food in dc? i need suggestions.
June 16, 2009
for a very soon trip up to the district, i have been doing some research on the food selectiones to partake in during many, many free dinner times.
knowing little about ALL of the lovely places to dine, i am hoping to get some “i know more” from yous’ guys. if you have been somewhere that knocked your socks off, i wanna know.
*in my reading, i have come across some super cute bloggy ladies. worth a peruse: metrocurean and counter intelligence. drop by and get sucked in as i did.
I try to go to 2 Amy’s near the national cathedral whenever possible. Some of the best pizza south of Philly.
Don’t miss Ben’s Chili Bowl – for half-smoke w/ chili. I recommend the chips instead of fries (which they don’t salt when hot). On U Street – see their website. A true DC institution.
PS: websites for the Wash. Post and Washingtonian mag. have good reviews, good “best of” categories. The latter has fun “cheap eats” categories too. In the cheap (but delicious!) category: Satay Sarinah in Alexandria. Don’t miss the shrimp dumplings.
Great kebabs – Shamshiry – near tysons
Pricey but worth the experience – Citronelle
i love georgia brown’s for sun brunch. brickskeller for beer. tony chengs for 70s style chinese. legal seafood is the best (gasp) chain in america. roy rogers in alexandria. korean in annandale. rays the steaks in ballston.
For Italian – Go to Dino in Cleveland Park. Great food! A bit pricey, but well worth it. They have a smattering of small and large plates and homemade pasta. Huge Italian wine list and yummy cocktails as well.
Komi–very sexy innnovative high-end. last supper kind of place
Citronelle–Georgetown–desserts are to die for. If going with a group it’s worth the mortgage payment to sit at the Chef’s table.
Peking Gourmet Inn–NOVA–peking duck and duck bone soup (they raise their own ducks) walls are lined with Bush family photos. A hop skip and a jump from 7 Corners (fun Asian shopping and lots of cheap eats)
El Pollo Rico–NOVA-Arlington-Peruvian chix..if you think that chix place on midlo is good….. Warning: Do not take any photos of the restaurant’s food or interior or prepare for an ass beating
Zaytinya (Greek mezze in NW) or Jaleo (Spanish tapas)–both Jose Andre places. Zaytinya turns into major meat market after 5PM. Makes for a good show.
The Spy Bar–NW–decor is out of James Bond, quick walk to some great wine bars in NW, ie Zola, Veritas
Farrah Olivia –Old Town–go before it closes, the chef is a master of soup and sauce, highly under rated
Art & Soul–look out for the Obamas, low country by celebrity chef (used to cook for Oprah)
and, for cocktails, PX Lounge
have any room in the car? ;0
absolutely genevelyn, i would drink with you anytime.
I highly recommend a place I went to called Roger Miller. It’s very close to DC, although in Silver Spring. Just to let you know, it is a hole-in-the wall, but a very popular one that is sure to deliver! They have AMAZING Cameroonian food. It is flavorful and affordable and they have a diverse menu. Don’t wait too late, because they may run out of certain meats. Regardless, whatever you get will be great! I got some smoked or grilled chicken with an order of fried plantains and it was delicious! The meat was nice and smokey and crusty outside and moist and juicy inside. My mouth is watering thinking about it!
Roger Miller Restaurant
941-1 Bonifant Street
Silver Spring, MD 20910-4594
Toll Free: (866) 690-0929
Fax: (301) 650-4100
immanuelayaba@yahoo.com
If you don’t want to go so far, try Dukem. It’s a great Ethiopian restaurant. I was very pleased with the food, but it’s pricey for the amount of food. No pricier than the average Ethiopian place, but I went with an Ethiopian friend who highly recommended the place, as do I. They have multiple vegetarian options here (I think they do at Roger Miller, too)
Dukem Ethopian Restaurant
http://www.dukemrestaurant.com
1114 U St NW
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 667-8735
Get directions
I had one of the combination samplers and my friends and I shared it and we all LOVED it. Very flavorful and spicy. The cabbage was great, but the greens weren’t a favorite.
I’ve also heard VERY good things about Bukom Cafe (heard bad about Ghana Cafe) in Adams-Morgan. My friend is Nigerian (similar to Ghanaian food) and she had the goat and said it was very good. A friend from Ghana highly recommended as well.
Hope you get a chance to check one of these out.
Downtown Foodie
http://www.bukom.com/bukom/
Love love LOVE Matchbox in Chinatown. http://www.matchboxdc.com
Paying attention to suggestions here. Peking Gourmet – sounds like first stop when I go to DC…
, I just happened to be a part of the class taught by Pierre Herme and we tagged along to awesome mexican food made in his back yard.
Art Smith is in D.C.? Had dinner at his house last year in Chicago. No, I am no VIP
I’ve heard so much about Peruvian chix…very curious now.
Jaleo…yum
Ditto on Ben’s Chili Bowl. I’ve worked with the chef @ Art & Soul, very good. I also recommend Jose Andre’s Meditterraneo.
So…have you been to DC, yet? If so, where did you eat???
Roger Miller, very good. And they have trailers for sale or rent.