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Levante, web site, 7262 Woodmont Avenue, Bethesda, MD, 301-657-2441, also 1320 19th Street NW, Dupont Circle, Washington, DC, 202-293-6301 [WaPo | City Paper | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
Some of the dishes here are OK, but if you like this place you are reading the wrong food guide. Ethnic food for yuppies with bad taste. Let’s hope that’s not you.
Mama Ayesha's, web site, 1967 Calvert Street NW, Washington, DC, 202-232-5431 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [zabihah | Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | Don Rockwell | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
Recommended by Washingtonian magazine, dates from the 1950s, I am suspicious.
Cedar Cafe, web site, 6409 Shiplett Blvd., Burke, VA, 703-455-7080 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Yelp]
Recommended to me, I haven’t yet been, a Lebanese person emailed me and said their Tabouleh was excellent.
Pita House, web site, 407 Cameron Street, Old Town, Alexandria, VA, 703-684-1118 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [WaPo | City Paper | openlist | Yelp]
One of my favorite places in Old Town, and one of the best Lebanese places around. Very reliable, and will prove outstanding comfort food for many. Get the dishes with the yogurt sauce, most of all, but you can’t go wrong here.
Meze, web site, 2437 18th Street NW, Washington, DC, 202-797-0017, near Columbia Road (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
Middle Eastern appetizers, broadly Lebanese, main courses at your peril.
Layalina, web site, 5216 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA, 703-525-1170 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | Don Rockwell | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
Reasonably good food, but a bit overpriced to me, not a place I am enthusiastic about.
Lebnan Zaman, 8411 Old Courthouse Road, Vienna, VA, 703-748-1400 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [City Paper | food-plan | openlist | Yelp]
A neglected place, surprisingly authentic given its Tysons location. The dishes with yogurt sauce are great, and none of the others are bad. Reasonable prices and good selection. The atmosphere is “order at the counter,” not fine dining. They have hookah in the front parlor, if you want to get stoned. Recommended, go soon in case they don’t make it in the long run.
Also see, "Local Hookah Bars," by Monica Bhide, The Washington Post, September 25, 2005
Lebanese Taverna, web site, 5900 Washington Blvd., Arlington, VA, 703-241-8681, not far from Falls Church (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Economist | Silver Chips Online | WBFN | Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | openlist | Gayot]
Other locations
Very tasty Lebanese food. Draws an older, more traditional sort of Virginia crowd. Don't let them put you off. Good yogurt sauce, especially when pomegranates are involved.
Bacchus, web site, 1827 Jefferson Place NW, Washington, DC, 202-785-0735, closed Sundays. A bit south of Dupont Circle, doesn't open for dinner until 6:00. There is also a branch in Bethesda: 7945 Norfolk Avenue, Bethesda, MD, 301-657-1722 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
Traditionally it has been the area's ruling Lebanese restaurant. Very good on all counts, especially the appetizers. I love the chicken in yogurt sauce with pomegranate seeds. Not cheap, but worth it, this restaurant is a favorite for many people.
Update: Now closed.
Ceiba, web site, 701 14th Street NW, Washington, DC, 202-393-3983 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo (cocktails) | City Paper | food-plan | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
Pan-Latin, by Jeff Tunks of D.C. Coast and Ten Penh fame. Not cheap, and for me a bit unsatisfying given the price. I think I went in with my expectations too high. Many of the dishes are yummy but they don’t all connect with me as the mom and pops do. The bottom line: worth a visit, but not as good as D.C. Coast or Ten Penh.
Agua Ardiente, web site, 1250 24th Street NW, Washington, DC, 202-833-8500 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [The Daily Colonial | Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | openlist | Yelp]
Tapas and nouvelle Latin dishes, mostly of an Andean nature, and run by an Ecuadorean. It’s not quite a fancy place, but well above an ethnic place, a “tweener,” you might say. So maybe it won’t quite make anyone fully happy, but it is still one of the best Andean places around. And unlike the other Andean places, it draws from the entire region. And not all that expensive either, especially given the neighborhood it is in. Strange red décor. On weekends, they have active Latin night life. Recommended.
Cafe Salsa, web site, 808 King Street, Alexandria, VA, 703-684-4100, near Columbus Street (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Old Town Crier | WaPo (bar) | City Paper | Yelp]
Supposed to be best for tapas, not the main courses.
Gua-Rapo, web site (flash), 2039 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA, 703-528-6500, Courthouse area (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [WaPo | City Paper | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
Supposed to be Nuevo Latino. Looks like a place for poseurs. I refuse to go here.
Gabriel's, Radisson Barcelo Hotel, 2121 P Street NW, Washington, DC, 202-956-6690
Closed. Now the Hotel Palomar.
Formerly nouvelle Latin, but now only at brunch. It used to be a good restaurant, but I’ve yet to try the new regime.
Look also under the various Latin countries, most of these restaurants are Pan-Latin, rather than serving some pure national cuisine.
Pita Plus Kosher Deli, College Park, 4425 Lehigh Road, College Park, MD, 301-864-5150, corner of Baltimore Avenue and Knox Road (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window)
One reader recommends the lafah, not the pita bread.
Siena's Pizzeria, 11417 Woodglen Drive, Rockville, MD, 301-770-7474 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [WaPo | openlist | Yelp | Gayot (says closed, but it was open as of 4/30/06)]
Unlikely that I will get here soon, since I don’t trust pizza in this area, plus I have no reason to seek out a kosher version of it.
Red Heifer, 4844 Cordell Avenue, Bethesda, MD, 301-951-5115 or 301-951-1083 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian]
CLOSED - Flanagan's Harp & Fiddle is there now, 301-951-0115
A reader describes it as “Kosher upscale.” The Washington Post recommends the Rib-Eye steak.
Royal Dragon Kosher Chinese Restaurant, web site, 4840 Boiling Brook Parkway, Rockville, MD, 301-468-1922 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [City Paper | openlist | Yelp]
I have never gone.
Max's Kosher Cafe, web site, 2319 University Blvd., Silver Spring, MD, Wheaton, north side, about two blocks east of Georgia Ave, 301-949-6297 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [WaPo | City Paper | openlist]
A central spot for Jewish and Kosher dining and shopping in the area. See also Tel Aviv Café under Israeli.
JCC Cafe, web site, 1529 16th Sreet NW, Washington, DC, 202-387-3246, inside the DC Jewish Community Center, (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [WaPo | openlist | Yelp]
Supposed to be good, run by a French-trained chef who has cooked for The White House.
When the Koreans say spicy, they mean it, especially with the soups and hot pots. Korean food has an aesthetic which is raw, cold, and bare. I prize it highly. The accompanying vegetables are always excellent. The Kimchee (pickled cabbage with chilies) is an acquired taste, but that taste should definitely be acquired.
