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Best Dining Bets
Michel Richard Citronelle, in the Latham Hotel in Georgetown, 3000 M St. NW (tel. 202/625-2150): Richard ebulliently works in his open kitchen creating sumptuous, constantly changing dishes, from fricassee of escargots to squab leg confit with macaroni gratin and black truffles. Each presentation is a work of art, with swirls of colorful sauce surrounding the main event.
Komi, 1509 17th St. NW, Dupont Circle (tel. 202/332-9200): A dinner at Komi restores one, thanks to creative -- but not too creative -- dishes (grilled asparagus with watercress and feta, squab stuffed with foie gras and figs), polished service, and a remarkably relaxed atmosphere. And then there's the chef, the unassuming Johnny Monis, who somehow has figured this all out at the tender age of 20-something.
CityZen, 1330 Maryland Ave. SW, in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, near National Mall (tel. 202/787-6868): Eric Ziebold is the chef here, having previously served at the renowned French Laundry, in Napa Valley. Washingtonians don't quite know what they've done to deserve the culinary gifts he bestows upon them: North Carolina rainbow trout served with petite red Russian kale and smoked salmon roe emulsion, for example. Bring a full wallet.
1789 Restaurant, 1226 36th St. NW, Georgetown (tel. 202/965-1789): Isn't it romantic? Washingtonians think so, and you will too -- especially if you're seated near one of the warming fireplaces on a wintry night, slurping up the restaurant's signature oyster and champagne stew with Smithfield ham and walnuts. So put on your best duds and be prepared for a relaxing meal with only your food and your dinner companion to distract you.
Restaurant Eve, 110 S. Pitt St., Old Town Alexandria (tel. 703/706-0450): It's as hard to book a table here as at CityZen in the District. Exotic drinks, entrees such as bouillabaisse and butter-poached halibut with lobster, and service that includes ironing tablecloths between seatings, have drawn people here from all over the area. Birthday or not, order the "birthday cake" for dessert: delicious white cake layered and iced with pink frosting and sprinkles. Yum.
Best for Romance: The 1789 is renowned for its romantic ambience -- this is where Nicole Kidman brought beau Keith Urban on his 38th birthday. The five dining rooms are cozy dens -- complete with historical prints on the walls, silk-shaded brass oil lamps on tables, and, come winter, fires crackling in the fireplaces. You'll want to dress up, but don't worry, the 1789 isn't at all stuffy. And if the oyster and champagne stew with Smithfield ham and walnuts doesn't put your date in the mood for love, nothing will. Other worthy contenders: Taberna del Alabardero and Palena.
Best for Business: Charlie Palmer Steak, conveniently located within a walk of the Capitol, is a favorite spot for expense-account lobbyists and lawyers, who enjoy its great bar, private rooms, cleverly laid out seating that allows for discreet conversations, and fine cuts of steak. And then there's The Caucus Room, where there's always a whole lot of handshaking going on.
Best for Regional Cuisine: The Blue Duck Tavern pays homage to the tastes of various American regional cuisines by stating the provenance of each dish right there on the menu: the seasonal farm vegetables are from the Tuscarora Co-op, in Pennsylvania; the duck is from Crescent Farms, in New York. Johnny's Half Shell, meanwhile, is the place to go for superb Eastern Shore delicacies: crab cakes, crab imperial, soft-shell crab. While Washington doesn't have its own cuisine, per se, its central location within the Mid-Atlantic/Chesapeake Bay region gives it license to lay claim to these local favorite foods. And nobody does 'em better than Johnny's.
Best Decor: The Willard Room, in the historic Willard Hotel, stands out for its elegance. Its expansive dining room has a two-story-high ceiling, oak-paneled walls, enormous windows hung with shimmery drapes, green marble columns, beautifully upholstered chairs, and tables placed well apart from each other. The service and the food match the decor.
Best Haute Cuisine: Two restaurants vie for this title: CityZen and Michel Richard Citronelle. Chef Eric Ziebold came to CityZen from the renowned French Laundry, in Napa Valley; his culinary skills can take a simple mushroom and transform it (fry it, add truffles) into a spiritual experience. Likewise, Michel Richard is an artist in the kitchen, creating heavenly foods using cuttlefish, pig's feet, foie gras -- or really, any ingredient he so chooses.
Best Mexican Restaurant: Jose Andres has added another top draw to his restaurant fiefdom: Oyamel, where the tableside-churned guacamole is made to your specifications of spiciness and the menu features items you won't see on offer at any other of D.C.'s Mexican cantinas, like the "cochinita pibil con cebolla en escabeche" (Yucatan-style pit-barbecued pork with pickled red onion and Mexican sour orange), hmmmmm.
Best French Cuisine: You can go in two directions here. For exquisite, upscale French cuisine, consider Michel Richard's Citronelle, Marcel's, Palena, and Gerard's Place. Not only are these the best French restaurants, but they are among the top 10 restaurants in the city, period. For French classics, with Moulin Rouge ambience, check out La Chaumiere, whose nightly specials and rustic decor have been attracting regulars for more than 30 years, and two charming new bistros, the Café du Parc, and Michel Richard's Central.
Best Italian Cuisine: Tosca is a winner, serving fine and unusual dishes derived from the chef's northern Italian upbringing. At Obelisk, chef/owner Peter Pastan crafts elegantly simple and delicious food in a pleasantly sparse room.
Best Pizza: At Pizzeria Paradiso, peerless chewy-crusted pies are baked in an oak-burning oven and crowned with delicious toppings; you'll find great salads and sandwiches on fresh-baked focaccia here, too.
Best for "Taste of Washington" Experience: Eat lunch at The Monocle and you're bound to see a Supreme Court justice, congressman, or senator dining here, too. For some down-home and delicious Washington fun, sit at the counter at Ben's Chili Bowl, and chat with the owners and your neighbor over a chili dog or plate of blueberry pancakes; the place is an institution, and you can stop by anytime -- it's open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without
notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before
planning your trip.
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