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.

SoBe Seafood Co., web site, 3100 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington, VA, 703-528-0033 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | openlist]

In the trendy part of Arlington, which usually spells death for food. The Washington Post says it is “pretty good, not great.” Some of the dishes have a vaguely Caribbean tinge.

Coastal Flats, 11901Grand Commons Avenue, Fairfax, VA, 571-522-6300, there is one in the new Tysons Corner extension as well. (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [WaPo | City Paper | openlist | Gayot]

A chain-looking seafood place, but it is packing them in regularly. Probably an OK alternative if you have to go bland and mainstream.

Johnny’s Half Shell, web site, 2002 P Street NW, Washington, DC, 202-296-2021, closed Sunday (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Economist | Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]

Supposed to be the best place in DC for crabs, clams, and the like. I went once, it did not thrill me.

UPDATE: Now moved to 400 North Capitol St., Montsouris is in the old location on P Street NW

Crisfield's, web site, 8012 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD, 301-589-1306 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]

Just off Georgia Ave. Plain fish of high quality. The Art Deco architecture and atmosphere is stunning. Is this 1953 or what? Great clock. Order the Flounder stuffed with crabmeat. Don't expect so much from the salads or soups, however. Not cheap, but a treat. The accompanying visit to Silver Spring is an object lesson in how Maryland and Virginia differ. A great place to bring visitors who want to see something they will remember.

Legal Sea Foods, Tysons II, Vienna, also at National Airport and K St.

Good seafood, and tasty, but why go here? The whole point of this guide is to avoid places like this. Not cheap, and set in a shopping mall.

BlackSalt, web site, 4883 MacArthur Blvd. NW, Washington, DC, near U St., 202-342-9101, closed Monday (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | Don Rockwell | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]

Way overrated and yes I love seafood too. It just isn't that good. It's OK, just don't make any big effort to go here.

Hank's Oyster Bar, web site, 1624 Q Street NW, Washington, DC, 202-462-4265 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | Don Rockwell | Yelp | Gayot]

Overrated. Warning you off places like this is exactly what this guide is good for. I wanted it to be good, I really did. It is just not that good, sorry. Many people love it though.

McCormick & Schmick’s, web site, branches at Tysons, Reston, and K Street NW. National chain (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | Don Rockwell | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]

In the Legal Seafood mode, but tries to be sexier at the same time. Better, though, at times comes close to fine dining despite the generic nature of the product. The fish is simply very tasty. This place will definitely make you happy, subject to the price caveat. Not up to Oceanaire, though.

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

Fish -- See Seafood

Oceanaire, web site, 1201 F Street NW, Washington, DC, 202-347-2277 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Hobnob Blog | Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | Economist | Don Rockwell | Gayot]

Has first-rate seafood, one of my favorite places right now. They do for fish what Morton’s did for steaks. That description might put you off, but you should try it anyway, it is really very good. Noisy and draws a hideous crowd, but don’t let that put you off.

Crabcakes

Swordfish

Asparagus and whole red potatoe sides

Horace & Dickies Seafood Carryout, 809 12th Sreet NE, Washington, DC, 202-397-6040 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | The Hilltop | openlist] There is another branch on Martin Luther King Ave., somewhere.

The best fried fish in the area, a must. Amazing atmosphere, take-out only, bad neighborhood, get the picture? Fish, fish, fish. That’s all they have. And it is fried, fried, fried. You may not go often, due to the associated inconveniences, but a gem. They also have great fries, collard greens, potato salad. Crab cake surprisingly decent. Go, go, go.