Zaytinya
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.