DC dining

Washington isn't famous for anything so far as I can tell. There is no Chicago pan pizza or Philly cheese steak that I'd single out, as a culinary can't miss. There are quite a few restaurants with outdoor or roof deck seating. The relatively mild weather here makes those realistic options for a good portion of the year.

Quick Tips:

Best Way To Get Around:

The bus and metro systems aren't too bad but can be a bit confusing. Taxis aren't too expensive and DC's small enough that you can cover a lot of ground on foot.

I categorized Perry's under "other" because it's very hip, but relaxed. It can also be pretty romantic if you're in a rooftop corner or seated at the couches that replace chairs at window side tables. While the food is excellent I felt like fine dining connoted a stuffier atmosphere than Perry's delivers.

Perry's actually is NOT sushi restaurant per se. It does have EXCELLENT sushi, by far the best I've found in town. Not only does it serve some great sushi but during spring - fall the roof garden serves all sushi all the time. Perry's also has a large menu that serves more eclectic/fusion dishes. I've heard they're great but I never waver from the sushi!

Finally, beware! Pay careful attention to the address because the sign is nearly impossible to spot unless you know where to look (second story right corner) and the hieroglyphics on the awning won't be helpful either. It does have a black awning and is right next to a parking lot (I believe it's valet).

I have never had anything less than a fantastic meal at Cashion's which makes me much less nervous about the limited and often changing menu. Chef/Owner, Ann Cashion simply does it right from inventive and original quail dishes to basic potatoes. The ambiance is relaxed but it can get crowded so parties of 4 may want to request a booth which will give you a bit more elbow room. ALWAYS call for reservations unless you're up for eating at the bar - Cashion's is not a big restaurant. Sidewalk seating is available in the summer.

Located just across the street from the WoodleyPark/Adams Morgan stop on the red line Lebanese Taverna is billed as "the" place for middle eastern food in DC.

The restaurant is nicely appointed but really stands out for great food and fantastic service. The dishes available are somewhat typical middle eastern fare. A lot of chicken, lamb and vegetarian choices are broken up by a few delightful seafood specialties. I would highly recommend the tasting menus as appetizers (sufficient for at least 3) and I adore ALL of their chicken dishes.

I highly recommend turning to a server for advice on ordering - I've never been steered wrong this way. The restaurant also boasts a very good and reasonably priced winelist.

The place is packed on weekend nights but the wait is tolerable without reservations. The staff has mastered the art of moving diners through without rushing them out the door.

One final word of caution, I've heard that the drinks in the lounge (where you'll wait for your table) are way overpriced so you may want to simply wait until you reach your table where the prices reportedly drop significantly.

Felix has a lot going on Friday and Saturday nights. As the area's preeminent martini bar things get crowded by 9 and downstairs diners may feel squeezed. Upstairs seating provides a respite from the bar crowd but you lose a bit of the ambiance.

The food is excellent. Interesting combinations and a very eclectic menu make the cuisine difficult to describe but impossible to dislike. The restaurant boasts it’s famous matzo ball soup on Friday nights - I’ve never partaken but it’s supposed to be great – which provides an interesting contrast to the phenomenal Chilean Sea Bass or the incredibly tender strip steak.

The restaurant is decorated in James Bond themes. I’m a novice there but experts tell me the wall murals all contain Bond references. There’s often live music downstairs that begins around 10 or 10:30. Again, downstairs diners may feel rushed to leave by then. Overall a wonderful meal in a fun, hip environment – also a great place to simply go enjoy martinis!

Jyoti offers a relatively average menu with far above average delivery. The dishes served up, from Tandoori to Vindaloo, are all delightful and the staff here couldn't be nicer. One caveat, while I shy away from the hotter vindaloo dishes regardless of where I'm eating, it seems that Jyoti's versions can occasionally go beyond what even seasoned vindaloo enthusiasts can handle.

Basic décor, sidewalk seating, excellent food, large portions and delivery and takeout options all at very reasonable prices make Jyoti my favorite Indian restaurant in DC. I’ve sampled others, including the much talked about and very expensive Bombay Palace, but I’m sticking with Jyoti.

