Last minute trip to DC, restuarant suggestions?
 

Greetings Fodorites,

Just booked a last minute weekend (Nov 16 - 18)trip to D.C. - we wanted to see the Turner exhibit at the National Gallery and there was a great rate at the St. Gregory Hotel. Would really appreciate some suggestions for restaurants in the DuPont circle/Geogetown area (I think the hotel is just south of there) where we'll have a chance of getting a table without having booked in advance. We like good food - be it American, Seafood, Tapas, French, Italian etc, but would like something reasonably priced. Always appreciate good value for the $. Really appreciate any recommendations as I don't think I'll have time to search the various boards from work tomorrow.
Thanks

Firefly is not too far away...cozy interior, very good food.

http://www.firefly-dc.com/

kinkhead's -- great fish/seafood at 21st and pennsylvania -- try to make a reservation

Teaism is great for breakfast, lunch, or a snack. Good prices and consistent food...also it's fairly quick. There are at least 4 locations, and 1 is near Dupont Circle area. We enjoyed it enough to go more than once.

Our favorite dinner, which was also the most reasonably priced, was at Etete Ethiopian Cuisine on 9th and U St. However you'd have to get the Metro (or a taxi) to the U Street area, so it depends on whether you'd enjoy venturing away from your hotel area. We took the Metro.

Zaytinya is tasty but is a little bit pricey, although DC in general is pricey.

Happy dining!

For a meal before or after the exhibit at the NGA, I highly recommend Jaleo - just a few blocks away from the gallery.

http://www.jaleo.com/ (Spanish, tapas)


Among the many great choices close to your hotel are:
Kinkead's, Marcel's, Circle Bistro, Al Tiramisu, and Pesce.

http://www.pescebistro.com/ (seafood)

http://www.altiramisu.com/ (Italian)

http://www.thecirclehotel.com/circle_bistro.htm (Mediterranean)

http://www.marcelsdc.com/ (French)

http://www.kinkead.com/kinkead/kinkead.htm (seafood)

Vidalia's(2oth and M?). Komi's(17th Street). Alabaderos(18th and I)

My husband and I just had dinenr at Starrs (around the corner from the Westin Embassy Row in Dupont Circle area)
We were there Friday night and a piano player was there.....he was great.
Food was very good and ambiance was nice also

Eric Ripert's new restaurant Westend Bistro, in the Ritz-Carlton at M and 22nd, has been getting a lot of buzz. It's casual, not too expensive, bistro fare. We had oysters and fish burgers (divine) when we ate there last Saturday.

Pizza Paradiso in Dupont Circle is always good, but expect a wait at peak hours. Teaism is one of my faves. Five Guys burgers in Dupont -- I haven't been yet but other people rave about it.

I agree with all of bardo's suggestions :)

Hi Elle, I may be bumping into you at the National Gallery! Some of the moderately priced places I'm looking forward to trying that haven't been mentioned yet:

Garden Cafe at the National Gallery has a seasonal buffet daily at $18.95. Hours are Mon-Sat 11:30-3pm Sunday noon-4pm.

CF Folks at 1225 19th (for lunch), blackboard menu with crabcake sandwich and cobblers.

Apparently there are a lot of Cosis and Corner Bakerys around but I haven't pinpointed locations.

The Greek Deli on 19th between L and M right next to Nooshi.

The reviews I've seen on Eric Riperts cafe haven't looked too good, unfortunately.

My favorite out of 10 meals or more in my last trip there last Feb.:

Singapore Bistro
1134 19th St NW

www.singaporebistro.com

It's not the sushi, but the specialties. I had a Balinese Shrimp that was to die for there.

It is not expensive and has a young neighborhood urban type feel.

Agree with Jaleo for tapas. Also, I love City Lights of China in Dupont area for Chinese.

I second Vidalias - pricey but worth it - great drinks and food (fantastic mint julep). Also Cafe Atlantico has wonderful food - get their guacomole appetizer made fresh at the table and their chaiparinas are to die for!

While at the National Gallery, stop at the Espresso & Gelato bar and order some gelato. Its divine. Its next to the Cascade cafeteria in the basement. fyi -the cafeteria food ain't bad if you plan on having a meal while at the NG.

Enjoy your visit.

Some of those mentioned can easily b reserved at www.opentable.com

Wow, thanks for all of the great suggestions! I've been playing with open table Dukey, and it looks like we should be able to get in somewhere wonderful if we can be flexible with times. mlgb, hope you enjoy Turner/Hopper, friends tell me its fantastic!

Many thanks,

Just returned and enjoyed both Teaism and Pizza Paradisio (takeouts are done very quickly) near Dupon Circle, and Jaleo, Zaytinya, and Taberna del Alaberdero. Happy Hour at the latter is indeed a great deal.

The Turner exhibit was amazing! Hopper also worthwhile but I think nothing matches Turner.

And not to hijack anyone's thread, but I was in DC over Veteran's Day weekend, and saw both the Turner and Hopper exhibits. They were both wonderful.

And bardo1, we toasted you at Jaleo when we went there for dinner one night. ;-) Thanks for recommending it.

Bookmark.

I just noticed you are at the Palomar - that area of P St. is an epicenter of great dining in DC. Here are a few more options (as if you needed MORE...) to consider. All of the below are within a block or so of your hotel:

http://www.markandorlandos.com/
(American and Continental)

http://www.pescebistro.com/ (seafood)

http://www.altiramisu.com/ (Italian)

http://www.eatyourpizza.com/ (Great pizza and more)

Montsauris
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp...&id=800493 (French, their sister restuarant on Capitol Hill, Montmartre at Eastern Market is also great)

Finally....the restaurant AT your hotel, Urbana, is also great.
http://www.urbanadc.com/index.html

Maybe you'll just need to return...