Dining
Where to eat in DC
161 restaurants across the DMV. Ranked by preference.
Top restaurants
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Highest by critics
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161 of 161
Rose's Luxury
Barracks Row
aaron silverman is a genius; this is THE occasion restaurant to also get good food
Inn at Little Washington
Washington, VA
pear dessert, linzer tarts YUM
Causa
Blagden Alley
so performative but in the best way - order off the fish market
Albi
Navy Yard
Good, interesting, one time is enough
Oyster Oyster
Shaw
Dream restaurant, just elevated in every way, most interesting in all of DC
Pineapple & Pearls
Capitol Hill
Service absolutely phenomenal, decor feels a bit cheap for the cost but great food
Maydan
Cardozo
bang for your buck tbh on the fixed menu, amazing atmosphere, sad it lost its star, great mezze
Anju
Dupont Circle
YES TO BIBIMBAP - divine
The Dabney
Blagden Alley
LOVED - exceptional freshness and attention to detail. Dut's Gin Martini is a must.
Moon Rabbit
Penn Quarter
JENN'S FAVORITE - really undervalued, art plating, a gem of a restaurant, so cozy and PRETTY, dessert is most interesting in all of dc I think, location sucks (11th & F) but feels nice without being stuffy
Lapis
Adams Morgan
JENN'S FAVORITE - warm intimate with stunning rugs & heirloom photos, feels like coming into their home; DUMPLINGS AND BURANEE KADOO AND LENTILS - hard to come by a person who has been to an afghani restaurant
Onggi
Dupont/Logan Circle
V GOOD KOREAN - off Dupont on P St before bridge, LOVED exterior, soooo good, not bullshit portions, loved wait staff
Sushi Taro
Dupont Circle
Fuck me up with sushi; GREAT SUSHI, idk where I land on fair pay and the crazy price
La Shukran
Union Market
HIGH production value and presence, gorgeous visual design. Stairs leading up remind me of Jonathan Adler - sense of adventure. INSANE food - oysters I will never forget and that's from a pescatarian who doesn't tend to remember oysters. BEAUTIFUL scallops, perfect texture, interesting and surprising at every turn
Omakase @ Barracks Row
Capitol Hill
Rania
Penn Quarter
really really awesome elevated indian
Tapori
H St Corridor
beautiful, divine, authentic, surprising, dazzling
un je ne sais quo
Shaw
v authentic french high patisserie
Death and Co
Blagden Alley
legendary cocktail bar from NYC, moody vibes, expertly crafted drinks
Oyamel Cocina
Penn Quarter
fresh guac being made in front charming not the best mexican but highlights key ingredients good love letter to mexico
Osteria Mozza
Georgetown
Ambiance is PERFECT, they did simple things well - feels very 'in'
L'Ardente
Judiciary Square
JENN'S FAVORITE - GOOD OCTOPUS UNHEARD OF, superb wine, great for date, 11/10
Queen's English
Columbia Heights
V GOOD - unexplored territory Columbia Heights, great food, parents pleaser
Seven Reasons
Penn Quarter
Actually stunning dinner, get the feast, TEXTURES
Zaytinya
Penn Quarter
I never not have a good time, large, nnot so special feeling for a date great for colleagues
Keren
Adams Morgan
the cutest lil no frills place praying for the day it comes back post fire
Reynolds
Dupont Circle
phenomenal cocktails, intimate speakeasy vibe, same team as Casamara
Silver Lyan
Penn Quarter
inventive cocktails from the Mr Lyan team, hotel bar vibes
Minetta Tavern
Union Market
Very Versailles meets tavern of seduction - GORGEOUS - maximalist as hell. $26 cocktail - is trying to be luxe and IS in decor
El Cielo
Union Market
GREAT VIBES, felt where she lands on price
Perry's
Adams Morgan
Pascual
Logan Circle
Dear Sushi at Love, Makoto
14th Street
Iron Gate
Dupont Circle
superrrrr romantic and cute I could throw up, I imagine a ritzy couple going out here just bc
Residents Cafe and Bar
Dupont Circle
great neighborhood cafe and bar
Lucy Mercer Bar
Union Market
Above Minetta Tavern
Nabiha Restaurant & Cafe
U Street
heard it's got really great Palestinian food, unassuming spot
Nina May
Shaw
Such cute décor - great date
Calico
Blagden Alley
rooftop bar
Cana
Adams Morgan
rum-focused bar with Caribbean vibes, great atmosphere
Bar Betsie
Union Market
Really fun and whimsical - appreciate there's a strong bar option in Union Market
Thip Khao
Columbia Heights
really interesting food, love it for big friend group gathering (3+)
Casamara
Dupont Circle
amazing, love the hotel-restaurant-bar-rooftop complex - it’s a marvel of an organism
Chercher
Shaw
really fresh? Ethiopian, just feels clean
Bindaas
Penn Quarter
HONESTLY RLY GOOD FOR A FAST CASUAL TYPE OF PLACE but not at all amazing indian by far
Rice Bar
Penn Quarter
jenny's dream lunch spot, korean/clean girl cava
ambar
Capitol Hill/Shaw
BOTTOMLESS FOOD WUT
Occidental
Downtown
Very old money, dark and sexy - by Willard off Pennsylvania. Bar rec.
