A friend and I are visiting DC in late April. We're looking for nice/different restaurants. (Simply being expensive doesn't make a restaurant "nice" or "different.") We're staying in DC and are looking for restaurants around Metro stations that may be a little off the beaten path. Yes, there's always Dupont Circle, but I'm looking for specific restaurants and people's favorites. Any thoughts?

Lauriol Plaza (mexican) at 18th and S st. NW

Bistrot du Coin (french) on Connecticut Ave at Dupont Circle.

Both are low-key, and have excellent food.

Fogo de Chao (Brazillian) is really good. It's not far from the subway. Open for lunch on weekdays and much less expensive for lunch. Corduroy is also good.

We love Vidalias (southern comfort food with a twist) but I can't tell you whether it is near a Metro stop.

Zaytinya or Firefly (in that order).

We loved the Equinox Restaurant which is about a block away from white house

Mark & Orlandos near DuPont Circle.

A sampling of sublime food off the beaten path in DC:

Montmartre - Eastern Market metro or a very pleasant 10-15 minute walk from the Capitol through the Capitol Hill neighborhood. Good choice anytime, but would be especially nice for a weekend lunch so you could check out the market area action. Reserve. http://www.montmartre.us/

Komi - Dupont Metro but located in the less visited Dupount East neighborhood. No real website, the one below just has address and phone. Google it - Komi is on everyone's top 5 list, often at #1. Somewhat casual considering the stellar quality. Reserve. http://www.komirestaurant.com/

Dukem - Right at the U St. Metro station. Among the better of the 50 or so Ethiopian restaurants in DC. Good anytime, but especially for dinner before hitting the clubs along U St. http://www.dukemrestaurant.com

Also, FWIW, I strongly disagree with the Lauriol Plaza recommendation. All the others are good choices.

Cashion's Eat Place in Adams Morgan. Vidalia's at about 20th & M. Corduroy's at 12th & K. Taberna del Alabadero at 18th & I. Kinkead's right next to the GWU campus. Sweet Georgia Brown's at 15th & K. Olive's at 16th & K. Equinox just off Lafayette Square.

I'm with bardo on both Lauriol Plaza and Bistro de Coin. Both have average food, at best, and are muchly overhyped. Neither of them is also very interesting or unique.

I'd also add Merkado Kitchen near Logan Circle (14th and P). It's an Asian/Latin fusion, which could be a disaster, but works oddly well. And a lovely dining room.

Skewers on P St. near DuPont Circle for Middle Eastern / Mediterranian (and also Luna Grill downstairs for brunch).

Tenpenh, 1001 Pennsylvania Ave, Asian fusion; Jaleo is almost always crowded but the tapas are very good and it's fun, 480 7th St., Spanish tapas.

During the day the Mezzanine Cafe in the Museum of Women in the Arts is a great spot for lunch, the building is very pretty and there is no entrance fee to eat.

Mie n Yu in Georgetown is VERY unusual and inventive. For pretty reliable reviews of all these places, check out www.washingtonian.com.