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Washington, DC – Food and Drink in Washington DC

By: Mercedes Vinciguerra

Cheap Bites (Courtesy of: Washingtonian.com)

A&J Restaurant: 1319 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD
Very good northern Chinese food served in a cheerful if spare little dining room. Don’t miss the shredded pork and mustard green soup, beef dumplings or cold salads. Credit cards aren’t accepted, and no alcohol is served.

Bardia’s New Orleans Cafe

2412 18th St. NW, Washington
Bardia P. Ferdousi has quietly created one of the friendliest neighborhood restaurants in D.C. Aim for the lone window seat, dive into a gutsy gumbo or rib-sticking jambalaya and save room for some beignets.

Ben’s Chili Bowl
1213 U Street NW, Washington
“Black owned and operated since 1958,” says the sign on wall next to the menus at Ben’s Chili Bowl – “a Washington Landmark for over 40 years.” Fashioned as a diner but without the typical heavy neon retro-look, Ben’s only has pictures of the owners and famous Black celebrities (Bill Cosby to name one) that have frequented the joint. It also has a mid-century interior with nice ornate ceilings. You can also get a good sample of soul music while dining there.

If you like American fast food you’ll love Ben’s. Hot Dogs, Half Smokes, Hamburgers, French Fries, Cheese Fries – all smothered in chili, or not if you choose not to have it that way. But as they say, “The Flavor is in the Sauce.” They even have Turkey Burgers, Tuna Subs and Veggie Burgers for the health conscious and calorie counter. Ben’s also serves a traditional Southern fast food breakfast (Hot Cakes, eggs, grits, scrapple, etc.)

If you go there, try to avoid meal hours. The line there is chaotic. There is no “queueing,” just weasel your way to the front counter and order. Seating is also reminiscent of the German Hofbrau Haus – long tables with chairs.

Ben’s Chili Bowl listing submitted by James Barnett.

Burro
2000 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, W’ton; 1621 Connecticut Ave. NW, W’ton

For fresh, quick, high-quality Mexican-style cooking, you can’t beat the Burro. Stick to the basics and don’t miss the taco salad, enlivened with a cilantro-lime vinaigrette.

Cafe Dalat: 3143 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA
This unassuming, vegetarian-friendly Vietnamese restaurant is the toast of Northern Virginia’s “Little Saigon” and a favorite among Arlington’s sizable bohemian community.

Eat First: 728 Seventh St. NW, Washington
For Chinese comfort food, this no-frills eatery may well offer some of the best values in Chinatown. If you see soft-shell crab baked in spicy salt on the menu, order it.

Pasha Cafe: 3815 Lee Hwy., Arlington, VA
A pretty white-tablecloth restaurant dressed up with hanging green plants and specializing in the cooking of Egypt. A tip: Focus on the vegetarian dishes and construct a meal from the parade of enticing appetizers.

Pho 75

1711 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA; 771 Hungerford Dr., Rockville, MD
These Vietnamese restaurants set the local standard for pho, the fragrant beef-and-noodle soup. The Arlington location has the most charm; all serve up meals with subtle rejuvenating powers.

Rocklands Barbeque & Grilling Co.
2418 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington
Fine charcoal-blackened meats make these smokehouses great; top-notch side dishes make them special. Don’t forget to wash it all down with lemonade, and finish with some homemade chocolate chip cookies.

You Only Live Once – Hot Spots $$$

Atlantic: 2400 Boston St., Baltimore, MD
A canning company turned chic underwater fantasy, this Baltimore destination offers dining on three levels and a mixed but fashionable seafood menu. It’s definitely the place to see and be scenesters in Charm City. Set sail with a trio of crab appetizers, velvety lobster bisque, oysters on the half shell and a seductive cocktail or two.

Bis: 15 E St. NW, Washington
French food with an American twist – that’s among the draws at Jeff and Sallie Buben’s alluring new bistro on the Hill. Honeyed lighting, an open kitchen, a chic cocktail lounge and a smart crowd only burnish the picture.

Cafe Atlantico: 405 Eighth St. NW, Washington
Bouncy music, three colorful floors of dining room and an exciting, contemporary Latin American menu add up to one sizzling scene. Don’t neglect to order a mojito, a pale green cocktail of rum, lime and fresh mint that goes down like a summer vacation.

