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$$$$ | Dupont Circle |
Young, energetic chef-owner Johnny Monis offers one of the city's most adventurous dining experiences in this tiny space. The multicourse, prix-fixe menu, which changes daily, showcases contemporary fare with distinct Mediterranean influences. Buzzed-about plates have included mascarpone-filled dates with sea salt and succulent spit-roasted goat with pita bread. Reservations open 30 days in advance, with phones open from 2 pm to 4 pm Tuesday through Saturday.
1509 17th St. NW, Washington, District of Columbia, 20036, USA
Known For
- Intimate ambience
- Impressive wine list (but no cocktails)
- Reservations that book up very quickly
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch, Reservations essential
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$$$$ | Downtown |
L’Ardente serves traditional Italian flavors in a glamorous setting (think Missoni curtains) in the heart of the city. The buzzy restaurant, known for its 40-layer lasagna and tiramisu flambé, is a place to be seen by politicians and celebrities, including former president Barack Obama. The best seats in the house are at the chef's counter, where you can see the team assembling pizzas and crafting their indulgent pasta dishes.
200 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, District of Columbia, 20001, USA
Known For
- Elaborate cocktails
- Lively dining room
- 40-layer lasagna
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations recommended
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$$$$ | Downtown |
Located in the Eaton DC hotel, Michele’s is home to a gorgeous bar and lounge producing exceptional craft cocktails and a chef's counter where guests can experience a unique raw bar tasting menu. Created by Michelin-starred chef Matt Baker, Michele's is named after his mother and draws inspiration from the American South, especially New Orleans and Texas, where the chef spent most of his formative years. Try dishes like grilled quail, roasted quail, and caviar from the raw bar.
1201 K St., Washington, District of Columbia, 20005, USA
Known For
- Decadent raw bar
- Elevated Southern cuisine
- Prix-fixe menu
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservation recommended, Prix-fixe menu for dinner only
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$$$$ | Penn Quarter |
For those looking for a high-end gastronomic experience, head to minibar, a two-Michelin-starred restaurant owned by Spanish chef José Andrés. Here, his team showcases his molecular-gastronomy techniques with the 20 or so courses on the tasting menu that vary regularly (no à la carte orders allowed). The small plates have included beef-tendon churros, corn on the cob served on a spoon, and chocolate-coated foie gras. Four seatings a night of six guests each means reservations are required.
855 E St. NW, Washington, District of Columbia, 20004, USA
Known For
- Hard-to-get reservations required
- Chocolate-covered foie gras
- Experimental cocktails
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon., Reservations required
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$$$$ | Eastern Market |
For his follow-up to the smash hit Rose's Luxury, chef Aaron Silverman opened this reservation-only dining room next door that offered only an expensive 12-course (give or take) tasting. But since Covid, he reimagined the whole thing, creating a festive, whimsical space offering four hefty courses (with two choices for each course). The menu constantly changes, but example dishes include brined squab glazed with Guinness and cocoa; Mont Blanc pasta with chestnut-oat stuffing and sage-scented pesto; and grilled lobster spiced with star anise. Desserts are works of art, though don’t bypass the invitation to help yourself to a swirl of ice cream from the soft-serve machine, enhanced with a topper of Amaretto. If you’re not that hungry, head to the bar for small bites and a drink.
715 8th St. SE, Washington, District of Columbia, 20003, USA
Known For
- Intense reservation process
- Whimsical and fun but delicious dishes
- Expensive four-course menu
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.–Tues.
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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$$$$ | West End |
Rasika, an award-winning restaurant in West End, is one of the pioneers in Indian fine dining in Washington, D.C. With its sleek bar and modern dining room, Rasika is always buzzing with patrons. From popular dishes like chicken tikka masala to creative inspirations like silky glazed cod and truffled minced-lamb kebabs, chef Vikram Sunderam knows how to take diners on a virtual trip to India. A popular spot amongst the D.C. elite, don't be surprised if you run into a famous politician or journalist.
1190 New Hampshire Ave. NW, Washington, District of Columbia, 20037, USA
Known For
- Upscale Indian cuisine
- Modern dining room
- Chef-driven
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$$$$ | Eastern Market |
A darling of both diners and the media, Rose's Luxury lives up to the hype as one of the city's most welcoming and groundbreaking dining destinations. The dishes are as delightful as they are shocking, and cause visitors to wait in line for hours to visit the supremely stylish re-creation of a hipster's dream dinner party. Reservations are available only for groups of six to eight, so smaller parties should arrive early to get their names on the list or plan to eat at the upstairs bar.