Maison Bar À Vins
Adams Morgan
French wine bar with excellent selection and cozy vibe
Balos Estiatorio
Dupont Circle
Greek and Mediterranean seafood
Kyojin
Georgetown Canal
Vibey sushi but not nobu - down in Georgetown canal, chill vibe, 'the winner' piece is $40 (has gold)
Dogon
Shaw
Chef KWAME - insititution, know the history if ur a real dcer
Maketto
H Street NE
vibey sorefront (apparel/shoes) - take a sneakerhead here; AMAZING dessert
The Bombay Club
Penn Quarter
Upscale Indian near White House
Bar Chinois
Mount Vernon Triangle
Mandu
Mount Vernon Triangle
Laos in Town
NoMa
as a pescatarian only rly want to go if its family style dishes heavy indv. But really really great flavors
Donsak
Shaw
cute neighborhood vibe, solid thai, small portions
Kappo
Georgetown
Dauphine's
Downtown
Stunningly gorgeous decor, feels celebratory. Great date spot.
Nobu
West End
it’s a vibe but let's not pretend its good sushi. Go for the brunch if you can snag a res
Yellow
Georgetown/Union Market
georgetown location is uncomfortably packed but I crave their pitas, love the interesting pastries, always a vibe
54 Restaurant
Penn Quarter
solid pho place downtown
Xiquet
Mount Vernon Triangle
Regional Spanish by Chef Danny Lledó
The Red Hen
Bloomingdale
Best salad - high protein, scrumptious
Blue Duck Tavern
West End
shockingly good for hotel restaurant
Shoto
Downtown
epitome of style over substance but its good style ngl
Duke's
Dupont Circle/Woodley Park
ngl, not bad at all
Rakuya
Dupont Circle
I like the bento boxes for lunch that’s it
Pisco y Nazca
West End/Downtown
solid bar, eligible for HH, ceviche!!
Kinship
Mount Vernon Square
CLOSED - Lease ended Jan 2025. Was ELEGANT but formal contemporary (Jenn's least favorite style)
Royal
Logan Circle
Florencia Atlantico
Georgetown
SO FCKING CUTE with flower shop in front
Indigo
NoMa
yes yes yes this is indian done right from restaurant vibe to menu
The Pembroke
Dupont Circle
good neutral option, parents material
Letena
Columbia Heights
overpriced BUT GOOD ethiopian; classed up ethiopian, good for introducing whites
Estuary
Penn Quarter
conrad is gorgeous I would go back for the dessert
Chloe
Navy Yard
yala
Georgetown
really cute ice cream place in georgetown with FROYO OPTIONS… that are GOOD
Imperfecto
West End
really really underwhelmed, its all plating
Métier
Mount Vernon Square
CLOSED - Lease ended Jan 2025. Was classic French, foie gras ew gross
Makan
Columbia Heights
'Makan' = let's eat in Malay, Penang feel
Emissary
Dupont Circle
avocado toast I actually crave
Bandoola Bowl
Foggy Bottom
best salad - high protein - scrumptious shrimp - sucks It m
Rumi's Kitchen
Penn Quarter/Mt. Vernon
chain but hear its reallllyyyy good
Chang Chang
Dupont Circle
of peter chang fame
Apero
Georgetown
Ceibo
Columbia Heights
dLena
Mt. Vernon Triangle
loveeee the downstairs lounge, fucking gorgeous design
Bagels Etc
Dupont Circle
two words. Egg bagels.
lutece
Georgetown
ppl with kind of bougie taste wont shut up about it
Daru
H St Corridor
Pani puri snack, contemporary Indian - not memorable either
Namak
Adams Morgan
Annabelle
Dupont Circle
overfuckingpriced but gorgeous interior, trying very hard to be french-y
Yerevan Café
Adams Morgan
honey cake - go here to be interesting
Lauriol Plaza
Dupont Circle
a big ole ugly institution but an INSTITUTION nonetheless
Agora
Dupont Circle
good for nrunch, always packed
Chaia Tacos
Georgetown/Various
good veg tacos!!
