bonmot

Well there is a lot to be proud of going on here. People definitely stepped up to help me here (as they did on my first trip). I'd hope that if any of you come onto LTH and ask for suggestions, you'd be welcomed warmly.

There was a lot of anxiety over at LTH when the ownership changed, but I haven't seen any decrease in the quality of posting or moderation there, nor any intrusive monetization. So far so good.

Consider it done. Incidentally, some people on this board might find it interesting what their counterparts on the LTH forum in Chicago have to say about DC dining spots. http://lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=283

I've seen a couple of mentions of Jack's Place (222 N Lee St, Alexandria in Old Town) on here, but I think it deserves it's own thread. If I'm wrong, feel free to fold it back in with one of the others. I highly recommend Jack's Place for breakfast. This local-centric diner serves some really great fare. The owner is a salt-of-the-earth sort of guy who is particularly fond of the Bronco's during the Elway heyday. I've read that outsiders can get a bit of grief from Jack and his crew, but I didn't find that to be the case during my visit. When I first arrived and sat down at the counter, a woman came in shortly afterwards and gave me a slightly uncomfortable (though not unfriendly) look. "Oh, is this your seat," she sheepishly admitted that it was, so I happily relinquished it. That's how local this spot is. Grab a paper menu from the counter when you arrive if you aren't familiar with the offerings. I ordered a "breakfast usual" sandwich, which had bacon, lettuce, tomato, cheese and egg (i went for over-medium). I got it on Italian bread. It may have been the best breakfast sandwich I've ever eaten, and at $6, it was a bargain. I was pretty hungry, so that could have factored into my memory, though. Anyway, give Jack's a shot sometime.

Now it makes sense why this location seemed familiar to me - I had visited it a few years ago when it was Pita House... Anyway, after reading the various reviews here and elsewhere, I decided to give Caphe a shot for dinner. We have two amazing banh mi shops in Chicago (Nhu Lan and Ba Le), so I didn't bother trying the sandwich here. Instead, I opted for the house Pho (with brisket and eye-of-round if I remember correctly), my first time trying the dish (I know, I know...). At any rate, the portion size of the soup looked pretty large to me, which was great. The broth was really delicious, and the various condiments available to me added either texture or flavor. I felt I got a really nice value for an Old Town restaurant.

I'm an oyster rookie (though not a complete novice), so I figured I'd take advantage of the oyster happy hour. I sat at the bar and got some recommendations from the barkeep. A half-dozen oysters and a pale ale later, I was a happy camper. I love the idea of an oyster happy hour, and would certainly go again if I'm close to one of the Hank's locations.

Had a burger for dinner at the Old Town location last month. It was perfectly fine and cooked to order. The weather was nice, so I sat on the patio. If only it had a real waterfront view, it would be a very relaxing spot. I think it benefits from being slightly off the beaten path - a much more casual vibe than what you're likely to get on King Street. I don't think I'd go out of my way to eat here, but if your're in the neighborhood it's worth a shot.

I went to Eammon's during my recent DC/Alexandria visit and had the fried Cod with rose-marie sauce. This was my third Eammon's visit in five years, and I wasn't disappointed. Perhaps I didn't notice the change in batter from my earlier visits, but I still felt it was nicely fried and tasty. I'm not a conoisseur by any means, but I enjoyed it.

I'm back from my recent visit to DC and Alexandria. Based on the feedback in this thread, I chose to go to Zenebech Injera, though I ended up going at lunchtime rather than dinner. As soon as I walked in, I knew that this was my kind of place. I was greeted warmly and offered a taste of some bread by a gentleman after I placed my order for Awaze Tibs-Lamb. A truly dinner-sized portion was placed in front of me a few minutes later, and the guy who offered me the bread showed me that I should ladle some of the tibs directly onto the injera (duh, in retrospect). All-in-all it was tasty and a very good experience. It was pretty close to the Shaw stop (maybe 4 or 5 minutes). Thanks for the helpful suggestions, all. Happy eating to everyone. bonmot