717 8th St. SE, Washington, District of Columbia, 20003, USA
Known For
- Innovative small plates
- The sausage, lychee, and habanero salad
- Long waits for a table (with reservations only for big groups)
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch, Reservations not accepted
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$$$$ | Georgetown |
If you're looking for a classic Washington, D.C., fine-dining restaurant in an intimate setting, 1789 makes a perfect choice. Named after the year Archbishop John Carroll, the founding father of Georgetown University, purchased the building, 1789 has its share of history paired with its classic dishes such as seared scallops and beef tenderloin. The dining room's crisp white linens and early American paintings are quintessential Georgetown. After dinner, head to its bar, Fitgerald's, for perfectly crafted cocktails.
1226 36th St. NW, Washington, District of Columbia, 20007, USA
Known For
- Rack of lamb
- Upscale, historic setting
- Several prix-fixe options
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential
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$$$$ | Capitol Hill |
The decor may be somewhat generic, but the food is anything but. Located within the Yotel near the Capitol, Art and Soul serves up simple, honest dishes using the freshest local ingredients—with flavorful and artsy twists. The menu changes, but you are in good hands with dishes like braised rabbit with spaghetti and ramp pesto, and the BLT containing homemade bacon, tomato marmalade, heirloom tomatoes, and sourdough bread. The expansive front patio welcomes dogs (with their own menu).
415 New Jersey Ave. NW, Washington, District of Columbia, 20001, USA
Known For
- Friendly service
- Dog-friendly outdoor patio (complete with menu for Fido)
- Chef's brunch tasting menu
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$$$$ | Capitol Hill |
French and romantic, adorned with velvet curtained walls in a 19th-century bordello sort of way, Bistro Cacao is the place to go for a special meal. An extensive menu has a modern innovative flair—think grilled Mediterranean sea bass with leek confit and filet mignon with red pearl onion sauce. The trio crème brulée is the perfect end to the culinary experience. The patio is charming.
316 Massachusetts Ave. NE, Washington, District of Columbia, 20002, USA
Known For
- Lovely patio
- Extensive wine list
- Steak frites
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Wed. No lunch
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$$$$ | Upper Northwest |
Just beyond Georgetown in the residential neighborhood of Palisades, BlackSalt is part fish market, part gossipy neighborhood hangout, part swanky restaurant. Fish offerings dominate, and vary from classics like New England clam chowder and fried Ipswich clams to more-offbeat fixings like Japanese-style seafood stew and chocolate peanut butter torte for dessert. The place can get crowded and loud, and reservations are often de rigueur for weekends. Regulars consider a meal at the bar a good fallback.
4883 MacArthur Blvd., Washington, District of Columbia, 20007, USA
Known For
- Fresh fish dishes
- One of the best brunches in D.C.
- Brioche French toast
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$$$$ | |
With an open kitchen firmly committed to artistically crafted American cuisine, this high-end neighborhood tavern in the Park Hyatt Washington D.C. hotel uses the region's freshest seasonal ingredients to create rustic dishes such as wood oven–roasted bone marrow and roasted Rohan duck breast. The apple pie is probably the most iconic dish of this popular restaurant, so make sure to save room for dessert if it's on the menu.
1201 24th St. NW, Washington, District of Columbia, 20037, USA
Known For
- Apple pie
- Wood oven–roasted bone marrow
- Creative breakfast and brunch menu
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential
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$$$$ | Georgetown |
In a city full of steak houses catering to business travelers on expense accounts, Bourbon Steak, located at the Four Seasons Hotel, has made a name for itself as one of the best. The menu offers an array of steaks, from curated cuts of Waygu imported from Japan to grass-fed bone-in rib eyes from nearby farms in Maryland and Virginia. Not a steak lover? Bourbon also offers decadent seafood towers and hearty cuts of fish prepared on a wood-fired grill. As the name implies, Bourbon Steak also has an extensive whiskey list. The oenophiles can also rejoice with a comprehensive wine list.
2800 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, District of Columbia, 20007, USA
Known For
- One of the top steak houses in town
- Lively bar scene full of locals
- More affordable menu in the lounge
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch weekends, Reservations recommended
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$$$$ | Georgetown |
With 30 years in service, Cafe Milano continues to be a buzzed-about place in many Washington, D.C. political and celebrity circles. Don't be surprised if you bump into a politician or a waiter who later becomes famous (Bradley Cooper waited tables there during his time as a Georgetown University student). Specialties are butter lettuce salad with lemon vinaigrette and crostini, thin-crust pizzas anchored by Naples-controlled San Marzano tomato sauce, and sumptuous pasta dishes in pesto or fresh vegetable sauces. Cafe Milano is particularly popular in the summertime when its front-facing, floor-to-ceiling walls retract to include a chic outdoor dining space.
