"Trendy" Restaurants in DC
 

My husband is a chef, and we are going to be in DC. We have been surfing the web to try and find some restaurants to try - What are the most popular or well known restaurants in DC? Thanks! (not seafood lovers, though)

Make sure to check out Mark Miller's Red Sage restaurant - one of my favorite's.

Had a very good meal at Cashion's Eat Place in Adams Morgan last year. Do a search on this forum or Yahoo for more rave reviews.

Go to the Washingtonian magazine website (www.washingtonian.com) and they have their updated list of Washington's 100 Very Best Restaurants. It's an excellent resource.

You can't miss with Kinkead's, I Ricci, the Palm, or 1789.

A lot of the popular, well-known restaurants aren't trendy (we're pretty staid here)--1789 and the Palm, for example. Kinkead's is mostly seafood. <BR>Trendy. Hmmm. Cashion's may count. Jaleo? Ruppert's? Bis? <BR>Lisa? You out there?

You've already heard the wiset suggestion ... Washingtonian Magazine. As a DC resident, I've eaten at every single one of those mentioned ... most are just not worth the money, honestly. No matter what anyone says, DC is not a great restaurant town ... here, you really have to tell the management that you live here ... otherwise you'll always get the tourist treatment. The front desk people at Red Sage are a good example. Jaleo is very good. Try some places in Chinatown .. good value. Asia Nora has been good, as has Bistro on M Street NW. Old Town Alex. just doesn't have any really outstanding restaurants, with the possible exception of the Blue Oyster Grill. So, the less expensive bests in that Magazine, plus the Zagat's best bargains are worth considering. Others will disagree ... no problem, but do take notes on where you eat, and let us know your reactions after your trip. Ciao

Thanks for all of your ideas so far - I have jot down a bunch of what your wrote - Thanks, I'll let you know what we find!!

If you have access to a car, or can rent one, the drive to The Inn at Little Washington is a must!

Cashion's is my personal favorite. <BR> <BR>

Vidalia is a longtime favorite of mine, and I think the food has gotten even better recently. I also tried Etrusco last month (it got a strong review in the new Washingtonian 100 best list), and it has the best ribollita I've come across.

D.C. Coast should meet your definition of a trendy restaurant. I also think their food is excellent. It's a bit like dining in a warehouse, with the noise, but it's still a pleasant experience.

We loved Tahoga in Georgetown. We don't usually head for trendy restaurants, but the French place we planned on next door was unexpectedly closed. The food was magnificent and everyone was very friendly. A really wonderful dining experience.

Mr. K's can't be beat for great Chinese!

if you're looking specifically for something "trendy" at the moment, I would add Ten Penh and Olives to your list. Have fun!

I had two very good meals in Washington this winter. They were at New Heights and Marcel's. Both had very original menus and good service. I would recommend both, though Marcel's was a bit better.

Olives is very overpriced, and the food is not worth it. Also, I discovered that it's a chain.

Inn at Little Washington is 5-star world-known, so reservations are hard to come by -- book months in advance, be prepared to mortgage your house.

Consider Gordon Biersch - a newly opened brewery restaurant near the MCI Center. A beautifully-restored old Riggs Bank building with great food and freshly-brewed beer. Their website is www.gordonbiersch.com; not yet updated to include the DC location, but you can check menus elsewhere (try Las Vegas!).

If you're not seafood lovers, skip Kinkead's (about my favorite restaurant in town) and DC Coast. Vidalia is great and a lot of people love Bis, owned by the same chef. Jaleo is neat and Cafe Atlantico is fun. Would not recommend the Palm--way too noisy, although you will see local political celebs there. For beef, the Prime Rib can't be beat and the Capitol Grille is good.