefin tuna, and roasted cauliflower aren’t far behind.
Roasted Cauliflower, almond bagna cauda, trevisio, parmigiano reggiano
Crispy Oyster Mushrooms, sunchoke miso aioli
Smoked Duck, wedge fries, watercress, duck fats bearnaise
14. Seven Causes, 931 H Avenue NW, Washington DC (Metropolis Middle); Imperfecto, 1124 twenty third St NW, Washington DC (Foggy Backside)
I fell for Venezuelan-born Chef Enrique Limardo’s vibrant cooking the primary time I went to Seven Causes and tried his arepitas, latin felafel, ceviche, bomba rice, and entire fish. The restaurant not too long ago relocated from its 14th Avenue townhouse to Metropolis Middle (the place DBGB was once) and it seems like my favorites survived the transfer. Imperfecto is Limardo’s fancier soak up a hovering house with a buzzy Miami vibe. Like Seven Causes, no matter you order at Imperfecto may have fascinating, cross-cutting flavors and look lovely on the plate. The crudos, pastas, tiger prawns, and tartares (each tuna and steak) are winners, and the lamb terrine combines the standard (lamb shoulder) and the luxe (truffles) right into a unified yin-yang entire.
I ought to notice that Pleasure, owned by the identical Seven Causes group, is positioned in Friendship Heights actually blocks from my home. It didn’t make my prime 25. It appears like my nook of the DMV all the time appears to finish up with a restaurant group’s weakest choices. We get Pleasure, Q by Peter Chang, and Black’s Bar & Kitchen. The remainder of you get Seven Causes/Imperfecto, Mama Chang/Chang Chang, and Black Salt/Black’s Market. However am I bitter? As bitter as a ten year-old jar of Folger’s Crystals.
Tiger Prawns “a la diablo” Lemon-butter sauce, Imperfecto Cholula, house-made sourdough (Imperfecto)
Lamb Terrine Robuchon’s pomme purée, crimson cabbage confit, lamb jus, truffle (Imperfecto)
Entire Fried Fish (Seven Causes)
15. 2Fifty Texas BBQ, 4700 Riverdale Rd, Riverdale Park MD; 414 Okay Avenue NW, Washington DC (Mt Vernon Sq.)
Sometime I’ll inform my grandkids how exhausting we had it again within the day, when locations like Pink Sizzling & Blue and Rocklands have been state-of-the-art DC barbeque and catered each company summer time outing. You’ll by no means know such hardship, I”ll reassure them; you may stroll right down to 2Fifty BBQ any day of the week and get brisket nearly as good as something in Texas. I’ll ignore the budding logician who factors out they’re not allowed to even cross the road and ask if any of them can inform me what particular factor occurs at 2Fifty each Thursday. That’s when little Tommy, my favourite, whom I’d been drilling for simply this second, raises his fist within the air and shouts “Thursday is pastrami day, grandpa! And it’s the most effective on the town!” That’s once I normally get up. I don’t surprise what all of it means or whether or not I’d be grandpa. My first thought is whether or not it’s Thursday.
Extra excellent news. I used to say that the pork ribs don’t dwell as much as the brisket at 2Fifty. Now not. I simply had some scrumptious St. Louis-style pork ribs from 2Fifty that have been meaty and superbly smoked. As for the edges, the beans, cole slaw, and mac & cheese are all properly executed, as is the potato salad if, like me, you get pleasure from a potato salad that’s mustard-forward.
Beef Brisket, pork ribs, and burnt ends
Pastrami Sandwich (Thursdays solely)
16. Caruso’s Grocery, 1401 Pennsylvania Ave SE, Washington DC (Capitol Hill), 11820 Commerce St, N Bethesda, MD (Pike & Rose); Cucina Morini, 901 4th Avenue NW, Washington DC (Mt Vernon Sq.)
Chef Matt Adler is the frequent thread right here. Caruso’s Grocery is Adler’s homage to traditional Italian-American cooking like his dad’s restaurant Scoozi in upstate New York — be sure you strive the calamari, the spicy neapolitan ragu, the veal francaise, and the parm (I agree with Adler’s view that veal parm > hen parm). Just lately-opened Cucina Morini, against this, is grounded in Adler’s love of Italian regional cooking and the flavors of Sicily and its shoreline — strive the tomato focaccia, the crudos, the paccheri alla norma, and the pollo all diavola. What I like about Adler’s strategy to cooking is that whereas he values and appreciates custom — there’s a motive classics grew to become classics — he’s additionally a tinkerer who takes dishes aside and places them again collectively utilizing strategies and substances that enhance on the unique. Just a few weeks in the past Adler posted an image on X of a house-baked cornetto stuffed with pistachio cream he’d been engaged on for Morini’s new brunch service. He requested folks to weigh in on whether or not his prototype had an excessive amount of cream filling. The clear consensus was which you can by no means have an excessive amount of cream filling, which might have been a good larger landslide if I may’ve considered extra pretend X handles.
