Tyler Cowen's Ethnic Dining Guide

Hook, web site, 3241 M Street NW, Washington, DC, 202-625-4488 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | MenuPages | City Paper | Yelp | Gayot]

There is actually a good restaurant in Georgetown! Really. Most of all the quality of the calamari shocked me. It is very very hard to find good calamari in the United States but this place nails it. The Pollock was first-rate, though too undercooked for just about anyone but me. Not everything is stellar and the delights of this place do not come cheaply. But it is genuinely a good (albeit inconsistent) restaurant. If you’ve been wondering “why can’t we have more good seafood restaurants in DC?”, this is one crack in the prior façade. The crowd is not yet totally touristy and obnoxious (circa 2007) though I predict this place will be ruined by mid-2008. We’ll see, but in the meantime worth a visit if you know how to order well or can get an honest waiter to tell you what is good.

Kotobuki, web site, 4822 MacArthur Blvd., Washington, DC, near U Street NW, on the second floor, 202-625-9080 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | MenuPages | City Paper | Don Rockwell | Yelp | Gayot]

The best sushi right now and remarkably cheap, the sushi is only a dollar a piece, yet the quality is very high. A real find. I've been waiting for a price shake-out in the sushi market, and perhaps the time for that has come. The also have Saturday lunch and Sunday dinner, they don't take reservations. A Beatles soundtrack plays all the time. Don't expect good service or comfortable seating, but right now this place is essential dining. The shumai and lobster sushi are especially good, in addition to the usual winners.

Neyla, web site, 3206 N Street NW, Washington, DC, 202-333-6353 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [WaPo | MenuPages | City Paper | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]

Readers have been recommending this place to me, Chug likes it too. I have yet to go. They are supposed to have good pita, among other dishes.

Vietnam-Georgetown Restaurant, 2934 M Street NW, Washington, DC, 202-337-4536 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [WaPo | City Paper | openlist | Yelp]

See under “Saigon Inn,” immediately above. Don’t go.

Bistro Med, web site (Flash and music), 3288 M Street NW, Washington, DC, 202-333-2333 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [WaPo | City Paper | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]

Turkish food in Georgetown, eggplant and lamb are the specialties.

Cafe Divan, web site (Flash), 1834 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 202-338-1747, in the Georgetown Hill Inn, opens 7 a.m. on weekends (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [zabihah | Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]

Good but not spectacular. Does fill a gap in DC Dining, by giving the town a real Turkish place. But too bland and not adventurous enough. Still, good enough to enjoy.

Moby Dick House of Kabob, web site, 6854 Old Dominion Drive, McLean, VA, 703-448-8448 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [zabihah | Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | Don Rockwell | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]

Multiple locations in DC, MD, and VA, including

• Georgetown (1070 31st Street NW, Washington, DC, Wisconsin Ave. south of M, 202-333-4400)
  
• Bethesda (7027 Wisconsin Avenue, Chevy Chase, MD, 301-654-1838)
  
• Fairfax (12154 Fairfax Towne Center, Fairfax, VA, the mall with Tower Records and the UA theatre, 703-352-6226)

Good kebabs, tasty food, and the best ethnic place in McLean. But simply not the best kabobs place, the meat here somehow has just a bit less taste. The bottom line is they manage to make it in McLean, ultimately not a good sign. Still, going here is better than eating American-style fast food.

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.

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.

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.

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…”

Bistro Francais, web site (scroll down), 3128 M Street NW, Washington, DC, 202-338-3830, open quite late: Fri-Sat 11 am-4 am, Sun-Thu 11 am-3 am (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | Don Rockwell | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]

Surprisingly good French bistro food, and at reasonable prices. Recommended, satisfies a real craving. This place has kept high standards for many years.

1789 Restaurant, web site, 1226 36th Street NW, Washington, DC, near Prospect Street, 202-965-1789, no lunch (part of Clyde's Restaurant Group) (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Forbes | Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | Don Rockwell | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]

Georgetown standby, it has about the most boring looking menu you can imagine. That being said, quality is uniformly excellent across the board. In a nice old building, the room is charming in the sort of way that appeals to fireplace lovers. Wealthy parents of Georgetown spoiled brats eat here. I can’t complain about the quality, but I will only eat here if someone else is paying the bill. Many will love it, and I enjoy it when I go, but it is not my thing.

Michel Richard Citronelle, web site, 3000 M Street NW, Washington, DC, in the Latham Hotel, 202-625-2150 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Mobil | Forbes | Washingtonian | NYT | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | Don Rockwell (also see Citronelle Terrace) | openlist | Yelp | Katherine Tallmadge | Gayot]

I’m no longer willing to stick my neck out and recommend this place. Michel Richard is too frequently absent. It can still be inspiring, but the prices are too high to be content with a “you take your chances” sort of recommendation.

Also see Central Michel Richard.

Zed's, web site, 1201 28th Street NW, Washington, DC, 202-333-4710 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | Don Rockwell | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]

Cannot come close to its previous glory days when it reigned supreme. The dry cottage cheese is worth ordering as a side dish. Otherwise go to 9th Street or U Street.

Rocklands, web site, 2418 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 202-333-2558, plus a branch in Alexandria at 25 S. Quaker Lane, 703-778-9663 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | openlist | Citysearch | Yelp | Gayot]

If you are thinking of bringing your friend from Kansas City or Texas, don’t.

Leopold’s Kafe and Konditorei, 3318 M Street NW, Washington, DC, 202-965-6005 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | Don Rockwell]

Might be OK for Georgetown. The specialty is pastries, they sometimes have Tafelspitz.

Old Glory, web site, 3139 M Street NW, Georgetown, Washington, DC, 202-337-3406 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | openlist | Gayot]

Recommended by a reader, but I hate Georgetown.