Beginners should try the Bul-Gogi. I often order the Korean Pancake. Bibim-Bansang (the spelling or transliteration may vary!) is a combination of rice, vegetables, beef, egg, and spicy brown sauce; it must be mixed together by the patron. A Korean specialty, and one of the treats at any Korean place. The seafood and bean pancakes are usually excellent as well. Korean stews, however, can sometimes be too sharp, too soggy, and too full of bizarre kinds of seafood and tripe. Some are excellent, but you should know what you are doing if you order one.
Korean restaurants in this area are remarkably consistent; there are few bad ones. I’m always looking for the perfect Bibim Bap, I will let you know when I find it, in the meantime I remain searching.
Also see
Hee Been, 6231 Little River Turnpike, Alexandria, VA, 703-941-3737, near Beauregard Street (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Korean DC | Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | Don Rockwell | openlist | Yelp] Lots of pictures at "my felicity corner".
Recently expanded and refurbished, I have yet to revisit. You can’t go wrong here, though.
Seven Star Restaurant (Gom Ba Woo?), 7133-A Columbia Pike, Annandale, VA, 703-914-5511, set in the Korean strip mall with the Giant, but in the back side of that mall, more easily spotted from Columbia Pike (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Korean DC | WaPo]
I have yet to go, but surely it is good.
Cho's Garden (Chowon Garden), 9940 Lee Highway, Fairfax, VA, 703-359-9801, half mile west on 50 from Fairfax Circle (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Korean DC | City Paper | food-plan | openlist | Yelp]
The best Korean option in Fairfax proper, plus a pretty good buffet at lunch, including sushi.
Yett Gol, 12337-G Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD, 301-949-9060 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Korean DC | WaPo (scroll down) | Yelp]
WooMi Garden, 2423 Hickerson, Wheaton, MD, 301-933-0100 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Korean DC | Washingtonian | WaPo (scroll down) | City Paper | openlist | Yelp]
Given how close to Annandale I live, I probably will never get to either one. The chance of them being bad is small, however.
Gom Ba Woo (Man Doo Rang?), 7133-C Columbia Pike, Annandale, VA, 703-642-1577, in the mall with the Giant, between Rt. 236 and Columbia Pike (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Wahingtonian | Korean DC | WaPo]
Good dumplings, squid, seafood pancake, the usual specialties. Good array of vegetables, and nice homey feel. Recommended.
Seoul Gomtang (now Songbird Korean Bar BQ), 8413 Old Courthouse Road, Vienna, VA , 703-821-1110 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [WaPo | City Paper | Yelp]
Their specialty is the beef soup.
Palace Restaurant, 7131 Little River Turnpike, Annandale, VA, 703-256-9292 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [WaPo | City Paper | Yelp]
Set back from the road a bit, this is the most expensive Korean place around. The Shabu with Lycium Fruit, for instance, is $36.95, it goes up to $39.95 if you want the Nok Yong with that. And can you believe it, $29.95 for Gop-Nak Jun Gol? Even the Dioscorea (yum!) Porridge runs $13.95. Can it be worth it? The place claims to serve “Yhak-Sun” cuisine, using Korean herbal medicine. The standard Korean meats are quite good here, though. Worth a visit, even if you don’t buy into their theories about ginseng.
Jang Tuh, although their business card calls it “Kyong Suk Yi,” 7271 Columbia Pike, Annandale, VA, 703-642-8668. (Right across from Bada Seafood (7215 Columbia Pike, Annandale, VA, 703-894-0431 or 703-916-7661), in the strip mall with the Giant in downtown Annandale)
This place may be closed. Phone not answered.
The quaintest-looking place on this whole list, it is set in a little house with Korean characters on the outside. They specialize in noodles, are closed Sundays, and don’t have a word of English on the menu. Recommended.
Po Jang Ma Cha, 7203 Columbia Pike, Annandale, VA, near the Giant, 703-941-7020 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian (scroll down)]
[update December, 2007: now Star Restaurant Banquet]
Koreans come here to drink (and until August 2004, listen to the sounds of gunfire).
"A Cultural Holdover Says Goodbye: Annandale Gun Range And Hangout Closes After a Half-Century," by David Cho, The Washington Post, August 19, 2004
Seoul House, 11272 James Swart Circle, Fairfax, VA, 703-934-8250 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | Citysearch]
Korean food is never bad, and they have a useful lunch buffet.
Beewon (Secret Garden in English), web site, 6678 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church, VA, 703-533-1004 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Korean DC | Falls Church News-Press | City Paper | food-plan | Yelp]
Update September 2008: Closed. Now the Present Restaurant.
One of the area’s first Korean restaurants. I have yet to go. I hear they serve raw fish still wiggling, for their Korean patrons.
Annan-Gol, 4215 Annandale Center Drive, Annandale, VA, 703-914-4600 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Korean DC | WaPo | City Paper]
Better than average Korean, very cozy and cute too, get the spicy pork ribs. The marinated pork bellies are good also. Pork, pork, pork, if you go here.
Sorak Garden, web site, 4308 Backlick Road, Annandale, VA, at 236, 703-916-7600 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Korean DC | WaPo | City Paper | openlist | Yelp]
One of the most ambitious and most popular of the Korean places, their beef is especially yummy, broad selection as well. Recommended.
To Sok Jib, 7211 Columbia Pike, Annandale, VA, 703-333-2861 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [WaPo (scroll down)]
Maybe the most mom and pop of all the Korean places in Annandale. And the most radically Korean. If you are looking for someplace to challenge your palate, try this one. If you are looking for an introduction to Korean food, start elsewhere. Very spicy. Few Westerners will regard this as comfort food. Nor does the staff speak decent English. Nor is there a menu in English.
Zaytinya, web site (flash), 701 9th Street NW, Washington, DC, 202-638-0800 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WBFN | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
Has received much attention and a few awards. It is uneven, much variety, and many of the dishes have genuinely new ideas. Not just the same old stuff. Lots of vegetarian. Get the mezzes. Overall I feel the place is in decline, having become too trendy. Note also that the dining room is too noisy and crowded, even on weekdays.
Tofu Lighthouse Restaurant, or Vit Goel ToFu House, 4121 Chatelain Road, Suite 100, Annandale, VA, 703-333-3436 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Korean DC]
For Annandale, this place is not above average Korean. In other words, it is really good. Limited menu, this place has decided to specialize in tofu and barbecue dishes.
Lotte Plaza, web site, large Korean Mall in Fairfax. On Old Lee Highway, near Fairfax Circle, and next to Artie's, 3250 Old Lee Highway, Fairfax, VA, 703-352-8989 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [WaPo | Yelp]
The center of Korean life in Fairfax. A large Korean supermarket and a variety of small take-out Korean restaurants served by tables in a mall-like area. Great food, and definitely number one for atmosphere. A visit here is a must. I like the Bul-Gogi at the straight-up Korean restaurant, but there are many good dishes to have here.
