Fodor's Expert Review Crush

Occupying a converted two-story house, this sleek restaurant helmed by James Beard Award–winning chef Jason Wilson may have you thinking that you're Downtown, not on the southeastern edge of Capitol Hill. The food is very good, even sublime: braised short ribs are Crush's signature dish, and they're so delicious that the menu could begin and end right there. Seafood dishes are also superbly executed, such as seared sea scallops with baby leeks and porcini. Despite the clamor for a table on the weekend, servers remain serene and you'll never be rushed out the door. For a budget-minded taste of Wilson's wizardry, go for happy hour.