My family will be celebrating 2 milestone birthdays (21 and 50) and a 25th wedding anniversary. We are thinking of going to someplace in the DC area. Has anyone been to such a place? DC, Montgomery County would be convenient.

Angel --

You didn't say anything about cuisine or atmosphere, so I'm just sending you a list of a half dozen of my favorite "special event" restaurants in D.C. and close-in Montgomery Co. Have a wonderful celebration!

Brasserie Beck 1101 K St, NW, Washington, DC 202-408-1717
Belgian food and over 50 Belgian beers in a knockout modern dining room reminiscent of a train station.


David Craig 4924 St. Elmo Ave, Bethesda, MD 301-657-2484
Intimate and fun, with a small but surprising American menu -- emphasis on fresh and local.


Jaleo - Downtown (also in Bethesda and Crystal City, but I like the original best) 480 Seventh St. NW, Washington, DC 202-628-7949
Tapas (50 plus) and several main dishes fit all appetites and price ranges. Lots of fun with 4 or 6 people -- order 2 or 3 tapas each and share. And get the Sangria!


Marrakesh Restaurant 617 New York Ave. NW, Washington, DC 202-393-9393
It's a setting fit for a pasha with comfortable couches and cushions, while being served a delicious 7-course Moroccan meal. Belly dancers, too.


Montmartre 327 Seventh St. SE, Washington, DC 202-544-1244
A classic French bistro on Capitol Hill, right next to Eastern Market. My favorite dish is hanger steak and frites.


Tabard Inn 1739 N St. NW, Washington, DC 202-331-8528
The beautiful surroundings offer a place to talk, to relax and unwind with contemporary American food. This place has been around forever, and the quality remains consistently high.

bardo, is that upscale Korean restaurant in Pentagon City still open? Woo Lae Oak or something like that? I haven't been there in years, obviously, but it was splendid--formal, serene, and knockout food.

Old favorites and always destinations for us whenever we're in the area:

http://www.teatrogoldoni.com/

http://www.theinnatlittlewashington.com/

I think you might need to give a better idea as to what sort of budget you're looking at. The restaurants recommended so far represent quite a range!

The Inn at Little Washington will cost you a fixed price of a few hundred dollars a person and is really a once-in-a-lifetime sort of experience (well, for me anyways!) Along those same lines, albeit a wee bit less perhaps, you might also want to consider Citronelle (Georgetown) and CityZen (DC Waterfront).

For less break-the-bank, but very nice and still a bit pricey, you might want to consider Komi (DC), 1789 (DC), or Black's Bar and Kitchen. If Northern VA is an option, I would add Restaurant Eve and 2941.

More reasonable, but still very nice, options would include David Craig (Bethesda), Teatro Goldini, Blue Duck Tavern (DC), Cafe MoZu (DC), Ceiba (DC), Central (DC), Zola or Bistro Bis.

I would consider Jaleo and Marrakesh, while both fun, to be more casual and less of a "special occasion" sort of place.

Congrats on the milestones!!

Has Marrakesh been around since the late 70's at least? My first experience with that cuisine was in that area and it was amazing....that chicken dish in puff pastry was divine. I still remember it 30 years later!