Yee Hwa, 1009 21st Street NW, Washington, DC, near K Street, 202-833-1244 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Korean DC | Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | Don Rockwell | Yelp]
Finally DC gets a Korean place. Living so close to Annandale I have no reason to go, but there are no bad Korean places around here.
Yechon, 4121 Hummer Road, Annandale, VA, 703-914-4646, just off 236, always open, 24 hours (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | openlist]
One of the best and most versatile Korean places, plus it has a festive atmosphere. The grilled deluxe specials are excellent but everything is consistent. The only drawback - many of the major dishes have to be ordered by both people. They have sushi too, though not early in the morning for breakfast.
Sun-dal Chung (Chung Sen Dal; Jung Sun Dal Restaurant), 6499 Little River Turnpike, Alexandria, VA, 703-642-1444, a bit west of the I-395 ramp, across from the Salvation Army (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Korean DC | Yelp]
Number one for atmosphere, and open 24 hours. A gem, if you can spot the sign. Look for Korean symbols, not the English name. Good food, great soups, limited menu, which is a good thing. The sort of place Korean truck drivers would go to, if we had them around here. My favorite is the pork soup - superb - plus the seafood pancake is first-rate as well, very juicy.
Woo Lae Oak, web site, 1500 S. Joyce Street, Arlington, VA, 703-521-3706, also in Tysons Corner at 8240 Leesburg Pike, Vienna, VA, 703-827-7300 (small international chain) (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Korean DC (Arlington) | Korean DC (Tysons) | Washingtonian | WaPo (Tysons) | WaPo (Arlington) | City Paper (Tysons) | City Paper (Arlington) | Don Rockwell | openlist | Yelp]
The best of the mainstream Korean places, as opposed to the mom and pops. You could even take a business client here. The best place to go for an introduction to Korean food, and the place with the best ingredients, though the overall feel of the restaurant is a bit sterile for my tastes. There now seems to be a branch at Tysons Corner as well, on Rt.7, just west of Capitol Grille.
Sambo Restaurant, 6669 Little River Turnpike, Annandale, VA, 703-750-6846 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [WaPo | Yelp]
Above average Korean food and sushi, I like the eel here, and it is my favorite place for Bul-Gogi. Cute Korean waitresses as well. Recommended.
Update June 25, 2007: This place has reopened under new management and is a completely different place. The new review is here.
Sam Woo, 1054 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD, 301-424-0495 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Korean DC | Washingtonian | City Paper | openlist | Yelp]
I've been to dozens of Korean restaurants in my life, and never experienced a bad one. This would be my second choice of the ones I know in Maryland, after Seoul Soondae on Veirs Mill Road.
Seoul Soondae, 4231-L Markham Street, Annandale, VA, 703-642-2220 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Korean DC (Annandale) | Korean DC (Wheaton) | WaPo | Yelp]
Branches in Wheaton, MD, 12203 Veirs Mill Road, Stone Mill Square Plaza, 301-942-5200 (equally good, pretty much the same thing); Ellicott City may be replaced by manna, 410-480-5050: 8801 Baltimore Nat'l Pike, Ellicott City, MD, 410-750-0006; and Queens, NY, 158-15 Northern Boulevard, Queens, NY, 718-321-3231 [Village Voice | AM New York]
If you don’t want buffet, one of the best Korean places around. Great seafood pancake here, Korean food for Koreans who know the difference. Gets crowded.
Matsuri, 150 Elden Street, Herndon, VA, 703-707-0367 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper]
Gets consistently good reviews. The sushi here is good but I prefer the main courses. The best miso soup around. Excellent tofu. Consistent main courses, although some are a bit sweet. This is not a place for purists and the bento boxes are not cheap. Recommended, an underrated restaurant, although I have heard that of December 2005 they have narrowed the menu significantly. (See "Matsuri: What Price Success?" by Eve Zibart, The Washington Post, January 6, 2006.)
Tokyo Inn Japanese Steakhouse and Seafood Restaurant, web site, 6661 Backlick Road, Springfield, VA, 703-923-9800 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [openlist | Yelp]
I have yet to go, doesn’t look like anything original but almost certainly a welcome addition to the growing Springfield dining scene, it appears clean and attractively presented.
Atami, 3155 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA, 703-522-4787, Clarendon metro area (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [WaPo | City Paper | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
NOW CLOSED. They have both Japanese and Vietnamese food, and have been in decline for some time now.
Yama, 328 Maple Avenue, Vienna, VA, 703-242-7703 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
Above-average sushi, and a good Vienna location. Good eel, a good place to know.
Akasaka, 514-C Van Dorn Street, Alexandria, VA, 703-751-3133, hard to see from the street, in the same mall as Savio’s, the Italian place. (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | City Paper | openlist | Yelp]
Very solid Japanese, especially useful in an area that doesn’t have much first-rate Japanese food.
Arigato, web site, 13039 Fair Lakes Shopping Center, Fairfax, VA, 703-449-8404, closed Monday. To get there, take I-66 West to #55B, straight off the exit, left at the first light, then a left at the second light, into the big shopping center, look between the Hechinger's and Toys R Us. (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [food-plan | openlist | Yelp]
Plus a branch in Fairfax: 11199-A Lee Hwy, Fairfax, VA, 703-352-9338, where Germantown Rd. hits Rt. 29.
Very stylish and original, the best decor of any place on this list. The cardboard chairs are the best part of it all. Japanese food by Koreans, but still a good restaurant. Get the cream cheese dumplings as a side.
Tachibana, web site, 6715 Lowell Avenue, McLean, VA, 703-847-1771, there is also a branch in Bethesda (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
The best Japanese place in the suburbs. Not at all cheap, but the quality justifies the prices. Many entrees are in the $20 range.
Matsutake Hibachi Steak & Sushi, 4121 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA, 703-351-8787 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [WaPo | City Paper | food-plan (Herndon) | openlist | Yelp]
Also in Worldgate Shopping Center, 13049 Worldgate Drive, Herndon, VA, 703-787-3700, 320 S. 23rd Street, Arlington, VA, 703-412-5301, Kabuki Sushi, Union Station, 50 Massachusetts Avenue NE, Washington, DC, 202-789-1159, and Washington Reagan National Airport, National Hall Center, 703-417-0521.
One of the best of the sushi buffet places. All you can eat sushi for lunch, and the sushi is reasonably good. Some of the branches have teppanyaki as well. Is it the single best sushi place around? No. Will it start you wondering why you ever order sushi a’la carte? Yes.
Yuraku, web site, 19773 Frederick Road, Germantown, MD, 301-515-7448 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | openlist | Yelp]
Recommended by a few of my correspondents, supposed to be very authentic and popular among Japanese.
