Vace Italian Deli, 3315 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 202-363-1999 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | MenuPages | food-plan | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
One reader swears this is the best pizza around. He recommends it with spinach and proscuitto and red sauce.
Exotic Marrakesh Casbah, 2309 Calvert Street NW, Washington, DC, 202-234-4632 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [zabihah | Gayot]
Seems to be more à la carte than fixed price Moroccan, but I haven't been.
This place is now Afghan Grill. web site, [zabihah | WaPo | City Paper | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
Nam-Viet, web site, 1127 N. Hudson Street, Arlington, VA, 703-522-7110 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Economist | Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
Other locations:
Maybe the best Vietnamese place in Clarendon, currently. Clarendon, however, is no longer the area’s center for Vietnamese food, Falls Church is, especially in and around the Eden Center. My favorite here is the caramel pork in ginger sauce.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Palena, web site, 3529 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 202-537-9250 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | Don Rockwell | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
Entrees at $40, though, expensive even for its kind. I have yet to go, and don’t feel compelled.
Lex Cajun Grill, 2608 Connecticut Avenue, Washington, DC, 202-745-0015 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | openlist | Yelp]
No, you didn't read the category heading (Cajun-Thai) wrong. This is a dual restaurant, rather than an attempt to mix. A cute idea, but is there really any advantage in it?
Mantis, 1847 Columbia Road, Washington, DC, 202-667-2400 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [WaPo | City Paper | Don Rockwell | openlist | Citysearch]
Pan-Asian tapas, I have yet to go. Nor will I, until they have a non-smoking section.
Spices, 3333-A Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC, near Ordway, 202-686-3833 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | Don Rockwell | openlist | Citysearch | Gayot]
Pan-Asian food, owned by the Oodles Noodles people. By now this stuff is passe rather than new or interesting. If you like this place, it just means you haven’t enjoyed the real Asian food to be had around here, and you are probably one of those carless people stuck in Washington DC.
Indique, web site, 3512 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC (at Cleveland Park Metro) (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | Don Rockwell | openlist | Citysearch | Gayot]
Nouvelle Indian, with nice dining quarters, but ultimately more Indian than nouvelle. Everything is excellent, but get as many appetizers as possible, ten or twelve I would say. Note: I have heard reports of decline since the new outlet Indique Heights opened.
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