Washington DC - Dining & Drinking

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Perhaps the best way to gauge Washington's ethnic diversity is to examine the menus of its fine international restaurants. Many have observed that as more and more countries suffer political unrest, the dining scene in Washington expands. With the abundance of Vietnamese, Afghan, Salvadoran and other ethnic restaurants, it's difficult to dispute that theory.

From Embassy Row to Capitol Hill, Washington is a city of people with tastes as varied as the opinions of Congress. At Washington's restaurants, diners will find everything from regional American specialties to varied ethnic food.

American cuisine ranges from California Asian-fusion to specialty dishes such as New England Clam Chowder and blackened catfish from New Orleans. If you are looking for barbecue, you might sample variations from North Carolina, Memphis or Kansas City, or perhaps try the original American fusion cuisine from New Mexico.

Washington's suburbs have their unique contributions to the dining scene. Maryland crab cakes are legendary, but if you don't mind working a bit, roll up your sleeves and order steamed crabs. You crack the shells open with a mallet and pull out the succulent meat yourself. In Virginia, you can sample colonial fare including peanut soup, oyster stew and famous Virginia ham.

Much as the United States is a "melting pot" of nationalities, Washington is a melting pot of international cuisine-and what delights this pot holds! From upscale to casual, continental, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern, restaurants are abundant. Additionally, among the nation's best Thai, Vietnamese, Indian and Ethiopian restaurants are found here. If you want to stretch your taste buds a bit further, try Burmese, Jamaican or Egyptian. Whether you're looking for a great meal to make you feel at home, or far away from home, Washington is the place to find it.

Adams-Morgan

An area that has gone through a number of changes over the years, Adams-Morgan is now one of the most ethnically diverse neighborhoods in the city. This is reflected in its eateries, which includes the wonderful Thai restaurant, Star of Siam, where you can eat on the rooftop. If you want to try Ethiopian, Meskerem and Red Sea are good bets and Mixtec is a great Mexican place. The Grill from Ipanema is as good as its clever name suggests for fun cocktails and Brazilian food. Numerous bars and coffeehouses are open late for after-dinner conversation and people-watching.

Chinatown/Seventh Street

Adjacent to the recently opened MCI Center, Chinatown is a great area to have a bite to eat before or after a sporting event or concert. You won't go wrong with most restaurants here, but especially notable are Hunan Chinatown and Tony Cheng's Mongolian Barbecue.

Seventh Street, once a fashionable shopping district, is emerging as a center for arts and culture. For tapas and sangria, head to Jaleo or, if you're in the mood for Irish stew and a Guinness, visit Fado.

Downtown/Foggy Bottom

There are lots of wonderful restaurants in the downtown area that cater to office workers. Whether you're going for a power lunch, a business dinner or just want to have a great meal, Old Ebbitt Grill and Les Halles are Washington favorites. Looking for seafood? Kinkead's boasts the best ocean fare in town. For something more casual, try the southwestern Red Sage.

Dupont Circle

With its many restaurants, shops and bars, Dupont Circle is a fun area to be on weekend evenings. Most of the bars above Massachusetts Ave and P St are gay bars. If you're in the mood for upscale Southern food, try Vidalia. At The Palm you might catch a glimpse of a Sunday morning TV political pundit as you enjoy your steak and martinis. For a more calming environment, Teaism is an Asian teahouse with small meals and, of course, a wide selection of exotic teas. Sesto Senso is an Italian restaurant that transforms into a disco in the later hours. If you'd rather browse books and have coffee after dinner, try Kramerbooks.

Georgetown/Washington Harbor

Cosmopolitan and hip, Georgetown is full of student-oriented clubs and a few for the older crowd, including Blues Alley for jazz. Start down at the harbor area at Sequoia for a drink as the sun sets over the Potomac. Stay for dinner, or head up to Georgetown for a fabulous Indian meal at Aditi or the best Ethiopian fare around at Zed's. Citronelle features Californian-French cuisine and for historical ambiance, 1789 has great atmosphere and food.

Old Town Alexandria

The town of George Washington and Robert E. Lee, Alexandria is steeped in history. Experience its past as you sample some of Washington's favorite dishes at Gadsby's Tavern, where the general often dined. For decadent Southern food and outrageous desserts, Southside 815 is a must. Cajun Bangkok offers a unique combination of Thai and Cajun food and delights the senses. For a more relaxed atmosphere, Ecco is where the locals enjoy pizzas, pasta and salads.

Bethesda, Maryland

Just over the District of Columbia line in Maryland, Bethesda is a mecca for food lovers. Tara Thai is a local chain that focuses on fresh seafood but offers a variety of other delicious dishes. It's a favorite throughout the area. Delray Vietnamese Garden is a hidden treasure with low prices and some of the best Vietnamese food around. Bacchus is popular for its Lebanese mezze and kebabs and Bethesda Crab House is the place to go for some of those famous Maryland crabs.