Kaz Sushi Bistro, web site, 1915 Eye Street NW, Washington, DC, near 20th, 202-530-5500 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Economist | Washingtonian | The Hill | WaPo | City Paper | Don Rockwell | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
A mix of Japanese and fusion, both the beef and the sushi can be very good. It has much more variety than your typical Japanese place, you won’t get bored here even after a few visits. Washington needs more of this kind of place. Get the kobe beef. Lately, however, I’ve seen some signs of decline. It remains well above average, but beware.
Sushi-Ko, web site (Flash), 2309 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 202-333-4187, closed Monday. (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | Don Rockwell | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
The best sushi around, after Makoto. Not cheap, but you can afford to eat here, also.
Matuba, web site, 2915 Columbia Pike, Arlington, VA, 703-521-2811, also 4918 Cordell Avenue, Bethesda, MD, 301-652-7449. (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
Good sushi, though no longer dominant as it once was. Now just another good place.
Makoto, 4822 MacArthur Blvd. NW, Washington, DC, 202-298-6866, closed Monday. (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | Don Rockwell | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
Ten small courses, (used to be $35), only four tables. A gem - one of Washington's best. The closest you will get to real Japanese haute cuisine here.
York Castle Tropical Ice Cream, 9324 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD, 301-589-1616 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [WaPo | food-plan | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
Yes, they have soursop ice cream, among other flavors…worth a try…
Tropicana (aka Patwa?), 7812 Georgia Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 202-541-9060, at the DC-Maryland border. (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Yelp]
I have yet to go, but it looks promising.
Caribbean Feast Restaurant, 823 Hungerford Drive, Rockville, MD, 301-315-2668, closed Sunday I believe. (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | City Paper | food-plan | Yelp | Gayot]
A great name, and one of the best Jamaican places. It doesn’t give me the visceral thrill that Negril does, but it is worth having in the repertoire. Very good chicken, lots of goat, and sides that would never pass the Atkins test. Good atmosphere.
Lots of places along this stretch of Hungerford Drive.
Rita's (aka Rita Carryout, Mike & Rita's West Indian Carryout), 3322 Georgia Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 202-722-1868, west side of the road, a few blocks north of Irving, just south of the intersection with Morton. Closed Sunday. (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [City Paper | openlist | Yelp]
Not for all tastes, but a real treat in my book. Great goat curry, great atmosphere, very cheap. The beans are especially good. And they stock lots of grape soda. Try to park the car right in front of the restaurant where you can watch it, however.
See also Caribbean, and visit the cluster of places on Georgia Avenue NW, near the intersection with Rhode Island, they appear worth a visit, for the brave that is…
Negril's, web site, 965 Thayer Avenue, Silver Spring, MD, 301-585-3000 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
Also
Curried stews, red beans, ox-tail, and rolled breads. Cheap, and very tasty. Don’t be scared off by the branching, this place is great.
I Ricchi, has become ordinary by now. I find Galileo overpriced, inconsistent, and offering poor service, though occasionally wonderful. Obelisk is good but a bit boring for my taste. None of them beat what you can eat for $10 ($5, once they bring the lira back) in a good Trattoria in Parma or Torino.
I Ricchi, web site, 1220 19th Street NW, Washington, DC, 202-835-0459 [Washingtonian | The Hill | WaPo | City Paper | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
Many people like Tosca, web site, 1112 F Street NW, Washington, DC, 202-367-1990, no weekend lunch. (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | Don Rockwell | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
For suburban areas, I find both Marco Polo and Bonaroti's of Vienna to be satisfying; I like the buffet at the former and the lasagna at the latter.
Marco Polo, 245 Maple Avenue W, Vienna, VA, 703-281-3922 [City Paper | openlist | Yelp]
Ristorante Bonaroti, web site, 428 E. Maple Avenue, Vienna, VA, 703-281-7550 [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
Joe's Pizza and Pasta, web site, scattered branches, is tasty and cheap, but go with low expectations. [City Paper | openlist | Yelp]
See also Tutto Bene, under Bolivian, and Cafe Tirolo, under Austrian, their pasta is good.
Il Pinito, 5071 Nicholson Lane, Rockville, MD, 301-881-0085 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | City Paper | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
Definitely recommended, the sort of place you are convinced this area does not have. Cheap, tasty, fresh Italian food. Nothing shocking, but delivers all around in a way that few Italian places here do.
Pines of Naples, 3205 Columbia Pike, Arlington, VA, 703-521-5039 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [City Paper | Yelp]
Quasi-Italian food, cooked by Pakistani and Brazilian owners. Not for everyone, but draws a steady crowd of regulars.
Pistone's Italian Inn, web site, right at Seven Corners, 6320 Arlington Blvd, Falls Church, VA, 703-533-1885 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [WaPo | food-plan | openlist]
Looks like it is still in the 1950s in here. Not a perfect place in every way, but their salad bar is quite good and the rest is certainly acceptable. Some really like it, but I only went once.
Elena’s Oven, 9542-B Arlington Blvd., Fairfax Circle Plaza, Fairfax, VA, 703-352-0917, not always open for dinner. (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [barrio flores | Citysearch]
Mostly Bolivian, but the Italian dishes and pizza are above average. Good prices too.
That's Amore, web site, 150 Branch Road SE, Vienna, VA, 703-281-7777, usually open except for weekend lunch (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | City Paper | food-plan | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
If the name doesn't scare you off, the people walking through the front door will. But this is a fun place, and the food is not bad. Beware the non-convex set: portions feed several and cost much, so it is uneconomical to go alone or with a single companion.
A La Lucia, web site, 315 Madison Street, Alexandria, VA, 703-836-5123 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | Washington Times | City Paper | Don Rockwell]
Highly recommended by Washingtonian magazine, I have yet to go.
Esposito’s, 9917 Lee Hwy, Fairfax, VA, 703-385-59, 12Rt. 50, just west of Fairfax Circle, on the south side of the street. (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [City Paper | openlist | Yelp]
The kind of Italian place you would expect in New Jersey. Indeed, the owners are from New Jersey. Some of the best pizza in the area, plus very good pasta. Exactly the sort of place you would think that northern Virginia shouldn’t have.
(This is from a piece by Tyler Cowen, "An Economist Visits New Orleans: Has Cajun Cuisine Recovered?" that appeared in Slate, April 21, 2006. To see restaurants serving Cajun food in the DC area, see the Cajun category.)
There is a rule for eating well in southwestern Louisiana: When you see a house or shack with a hand-written sign, stop and eat. The worse the handwriting, the more compelling the need to visit. In this part of the world, lax health regulators are the gourmet's best friend. The ingredients will be fresh, and your cook will have spent years perfecting one or two dishes. The boiled crawfish (the locals say "mudbugs") and the boudin blanc are my favorites. The latter, sausage stuffed with pork, rice, and peppers, is for this foodie the best in the United States.
