Reguest: Restaurant recommendations in DC area

[maryfield48]

Gonna be in the DC area in April, are there any can't miss restaurants that I should try to get to?

[Jiggymike]

Not to be a bubble burster but DC is a terrible food city IMO. The places that get good reviews/are popular are often overpriced for mediocre food (see Clyde's, Old Ebbet's Grill). It's really tough to find good, cheap deals and even the more expensive stuff I have tried hasn't been that great. People have told me that Smith and Wollensky (chain steakhouse) and Georgia Browns are very good, if not a little expensive. I would say Georgia Browns but have never eaten there because the waits are often long. If you have any specific things you are looking for I might be able to help a little more.

[oddjob]

[ QUOTE ]
The places that get good reviews/are popular are often overpriced for mediocre food (see Clyde's, Old Ebbet's Grill). It's really tough to find good, cheap deals and even the more expensive stuff I have tried hasn't been that great. People have told me that Smith and Wollensky (chain steakhouse) and Georgia Browns are very good, if not a little expensive. I would say Georgia Browns but have never eaten there because the waits are often long. If you have any specific things you are looking for I might be able to help a little more.

[/ QUOTE ]

you do realize this is the same in most all cities, due to the majority of people, not having the most refined taste.

this is probably why he's asking in OOT, instead of looking in citysearch restaurant reviews.

[maryfield48]

Thanks for responding, Jiggy. No worries, no bubble to burst here.

My druthers would be a steak place, a Thai place, and after that anything that's really good, whatever the cuisine.

I'll be there for 10 days so would like a couple of options.

[NSchandler]

This might help you out:

http://www.gmu.edu/jbc/Tyler/tyler_cowen.htm

[llayner]

I completely disagree and think you can find great places in DC - what are you looking for? For steak I would say Sam & Harry's or Blackies (Blakies is better for dry aged). Thai: stay away from Thaiphoon and Thaitanic (duh) as well as Jandara. I really like Neisha's green curry chicken and there's another good place at the foot of Adam's Morgan that I really like but can't remember the name.

If you're looking for great happy hour deal with good food - Rosemary's Thyme in between Dupont and Adam's Morgan is a good call.

On a side note - restaurant week should be coming up. Put money aside so you can do like 3-4 places that week its a great way to find new goodness.

[z28dreams]

I don't eat out much myself, but here a some good places I know of:

Steaks
- Capitol Grill
- Chima's - This is one of those all-you-can-eat deals similar to Fogo De Chao. I've been told the food is pretty damn good here.
- (obv. mortons & ruth chris's, but these are chains)


Here's a list of places recommended by AOL CityGuide:
http://aol.digitalcity.com/washington/

what they say:
Seafood
- McCormick & Schmidts - haven't been there
- Coastal Flats - awesome food, but way out in Fairfax

Other
Around Old Town Alexandria, the Chart House is very good and located right on the water. Vermillion is also incredible in that area.
I'd love to here other suggestions.

[Rhone]

A couple of can't miss restaurants in DC (reservations are a must for all of these)

Minibar at Cafe Atlantico
Cityzen
Rays the Steaks
Citronelle

There are also some types of places that you might not be able to find where you are (not sure where you live) which may not necessarily live up to "can't miss" but which may be worth trying, eg., Ethiopian in the U Street area.

Also, here's a good resource: Washingtonian Magazine restaurant section

[blackize]

Bethesda is just a few minutes out of DC and has some fantastic restaurants. It has been a while since I lived there so I can't remember any names.

[Aces McGee]

Lots of good restaurant info to sort through in this recent DC thread .

-McGee