DC Coast: 1401 K St. NW, Washington
Downtown tastes better than ever, thanks to the return of Jeff Tunks, who’s cooking up a storm (Chinese-style smoked lobster, mushroom-crusted halibut) in glamorous, airy and comfortable digs. Check out the fabulous wine list.

Jaleo: 480 7th St. NW, Washington
Every meal feels like a party in this big, convivial Spanish restaurant, where you can fashion a meal from a list of tapas that stretches to nearly 50 choices.

Kaz Sushi Bistro: 1915 I St. NW, Washington
It’s just what the city has been hungering for: a serene Asian restaurant, replete with a burbling rock fountain and a maestro, Kaz Okochi, late of Sushi-Ko, at the helm. Beyond a pristine selection of raw fish and vinegared rice, seek out such novelties as short ribs marinated in soy sauce and sake and a “Napoleon” of sea trout mixed with peanuts, cilantro and a gingery dressing.

Marcel’s: 2401 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington
Robert Wiedmaier has taken over what used to be Provence and named the restaurant after his new son, burnishing the expanse to new lustre. French cooking with Flemish accents is the drill on this talented chef’s menu: Consider boudin blanc with caramelized onions and smoky bacon, the season’s first soft-shell crabs or crisply delicate skate wing, excited with a lemon-caper sauce.

Michel Richard Citronelle

3000 M St. NW, Washington (202) 625-2150
One of the hottest tickets in town, this coolly beautiful space features an extraordinary glass-enclosed wine cellar, a gleaming, million-dollar open kitchen and the refined French-Californian cooking of a maestro.

Rupperts

1017 Seventh St. NW, Washington (202) 783-0699

A chic clientele flocks to this casual, intimate restaurant for a menu that changes daily and reads as if it’s written by a fashion-conscious farmer. Chef John Cochran is redefining luxury dining for the ’90s.

Thirsty?
Just a few suggestions on where to quench that summer thirst!

Best Margaritas
Guapos Restaurant (red line-Tenley Town)

Best Black & Tan

Fado (red line-Chinatown)

Most Expensive Martinis

Felix’s (red line to Woodley Park Zoo)

Most Original Martini (and cheaper too)

Watermelon Martini: Café Atlantico – What a way to end a hard day!

Best Cultural Mixed Drink – Mojito
Café Atlantico Again – What’s a mojito you ask? A Cuban speciality of fresh mint, syrup, lime juice and a couple of shots of rum…mmmmm, mmmmm good!

Saludos!

My name is Mercedes, and I live in the Nation’s Capital Washington D.C.

I was born in New York, raised in Miami, and have been living in this spectacular cultural den for the past two years.

My decision to become a correspondent is totally selfish; I want to gain travel writing experience before I begin my year long journey through South East Asia.

Hopefully, my article will not only be informative but have personality as I take you on a virtual tour and show you Washington through my eyes (let’s pray my vision is 20/20!).

How it all began:
My love affair with this magnificent city began on a random visit four years ago.

Having returned from Europe the previous year, I was transfixed by the city’s resemblance to Paris.

My eyes were filled with panoramic views of majestic buildings, wide tree-lined avenues and rainbow colored tulips.

Just when I thought I had seen the most beautiful part of Washington, I caught sight of a spectacular cupola rising in the distance – Capitol Hill.

If you are not good at making decisions, Washington will leave you in indecisive limbo.

The monuments are beautiful day and night, with hundreds of fabulous restaurants and a metro that will challenge you to explore even the most hidden treasures.

What’s my favorite thing about DC? Free museums!

Into music? Then catch a free concert at the Kennedy Center.

Into more progressive sounds? Then check out these websites for upcoming concerts and hotspots.

Want to just sit and relax?

Then find your way over to the Washington Monument, plop down your backpack, take out your favorite book and watch the world pass before your eyes.

Washington DC’s resources are endless, and I will do my best to share them all with you.

Accommodation
Youth Hostels

Capitol Hill Guest House

Hotel Information

Shopping

Sorry – I refuse to send anyone to a mall other than the
Washington Mall but if you cannot resist the urge
sidewalk.com should lead you to some shopping
links.

Miscellaneous

If you have bad knees or are not into walking – here is a
tourmobile site that will take you to all major monuments.
It will cost between $25 – 32 USD, but is worth it if you don’t
have much time to spare.

I want my Internet!!!

Cafemyth.com – hottest new cyber café in Georgetown gives students free computer usage with I.D.
3241 M. Street, NW (202) 625.6984