These foods are known as "Cajun"; the reference is to the individuals descended from the displaced Acadians who left Nova Scotia in the 18th century for Louisiana and other parts of the United States. Originally, "Creole" food referred to haute urban styles from New Orleans (e.g., Oysters Bienville, with wine, cheese, and butter) and "Cajun" food referred to Acadian rural dishes such as maquechoux. But since the late 19th century, the styles have become increasingly integrated and blurred.
After Katrina and Rita, there was plenty of hand-wringing about the fate of Louisiana cuisine, but since then much of the publicity has focused on the reopening of the renowned Creole places in New Orleans. Most of these restaurants appear to be back on track, just like the universities of New Orleans. Yet the region's food heart--and some would argue its best meals--can be found in the countryside. With this in mind, I set off on my second food tour of the area--the first was about two years ago--to see whether I might one day be able to come back for a third.
Cajun restaurants and Cajun food have come back strong. When core institutions are functioning in the first place and then left largely intact, a storm is far less destructive. Decentralized individual entrepreneurs, accountable for their own profits and losses, have made the necessary adjustments and are well-positioned to extend their core culinary traditions.
Shortly after the storms, there was chaos. The crawfish market in southern Louisiana took a severe blow. Both Katrina and Rita carried in saltwater, killing the vegetation upon which the local crawfish feed. A previous drought had already tightened supply. Crawfish more than quadrupled in price and at times became unavailable altogether. When your favorite local dish is crawfish boiled live and drenched in a transcendent Cajun red-pepper mix, this is a blow. The accompanying corn on the cob and potatoes, taken alone, do not suffice. But the classic economic forces of substitution and adjustment came into play. Suppliers drew fewer crawfish from the ruined swamps and more crawfish from the still-intact ponds. Crawfish were trucked in from points to the north and to the west of the usual supply, where salt was less of a problem. The market recovered within months.
Crawfish are once again available in all the traditional locales, including local supermarkets, the informal cooking shacks of Acadiana, and the Chinese and Vietnamese restaurants run by the area's recent immigrants. The going retail rate for four pounds--$10 a year ago, before the post-Katrina spike--is already back down to $13, and the new spring crop should drive prices down further.
Large and juicy crawfish--which are considered a special prize--are to be had in most crawfish joints. The pepper-induced tears in my eyes and the difficulty of prying open the steaming-hot shells did not keep me from eating as many as possible, as quickly as possible.
Chinese crawfish imports have established a greater foothold in Louisiana since the storm, but this product is "tail only." Some Cajun natives might scorn me, but I cannot tell the difference. Usually the Chinese product is cooked into a larger dish, such as a jambalaya, with spices and other kinds of seafood. Whole crawfish--the best kind--remain a local product. You can tell they were boiled live--the ultimate sign of freshness--by looking for the curled-up tail.
Cajun food has recovered from previous crises; this is testament both to its quality and to the dedication of its cooks. And since the region is not economically diversified and the range of jobs available is limited, cooking for tourists, locals, and energy-company visitors remains a financially attractive option. Cajun cuisine arguably peaked during the oil boom of the early 1980s, when the region was flush with cash. Restaurants opened in unparalleled numbers. When oil prices fell and the sector shrank, local food entrepreneurs looked to tourists to keep them going. The current problems in food markets do not compare with the previous disruption, and this perspective gives locals confidence. Many of the people in Cajun country do not identify much with New Orleans or its problems; I heard comments tinged with schadenfreude more than once during my chats.
Some locals even believe that the storm will prove good for the cuisine by creating a diaspora of those familiar with the food. Former New Orleans residents are spreading around the country, either opening new restaurants, looking for the food, or talking about it to their new friends and neighbors. The national demand for Cajun food may increase.
As it becomes more popular nationally, Cajun food is becoming less tied to its region of origin. The dishes will deviate more from what is served in Abbeville or New Iberia. But Louisiana food is already less "Cajun"--in the narrow sense--than most people think.
The prominence of seafood in the region dates from the 1920s and 1930s, when electricity, refrigeration, and good roads revolutionized local food markets. Crawfish itself achieved its current focal role only in the last 50 years, when it displaced the less-tasty gar (a long, narrow fish, now hard to find on menus). Turtle, squirrel, muskrat, alligator, and nutria (a kind of rodent) have all lost ground in the Cajun diet and especially in local restaurants. Zealous regulators forced blood sausage--which includes pig's blood mixed with fat--underground. Modern Cajun food has little to do with its original 17th-century version or even the early-20th-century version. It will adapt to new circumstances as it has done in the past. Emeril Lagasse, perhaps the best-known purveyor of "Louisiana cuisine," is from Fall River, Mass.; his ancestry is mixed French-Canadian and Portuguese.
My advice for foodies? Take a three- or four-day tour of southwestern Louisiana; many of the best places are no more than two hours from New Orleans. Eat in towns of fewer than 10,000 people. Refuse any restaurant with its own billboard or Web site, no matter how strongly recommended it comes. Cajun foodways have survived the storms, and they will survive the likely economic and population decline of New Orleans. The aftermath of Katrina will not keep you from encountering a great American cuisine riding high.
Also for Indian, Aarathi in Vienna is decent, it is a cousin restaurant to Aditi in Georgetown. Cafe Taj, in McLean, on 1379 Beverly Blvd., also merits attention.
Savio's, web site, 516 E & F Van Dorn Street, Alexandria, VA, 703-212-9651, slightly funny hours, I think. (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [City Paper | openlist | Yelp]
Savio's is in one of Northern Virginia's premier strip malls for food: Van Dorn Station. Has excellent Thai, Japanese, Peruvian, Italian, and some good ethnic groceries. Just south of Edsall, and a bit north of the Beltway ramps on van Dorn. Despite the competition, Savio's will sometimes win out when I am in this mall. I like the pastas here, especially the Rigatoni Carbonara, or the ones with spicy sausage. The cook is from Tunisia, and does everything just a bit differently.
Argia’s, web site, 124 N. Washington Street, Falls Church, VA, 703-534-1033 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
It looks artificial, but the food here is surprisingly good, a bit like what you would find in a good New Jersey Italian restaurant. Recommended, one of the best in a poor lot.
Israeli Grill (Moti's Restaurant and Grill at KosherMart), web site, 4860 Boiling Brook Parkway, Rockville, MD, 301-468-0400 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [WaPo]
I am told this has good grill and deli and is fully kosher.
Tel-Aviv Cafe, web site, 4867 Cordell Avenue, Bethesda, MD, 301-718-9068, hours not listed. (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [WaPo | City Paper | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
I haven't been yet. The menu lists a mix of Mideast specialties and kabobs. Kosher, as well. The prices are not cheap, but I have the feeling the place offers a reasonable degree of quality. I've never been to a bad Israeli restaurant.