Hi everyone, my visit for the conference was great. I'll detail my experiences with food I ate near Dupont Circle- lunch and otherwise below. Thanks again for everyone's input and assistance. Day 0 (travel day): Dinner at Food Place Kabob House on P street. The place was pretty busy on a Sunday night, with only two people working (one taking orders and preparing salads, and the other manning the grill). The meat (I had lamb and beef) was a little on the dry side, but the green sauce on the side was really excellent. Portions were a little small for the price considering the type of joint it was. Still, it was pretty tasty.Day 1 Lunch at Teasim in Dupont Circle. I was really impressed with the food and the vibe here. This is the perfect lunch spot if you've got an hour to kill at a Washington Hilton conference. Dinner at Bistrot du Coin on Connecticut Ave NW. Opted for the Moules Normandes (appetizer size) and a side of frites. The mussels were plenty for one person. A dinner-sized portion could easily be shared. One of my mussels was off (texture-wise). I don't order them often, so I'm not sure if this is typical. The fries were fine, though nothing to write home about. Day 2 Breakfast (carryout) at So's Your Mom in AdMo on Columbia Rd NW. I had a solid egg, bacon and cheese sandwich on a bagel here. I opted for the everything bagel, which was a step too far. I should have stopped at sesame. Still, it was filling and much better than I would have gotten closer to the hotel. I think I heard a microwave running after I placed my order, but I'm trying to block that out of my mind. (skipped lunch so that I would be hungry for...) Dinner at Little Serow. Arrived at 5 pm and got into line, which was 18 deep by that time. Was seated at the bar and had truly exceptional service for the entire evening. The food was as good as advertised, and my only quibble would be the high volume of the music. I would go back in a heartbeat. Day 3 Lunch at Amsterdam Falafelshop in AdMo. I had a really tasty lunch here and probably would go back despite the fact that the space is about 1/2 as big as would be necessary for a comfortable ordering and dining experience. Unless you're all alone in the restaurant, the people waiting for their orders get in the way of the people who are trying to use the toppings bar who get in the way of the people who are trying to place an order. It's truly messed-up. The falafel were spot on and the toppings were great, though. I got some attitude from a guy at the counter when I asked for a receipt, though.I'll try to detail some of my other dining experiences elsewhere in the forum. Thanks again for all the help. Cheers, bonmot [Edit: I almost forgot, I came back to Dupont Circle the next day for breakfast after the conference was over] Day 4 Breakfast at Keren Coffee Shop at Florida and U St NW. This unassuming restaurant is really nicely located for those staying at the Washington Hilton, though it didn't open early enough to be a breakfast option during my conference. I opted for the ful with an over medium egg--asking for it to be spicy. It was a tasty and filling meal. I could have (and probably should have) skipped lunch after eating here. I think modest neighborhood ethnic places like Keren are the way to go. Give it a shot if you enjoy Ethiopian. Eritria is next door to Ethiopia and their food is very similar, I have come to learn.

Zenebech Injera sounds like exactly the sort of place I'd like, though Ethiopic clearly has a strong following. Thanks very much for the help, all. I know it's going to be a great trip.

I understand that DC is pretty much the goto spot in the US for Ethiopian food. I've had it once in Chicago, and liked it, but there aren't too many choices around here. Over on Chicago's version of Don Rockwell.com (called the LTH Forum), Habesha Market is getting some recommendations. I'm hoping to get the views of locals rather than us interlopers. I've been keeping a list of options. Here are a few that are on my radar. Most are in the U-Street/Shaw area, but I'm happy to consider others in NW. (conventioneer - no car) Habesha Market Etete Dukem Queen Makeda Queen of Sheba Little Ethiopia I'd rather not have something too watered down for American palates. I'm not ashamed to admit that the idea of kitfo freaks me out a wee bit (not a steak tartar kind of guy usually), but I think if it is nicely spicy I'll give it a shot. I have a preference for laid back over formal and friendly staff over reserved. No dietary restrictions, really. What's missing from my list? Any good recent experiences? Thanks for your help. You all really came through for me in the Dupont Circle lunch thread. I hope i'm not taking advantage of your hospitality by asking for additional suggestions.

Thanks for all of the advice and taking the time to give it. It has been extremely helpful. I'll report back once I return to the windy city (trip is mid April).

Thanks for keeping the info coming, everyone. I'm getting pretty excited for my trip. One slightly off-topic question. For dinner, when do people begin queuing up for Little Serow in order to get in on the first seating?

