Chip Brandt

Me and my wife are driving to DC before taking a train to NYC. We are looking for some good restaurants with atmosphere. We are originally from New Orleans, so I hope our standards are not too high. In our late 20's and looking to spend no more than $80 per dinner. Also, what are some good places to see off the beaten path. We are going to do the tourist thing, but would like to see something else. Where is a good area to stay. What are some cool bars to frequent? Are there any good Jazz clubs there? THANKS for any input.

kam

Washington is expensive! You are not going to find anything there with atmosphere and wine and to compare to New Orleans for $80 per dinner, unless you mean per person, per dinner. Then I could give you a whole list. But, much better not to compare what you'll find in DC with what you liked in New Orleans---better to enjoy both. There are some great places, but you need to clarify your budget.

Rachel Freeny

I recommend the Georgetown area. My mother lives in the neighborhood and it is safe and quaint, with wonderful small restaurants of medium price (after all there are a lot of students around) but wonderful food. For a hotel, I would stay at the River Inn (1-800-424-2741), a lovely place with big rooms and old-fashioned hospitality. For a wonderful Italian dinner, try Donatello's (just a couple of blocks from hotel). The service is impeccable, and the food delicious. There is lots of good shopping in the area, and some great seafood restaurants too. All is in walking distance. Don't miss the new Roosevelt memorial, and the River walk area. Have fun!

Chip Brandt

Kam,
OK I can live with spending $100-$150 for a couple of dinners. I have heard the area has some excellent eateries so let me have them! Also, do you know of any good outdoor cafe style places to go for lunch? Thanks for the input.

kam

I Ricchi on 19th Street, NW is a wonderful Tuscan restaurant. 1789 in Georgetown is in an old Federalist building with great American food. Restaurant Nora in Adams- Morgan is like Alice Waters' Chez Panisse out here in Berkeley. Dominique's is unique in DC. I Matti is good. Stay away from Morton's of Chicago. And, for a reasonably priced lunch in Georgetown I would recommend Clyde's, but only the original in Georgetown. Also, the Old Ebbitt Grill near the White House. I Ricchi is our very favorite along with the 1789 (but then we both graduated from Gerorgetown Univ.) In general,I think you will be disappointed with DC restaurants vis a vis New Orleans----they are more atmosphere and less unique cuisine, but as I said before, enjoy! Personally, I love the restaurants in New Orleans and eat like a pig when I'm there--in fact that's one of the main reasons to go to New Orleans!! Have fun and remember that the weather in DC will be very much like New Orleans in the summer hot and very humid!!!

k beer

Eating in DC can be extremely expensive, or amazingly cheap. Pizzaria Paradiso, and Galileo--both in the Dupont Circle area--are excellent. Galileo is white tablecloth, fixed price from $36 to $60 per person, depending on the night. Pizza Paradiso is more bistro style, with pizza from a wood fired oven...superb pizza.
If you like Indian Food, then, without a doubt, you owe it to yourself to go to the Bombay Club. Recently I had dinner there with a friend for about $70 total. The dining room is fantastic, and the food is excellent. It is walking distance from Dupont Circle, and near the White House.
As for accomodations, I usually stay at the Embassy Row Hilton. It is certainly not plush, but you can generally get weekend rates around $99 per night--breakfast included--and it is 1/2 block from the very clean, very fast, very convenient Metro, and it is in one of the Districts nicer neighborhoods.

Rob

Well, I'm from D.C., went to grad school in NOLA and now live in New York. Unfortunately, for the most part in D.C. you will find mediocre food for high prices. I would much rather pay $75 for a dinner at Emeril's, Commanders or Galatoire's that at just about any place in D.C. Try some of these things:

D.C.: Head to Adams Morgan, home to seveal ethnic restaurants (many of which have outdoor seating) and bar...a very alive place. For bars in that area, if you like real trendy, try Cities and Perry's, but my favorite places are less trendy including Chief Ike's (on Columbia Ave.), Millie N' Al's and Dan's (the last 2 are on 18th St). Being from NOLA, I could see you liking the last few places. Wait till NYC for Jazz.

NYC: To get real feel of NYC, head to East Village, and SOHO restaurants/trendy bars. Too many good restaurants...finger thru a Zagatt's guide at a bookstore to find a place in the neighborhood you want (i.e, Greenwich Village, SOHO, Upper West Side, etc.). I took my visitng friends to the following bars this past weeked and they liked them all: Bar 89 (trendy, cool bathrooms); Pravda (very trendy) Hogs N' Heffers (very fun latenight, dancing on bar top, few bikers...nice mix); N (good place to start, cool for tapas and sangria). A s for Jazz, look into a place called Blue Note, which is located in NOHO.

Tracie

Hi! I live near DC and we have many favorite restaurants. I agree with the earlier posts - Galileo is certainly one of the best restaurants in Washington. We love Provence, on Pennsylvania Ave near Georgetown. A small New York style restaurant is Ruppert's on 10th St. NW. It's very good and eclectic. For jazz, I think One Step Down is still operating with good local jazz. It's on Pennsylvania Ave. too.

Have fun.

Denise Scandiffio

I will be in D.C. next Friday and have a choice of staying at the Georgetown Suites or the River Inn. Which one would you recommend? We are family of 5 from NYC with 3 children ages 18, 16, 12. They have grown tired of the usual D.C. sites, so I thought we'd stop off 1 night in Georgetown on our way back from Va. Beach. If you had to choose 1 restaurant, which one. Bear in mind the price for 5 of us.
Thanks,
Denise

s.fowler

We have stayed at [and liked very much] the River Inn. It is close to the GW metro stop. Georgetown is actually quite a long walk from there. Donatello's is nice... although seeing businessmen in 3 piece dark wool suits when the temperature was in the high 90's....
Galileo is excellent, although the waiters can have an attitude. Watch out for the wine list. It can add a LOT to your meal I took my husband to Provence for his birthday and looooooooved it There is a nice pan-asian place just off Dupont circle [behind the Dupont Plaza] called Raku. I'm addicted to their "summer shrimp roll". It's next to the cafe for Kramerbooks. [another great place!]
There are very few secrets in DC, [I'm waiting for comments on *that* <grin>] so major guidebooks are quite trustworthy.