17. Bar del Monte, 3054 Mt Nice St NW, Washington DC (Mt Nice)
Bar Del Monte is for individuals who know and demand high quality however don’t wish to present it off. So whereas the substances are pristine and top-notch, the plates are small and the compositions are easy. The set menu has however seven gadgets of stuff you’d think about an Italian farmer consuming for lunch, if the Italian farmer had a full-time procurement division — together with plates of Chistorra (“a really fatty Spanish sausage”), l’Escala anchovies, and bottarga (salted fish eggs). The brief record of present specials consists of dishes like Sardinian Sheep Ricotta grilled in fig leaf (I’ll now solely eat sheep ricotta from Sardinian terroir) and a plate of house-cured Capicola (gabagool in Sopranos-speak). And at last there are pizzas — which is sensible since Bar del Monte was opened by the parents from 2 Amy’s — along with your alternative of toppings (so long as these toppings are prosciutto, anchovies, olives, arugula, or buffalo mozz).
It sound like I’m making enjoyable, and I’m — the aggressive lack of pretension can really feel a bit pretentious. However the joke’s on me as a result of the meals and the service have been each wonderful. I truly favored the pizza at Bar del Monte higher than 2 Amy’s — the crust was thinner and smokier (I additionally order my pies well-done, which may have contributed to the smokiness). I’ll undoubtedly be again with different non-bling-y associates.
Sardinian Sheep Ricotta grilled in fig leaf w charred eggplant
Manila Clams w garlic, chili, tomato, and saffron
Sausage Pizza w crimson Florentine onion & shishito pepper (ordered well-done)
18. Perry’s, 1811 Columbia Highway NW, Washington DC (Adams Morgan)
What a change a chef could make. Earlier than chef Masako Morishita confirmed up, Perry’s was the place with the great roof deck that’d pop into my head the three days a 12 months Sonia declared the climate too good to take a seat inside. Now I don’t look forward to the climate report and rely myself fortunate once I can snag a desk anyplace on the premises. Sushi and different uncooked fish preparations are pretty but it surely’s chef Morishita’s cooked dishes, just like the grilled avocado, udon carbonara, and shrimp katsu burger, that hold me coming again and answering “first accessible” when the host asks if I want outdoors or inside. (June 2024 replace: Chef Morishita simply gained the James Beard award for Rising Chef of the 12 months!)
Grilled Avocado with shiso chimichurri & tamari-cured egg yolk
Shrimp Katsu Burger
19. Minetta Tavern, 12874 Neal Place NE, Washington DC (Union Market)
NYC restaurateur Keith McNally not too long ago opened a DC outpost of his iconic Minetta Tavern (a “Parisian steakhouse meets New York Metropolis tavern”) a stone’s throw from Union Market. A lot of the menu has carried over to DC, together with the well-known Black Label burger made with brief rib, skirt, brisket, and dry-aged ribeye. It’s well worth the $28 price ticket. Should you’re a French onion soup maven, don’t miss the Minetta Tavern model — the broth is so beefy and savory that isn’t simply an excuse to eat melted cheese and bread.
Soup a l’Oignon
Black Label Burger
Steak-Frites
20. Pascual, 732 Maryland Ave NE, Washington DC (Capitol Hill)
Pascual doubled their seating capability after they opened their out of doors patio, but it surely’s nonetheless one of many hardest reservations on the town. And make no mistake — it’s actually good, upscale Mexican cooking. Is it schlep-across-town to eat at 5 pm as a result of that’s the one reservation I may get good? In all probability not, however not many locations are. If I lived on the Hill, I’d undoubtedly be an everyday. My favourite dishes fall-off-the-bone lamb neck barbacoa, which comes with corn tortillas for wrapping, the refreshing chayote salad, and the scallop aguachile.
Lamb Neck Barbacoa w ayocote beans, salsa crudo, herbs
Chayote Salad w sunflower seeds, guajillo oil, asian pears
Tomatoes w avocado, squash blossom, hierba buena
21. Cielo Rojo, 7211 Carroll Ave, Takoma Park MD
Maya Angelou mentioned that individuals will neglect what you mentioned, and so they’ll neglect what you probably did, however they’ll always remember the way you made them really feel. I’ve by no means left Cielo Rojo not feeling higher than once I confirmed up. The husband and spouse crew of David Perez and Carolina McCandless do issues proper, from cautious product sourcing and processing, to Perez’s well-conceived dishes (I all the time begin with the terrific pozole), to the welcoming vibe McCandless creates within the entrance of the home. And now that they’ve moved into lovely new digs a stone’s throw down Carroll Avenue, Perez and McCandless have a greater platform to do their factor. Hospitality sounds straightforward — simply feed folks nicely and make them really feel taken care of. But when it have been, everybody would do it.
