Guidebook for Washington

Food Scene

Pearl Dive Oyster Palace

There are a number of places serving terrific seafood on 14th Street, but the daddy of them all must be this Gulf-style bar and restaurant with a dedicated fish monger. Devotedly serving sustainable American seafood, chef Jeff Black serves oysters a million ways to Sunday. Start with a dozen Black Salts on the half shell – these plump alluvial oysters are grown in Virginia especially for him. Don’t miss the gumbos, po’ boys, grilled fish or duck confit. The Scene: For all the white tablecloth restaurants dotting 14th Street, Pearl Dive mixes denim shorts and Chanel jackets. Like a great house party, it’s all about the mix. The casual tend to congregate on the sidewalk seating, where the raw bar opens up. Insider Info: There’s a speakeasy called Black Jack on the second floor with a dedicated cocktail and bar snack menu as well as indoor bocce. Fun city.

137 locals raden deze aan

Pearl Dive Oyster Palace

1612 14th St NW

137 locals raden deze aan

There are a number of places serving terrific seafood on 14th Street, but the daddy of them all must be this Gulf-style bar and restaurant with a dedicated fish monger. Devotedly serving sustainable American seafood, chef Jeff Black serves oysters a million ways to Sunday. Start with a dozen Black Salts on the half shell – these plump alluvial oysters are grown in Virginia especially for him. Don’t miss the gumbos, po’ boys, grilled fish or duck confit. The Scene: For all the white tablecloth restaurants dotting 14th Street, Pearl Dive mixes denim shorts and Chanel jackets. Like a great house party, it’s all about the mix. The casual tend to congregate on the sidewalk seating, where the raw bar opens up. Insider Info: There’s a speakeasy called Black Jack on the second floor with a dedicated cocktail and bar snack menu as well as indoor bocce. Fun city.

B Too

It’s DC’s one and only contemporary Belgian restaurant with a roaring bar scene and a Josper oven, a Spanish machine that achieves exceptionally high heat to caramelize the exterior of a bone-in rib-eye for two, for example. There are expected dishes like endive salads, mountains of mussels (offered eight ways) and not-so-traditional offerings like a waffle stuffed with mussels and herbs. The Scene: This place is built for fun and does get noisy. There are to-go eats, like cones of frites, served late-night. Insider Info: Chef Bart Vandaele was knighted in his native Belgium for services to the crown. Sir V is not, however, without a naughty sense of humor. There are pictures of giant sausages (so we hear) in the men’s room.

43 locals raden deze aan

B Too

1324 14th St NW

43 locals raden deze aan

It’s DC’s one and only contemporary Belgian restaurant with a roaring bar scene and a Josper oven, a Spanish machine that achieves exceptionally high heat to caramelize the exterior of a bone-in rib-eye for two, for example. There are expected dishes like endive salads, mountains of mussels (offered eight ways) and not-so-traditional offerings like a waffle stuffed with mussels and herbs. The Scene: This place is built for fun and does get noisy. There are to-go eats, like cones of frites, served late-night. Insider Info: Chef Bart Vandaele was knighted in his native Belgium for services to the crown. Sir V is not, however, without a naughty sense of humor. There are pictures of giant sausages (so we hear) in the men’s room.

Birch & Barley

Michael Babin’s DC restaurant empire (butchery, brewery, bakery) comes together in this modern American restaurant. Open for dinner and weekend brunch, it attracts a crowd who know to expect classic fare with a twist. The Scene: A touch rustic, a touch romantic, the low-lit dining room is abuzz with hip Washingtonians who come for hand-cut pasta, grilled local lamb and seasonal veg. In-the-know diners pair their meals with suds courtesy of beer director Greg Engert, voted by Food + Wine as one of the country’s top sommeliers. Insider Info: Still thirsty? Head upstairs to Churchkey, a brew-head’s paradise with some those same 555 beers, including five cask ales, available paired with bar snacks with personality, like disco fries. It’s a killer place to catch a game or end a long work day.

