McCormick & Schmick's Seafood & Steaks

1652 K St NW

american restaurant

Mr. Henry's

601 Pennsylvania Ave SE

A Capitol Hill institution where the crowd is as much the point as the food—themed parties mean you're likely to catch the room mid-celebration, and the regular cast of neighborhood characters keeps things genuinely lively.

bar and grill restaurant

801 Restaurant and Bar

801 Florida Ave NW

A sprawling American kitchen in Shaw where you can disappear into the dining room, climb to the rooftop, or post up at one of three bars depending on your mood that night.

american restaurant

Founding Farmers & Distillers

600 Massachusetts Ave NW

Farm-to-table cooking anchored by a working distillery—the kind of place where you can eat eggs from actual farmers at breakfast, then circle back at happy hour to taste what they're making in the still.

spanish restaurant

Mola

3155 Mount Pleasant St NW

If you want to understand what Spanish coastal food actually tastes like without pretension, come here on a Saturday morning when the place fills with people who know what they're doing. The vermouth program alone is worth the trip.

american restaurant

Silver

7150 Woodmont Ave

Someone who appreciates restraint will find thoughtful plates and a room that doesn't try too hard to impress you. Go when you want New American cooking that respects its ingredients without announcing itself.

seafood restaurant

BlackSalt

4883 MacArthur Blvd NW

The fishmonger counter and dining room exist in easy conversation here—you watch the catch get prepped while you eat, or you take home what looks good and cook it yourself. Best for people who actually care about fish.