Just across the Connecticut and Calvert St. bridges that lead into Woodley Park you'll find Tono Sushi offering very good sushi at very reasonable prices. While the quality isn't Perry's (see my journal entry on Perry's) neither is the price or the hassle.

I've never had to wait for a table here and the food is always fresh and quite good. I highly recommend the Mexican Rolls (spicy crunchy tuna rolls). I've yet to see these on another menu and they are fantastic! The menu is extensive with over 40 options for the sushi a-la-carte alone.

The restaurant itself is clean and simply appointed and the waitstaff is friendly and timely. Tono Sushi also offers takeout and delivery services. For good sushi on a budget this is a great bet!

I spent months hearing people rave about Pasta Mia, I saw a line out the door nearly every evening, so I was just short of ecstatic when I found myself facing a mere 10 minute wait on a Friday night. Those 10 anticipatory minutes were perhaps the best I felt all night.

I'll start with the prices because they are by far the best feature. Everything on the menu is under $10. This, I quickly learned, is what all of the Pasta Mia hype is centered on. In fact, it's also the only area that it lives up to it's billing. You get a very large bowl of pasta with a choice of sauces/toppings for at most $9.

You also get to sit in VERY cramped quarters, enjoy the conversations of those diners sitting on either side of you, pay too much for drinks and select from a list of basic vegetable and meat sauces/toppings. Pasta Mia offers spotty service and what is often a 30-45 minute wait.

If you're looking for quantity food and have a lot of time to kill then Pasta Mia might be for you. Personally, I'd rather make my own pasta (and enjoy my own pasta) than endure the restaurant's crowds, noise and average fare - even if it is only $9.

Somebody stop me! Within these walls I myself feel like a fish, specifically the variety that will continue to eat anything sprinkled in front of it without regard for health or safety.

I love sushi, but nowhere do I love it more than at this unassuming bistro. The business district location and big blue plastic awning initially set of warning signs for me. The interior, while warm and comfortable, was short of decoratively impressive and did little to ease my fears that disappointment loomed.

I ordered conservatively, not wanting to end up with a table filled with mediocre sushi. I believe it was after one piece of the scallop nigiri, or perhaps the tuna roll that literally dissolved in my mouth, that I called the waitress back to order more.

The menu is outstanding, with a range of unique options to satisfy even those who are wary of the raw stuff. The Japanese Style Duck Confit with wasabi-miso sauce is nothing short of outstanding, and I have it on good authority that the Grilled Chicken Breast Teriyaki with grilled portobello mushroom and caramelized onion teriyaki sauce doesn't disappoint.

I myself am something of a purist and tend to stick to the nigiri and maki selections. The standard tuna, yellowtail, salmon, and eel are all incredibly fresh, of the highest quality, artfully rolled and presented. Chef's specials change all the time and options like the Sake Poached Sea Scallop with Lemon Cilantro should be pounced on when/if available.

The service is delightful and noise level generally moderate at this relaxed off the beaten path gem. The sake selection is the best in town and you’re welcome to spend all the time that you like without ever feeling the rush of the next reservation. The only way to go wrong here is to overdo it. There is so much that’s so good you may well find yourself wondering if you wait a few minutes more, just maybe, you’ll have room to try the Tuna with Foie Gras. Many a time I’ve dragged myself from the table wondering why I didn’t stop earlier. At the same time, I know that if overeating at Kaz Sushi Bistro is wrong, I’ve no desire to be right.

I have been on a multi-year quest for GREAT Italian food in Washington, DC. After many adequate experiences and some major disappointments, I have finally found it. Tosca is all about the food. They serve risotto like I’ve only had on the Amalfi Coast. Phenomenally fresh pastas and seafood, and sauces that consistently find that elusive balance of amazing flavor without being too heavy.

The fettuccine with crab meat is out of this world. I don’t even particularly like strawberries but the spring strawberry cobbler with vanilla gelato just melts in your mouth.

I believe that everything on the menu at Tosca is fantastic but I know that the staff at Tosca is a valuable resource and has consistently directed me to some of the most amazing specials, main dishes, and wine pairings. The décor is very clean and welcoming—no Italian theme parks here. There are semi-private dining spaces but even in the main room you certainly won’t feel crowded. Go, eat, you’ll love it!