Thanks for the suggestion regarding Russian food, RWBooneJr. I appreciate the heads up for Mari Vanna. For some reason I can't seem to edit my previous posts today. If I regain the ability, i'll add it to the list in the first post.

A.M. Wine Shoppe looks like an interesting, inexpensive option for a sandwich. Has anyone tried So's Your Mom up the street on Columbia Road as a to-go option?

@daveo Thanks for the correction RE: no dinner. When I ate there a few years ago it was for lunch - my bad.

Thanks for suggestions - am going to try to keep the original post updated rather than reposting with duplicate content.

Thanks for the to-date suggestions, all. I've got a pretty long stride, so covering a decent amount of distance quickly isn't a problem (other than waiting at traffic signals). It seems like some of my choices really were too far afield for lunch. I've only walked around Dupont Circle once, and it was at a different time of day. Chop'd did seem a little different than the others to me too, but I was trying to keep an open mind:-) Updated list (asterisks for those you think will work): Thaiphoon Teaism** Regent Thai Keren Las Canteras Amsterdam Falafelshop Old City Cafe Firefly (cab or dinner)* Chop't Moby Dick House of Kabab CF Folks (cab or dinner)** DGS Delicatessen** (cab or dinner) Additions Sette Osteria (pizza menu only) Mourayo Mintwood Place (cab or dinner) BGR the Burger Joint Food Trucks in Dupont Circle Cocova (artisan chocolatier) Mari Vanna (Russian)

Thanks for the warm welcome. Just posted my first "please help me..." for lunch near DuPont Circle. I don't think I've found any better location-specific food discussion sites than this one and lthforum.com in Chicago. I feel very lucky to have access to the collective wisdom of my peers.

Hi All, I'm coming to DC in early April for a conference held at the Washington Hilton (1919 Connecticut Ave NW). I've got about 1 hour for lunch beginning at 12:15-12:30. From my research using this site and a few other resources, I've got a list of restaurants which might be feasible traveling on foot. I'll provide a starter list below. Please give me your feedback on best bets, other options not on the list as well as which ones would be good choices for dinner instead. [edit - updated list with content from thread] Updated list (asterisks for those you think will work): Thaiphoon Teaism*** Regent Thai Keren Las Canteras Amsterdam Falafelshop* Old City Cafe Firefly (cab or dinner)* Chop't Moby Dick House of Kabab CF Folks (cab)** DGS Delicatessen** (cab or dinner) Thai Chef Bistro du Coin Additions Sette Osteria* (pizza menu only) Mourayo* Mintwood Place* (cab or dinner) BGR the Burger Joint Food trucks in Dupont Circle Cocova (artisan chocolatier) A.M. Wine Shoppe (wine store which sells sandwiches, charcuterie and cheese) Pleasant Pops (upscale popsicles and sandwiches) Cashions Eat Place (Dinner) Thanks in advance!

Reintroducing myself from a few years ago - I have another DC business/pleasure trip coming up in April and wanted to get the lay of the land again. Last time I was planning a trip, this site was invaluable. Thanks for the help and for any possible help you may provide this time around! I'm staying at the Hilton near Dupont Circle for the first few days, then in old town Alexandria for the 2nd half of my trip. No car, so it's Metro and hoofing it. Some things have changed since I was last here - Ben Ali passed away, Ray's Hell Burger started accepting credit cards... then closed. It takes a lot of effort to keep up with changes here in Chicago, much less in DC. Cheers