32 locals raden deze aan

Birch & Barley

1337 14th St NW

32 locals raden deze aan

Michael Babin’s DC restaurant empire (butchery, brewery, bakery) comes together in this modern American restaurant. Open for dinner and weekend brunch, it attracts a crowd who know to expect classic fare with a twist. The Scene: A touch rustic, a touch romantic, the low-lit dining room is abuzz with hip Washingtonians who come for hand-cut pasta, grilled local lamb and seasonal veg. In-the-know diners pair their meals with suds courtesy of beer director Greg Engert, voted by Food + Wine as one of the country’s top sommeliers. Insider Info: Still thirsty? Head upstairs to Churchkey, a brew-head’s paradise with some those same 555 beers, including five cask ales, available paired with bar snacks with personality, like disco fries. It’s a killer place to catch a game or end a long work day.

Kapnos

What: Top Chef alum Mike Isabella fuels his passion for Mediterranean fare at this two-in-one joint. By day there’s G, a sandwich shop serving Jersey-style hoagies stuffed with the flavors of the Eastern Med: roast lamb, roast cauliflower, too. By night, G becomes the private dining room at Kapnos, the home to tables of hummus, bricks of feta and carnivorous treats: lamb, chicken, and occasional goat or rabbit are spit-roasted in plain view of the open dining area. (Fun fact: Kapnos means ‘smoke’ in Greek.) Curiously, it’s a terrific place to take a vegetarian, as long as they avert their eyes. The Scene: With so many plates to sample, this is a super spot for a group, although date-nighters are welcome, too. Insider Info: There’s boozy kegged lemonade, at least a dozen imaginative house cocktails and a long wine list, made longer by Kapnos’s adoption of the Coravin system that allows wine to be removed from a premium bottle (or really any bottle) without disturbing the quality. So by-the-glass options are practically unlimited.

58 locals raden deze aan

Kapnos

2201 14th St NW

58 locals raden deze aan

What: Top Chef alum Mike Isabella fuels his passion for Mediterranean fare at this two-in-one joint. By day there’s G, a sandwich shop serving Jersey-style hoagies stuffed with the flavors of the Eastern Med: roast lamb, roast cauliflower, too. By night, G becomes the private dining room at Kapnos, the home to tables of hummus, bricks of feta and carnivorous treats: lamb, chicken, and occasional goat or rabbit are spit-roasted in plain view of the open dining area. (Fun fact: Kapnos means ‘smoke’ in Greek.) Curiously, it’s a terrific place to take a vegetarian, as long as they avert their eyes. The Scene: With so many plates to sample, this is a super spot for a group, although date-nighters are welcome, too. Insider Info: There’s boozy kegged lemonade, at least a dozen imaginative house cocktails and a long wine list, made longer by Kapnos’s adoption of the Coravin system that allows wine to be removed from a premium bottle (or really any bottle) without disturbing the quality. So by-the-glass options are practically unlimited.

Doi Moi

A clean white dining room punched up with bursts of color that drive home the message: this is Vietnamese cooking, but modern. There are salads, grilled meats on sticks, soups, curry, rice dishes and spectacular whole fried fish that arrive as if swimming to the table. There’s heat too: from the mild and herbaceous to the downright fiery, but the cocktails and wine list balance the spiciness. Vegans and vegetarians fare well here and there are dedicated menus outlining choices to please all palates. The Scene: This place feels chic enough for a date and warm enough for an evening alone at the bar. And if bars are your thing, head downstairs after dinner to the unlabeled Two Birds One Stone in the basement, a speakeasy with candlelit nooks. Insider Info: Chef Haider Karoum won the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington’s highest accolade in 2014, the RAMMY for outstanding chef. He presides over Doi Moi, Estadio (Spanish) and Proof (a wine bar).

60 locals raden deze aan

Doi Moi

1800 14th St NW

60 locals raden deze aan

A clean white dining room punched up with bursts of color that drive home the message: this is Vietnamese cooking, but modern. There are salads, grilled meats on sticks, soups, curry, rice dishes and spectacular whole fried fish that arrive as if swimming to the table. There’s heat too: from the mild and herbaceous to the downright fiery, but the cocktails and wine list balance the spiciness. Vegans and vegetarians fare well here and there are dedicated menus outlining choices to please all palates. The Scene: This place feels chic enough for a date and warm enough for an evening alone at the bar. And if bars are your thing, head downstairs after dinner to the unlabeled Two Birds One Stone in the basement, a speakeasy with candlelit nooks. Insider Info: Chef Haider Karoum won the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington’s highest accolade in 2014, the RAMMY for outstanding chef. He presides over Doi Moi, Estadio (Spanish) and Proof (a wine bar).

