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What makes Washington, D.C.’s restaurant scene special?
- Washington, D.C. boasts one of the nation's hottest restaurant scenes, attracting Michelin-starred and award-winning chefs from around the world.
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What types of cuisine can visitors find in Washington, D.C.?
- The city's restaurants offer a variety of cuisines and exciting new dining ventures.
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Why are Washington, D.C.'s restaurants great for special occasions?
- Many are known for their intimate dining atmosphere, making them popular for first dates and anniversaries.
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What unique features do Washington, D.C. restaurants offer?
- These restaurants feature creative decor, clever menus, and extensive wine and cocktail pairing lists.
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Do restaurants in Washington, D.C. offer shared dining experiences?
- Many also serve shareable small plates or specials tailored for dinner for two.
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1. Founding Farmers
Founding Farmers is a D.C.-based chain of restaurants cooperatively owned by more than 47,000 family farmers throughout the nation, founded as a partnership between the North Dakota Farmers Union and restaurant industry veterans Dan Simons and Mike Vucurevich. The chain operates nine independent restaurants throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed region, including three distinct restaurants and a cocktail bar in the nation's capital. Its flagship Pennsylvania Avenue restaurant, located three blocks west of the White House, is the country's most-reserved restaurant on OpenTable, offering a wide variety of handcrafted farm-to-table fare for breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner. Signature dishes recreate favorite Southern comfort food such as shrimp and grits, chicken and waffles, and market-fresh crab cakes, with many clever vegetarian options also available. A full menu of from-scratch craft cocktails is also served, along with house-made wines, spirits, fountain sodas, and cold-press juice blends.
1924 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20006, Phone: 202-822-8783
2. Perry's Japanese Cuisine
Perry's Japanese Cuisine is a longtime Adams Morgan favorite, offering inventive Japanese brunch and dinner fare since 1984. The multi-level restaurant is helmed by executive chef Masaru Setsuraku, with additional guidance from head kitchen chef Thomas Park and sushi bar chef Shigehisa Yokote. The restaurant has been featured in international publications and television programs such as The Washington Post, Zagat, the BBC, and the Travel Channel, renowned as the site of D.C.'s longest-running drag brunch. Large and small plates highlight contemporary Japanese favorites such as pork ramen, miso salmon, and mushroom fried rice. Japanese-inspired cocktails are available at the restaurant and its year-round rooftop bar, along with a wide selection of wines, beers, sakes, and Japanese whiskeys.
Address: Perry's Japanese Cuisine, 1811 Columbia Rd NW, Washington, DC 20009, Phone: 202-234-6218
3. Astro Doughnuts and Fried Chicken
Astro Doughnuts and Fried Chicken has been named as one of the nation's best doughnut shops and fried chicken restaurants by publications such as TimeOut and Thrillist. The chain was opened by childhood friends and former Washington Capitals hockey players Jeff Halpern and Elliot Spaisman, offering a unique twist on the classic Southern favorite chicken and waffles. Its D.C. location is known for gourmet doughnut flavors such as maple bacon, peanut butter and jelly, and crème brûlée, the latter of which has been named as the city's best doughnut by The Washington Post. Fried chicken and chicken tender platters are also available, along with clever sides such as tater tots and kimchi coleslaw. Other locations of the chain are also offered in Los Angeles and Falls Church, Virginia.
Address: Astro Doughnuts and Fried Chicken, 1308 G St NW, Washington, DC 20004, Phone: 202-809-5565
4. Fish Taco
Fish Taco is a neighborhood taqueria offering three locations throughout suburban D.C., including locations in Cabin John, Chevy Chase, and North Bethesda. The casual chain is perfect for couples looking for a quick lunch bite, using locally-sourced seasonal ingredients to craft Baja-inspired dishes ordered at the restaurant's register. Favorite plates include the restaurant's giant burritos, beer-battered tacos, and Chihuahua cheese quesadillas, which may be ordered as vegetarian dishes or filled with adobo steak, chicken, pork carnitas, barbacoa brisket, or blackened fish. Rotating draft beers are also served, along with a variety of wines, frozen margaritas, and non-alcoholic beverages.