Succotash
Penn Quarter
solid HH place, waste of a façade but great deviled eggs goddamn
Tabard Inn
Dupont Circle
cute, feels a little haunted, for a dinner with a grandpa or somethn
Elfegne
Adams Morgan
used to be zenebechs the name change was weird, they have a tilapia dish tha tmost other ethiopian places don’t so jenny likes (protein gains)
Heat da Spot
Shaw
you would never expect to be blown away but boy does this place do that. Phenom eggs. Just go. If ur party is afraid of georgia ave they are racist but also not super wrong
Bar Charley
Dupont Circle
convenient location, you could miss it bc its basement level sort of - good moody vibe - for a low effort hangout
Grill from Ipanema
Adams Morgan
YES GET THE MOQUECE, go with food aventurers, good brunch
Reveler's Hour
Adams Morgan
solid pasta place option, moody date night interior
Astoria DC
Dupont Circle
Boulangerie Christophe
Georgetown
idk how to describe this other than its VERY "OUI OUI"
Chiko
Dupont Circle
I find it it heavy but if I remove my skinny bitch filter, its pretty awesome chinese
Oh Mama Grill
Adams Morgan
why tf are you closed on fridays and saturdays I know it’s a jewish thing but cmon.generous portions, sweet dudes on the kitchen staff, careful not to get too many pickled toppings
Purple Patch
Mt. Pleasant
not at all good for pescatarian/non-meat eater diet; only filipino place I know; good brunch options
Mount Desert
Mt. Pleasant
rly disgustingly cute ice cream shop, gives you a reason to go to mt pleasant which is underrated
Tatte
Multiple locations
get the cranberry pistachio shortbread cookies and shakshuka; their yogurt cup is fucked up good but legit 1k calories be careful
Sababa
Cleveland Park
a little bit of a trek but woodley park is so cute, the mezze was great, all done great, kinda zionist I heard??
Thai and Time Again
Woodley Park
they almost died they came back they are an underdog, go if in the neighborhood, DO NOT ORDER online from them - it will take a ridiculous amount of time
La Collina
Capitol Hill
Elle
Mount Pleasant
really cute for brunch quick sweet treat pickup on a Sunday morn
La Bonne Vache
Georgetown
hear it’s a RLY good burger
Fish Shop
Navy Yard
Vegz
Adams Morgan
YES DOSAS
Barcelona
14th Street
why does every basic bitch love barthelonaaaaaa, answer - its roaming with singles/fuckbois
Opal
Chevy Chase
Cane
Capitol Hill
The Duck & The Peach
Capitol Hill
Timber Pizza
Petworth
why oh why did they stop making za'taar pizza. Sigh. Dough is great. DO NOT SKIP THE EMPANADAS
Andy's
Multiple locations
solid pizza nothing special
Le Tomate
Dupont Circle
its so cute but never been bc I hear the food is just okay italian and jenny hates italian generally
Daily Provisions
Dupont Circle
replaced foxtrot rip - running a similar scam of dainty/trendy font, oferring the basic favs of the girlies
Little Pearl
Capitol Hill
Love the service, elevated atmosphere, disappoints on some execution but EXCELLENT food aesthetics; so underwhelmed and disappointed but ambiance is killer - throw away fancy date
Tiger Fork
Blagden Alley
not memorable - always a little too greasy? A couple of standout items Id go back for at a happy hour
Menya Hosaki
Petworth
La Tejana
Mt. Pleasant
Dirty Habit
Penn Quarter
decent HH place, prime location, outdoor setups
Dakaiya
Chinatown
great vegan ramen - upstairs has sushi - pretty solid, not memorable
Zorba's
Dupont Circle
if you want to feel like your greek grandmother made you dinner
Kramers
Dupont Circle
carrot cake, why would you eat a full meal here idk
Jaleo
Penn Quarter
if you like jose andres, in the area, want tapas, meh
Taim
Dupont Circle
way too small portions but the mezze options are right son
Himalayan Heritage
Adams Morgan
Lucky Buns
Adams Morgan
once an institution, now it’s a little commonplace and lost its shine
Café Milano
Georgetown
insecur emen trying to feel important vibe sue me
The Coupe
Columbia Heights
neighborhood spot, nothing special but it maintains a senior institutional status in columbia heights
Maman
Multiple locations
go for the vibes its all so mediocre - style over substance
The Diner
Adams Morgan
u need to end up here at least once in your 20s and experience the shitty but also be saved by the toast when ur down bad at 2 am
Filomena
Georgetown
ppl like this and idgi. The plates are massive and grossed me out. I understand they are doing americana but I get anxious with how much stuff is on the walls
Sushi Ogawa
Kalorama
really disappointed given history of chef ogawa - the senile has affected presentation I think
Sakuramen
Adams Morgan
meh ramen but in admo
China Chilcano
Penn Quarter
hated it here but I don’t remember why
El Tamarindo
Adams Morgan
they have pupusas. Are they good? No
Martin's tavern
Georgetown
knowing that this is supposedly where JFK supposedly proposed to jackie is enough, disgustingly packed during the holidays
Jinya
Logan Circle
I hated it here idk why