ChurchKey

People may be atwitter over Greg Engert’s latest venture in Southeast, Bluejacket Brewery, but the chic gastro pub that put him on the map still deserves heaps of praise. Stocked with exactly 555 house-selected brews, many quality seasonal and heavily sought after pours, ChurchKey proves invaluable to the thirsty suds seeker. It’s the site of many a pilgrimage, but even if you aren’t operating your own nanobrewery out of your basement, you’ll appreciate the beer house’s pledge to serve high-quality craft beers. The Scene: Behind the surprisingly spacious bar that sprawls across the front room rest deliciously potable artworks taunting with each stride. Parched masses will zombie walk their way up these stairs, especially on the weekends. Insider Info: A small lounge area offers refuge in the back, but the ideal sanctuary is downstairs at Birch & Barley, which still has all those 555 beers but with ridiculously tasty pairing options. Versatile chef Kyle Bailey, known for his many doughnut creations, pushes the limits with abundantly creative New American cuisine.

136 locals raden deze aan

ChurchKey

1337 14th St NW

136 locals raden deze aan

People may be atwitter over Greg Engert’s latest venture in Southeast, Bluejacket Brewery, but the chic gastro pub that put him on the map still deserves heaps of praise. Stocked with exactly 555 house-selected brews, many quality seasonal and heavily sought after pours, ChurchKey proves invaluable to the thirsty suds seeker. It’s the site of many a pilgrimage, but even if you aren’t operating your own nanobrewery out of your basement, you’ll appreciate the beer house’s pledge to serve high-quality craft beers. The Scene: Behind the surprisingly spacious bar that sprawls across the front room rest deliciously potable artworks taunting with each stride. Parched masses will zombie walk their way up these stairs, especially on the weekends. Insider Info: A small lounge area offers refuge in the back, but the ideal sanctuary is downstairs at Birch & Barley, which still has all those 555 beers but with ridiculously tasty pairing options. Versatile chef Kyle Bailey, known for his many doughnut creations, pushes the limits with abundantly creative New American cuisine.

Masa 14

Cheers to any joint that has happy hour seven days a week, especially when $4 margaritas are involved. Though you can get in on happy hour in the bar and lounge, why wouldn’t you head up to their sweet roof deck? Beer, wine, and a few more cocktails are also $4, plus small plates are on offer -- but don’t go crazy, because dinner’s next.

78 locals raden deze aan

Masa 14

1825 14th St NW

78 locals raden deze aan

Cheers to any joint that has happy hour seven days a week, especially when $4 margaritas are involved. Though you can get in on happy hour in the bar and lounge, why wouldn’t you head up to their sweet roof deck? Beer, wine, and a few more cocktails are also $4, plus small plates are on offer -- but don’t go crazy, because dinner’s next.

the pig

One of my favorite brunches in DC. Menu is "pig" themed so be a pig lover :)

30 locals raden deze aan

the pig

1320 14th St NW

30 locals raden deze aan

One of my favorite brunches in DC. Menu is "pig" themed so be a pig lover :)

Bad Saint

Call this Filipino newcomer Lumpia’s Luxury because it’s already drawing epic lines, and deservedly so. It seems Chef Tom Cunanan was born behind the wok because his whole fried branzino (which, surprise, comes deboned) doesn’t have a touch of grease. Nor do his ukoy. The drinks border on tropical, as they should. Pro tip: grab one of the 10 seats with a direct look into the kitchen, but not to the point of being picky because of said line

120 locals raden deze aan

Bad Saint

3226 11th St NW

120 locals raden deze aan

Call this Filipino newcomer Lumpia’s Luxury because it’s already drawing epic lines, and deservedly so. It seems Chef Tom Cunanan was born behind the wok because his whole fried branzino (which, surprise, comes deboned) doesn’t have a touch of grease. Nor do his ukoy. The drinks border on tropical, as they should. Pro tip: grab one of the 10 seats with a direct look into the kitchen, but not to the point of being picky because of said line

The Dabney

What if we told you there was a cozy ski lodge hobbited back in Blagden Alley serving comfort food that’s so well finessed you feel it's fine dining? Aspen even. For these reasons, The Dabney was the most yearned for restaurant in recent memory. So far, Chef Jeremiah Langhorne has lived up to the hype by serving Mid-Atlantic cuisine in the same vein someone would serve heritage cooking in the South. The menu changes nightly (overachiever, we know) but the foie gras biscuit and the poached farm egg are more constant so start there. Sure, there’s a stellar wine list, but you want Tyler Hudgens’ cocktails like “Leather Britches” with Thomas Tew rum, Virginia maple syrup, lime, and bay leaf bitters.

