Its gonna be my 30th birthday and I'd like to go somewhere romantic for dinner on a saturday night,next weekend in fact.We're coming over from the UK a few days before so can pre-book if necessary.

Have heard 1789 mentioned a few times,but the book reviews say its austere and full of antiques etc.I prefer a more modern atmosphere,but do enjoy good food.

Can anyone help?

Thanks

Hi Helen,

Try Two Quail on Capitol Hill. It's been a few years, but I definitely remember a great romantic dinner there. It's in an old brownstone and is decorated in a comfy/intimate style. If I were you, I'd go to zagats.com and click on "DC" and then subsort by "romantic" restaurants. Then you can read lots of suggestions.

I don't really think of 1789 as being the type of place a 30-year-old is thinking of when she asks for romantic...

Someone else may have newer info on Two Quail, again it's been a bit.

Don't know what your price range is, but I would recommend Palena in Cleveland Park - it's got neat decor and some cozy romantic booths. A bit pricey, but the food is wonderful. Little Fountain Cafe in Adams Morgan is also very romantic, and in a great neighborhood for an after-dinner stroll. I love 1789, but it is very classic and old-school, so not your best choice if you want modern. Another one that is contemporary, romantic and also fun is Cashions Eat Place in Adams Morgan. One of my all-time favorites.

Check out zagats or the washington post website for reviews of all these and more suggestions.

Citronelle, if you like French-ish food. May have to look for it under "Michel Richard's Citronelle."
Go to www.washingtonpost.com and look at the restaurant guide.
I'm not sure if the restaurant trade in DC has picked up recently. Before Sept. 11, you'd have been in trouble trying to find a nice spot on a Saturday this close to the date.

Definitely Citronelle. If you want to have a really special dinner, order the chefs menu (lots of smaller courses that the chef selects for you) and have them select the wines to go with the courses (they will serve you a differnt glass of wine with each course, not a bottle). The bar upstairs is great to have a drink first too.

Enjoy!

I just ate at Cafe Atlantico last weekend--incredible Cuban food, very chic and romantic. I'd offer these as the most romantic as well:

1. L'Auberge Chez Francois--a bit of a drive/taxi out of town but far and away the most romantic spot with incredible food.
2. Cafe Nora
3. Gerard's Place
4. Kinkead's
5. New Heights

Two Quail is romantic in decor and atmosphere but the food is hit or miss.

For wonderful Basque-Spanish food (great paella!) and a romantic atmosphere, you might want to try TABERNA DEL ALABADERO on 18th Street, between H and I, NW, one block from Lafayette Park.

Thanks everyone for the replies,will have a look at them all this weekend. I am staying in the Crystal City Marriott,which I understand has a metro stop next to it,so am I right in thinking all of these places should be easy enough to get to for a non local ?

Taberna del Alabadero is half a block from the Farragut West Metro stop.

Just taking a quick glance at the list, the only ones that wouldn't be very close to a Metro are Little Fountain and Cashions in Adams Morgan (altho the city now runs a shuttle between Woodley Park and U Street Metro stops, stopping in Adams Morgan) and Auberge Chez Francois. Oh, and 1789 and Citronelle - no metro stops in Georgetown (altho Citronelle isn't too far from the Foggy Bottom stop I suppose).

I recommend you try a restaurant info site called "chowhounds.com". There is a wealth of information there on restaurants in the DC area, with extremely knowledgeable people who are very kind and generous with advice, especially one fellow named Jim Zurer (People actually use their real names on that site because there is very little bitterness or criticism, as there can be here at Fodor's on occaision.)

The recommendations here sound quite good, though. Just double check them at Chowhounds.

Taberna is a few steps from the 18th Street exit of the Farragut West stop, but it's not modern.
I don't know that I'd call Kinkead's romantic.
I'm not being much help, I know. I like less-modern places and take cabs or drive in DC, so my list of favorites isn't providing much fodder.
One other possibility: The Hyatt in Crystal City used to have a very good restaurant with a great view of DC. I don't know if the restaurant (Chesapeake Grill? Chespeake Bay Grill) is still good, however.