Hi everyone -- I wanted to give a post-trip debriefing on my dining experiences. Thanks so much to everyone for their help in picking some good spots. Here's where we ended up going: 1) Kabab Palace: 2315 S. Eads St. Arlington, VA 22202. This is the one on the back side of the strip mall... not the one facing Jefferson Davis. I had the Lamb Kabab with a side of chickpeas. The meat was really flavorful. Seating was tight, even at 3PM on a Sunday afternoon. Not particularly friendly service or great ambiance, but I'd go back for the food. Kabab Palace - Lamb Kabab with Chickpeas 2) Cafe Pizzaiolo: 507 23rd St S, Arlington, VA 22202. Had a nice dinner at this neighborhood pizza joint. The pizza seemed to be in Neapolitan style. I had one of the special pizzas which was topped with flavorful tomatoes and roasted garlic. The gelato was fantastic too. Uber-friendly waitstaff topped-off this positive experience. 3) Matsusake Sushi: 320 23rd Street South #1001Arlington, VA 22202. Escaped from conference food hell and had a good sushi buffet experience. I don't have a great deal of experience with this genre, so I can't make an authoritative pronouncement. Items on the buffet were replenished exceptionally quickly, so you're unlikely to get anything not fresh. Sushi Buffet selections at Matsusake 4) Eammon's A Dublin Chipper: 728 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314. Made a return visit here since I was at the Alexandria Whole Foods anyway. This time I had the ray (with the Chesapeake sauce), chips and a fried snickers. Good stuff. Fried Ray with Chips and a Fried Snickers 5) Ray's Hell Burger: 1713 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA. I'd call this the culinary pinnacle of my visit. The positive reviews here were not at all unwarranted or embellished. I built my own burger with pepper jack, some sort of green salsa on the side and charred Jalapenos. The patty was cooked Medium as ordered and was exceptionally flavorful and juicy. The cuts they use for the beef really make a difference. I think perhaps it is in competition as the best burger I've ever had without question is in the top 5. I had the cheesy tater tots which were good, though I would have preferred traditional double-fried french fries. This is definitely a place I wouldn't have found without the recommendations here. Thanks a million! 6) Hank's Oyster Bar: 1624 Q St NW, Washington, DC 20009. Very busy for a Tuesday night arrival, but we sat outside. Temps were in the mid 50's so the propane heaters were out in force on the patio. I enjoyed the fried calamari and shrimp appetizer as well as my fried oyster platter. It was a nice meal made even better with the company of an old friend. 7) Sawatdee Thai: 2250 Clarendon Blvd (Courthouse Square) Arlington, VA 22201. A very solid Thai restaurant which does rather better than expected given its pedestrian mall setting. The Papaya Salad (Sam Tam) was tangy and spicy as it should be, and the Panang Curry (with Chicken) was one of the better renditions of this dish that I've tried. Service was attentive and never let my water glass get more than half empty. 8) Bread Line: 1751 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20006. I had a Cuban sandwich here for an early lunch. For as hyped as this place is in mainstream circles, I was a little disappointed in the value I received. I will say that the bread on my sandwich was fantastic, but the overall sandwich was about a 6 or 7 out of 10 in my opinion. I'd say if they lowered the prices by about 30% I would have been pleased. The location near the White House probably commands high rents, so I can understand why they'd be unable to make that change. Breadline - Cuban Sandwich 9) CF Folks: 1225 19th St NW. Washington, DC 20036. I had an exceptional crab cake sandwich here for lunch. The staff were exceedingly friendly and attentive. I recommend this spot highly. There's not too much seating available, so you might try an off-peak visit. I'll definitely be back. CF Folks - Crab cake Sandwich Overall, it was a very fine food adventure. Thanks to everyone for your assistance and to Don for having such an awesome food board. Cheers, Bonmot

Hi everyone, I actually started out by posting in a new thread in the help section (the one about Discovering Gems in Crystal City), but I thought I'd say hello here too. Pleasure and business travel brings me to the DC area from time to time, and I prefer to eat at neighborhood joints rather than the standard tourist or chain faire. I hail from the Chicago area, where my favorite place for information like you get here is the LTH Forum (which stands for Little Three Happiness, an authentic and reasonably priced Chinese restaurant, the appreciation for which kicked off the discussion forum). If you ever plan to come to Chicago, I suggest checking out this valuable resource. LTH Forum (Chicago) Anyway, I've used information gleaned from this board in the past, and it really helped my last trip become a culinary success. Thanks to all of you for your informative posts. Unfortunately, any itches I develop as a result of reading your comments cannot be scratched immediately! I suppose that will just heighten my anticipation for my next trip (April). Thanks to Don for making this resource available, and thanks to the entire community here for making it so valuable for out of towners!

That's reassuring. Thanks for the info. On the google earth map it looks like there is a huge construction project going on directly south of the hotel. Is that still the case? or is it an old photo?