109 locals raden deze aan

The Dabney

122 Blagden Alley NW

109 locals raden deze aan

What if we told you there was a cozy ski lodge hobbited back in Blagden Alley serving comfort food that’s so well finessed you feel it's fine dining? Aspen even. For these reasons, The Dabney was the most yearned for restaurant in recent memory. So far, Chef Jeremiah Langhorne has lived up to the hype by serving Mid-Atlantic cuisine in the same vein someone would serve heritage cooking in the South. The menu changes nightly (overachiever, we know) but the foie gras biscuit and the poached farm egg are more constant so start there. Sure, there’s a stellar wine list, but you want Tyler Hudgens’ cocktails like “Leather Britches” with Thomas Tew rum, Virginia maple syrup, lime, and bay leaf bitters.

Little Serow

“I never want to not be eating this,” you’ll say during your love-at-first-bite experience with Little Serow’s smoky pork ribs marinated in Mekhong whiskey. They’re worth braving the line alone, but the impossibly cool atmosphere, quirky drink list, and taste bud amusement ride are pretty clutch too. Stop worrying if it’s too spicy for you and suck it up.

55 locals raden deze aan

Little Serow

1511 17th St NW

55 locals raden deze aan

“I never want to not be eating this,” you’ll say during your love-at-first-bite experience with Little Serow’s smoky pork ribs marinated in Mekhong whiskey. They’re worth braving the line alone, but the impossibly cool atmosphere, quirky drink list, and taste bud amusement ride are pretty clutch too. Stop worrying if it’s too spicy for you and suck it up.

Momofuku CCDC

Pork buns and Momofuku ramen made David Chang a mogul, so obviously you’ll find those two dishes on his menu at Momofuku CCDC. But dare we say skip them? There are better choices (gasp!). Sub pork buns for brisket buns. Eating creamy horseradish and smoky brisket packed in little bao pillows feels like getting a hug from David Chang and Larry David at the same time. Ignore the peer pressure and that Mind of a Chef episode about bacon broth and break the mold by ordering the chilled spicy noodles. They’re explosive thanks to Szechuan sausage, but candied cashews are the antidote. So too are cocktails like the “Bonji Old Fashioned.” Order it before you Google it. And, if you’ve got a group, consider booking a fried chicken or bossam dinner in advance.

16 locals raden deze aan

Momofuku CCDC

1090 I St NW

16 locals raden deze aan

Pork buns and Momofuku ramen made David Chang a mogul, so obviously you’ll find those two dishes on his menu at Momofuku CCDC. But dare we say skip them? There are better choices (gasp!). Sub pork buns for brisket buns. Eating creamy horseradish and smoky brisket packed in little bao pillows feels like getting a hug from David Chang and Larry David at the same time. Ignore the peer pressure and that Mind of a Chef episode about bacon broth and break the mold by ordering the chilled spicy noodles. They’re explosive thanks to Szechuan sausage, but candied cashews are the antidote. So too are cocktails like the “Bonji Old Fashioned.” Order it before you Google it. And, if you’ve got a group, consider booking a fried chicken or bossam dinner in advance.

Pennsylvania 6

Sometimes beautiful things lack substance (no, Ariana Grande, not you). Stroll into Pennsylvania 6 and you’re struck by its one-percenter country club-meets-classic New York hotel-meets-castle in Scotland. Surely the food is an afterthought? Nope. We were surprised, too. This kitchen is dope. They’re hiding wild burgundy snails beneath a bone marrow crust; making creamy ricotta in house; serving scallops injected with Indian flavors like black cardamom honey and curry; and stuffing succulent lobster into a roll alongside duck fat fries. The expansive bar also makes it possible to have a casual night, just a burger and some beers, as you take in the game, or the surroundings.

Pennsylvania 6

1350 I St NW

Sometimes beautiful things lack substance (no, Ariana Grande, not you). Stroll into Pennsylvania 6 and you’re struck by its one-percenter country club-meets-classic New York hotel-meets-castle in Scotland. Surely the food is an afterthought? Nope. We were surprised, too. This kitchen is dope. They’re hiding wild burgundy snails beneath a bone marrow crust; making creamy ricotta in house; serving scallops injected with Indian flavors like black cardamom honey and curry; and stuffing succulent lobster into a roll alongside duck fat fries. The expansive bar also makes it possible to have a casual night, just a burger and some beers, as you take in the game, or the surroundings.