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Old Ebbitt Grill


Upscale, American Pub
 675 15th St NW
Washington DC 20005
+1 202 347 4800
http://www.ebbitt.com
Old Ebbitt Grill
1789


Classic and romantic dining
 1226 36th St NW
Washington DC 20007
+1 202 965 1789
http://www.1789restaurant.com/
1789
Fado


A modern Irish pub
 808 7th St NW
Washington DC 20001
+1 202 789 0066
http://www.fadoirishpub.com
Fado
Aditi


Spicy Indian dining
 3299 M St Northwest
Washington DC 20007
+1 202 625 6825
Aditi
Zed's Ethiopian Cuisine


Casual African fare
 1201 28th St NW
Washington DC 20007
+1 202 333 4710
http://www.zeds.net/
Zed's Ethiopian Cuisine
Sequoia Restaurant


Modern dining with a view
 3000 K St Northwest
Washington DC 20007
+1 202 944 4200
http://www.arkrestaurants.com
Sequoia Restaurant
Sesto Senso


See and be seen
 1214 18th St NW
Washington DC 20036
+1 202 785 9525
http://www.sesto.com
Sesto Senso
Jaleo


A taste of Spain
 480 7th St Northwest
(near E St Northwest)
Washington DC 20004
+1 202 628 7949
http://www.jaleo.com/
Jaleo
Citronelle


Old world meets west coast
 3000 M Street Northwest
(Latham Hotel)
Washington DC 20007
+1 202 625 2150
http://www.citronelledc.com/
Citronelle
Meskerem Ethiopian Restaurant


Tasty, cheerful dining
 2434 18th Street NorthWest
Washington DC 20009
+1 202 462 4100
http://www.meskeremonline.com
Meskerem Ethiopian Restaurant
Tony Cheng's Seafood Restaurant


Mix and match choices
 619 H Street North West
Penn Quarter-Chinatown
Washington DC 20007
+1 202 371 8669
Tony Cheng's Seafood Restaurant
Grill from Ipanema


Brazilian style
 1858 Columbia Rd NW
Washington DC 20009
+1 202 986 0757
http://www.thegrillfromipanema.com
Grill from Ipanema
Adams-Morgan
Washington DC
Adams-Morgan
Capitol Hill
Washington DC
Capitol Hill
Dupont Circle
Washington DC
Dupont Circle
Georgetown
Washington DC
Georgetown
Alexandria
Washington DC
Alexandria
Chinatown
Washington DC
Chinatown
Bacchus


A la carte heaven
 1827 Jefferson Place Northwest
Washington DC 20036
+1 202 785 0734
Bacchus
Verizon Center


DC's premier sports arena
 601 F Street Northwest
Washington DC 20004
+1 202 628 3200 / +1 202 661 5000
http://www.verizoncenter.com/
Verizon Center
Blues Alley


Top jazz and blues artists
 1073 Wisconsin Ave NW
Washington DC 20007
+1 202 337 4141
http://www.bluesalley.com
Blues Alley
Gadsby's Tavern Museum


Washington's favorite pub
 138 North Royal Street
Washington DC, VA 22314
+1 703 548 1288
http://www.gadsbystavern.org/
Gadsby's Tavern Museum
Bethesda Crab House


Traditional Maryland crab feast
 4958 Bethesda Avenue
Washington DC, MD 20814
+1 301 652 3382
Bethesda Crab House
Southside 815


Southern home cooking
 815 S Washington St
Washington DC, VA 22314
+1 703 836 6222
http://www.southside815.com
Southside 815
Mixtec


Introducing the real Mexico
 1792 Columbia Road Northwest
Washington DC 20009
+1 202 332 1011
Mixtec
Halles


Upscale, downtown
 1201 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest
Washington DC 20036
+1 202 347 6848
http://www.leshalles.net/washington.php
Halles
Teaism - A Tea House


Dozens of exotic teas
 800 Connecticut Avenue Northwest
Washington DC 20006
+1 202 835 2233
http://www.teaism.com/
Teaism - A Tea House
Kinkead's


Washington's finest seafood
 2000 Pennsylvania Ave NW
(between 20th and 21st streets NW)
Washington DC 20006
+1 202 296 7700
http://www.kinkead.com/
Kinkead's
Vidalia


Provincial-American restaurant
 1990 M St NW
Washington DC 20036
+1 202 659 1990
http://www.vidaliadc.com/
Vidalia
Kramerbooks and Afterwords


Lattes and literature
 1517 Connecticut Avenue Northwest
Washington DC 20036
+1 202 387 1400
http://www.kramers.com/
Kramerbooks and Afterwords
Washington DC
Washington DC - Art & Entertainment
Washington DC - Historical Background
Washington DC - Where to Stay
Washington DC - Neighborhood Guide
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