Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - Recommendation for a Special Meal

Hello ttt... I live near Dupont so here are a few suggestions... (1) Gabriel (on P St, near 21st St) - despite being in a basement, the location is quite nice. The food is neo-Latin American and is really good. This doesn't qualify as 'traditional' American cuisine, but is well worth a trip. Their Sunday brunch is also well regarded. (2) Johnny's Half Shell - A lot of people love Johnny's (its always crowded - arrive early or wait at the bar). It's also very loud (tile floors, boisterous crowd), which tends to drive me away. The food is good - mostly mid-Atlantic seafood specialties, crab cakes, etc. It's also on P St, near 20th (just West of the Circle). (3) Vidalia - a little south of the Circle on M Street. This is more expensive ($25 entrees), but an excellent, refined take on traditional Southern U.S. cuisine. The dining room is very pleasant, although not a stylish or trendy as some in town. (4) There are several excellent Italian restuarants near Dupont if you can do without American cuisine: Al Tiramisu (P St - traditional northern Italian, very romantic, attentive service, top quality food); Etrusco (near the Q St. metro entrance, Tuscan); Oblisk (P St., very expensive Price-Fix menu, excellent quality); Odeon Cafe (near Connecticut & Florida on Connecticut, informal, lower priced, fun atmosphere and good food). (5) There are also several 'gourmet' American restuarants in Adams-Morgan (a 1/2 mile walk or cab ride north on 18th St.), including: Cashions (Columbia Rd & 18th) and Felix (18th St.) Most people prefer Cashions, although I find their food a little dull, and prefer Felix. Cities and Perry's are two other possibilities in Adams-Morgan, although I think they are a bit overpriced at this point. Cities is certainly a nice place to get a drink though. Anyone else want to comment? Seems like most of the good steak places are downtown now... There's always Ruth's Chris Steakhouse on Connecticut Ave, but that's a chain, so I've bypassed them!