Rose's Luxury

Play your cards right and show up to Rose’s Luxury with a party of four so that you can order the whole menu without an ounce of shame. Make sure one of those four people is a teleworking martyr willing to wait in line. Every trip to Rose’s Luxury comes with a bit of pixie dust -- you leave feeling better than when you came in because of the warm staff and the dishes that IMHO made into instant classics. Just once, ask for caviar service.

303 locals raden deze aan

Rose's Luxury

717 8th St SE

303 locals raden deze aan

Play your cards right and show up to Rose’s Luxury with a party of four so that you can order the whole menu without an ounce of shame. Make sure one of those four people is a teleworking martyr willing to wait in line. Every trip to Rose’s Luxury comes with a bit of pixie dust -- you leave feeling better than when you came in because of the warm staff and the dishes that IMHO made into instant classics. Just once, ask for caviar service.

The Riggsby

There should be very few line items on The Riggsby’s menu that you can’t pronounce or haven’t seen before because the restaurant is a throwback to retro times when gelées, foams, and other smoke and mirrors weren’t so obnoxious, er, ubiquitous. The NY strip is executed perfectly, as is the burger that winks at you with its bacon-onion jam. The décor at Michael Schlow’s second DC restaurant should be a clue into the era they’re trying to recreate, and the cocktails (mostly classics) follow suit. Though the dining room is made fun by Michael’s wife’s artistic touch, the bar is the best seat in the house.

13 locals raden deze aan

The Riggsby

1731 New Hampshire Ave NW

13 locals raden deze aan

There should be very few line items on The Riggsby’s menu that you can’t pronounce or haven’t seen before because the restaurant is a throwback to retro times when gelées, foams, and other smoke and mirrors weren’t so obnoxious, er, ubiquitous. The NY strip is executed perfectly, as is the burger that winks at you with its bacon-onion jam. The décor at Michael Schlow’s second DC restaurant should be a clue into the era they’re trying to recreate, and the cocktails (mostly classics) follow suit. Though the dining room is made fun by Michael’s wife’s artistic touch, the bar is the best seat in the house.

Crane & Turtle

Several dishes at Petworth’s upscale gem benefit from being hay smoked including the big eye tuna tataki, which has staked its claim as a favorite. Start with that, then go on a French technique meets Japanese flavor journey. Crane & Turtle has also positioned itself as a consummate host for killer pop-ups like Bar Otsukare and Red Eye Menus, and recently upped its beverage game big time (go with cider!) thanks to Elizabeth Parker. This winter they’re doing hot pot dinners for four on the patio; we gave it a whirl and left flushed and full.

34 locals raden deze aan

Crane & Turtle

828 Upshur Street Northwest

34 locals raden deze aan

Several dishes at Petworth’s upscale gem benefit from being hay smoked including the big eye tuna tataki, which has staked its claim as a favorite. Start with that, then go on a French technique meets Japanese flavor journey. Crane & Turtle has also positioned itself as a consummate host for killer pop-ups like Bar Otsukare and Red Eye Menus, and recently upped its beverage game big time (go with cider!) thanks to Elizabeth Parker. This winter they’re doing hot pot dinners for four on the patio; we gave it a whirl and left flushed and full.

Georgia Brown's

Yes, Georgia Brown’s makes brunch look easy. Maybe it’s the low country food that makes the entire experience so relaxed. That combined with the music and chill hospitality. Families were there after church, friends were celebrating special occasions; this D.C. institution was full of locals. It’s the kind of place where you should lounge around in a big hat with your mimosa, listen to jazz, and stuff yourself stupid.

6 locals raden deze aan

Georgia Brown's

950 15th St NW

6 locals raden deze aan

Yes, Georgia Brown’s makes brunch look easy. Maybe it’s the low country food that makes the entire experience so relaxed. That combined with the music and chill hospitality. Families were there after church, friends were celebrating special occasions; this D.C. institution was full of locals. It’s the kind of place where you should lounge around in a big hat with your mimosa, listen to jazz, and stuff yourself stupid.