8 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.

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.

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.

A D.C. staple for 20-plus years, Chef Geoff’s is family- and neighborhood-friendly—the type of place to come in as you are, weary feet and all. The contemporary American, chef-driven menu has something for everyone: pizzas, salads, elaborate main dishes, and an extensive bar menu. The elevated patio is lovely in good weather.

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.

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.