Address: Fish Taco, 7945 Macarthur Blvd, Cabin John, MD 20818, Phone: 301-229-0900
5. Duke's Counter
Duke's Counter is the second venture from the team behind Dupont Circle's acclaimed Duke's Grocery, located directly across from the National Zoo in D.C.'s Woodley Park neighborhood. The unique concept pub strives to recreate the bustling, eclectic vibe of East London's food scene, serving a menu emphasizing fresh and locally-sourced ingredients for brunch, lunch, dinner, and late night service. All menu items are rotated regularly, creating an ever-changing experience for diners. Frequently featured dishes include the restaurant's Proper Burger, which has been named as one of the city's best burgers by Thrillist and The Washington Post, along with a wide variety of curries, small plates, and globally-influenced sandwiches. Craft beers and cocktails are also available, with extended happy hour specials offered daily.
Address: Duke's Counter, 3000 Connecticut Ave. NW, Suite J, Washington, D.C. 20008, Phone: 202-733-4808
6. The Pub and the People
The Pub & The People is an up-and-coming Bloomingdale tavern that was voted as D.C.'s best neighborhood bar in 2017 and 2018. The American-style tavern serves a menu of globally-influenced gastropub fare, including five-spice duck breast, black pepper tofu, and sumac and chickpea burgers, with clever dessert options such as bread pudding and pub brownies topped with liquor-infused ice cream. A large local draft beer list is offered, along with a selection of craft cocktails, whiskeys, and fine wines. After the bar's kitchen closes, hot Republic Kolaches are served as bar bites. Happy hour specials are offered on weekdays, and Geeks Who Drink trivia events are presented periodically.
Address: The Pub & The People, 1648 North Capitol St NW, Washington, DC 20001, Phone: 202-796-5820
7. Daikaya and Izakaya
Daikaya and Izakaya is a bi-level Japanese restaurant in D.C.'s Chinatown neighborhood operated by native Tokyo chef Daisuke Utagawa, co-owner of Chevy Chase spot Sushiko. The restaurant's name translates as "house of big cooking pot," with separate entrances offered for its downstairs Sapporo-style ramen joint and upstairs Japanese gastropub. All ramen dishes served downstairs feature high-quality imported custom ramen noodles, with pork and vegetarian options available. Upstairs, the emphasis is on Japanese comfort food snacks such as okonomiyaki-style tater tots, miso-butter-topped enoki mushrooms, and dashi egg custard with truffled shiitake sauce. A full menu of imported whiskies and Japanese-style cocktails are served, along with imported Japanese beer and shochu options.
Address: Daikaya and Izakaya, 705 6th St NW, Washington, DC 20001, Phone: 202-589-1600
8. Elizabeth's Gone Raw
Elizabeth's Gone Raw was founded in 2009 by Elizabeth Petty, who learned about the health benefits of raw eating following her diagnosis with breast cancer. The restaurant is only open once a week on Friday evenings, serving a full seven-course tasting menu of vegan fare kept below temperatures of 115 degrees Fahrenheit during preparation. Unique items served emphasize healthy, clean eating ingredients, with a focus on upscale dishes and small plates such as cauliflower terrine, kelp caviar, and turmeric and yellow pepper sorbet. Organic and biodynamic wine pairings are available with meals, along with a full cocktail program of drinks prepared with house-made organic ingredients and ice prepared from directionally-frozen ionized water.
Address: Elizabeth's Gone Raw, 1341 L St NW, Washington, DC 20005, Phone: 202-347-8349
9. Bresca
Bresca is the newest project from Ripple and Masa 14 chef and owner Ryan Ratino, who began working as an executive chef at the Playboy Mansion and since has carved out a reputation as one of D.C.'s brightest young chefs. The hip 14th Street bistro crafts experimental contemporary American fare infused with French, Italian, and Mediterranean influences, offering unique dishes such as foie gras PB&J, sea urchin linguini, and kohlrabi walleye pike. Its name is a reference to the Spanish word for "honeycomb," a design element incorporated throughout the restaurant's fantastical decor, which also showcases a moss-covered wall and whimsical cocktails served in fish and bee-shaped glasses.
Address: Bresca, 1906 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20009, Phone: 202-518-7926
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