Fodor's Expert Review Range

Bryan Voltaggio has been a favorite son of area foodies ever since finishing second to his brother Michael on Top Chef in 2009, and this cavernous culinary collage of what he calls "classic and progressive techniques" packs the house with locals almost every night of the week. The open kitchen steps away from the Maryland–D.C. border epitomizes Voltaggio's easy-breezy approach to American standards, from charcuterie and a raw bar to six types of bread baked in-house. Service is warm and ever present, known for scrawling birthday messages in chocolate sauce on dessert plates, and the wine list is high end, but worth every penny.