East Chateau, 146 Maple Avenue, Vienna, VA, 703-255-2588 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window)
Mostly Pan-Asian, with an emphasis on boring Chinese, but they have a few Indonesian dishes, plus I want to pad this section (Indonesian) a bit. A good change of pace for Vienna if you go Indonesian.
Sarinah Satay House, web site, 512A S. Van Dorn Street, Alexandria, VA, 703-370-4313, in the same strip mall, Van Dorn Station, which also has Savio’s. (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | City Paper | food-plan | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
The same place that once was in Georgetown. The former incarnation was good, not great. Now it’s worse.
Sabang, web site, 2504 Ennalls Avenue, Wheaton, MD, 301-942-7859, usually open (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | City Paper | food-plan | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
This area has no first rate Indonesian place, but this is pretty good. Mostly I save up my Indonesian urges for when I am in other places, most of all the Netherlands. But if you are going to order Indonesian, no matter where you are, go for the Rijstafel (Ricetable), which offers a wide variety of dishes to two or more diners.
Mehak, web site, 7716 Lee Highway, Falls Church, VA, 703-573-8076 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Falls Church News-Press | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | Yelp], also a DC location: 817 7th Street NW, Washington, DC, 202-408-9292 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [WaPo | City Paper | openlist | Yelp]
Update August 13, 2006: Mehak is closed.
A good Indian restaurant, believe it or not they used to serve Italian food also. Not the area's best, but good enough to enjoy, with a good branch in DC too.
Amma Vegetarian Kitchen, web site, 344-A Maple Avenue East, Vienna, VA, 703-938-5328, Chain Bridge Road, just across from Outback Steakhouse (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | openlist | Yelp]
Also in Georgetown, 3291 M Street NW, Washington, DC, 202-625-6625 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
Strictly Indian, strictly vegetarian, mostly dosas. Excellent channa (chickpeas). This place significantly ups the options for Vienna dining. I’ve never tried the Georgetown branch.
Saran Foods, 5151 Lee Highway, Arlington, VA, 703-533-3600 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [City Paper | Yelp]
Very cheap south Indian food, larger than usual selection of dosas. A hole in the wall, but worth a visit.
Update June 1, 2006: A commenter reports that they've moved a few doors away to 5177 Lee Highway, Arlington, VA
Delhi Club, web site, 1135 N. Highland St., Arlington, VA, 703-243-6522, right at Clarendon Metro (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | Don Rockwell | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
Perhaps you thought we had so many good new Indian places that we don’t need another one? You were wrong. The food here is excellent, quality ingredients, and somehow the feel and cooking differ from the other places on this list. It reminds me of how Indian food often tastes in the UK. I like the cardamom dishes best, and yes it is from the same people who do Bombay Curry Company in Alexandria.
Sangam, web site, 1211 N. Glebe Road, at Washington Blvd., Arlington, VA, 703-524-2728 (in the Comfort Inn Ballston) (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [WaPo | City Paper | openlist]
Above-average Indian, though more costly than many. Has both North and South Indian dishes. Draws a very white crowd. Has many loyal fans. I have no complaint with the place, but somehow I don’t feel compelled to go back.
Nirvana, web site, 1810 K Street NW, Washington, DC, 202-223-5043 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | openlist | Gayot]
Excellent South Indian dishes and most Gujarati vegetarian dishes. It is from the people who once brought you Swagat’s, near the University of Maryland. Not everything on the buffet will be good, but the best dishes are superb and original, not what you find elsewhere in the area. You will always feel that this place is not as good as it might have been, but anyone who likes Indian food should have this in their repertoire.
Aroma, web site, 1919 Eye Street NW, Washington,DC, 202-833-4700 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [WaPo | City Paper | openlist | Yelp]
Foggy Bottom Indian stand-by. Reliable.
Taj of India, web site, 2809 M Street NW, Washington, DC, 202-965-4266 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [WaPo | City Paper | Yelp | Gayot]
I haven’t eaten here yet. One should always be suspicious of Georgetown ethnic restaurants, but my sixth sense tells me that the place is probably decent.
Aatish on the Hill, web site, 609 Pennsylvania Avenue SE, Washington, DC, 202-544-0931 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | City Paper | openlist | Yelp]
Some years ago Phyllis Richman asked why this place isn’t better known. I still wonder. It is not perfect, but far better than the Capitol Hill competition. Their specialty is lamb, especially Rogan Josh, real full-flavored lamb taste. Above average Mango Lassi. Not outrageously priced.
Heritage India, 2400 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC, across from the Fresh Fields, 202-333-3120. (Also a Dupont Circle branch, 1337 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC, near N Street, 202-331-1414, with a different menu.) (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | Don Rockwell | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
Why don’t they have an ethnic restaurant that adheres to mainstream restaurant standards of ingredients, presentation, and service? That’s Heritage India for you. Extremely yummy, one of the best Indian places around. Worth the trip into DC, even if you’re happy with your local places in VA or MD. Not as good as Indique, but still good enough to knock your socks off. I’ve heard mixed reviews about the new Dupont Circle outlet, which also offers Indian tapas.
Bombay Cafe, 11213-E Lee Highway, Fairfax, VA, 703-352-8282, near Jermantown Road (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
Mom and pop, where they cook for you or you grab from simmering trays on the counter. Not as good as my favorites, but still good enough that I look forward to eating here.
Raaga, web site, 5872 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA, 703-998-7000, just east of Duangrat's. (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | openlist | Yelp]
Indian food, from the folks who brought you Connaught's in Fairfax and Infusion in Vienna. Certainly very good, but lacks special dishes if you know the other places on this list.
Polo India Club, web site, 1736 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 202-483-8705 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [WaPo | City Paper | openlist | Yelp]
Excellent Indian food. They have a thick yellow chicken curry, exactly the same as the chicken that used to be served at Katmandu, the now-defunct Nepalese place. Order that.
Haandi, web site, 1222 W. Broad St., Falls Church, VA, 703-533-3501. Also 4904 Fairmont Avenue, Bethesda, MD, 301-718-0121 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
They take no reservations, and some times the place fills up, though not as it used to. I like their wok-cooked specialties and their salmon, but I find some of the portions a bit too small and the spicing a bit too weak. This was once a prime option but now other places are passing it by.
Tiffin, web site, 1341 University Blvd. East, Takoma Park, MD, 301-434-9200 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
A non-vegetarian spin-off of Udupi Palace, and just a short bit further down the road, heading away from the Beltway. Very good Indian food, and very authentic, these people know what they are doing.
Jaipur, 9401 Lee Highway, Unit 105, Circle Towers, Fairfax, VA, 703-766-1111 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
You would never expect to find a restaurant in this locale, attached to a condo building, but this place draws a surprisingly good crowd. They put real spices in the food too. Above average, and they offer a good buffet.
Supper Club of India, web site, 13055 Worldgate Drive, Herndon, VA, 703-736-0466 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | Connection Newspapers | City Paper | Gayot]
My readers like the place. It is more influenced by Persian ideas than are most Indian restaurants. I have yet to go.
