13 Best Restaurants in Upper Northwest, Washington, D.C.

Call it the Brando of D.C. pizzerias, because this Neapolitan sensation has played godfather to a number of throne-stealing wood ovens elsewhere in town since it opened more than a decade ago. Simple recipes allow the ingredients to shine through and make the "wine bar" menu of small Italian plates as exemplary as the pies. You may be tempted to go for the D.O.C. pizza (it has Denominazione di Origine Controllata approval for Neapolitan authenticity), but don't hesitate to try the meatballs, salt cod croquettes, deviled eggs, or really any of the little things. At busy times, there can be a wait for a table, and the noisy din of a packed house may discourage some diners.

This unpretentious but intimate and stylish bistro recalls a Parisian café, with dark woods, white tablecloths, and cozy tables—not to mention the owner himself is from Paris. The main floor has two dining rooms, one of which has floor-to-ceiling windows that open to the street when weather permits. The menu is traditional French, with staples like steak frites, escargots, bouillabaisse, and crepes.

You can never have enough Greek restaurants, and Parthenon is among the best in town. This is traditional Greek food, including great moussaka, pastitsio, salads, and grilled fish. Try to start your meal with the saganaki, where the cheese is flamed right at your table. The interior screams Greece, with pictures of the Parthenon and islands. A large outdoor patio adjoins the restaurant, which is also connected to the Chevy Chase Lounge, a legendary local watering hole.

Pete's is a locally owned, Friendship Heights landmark, serving "New Haven-style" (thin-crust, coal-fired) pizzas and offering an extensive toppings list. The spacious patio gives you enough room to spread out.

This inviting, all-American bar and restaurant is right near the D.C./Maryland border; brick and wood make the space feel cozy and warm. Seafood, sandwiches, and hefty salads highlight the menu. The Avenue is three floors; the top floor is used for banquets and the lower floor broadcasts sports games on TV. The restaurant also operates the Capitol Crab food truck and catering company, serving seafood delicacies that often make it onto The Avenue menu.

Just beyond Georgetown in the residential neighborhood of Palisades, BlackSalt is part fish market, part gossipy neighborhood hangout, part swanky restaurant. Fish offerings dominate, and vary from classics like New England clam chowder and fried Ipswich clams to more-offbeat fixings like Japanese-style seafood stew and chocolate peanut butter torte for dessert. The place can get crowded and loud, and reservations are often de rigueur for weekends. Regulars consider a meal at the bar a good fallback.

Owner-baker Mark Furstenberg has been honored with the James Beard Award for Outstanding Baker, so you know the bread here is amazing. But there are also delicious breakfast, brunch, and lunch menus that, while simple, rely on local farmers for fresh, seasonal ingredients. Dishes range from vegetable frittatas to ham and cheese biscuits to seasonal vegetables on a baguette. You can dine inside or out.

Pizza (and beer) in the front, Ping-Pong (and foosball) in the back make this pizza joint a neighborhood favorite for folks of all ages. While you can make your own pizza (including one with a gluten-free crust) from almost four dozen toppings, you'll be well served to opt for one of the kitchen's specialty pies. Comet often features live music performed by local musicians. Check the website for the schedule.

The exposed brick and warm woods may signal upscale saloon, but District Kitchen is much more, offering an eclectic, farm-to-table menu featuring the restaurant's signature dish, a large and tasty bowl of paella. Sure, there are burgers, steaks, and the like, but also ceviche, cheese plates, lamb ragù, and at least one or two tempting fish options. It's just a block from the Woodley Metro and close to the zoo.

A shabby-chic bar–restaurant directly across the street from the National Zoo has been deemed by one local paper to have the best burger in D.C. If it's not the best, it's close: a big, tasty patty made from charbroiled Angus beef that's on a pub menu with other continental options, including mum's tuna melt and pastrami on weck—check the chalkboard for the latest seasonal fare. There's a happy hour that goes from noon to 7 daily, a welcome respite after dragging kids around all day to look at giraffes and lions. There's a bright, inviting copper bar, and a sun-splashed patio.

The menu at this classic neighborhood bar–restaurant concentrates on seafood, with both Cape Cod and Baja influences, bringing a coastal dining experience to the city with a winning formula. Look for cod, lobster rolls, fish tacos, and even panfried trout. The bright, airy, nautically themed place seats about 220, and has a big, dog-friendly patio outside overlooking Massachusetts Avenue. Happy hour is popular, and there's even a takeout ice-cream stand. The only downside is that it's a mile from the nearest Metro station at Tenleytown.

At the city's self-touted first raw-fish restaurant, the cuts are always ocean fresh, the cocktails fruity, and the presentations classic. Think blue crab topped with avocado and tuna crowned by jalapeño, while hot delicacies like melt-on-the-tongue fried tempura are always reliable. Dessert is not an afterthought, as it is in so many Japanese restaurants.