Guacamole & Tostadas + Herbs
Pozole Rojo
Tres Leches
22. A&J Restaurant, 1319-C, Rockville Pike, Rockville MD; 4316 Markham St, Annandale VA
I’m a sucker for anyplace with a employees desk within the eating room the place servers on break are scarfing down dumpling and noodle dishes. For me, there’s no higher commercial for A&J than the gusto and the talent that the employees brings to the duty. I research their method — do they choose up the bowl? do they take a chunk of the dumpling or pop all of it of their mouth? — and attempt to determine what they’re consuming on the menu for subsequent time. Evidently, I’m not nice firm and attempt to go alone. By now, I’ve tried chunk of the handmade noodles and different dim sum choices on A&J’s lengthy menu and there’s nothing I wouldn’t be completely satisfied to eat once more. Sheets of fried pork potstickers, fused collectively like King’s Hawaiian Buns, make an look at most tables. Simply bear in mind it’s money solely (these strips of paper in your pockets subsequent to the receipts you forgot to throw away).
Cucumbers with garlic sauce
Pork Potstickers
Beef Noodle Soup
23. The Duck & The Peach, 300 seventh St SE, Washington DC (Capitol Hill)
A lot of the cooking at TD&TP revolves across the French Rotisol fuel rotisserie. That’s proper, every little thing at TD&TP revolves round a financial institution of revolving spits. Until, that’s, somebody fired their Smith & Wesson on the Beatles album enjoying on the turntable. Then every little thing would revolve round a revolver aside from the revolver taking pictures Revolver.
But when the rotisserie is French, the meals at TD&TP is decidedly American. It’s the form of sincere, easy cooking that I think about discovering at slightly farm-to-table place simply outdoors Woodstock, Vermont on a crisp fall day. There’s nothing fussy or tweezered, simply clear, seasonal meals, merely ready. And a particular notice of appreciation for the well-spaced tables within the eating room. The final word luxurious lately is having the ability to go to the restroom throughout dinner with out apologizing to neighboring tables.
Rotisserie Duck with citrus French dressing and scallions
Rotisserie Sea Bass
Caramel Apple Cake
24. Alfreda, 2016 P St NW, Washington DC (Dupont Circle)
There’s all the time room for one more good pizza place on the town, particularly one which makes pizzas the best way I like them — skinny, crisp crusts with no flop (so Neapolitan, Detroit-style, and deep-dish are nice however I’d relatively have New Haven-style, tavern-style, or NY/NJ pizza each time). Fortunately, Almeda’s sourdough pies are proper up my alley. Attempt a Tomato pie (I believe it’s a Jersey factor?) with crushed tomato, garlic, chili and a sprinkle of pecorino romano — the slices go down straightforward with out all that mozzarella weighing issues down. Should you order your pizza well-done, like I do, you’ll be rewarded with a beautifully-charred undercarriage that made me take a knee when it was delivered to my desk.
Tomato Pie with pepperoni and sausage
Try the char
Alfreda Chopped Salad
25. The Pink Hen, 1822 First St NW, Washington DC (Bloomingdale); Aventino, 4747 Bethesda Ave, Bethesda MD
I nonetheless want Chef Mike Friedman’s extra laid-back Pink Hen to his upscale, Roman-inspired Aventino, however bonus factors for planting his newest flag in Bethesda and instantly changing into the hardest reservation on the town. Whichever one you select, there shall be terrific pastas, pretty salads becoming the season, and a brief record of mains that each one sound good.
ps – I ought to point out that Pink Hen is dwelling to an iconic DC dish — the Rigatoni with Fennel Sausage Ragu — that’s so in style that President and Jill Biden each ordered it after they ate at Pink Hen in 2023. Now, I normally suppose Biden is fairly level-headed and Jill can do no incorrect. However not on this one. This crosses a line that ought to by no means be crossed. {Couples} merely can’t order the identical fundamental course. {Couples} ought to all the time share tastes of their meals, so there’s no threat of lacking out on one thing actually scrumptious. However, repetitive ordering forfeits the upside of different scrumptious menu potentialities. Perhaps one other dish was higher than the rigatoni, however the Bidens won’t ever know. What if it’s worse you say? They’d nonetheless each get to eat the rigatoni — and scientists have discovered that after the primary few bites any dish has diminishing returns. Imagine the science. Anyway, I hope the Bidens bought the assistance they want.
Shaved Snap Pea Salad with spring radishes, toasted almonds, meyer lemon dressing, pecorino (Aventino)
Tortellini with ricotta, sunchoke cremosa, preserved black truffle, parmigiano, sunchoke chips (Aventino)
Mezzi Rigatoni with tomato, garlic, fennel sausage ragu, fennel pollen, pecorino romano (The Pink Hen)