3251 Prospect St. NW, Washington, District of Columbia, 20007, USA
Known For
- Regulars include local socialites, lobbyists, and diplomats
- A patio for people-watching
- The front wall of windows opens onto the street in nice weather
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations recommended
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$$$$ | Capitol Hill |
It's hard not to feel like a master of the universe when ensconced in this coolly elegant dining room in the imposing shadow of the Capitol. A dramatic glass-enclosed wine cellar and quasi-Danish modern furniture form a backdrop to the contemporary cuisine. Dry-aged porterhouse, marinated hanger steak, and center-cut filet mignon are the meaty choices. But regional seafood makes appearances as well, including Chesapeake Bay oysters and soft-shell crab fritto misto. The crème brûlée trio finishes things off nicely. The rooftop terrace offers some of the city’s most impressive views of the Capitol.
101 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, District of Columbia, 20001, USA
Known For
- Rooftop terrace overlooking the Capitol
- Outstanding cuts of beef
- Seafood isn't an afterthought
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. No lunch Sat.
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$$$$ | Petworth |
Cranes, a Michelin-starred restaurant at Penn Quarter is the brainchild of chef/owner Pepe Moncayo who creates a kaiseki experience (small, delicate plates) combining Japanese techniques and the flavors of his native Spain. In the evenings, you can experience an intricate omakase menu where the chef surprises you with a series of delicately crafted small courses featuring ingredients such as soft shell crab, oysters, and tender duck breast. Lunches are also a luxurious experience but at a more affordable price point, offering photogenic bento boxes with sashimi and pickled veggies.
724 9th St. NW, Washington, District of Columbia, 20001, USA
Known For
- Japanese fusion menu
- Affordable lunch for a Michelin-starred restaurant
- Sake collection
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun., Reservations recommended
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$$$$ | Chinatown |
Del Frisco's is yet another upscale steak house in a city bursting with them. Like many others, the cuts of meat are tasty, generous, and pricey, but the overall atmosphere here is nicer—or at least brighter. Large booths and gray-tinted chairs lend the large, two-story, 400-seat restaurant a comfortable, modernist feel, and spacious windows look out to the vibrant, new CityCentreDC. In addition to hand-cut steaks and chops, there are excellent crab cakes and salmon, and the lobster tail is carved tableside.
950 I St. NW, Washington, District of Columbia, 20001, USA
Known For
- Big, juicy steaks
- Floor-to-ceiling windows
- Large courtyard
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$$$$ | Penn Quarter |
For those looking for an upscale Italian dining experience, Fiola is an option for you. Its dapper servers know their menu inside and out, and there's a sommelier to help with the wine choices. This Michelin-starred restaurant offers a series of decadent tasting menus oozing with truffles handpicked from Alba. For those looking for a scaled luxury experience, Fiola also offers items à la carte.
601 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, District of Columbia, 20004, USA
Known For
- Upscale and innovative Italian dishes
- Date-night crowd
- Encyclopedic beverage list
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential
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$$$$ | Georgetown |
The harborside setting for Fabio Trabocchi's ode to Italian-style seafood is one of the most sought-after spots in town. Dine alfresco, watch the water taxis float by, or sip an Aperol spritz on a banquette by the open kitchen and raw bar. Although the menu focuses on fresh cuts of seafood, you can also indulge in pasta made in-house, such as the lobster ravioli, a favorite among regulars.
3050 K St. NW, Washington, District of Columbia, 20007, USA
Known For
- Lobster ravioli
- Well-priced, three-course, prix-fixe lunch
- Mouthwatering Italian desserts
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch Mon., Reservations Recommended
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$$$$ | Foggy Bottom |
Although Imperfecto means imperfect in Spanish, there's nothing flawed about this Michelin-starred restaurant. The menu brings together Mediterranean and Latin American cultures with dishes such as moussaka and suckling pig with horchata (a popular Latin American rice-based drink). Imperfecto, owned by acclaimed Venezuelan chef Enrique Limardo, has a bold approach to his menus. Guests can choose from a chef's menu where the chef will take them on a culinary trip around Europe and Latin America, or you can opt for a la carte.
1124 23rd St. NW, Washington, District of Columbia, 20037, USA
Known For
- Creative Chef's Table menu
- Immaculately plated dishes
- Sleek modern decor
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations Recommended