jonescm128

I am heading to DC in a month and we are staying at the Rennaisance in downtown DC. I am a huge history buff so I have the touristy part of the vacation covered, but I also love beer and good food and am having a more difficult time finding cool places to check out!

If anyone has any recommendations for good places to eat/drink near the national mall, please share! I'm a sucker for cool views and patio seating as well.

Thanks in advance

maitaitom

We are big fans of the historic Old Ebbitt Grill (DC's oldest restaurant and bar...I think), a straight 15-minute walk from the Washington Monument. Had a great lunch there three weeks ago (one of the better burgers I've had recently). Even though huge, it was packed for lunch. We ate at the bar to the left as you enter. Fun spot. Walk around and check out all the rooms. If not lunch, grab a drink there.

tenthumbs

Ebbitt's is one of my favorites, along with Georgia Brown's, whose buttermilk fried chicken is amazing. This thread lists the favorites of a few other Fodorites.

Favorite Washington, DC restaurants

tenthumbs

I like food trucks, too...........there are typically several of them around lunchtime at Farragut Square.

DC Food Truck List | Food Truck Fiesta - a real-time automated DC food truck tracker

sf7307

The fish & chips at Old Ebbitt Grill are the best I've ever had (and I've had a LOT )

We loved Zatinya. A recent poster wasn't so thrilled.

For fast casual, Roti is very good. Great falafel at Amsterdam Falafel, if you're in the neighborhood.

thursdaysd

Another vote for Zaytinya. I also like Jaleo, same owner.

gardendiva

I enjoyed PAUL for breakfast or lunch. If you go to The Old Ebbitt Grill, do not let them seat you out in the atrium. It is so loud that you cannot hear your companion talk.

maitaitom

Zaytinya ... In 2009 I had the best Pear Martini I've ever had there.

doug_stallings

Have you seen Tom Sietsemas new restaurant guide? DC has some of the best restaurants in the US. If you can get a table, try Roses Luxury. The best stuff isn’t by the Mall, but the Penn Quarter has some great dining.

Seamus

Perennial fave is Bistrot du Coin just above Dupont Circle. Run by a Belgian couple, feels like sitting in Paris and in good weather they do set up on the sidewalk. My default order is Salade Frisée aux Lardons, small order of Moules Catalanes or au Pistou, Onglet à l’échalotte and usually end up too full for dessert. It's not close to the Mall but just hop on the red line to Dupont Circle and it's just a few blocks up Connecticut. Or Uber or cab it, cabs are cheap in DC.

thursdaysd

Well, if you're going to Dupont Cirlce you shouldn't miss Kramerbooks and Afterwards Cafe. I recommend the crab cakes.

fourfortravel

We were in DC last month, and food was among the priorities. Old Ebbit's Grill stood out for the oysters, the crab cakes and the catfish po'boy (reservation needed for a Sunday evening dinner at 2030). The National Gallery Sculpture Garden lunch salads (Asian and Southwest Chicken) were particular flavorful, especially when accompanied by a pitcher of Sangria at one of the outside tables. Rasika wowed for their signature spinach dish, the lamb tandoori, and the vegetable biryani. Oyamel was so good that I returned for a second lunch; their "Gaspacho" salad in particular is one I want to recreate at home. I also ordered from the "Brunch" menu offered at Zaytinya but was not impressed; I will caveat this by adding that we are surrounded by excellent mediterranean and middle eastern restaurants where we live, so that may have factored into my impressions.

sf7307

Good to know (I love a good pear martini and I visit DC pretty often, sounds like a great combination)

sf7307

Oh, and if you're not sticking to the mall area, we loved Mintwood Place on Columbia Road - it's not often you remember a salad, but I remember their wild greens salad to be mouth watering.

k_marie

Could anyone comment on Brasserie Beck? Belgian beer and, uh, brasserie fare. It has come up in my research for our latest D.C. visits but we haven't tried it yet. I'm thinking the Belgian beer selections might be what the OP is looking for.

Gallery | Brasserie Beck Washington DC