Tyler Cowen's Ethnic Dining Guide

Bourbon Steak, Four Seasons Hotel, web site, 2800 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 202-944-2026 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | Don Rockwell | Yelp | Gayot]

I have to say I was very impressed. It sounds boring by most accounts but the steak, lobster, and tuna tartare are all first-rate. Expensive, but at least you are getting something for your money. Don’t expect innovative or original cooking, but right now this is one of the best places in town.

West End Bistro, web site (Flash), 1190 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC, in the Ritz-Carlton, 202-974-4900 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | MenuPages | Don Rockwell | Yelp | Gayot]

I went once and had very good ham and very good cod, right after the new sous chef arrived. The other dishes I saw didn’t impress me so much. It was very noisy and not cheap. I would go back, but at this point I am reluctant to recommend it.

Blue Duck Tavern (in the Park Hyatt), web site, 1201 24th Street NW, Washington, DC, 202-419-6755 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | MenuPages | insiderpages | Don Rockwell | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]

By far the nicest eating space in the whole DC area, truly beautiful. It looks too immaculate to serve food in. Most of the food, however, is mediocre. I thought the Bratwurst was quite good and I had a very good appetizer, was it the herring? The visuals save this place and with wisdom you can have an OK meal too.

Ray’s the Classics, 8606 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, MD, right across from AFI, 301-588-7297 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [WaPo | Don Rockwell | openlist | Yelp]

Retro dining, chops, big plates of big stuff, like they used to serve in 1976. It’s pretty good for a change of pace. For me, this is what now counts as “exotic.” I like the spinach too.

Tabard Inn, web site, 1739 N Street NW, Washington, DC, 202-785-1277 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | MenuPages | City Paper | DC Foodies | openlist | Yelp | InTowner | Gayot]

It is romantic but the food is dull, I can't bring myself to go again...many DCers consider it a standby...

The Source, the new Wolfgang Puck restaurant, web site, 575 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 202-637-6100, across from the National Gallery, on 6th and Pennsylvania, in the modernist office building (next to the Newseum). (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | The Hill | Yelp | Gayot]

Right now this is one of the two best places in town, along with CityZen. Puck’s places tend to decline within a few years (or sooner), so now is the time to go. Get as many appetizers and small dishes as you can, that is also a cheaper way to eat plus you get more selection.

The Source, web site, 575 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 202-637-6100 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | The Hill | WaPo | Yelp]

Yes sir, I know what is best, and I will bring it to you.

That was what I heard in The Source, the new Wolfgang Puck restaurant, which is now one of the two best fine dining establishments in an otherwise food-starved Washington DC.

First posted on Marginal Revolution.

Central Michel Richard, web site, 1001 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 202-626-0015, hard to get reservations except at 5:30 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | The Hill | MenuPages | City Paper | Don Rockwell | Yelp | Gayot]

This was once the second best place in town but now it's just OK. Tourists have taken it over and it was never that cheap in the first place. Get out your copy of Brahms's Requiem. Originally the short ribs and the burgers were pretty good. But now, write it off if you really care about food.

Also see Michel Richard Citronelle.

P.S. 7’s, web site, 777 Eye Street NW, Washington, DC, 202-742-8550 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | USA Today | Washington Times | WaPo | MenuPages | City Paper]

I ate here only once, following up on a review by (sic) USA Today. It was surprisingly good. Classy and understated, and not too trendy. Expensive, but not relative to the competition. The short ribs and beef were quite good. The chef used to work at Vidalia, and I believe the place has yet room to get better. Not CityZen, but I’ll go again.

Hitching Post Restaurant, 200 Upshur Street, near Rock Creek Church Road NW, Washington, DC, 202-726-1511 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [WaPo (Phyllis Richman) | City Paper]

A casual American restaurant. One reader recommends the friend chicken, white beans with neck meat, and the macaroni and cheese. Sietsema wrote a good review of it too.

For American, see also Fine Dining, Barbecue, Seafood, Southern, Cajun, and Southwest.

Cashion's Eat Place, web site, 1819 Columbia Road NW, Washington, DC, near 18th Street NW, 202-797-1819 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | The Hill | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | Don Rockwell | openlist | Yelp | Gayot] [Ann Cashion: StarChefs]

Artie’s, web site, 3260 Old Lee Highway, near Rt.50, Fairfax, VA, 703-273-7600 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | openlist]

Surprisingly good on all fronts, get the salmon salad with goat cheese added on top. The beef ribs, not available every night, are good as well. In fact they are the best beef ribs around. But beware the lines at this place, and you can’t make a reservation in advance. One of the best places around for food sissies.

Majestic Cafe, web site, 911 King Street, Alexandria, VA, 703-837-9117, closed Monday (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | Don Rockwell | openlist | Gayot]

The place has a fun Art Deco feel, circa the 1940s, plus the seafood is surprisingly good. One of your better options in Old Town Alexandria.

Clyde's, web site, Reston Town Center, 11905 Market Street, Reston, VA, 703-787-6601, plus branches near Tysons, in Georgetown, and in Chevy Chase (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | Don Rockwell | openlist | Gayot]

When dining with the wimpy, I go to the Tysons one (8332 Leesburg Pike, Vienna, VA, 703-734-1901) which is across from Borders, back behind Rt. 7 a bit and not visible from the road. The bar scene here is unattractive, but the food is pretty good, reliable, and not overpriced. Many will scorn this place, but it comes in handy.

Bailiwick Inn, web site, 4023 Chain Bridge Road, Fairfax, VA, 703-691-2266, odd hours, reservations mandatory (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [WaPo | City Paper | openlist | Citysearch | Gayot]

Believe it or not, this place is good, albeit not cheap. Most people don't even know it is there.

Morton's

• web site, 8075 Leesburg Pike, Vienna, VA, 703-883-0800, look for Tiffany's and Chili's, park, and walk to the west side of the mall (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | Gayot]

• web site, 1050 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 202-955-5997 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | Gayot]

• web site, 3251 Prospect Street NW, Washington, DC, 202-342-6258 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | Gayot]
  
• Also branches in Arlington, Bethesda, and Reston.

At all branches, beware the cigar smokers.

A dominant restaurant. Affordable at lunchtime, which makes a great buy. It's hard to find better beef than this. High quality on all fronts. The chopped sirloin for lunch is an amazing bargain. Dinner looks very expensive, but since the steaks feed at least two people, just order one.

Mitsitam, in the National Museum of the American Indian, 4th Street SW and Independence Avenue SW, 202-633-1000, 10-5 every day, sometimes very crowded (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | The Free Lance-Star | openlist]

They have five restaurants in one, many of them try to represent various Indian dishes. Well, sort of. You can get buffalo burgers, tamales, Northwest salmon, quinoa grain salad, corn on the cob, cranberries, pumpkin, cactus salad, tacos, and smoked turkey sandwich. I’ve yet to find a single dish that fully delivers, where else can you eat on the Mall? I give at an “A” for effort, at the very least.