Don’t worry, someday I’ll find one you want to eat at. Just not soon, or in this universe.
That being said, one savvy reader recommends Molly Malone's, web site, 3209 Washington Blvd., Arlington, VA, 703-812-0939, near Murky Coffee (formerly Common Grounds). [WaPo | City Paper | openlist]
The Washington Post recommends Irish Inn at Glen Echo, web site, 6119 Tulane Avenue, Glen Echo, MD, Macarthur Blvd. and Tulane Avenue, 301-229-6600, get the salmon with cabbage roll. [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | Don Rockwell | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
There is also Finn Mac Cool’s Irish Publick House, web site, 713 Eighth Street SE, Washington, DC, 202-547-7100 [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | openlist]
Also see "Pubs 101: In Arlington, Ireland Times Four," by Fritz Hahn, The Washington Post, March 17, 2006
(Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window)
Woodlands, 8046 New Hampshire Avenue, at University Blvd., Hyattsville, MD, 301-434-4202 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | openlist | Yelp | Gayot] also located in Fairfax, in the mall where Germantown Rd hits the K-Mart, just off of Rt. 29, 4078 Jermantown Road, Fairfax, VA, 703-385-1996 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | openlist | Yelp]
Finally Fairfax has top-rate dosas. The Maryland branch has now overtaken Udupi with the Indian crowd, although the menus are almost the same. Fairfax branch not quite as good but still excellent. The kind of food is simply hard to beat. Be grateful that you can get it at all. There is one lentils dish, with vegetables, comes with a side order of yogurt, it is my favorite here.
Delhi Dhaba, web site, 2424 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA, 703-524-0008, usually open (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian], other locations: 7236 Woodmont Avenue, Bethesda, MD, 301-718-0008 and 4455 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 202-537-1008 [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
The food simmers in front of you at the counter, and you order what you want. Weekend buffet. Very quick, very cheap, good atmosphere, good Indian videos and TV programs - this place fills a niche. Not the finest, but I like it. That said, many of the other local Indian restaurants and improving and this place isn't, so take note.
Bombay Bistro, web site, 3570 Chain Bridge Road, Fairfax, VA, 703-359-5810, also at 98 W. Montgomery Avenue, Rockville, MD, 301-762-8798 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | Don Rockwell | openlist | Gayot]
A good restaurant with a wide-ranging menu. The Fairfax branch opened late in 1995, and rivals Connaught's as the best restaurant in Fairfax. They even have several kinds of dosas. The lunch buffets are good and fresh. There is also a main branch in Rockville, but I have never been there.
Bombay Tandoor, web site, 8603 Westwood Center Drive, Vienna, VA, 703-734-2202. Near the auto dealerships but off Rt. 7, impossible to spot from the street, call for exact directions, not hard to get to. (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
An attempt to create an upscale Indian place for the nouveau richesse Indians who work in the software firms out near Dulles. Better than average. I like the tandoori and spinach best. For those who don’t want the mom and pop atmosphere, but still want tasty and authentic food. Recommended.
Bombay Club, web site (flash), 815 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 202-659-3727, Sunday brunch (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
Gourmet, expensive, the most refined Indian food in the area.
Bombay Palace, at 2020 K Street NW, Washington, DC, 202-331-4200 is also quite good, but both are too Americanized for my tastes. [Washingtonian | City Paper | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
Poste Modern Brasserie, web site, 555 Eighth Street NW, Washington, DC, 202-783-6060 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | The Hill | WaPo | City Paper | Don Rockwell | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
Kobe beef and sea salt, it must have some potential.
Elevation Burger, web site, 442 South Washington Street, Falls Church, VA, 703-237-4343 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [WaPo | City Paper | Don Rockwell]
Right now this is the best burger around, especially since Five Guys has gone the chain route. The crowds can be daunting if you go at the wrong time, and the wait can be long. The staff tries and I suspect they will work out the kinks. The line is there for a reason. They have burgers of “Kobe beef” and vegan burgers. The French fries are quite good, though I find them tastier at Five Guys. Super cheap, and definitely recommended..
Colorado Kitchen, 5515 Colorado Avenue NW, Washington, DC, near 14th Street, 202-545-8280, closed Monday and Tuesday, occasional breakfast and lunch hours, call them to find out. (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Takoma Silver Spring Voice | Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | Don Rockwell | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
CLOSED
I am hearing increasing reports that this place has the best burgers around. Most of it is a kind of nouvelle Southern, but with a neighborhood storefront look.
Five Guys, web site, 4626 King Street, Alexandria, VA, 703-671-1606, many other branches too, including on 107 N. Fayette Street, Alexandria, VA, 6541 Backlick Road, Springfield, VA, and 2960 Gallows Road, Falls Church, VA, right by the Multiplex and the Szechuan place set back in the strip mall. (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | Don Rockwell | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
See web site for locations in DC, Virginia and Maryland.
Formerly the definitive local hamburger, now it is a huge chain with varying quality. It can still hit the spot, however. Great albeit greasy french fries, makes you realize that most people’s french fries taste like nothing. No spa cuisine here. Not for all tastes, but if you think you might like it, try it. And dirt cheap.
Caribbean Delight, 7811 Riggs Road, at University Blvd., Hyattsville, MD, 301-439-1270 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [City Paper | Gayot]
Goat, calaloo, curried kingfish, the usual things you have come to expect from a Guyanese restaurant.
La Bamba Restaurant, 8241 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD, 301-589-3712 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [City Paper | openlist | Yelp]
More Pan-Latin than Guatemalan, though they have a few specifically Guatemalan dishes, such as “Beef Stew Guatemalan Style.” Not my favorite, but if I lived next door I would go more than once.
Corado's, 3217 Mt. Pleasant Street NW, Washington, DC, 202-462-3332 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [City Paper | Yelp]
Yummy food, good atmosphere, and in DC's most Latin neighborhood. A very good restaurant, with a surprisingly high quality of beef, given the low prices. Don't let the police sirens throw you.
Ambrosia Grille, web site, used to be at 1765 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD, now at 802 Hungerford Drive, Rockville, MD, 301-251-5816 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | openlist]
Heard it is in decline. I just can’t bring myself to try these places, the arrogance of experience I suppose.
Greek Taverna, 6828C Old Dominion Drive, McLean, VA, 703-556-0788 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [City Paper | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
I used to think this was probably the best Greek place around, but lately I have heard it is in decline.
Athena Pallas, web site, 556 22nd Street South, Arlington, VA, 703-521-3870, no Saturday lunch (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | City Paper | openlist]
Supposed to be good.
Mykonos Grill, web site, 121 Congressional Lane, Rockville, MD, near Rockville Pike, 301-770-5999 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
Supposed to be good, but I've never been. Formerly of K Street.
Akosombo, 613 K Street NW, Washington, DC, 202-408-1133, closed Sunday, opens at 8 am for breakfast, closes 8 pm, don’t go after 6 pm I would say. (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [City Paper | openlist | Yelp]
I’ve heard they have spruced this place up a bit, but it remains a true mom and pop. Some of the dishes are excellent, truly spicy and authentic, but don’t bring your date here. I like it, but this one is for the brave. Great atmosphere, and a favorite with taxi drivers. Note that the neighborhood requires some courage after dark, and perhaps even before dark as well.
Ghana Cafe, web site, 2465 18th Street NW, Washington, DC, 202-387-3845 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [WaPo | City Paper | openlist | Yelp]
Ghanian places are never bad, but this one is better than you think. The Red Red (beans and plantains) is excellent, so is the peanut soup. You can’t go wrong here, highly recommended, don’t be put off by the total lack of enthusiasm among the staff. One of the best African places around.
Zuhair's, 720 Grant Street, Herndon, VA, 703-437-8733 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [zabihah | City Paper]
NOW CLOSED. Yes, Iraqi. Get the dish #2. The bread is quite good, and I like the sour yogurt drinks. Above average, recommended.
Passage to India, web site, 4931 Cordell Avenue, near Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, MD, 301-656-3373 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | Don Rockwell | openlist | Gayot]
Truly excellent. This used to be a branch of Heritage India, but now it is run by the original founder. It offers unique Indian regional specialties. In fact only here in this area can you eat specialties of Bombay and Calcutta, among other parts of India. This place is more like a high-class Indian restaurant of India than anywhere else around. Highly recommended, and make sure you get the regional specialties.
Bombay Curry Company, web site, 3102 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA, 703-836-6363 , in the Calvert Buidling next to Del Merei Grille, (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | Don Rockwell | openlist | Yelp]
The food is excellent, the prices are cheap, and the menu is innovative. I like the Kandai Chicken best, and then perhaps the lamb in spinach. But it is hard to go wrong here. Unlike most other Indian restaurants, they offer a unique product. Go, and go often.
Indebleu, web site (flash and music), )707 G Street NW, Washington, DC, right at MCI Center, 202-333-2538, not open for lunch it seems (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | The Hill | bourrezvisage | WaPo | City Paper | Don Rockwell | Yelp | Gayot]
This new and trendy restaurant mixes French and Indian influences. I went here once. All of the dishes were good, some were excellent. The mushroom dosa was superb (it is a must-order). The veal tenderloin is recommended as well. That being said, the bill was very high and I didn’t even stuff myself. The best way to go here is to sit in the lounge and order the bar food, they still will bring you the mushroom dosas, plus get the lollipop lamb tandoori. Recommended, but it is pricey for what you get. Not for everyone but it will have its partisans.
Las Margaritas Bar and Grill (formerly Costa Del Sol), web site, 4906 Fairmont Avenue, Bethesda, MD, 301-656-2561 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [City Paper | Chef Moz | openlist | Yelp]
They claim to be Honduran as well as Salvadorean and Mexican. Maybe, but you would have to read Leibniz on the identity of indiscernibles to prove the point. One of the few really ethnic places in Bethesda, plus it has above average pupusas. I also like the black beans soup with onion.
Sunnyside Farms Famous Rest Stop, web site, 12018 Lee Highway, Sperryville, VA, routes 211 and 522, 540-987-3600 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [WaPo]
More kobe beef in the hamber, cheap also.
Athenian Plaka, 7833 Woodmont Avenue, Bethesda, MD, 301-986-1337 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Bethesda Magazine | Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | openlist | Yelp]
Comes recommended by a reader, and by Washingtonian. My sixth sense suggests that it is better than most of its kind, but it is not on my short list for a visit.
Athens Taverna, 1732 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 202-667-9211
Closed. Now Mourayo.
For DC eaters, a reader recommended a Greek Deli, Kosta’s, 19th between L and M, NW, they close mid-afternoon. (? Kostas Cafe: 2030 M Street NW Washington DC 20036 202-785-8208, or 1201 New York Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 202-682-1679)
There are no German places in this area worth eating at. And yes I have tried Café Berlin, and that Europe place up on Wisconsin. Don't even think about it, as they say. But see Austrian.
Victor's Grill II, 7634 Lee Highway, Rt. 29, Falls Church, VA, 703-573-4161, where Black-Eyed Pea used to be, near Mehak (another location at 436 South Washington Street, Falls Church, VA, 703-532-8878) (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Falls Church News-Press | City Paper | Yelp]
Bolivian as well, but the closest you will find to real parillada. You get an enormous plate, it is quite good but not for all tastes, be prepared for huge slabs and meat and innards. Recommended. It would almost make my favorites list, except I can’t eat this stuff more than once a year.
La Colline, 400 N. Capitol Street NW, Washington, DC, 202-737-0400 [Washingtonian | Don Rockwell | openlist | Gayot]
Closed
A classic stand-by.
Petits Plats, web site, 2653 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 202-518-0018 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
Recommended by a credible-sounding reader.
Le Tire Bouchon, web site, 4009 Chain Bridge Road, Fairfax, VA, at Main Street, 703-691-4747 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | openlist]
Update October 2007: CLOSED
Good French food, now the best place in Fairfax city. Cozy and comfortable atmosphere, not especially original but likely to prove a winner with most audiences. The lamb is my favorite here, plus get the apple tart and ice cream dessert.
La Chaumiere, web site, 2813 M Street NW, Washington, DC, 202-338-1784 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
Barkley Rosser loves this place. He recommends it as a “solid, mid-price restaurant that specializes in Lyonnaise cuisine, and is favored by the older Georgetown crowd…”
Les Halles, web page, 1201 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 202-347-6848, open 11:30 to midnight, every day. (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | Don Rockwell | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
A good French steakhouse, with the onglet as the entree of pride. Not cheap, but a real treat. Also get the mashed potatoes with gravy, as well as the Creme Brulee for desert. The best French Fries in town as well. Consistent.
Le Gaulois, 1106 King Street, Alexandria, VA, 703-739-9494 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | CuisineNet | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
Good classic French food, at reasonable, if not cheap, prices. I always expect this place to be declining, but it never is. Many will find this very satisfying.
La Provence, 144 West Maple Avenue, Vienna, VA, 703-242-3777 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | Falls Church News-Press | WaPo (Eve Zibart) | City Paper | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
Update May 2007: This place is closed - Born Restaurant is now there.
The outside looks ghastly, but the food is of surprisingly high quality. The sort of French restaurant that uses a lot of thyme. Not cheap, but it delivers consistently. Some of the fish portions are too small, but it's hard to go wrong here. Better than La Cote d'Or, which has fallen to pieces (now larger and moved around the corner), although perhaps you should try Bistro des Celestins, their new accompanying comfort food bistro.