Capital Cuisine: 10 Top DC Restaurants
A list from a (former) local, who returns regularly to eat.
Ah, the District of Columbia. A city I couldn’t love more, and one I did not want to leave after 10 glorious years.
But alas, I’m writing this list from California. Luckily, I have a job brings me back to my beloved city a few times a year.
On those visits, I cram as much socializing and eating into one week as I possible can. I leave happy, full and exhausted.
Here are 10 of my favorite DC restaurants, in no particular order.
Le Diplomate
Le Diplomate on 14th St. checks all the boxes for me:
It’s a Stephen Starr venture.
The charming space transports you to Paris.
They have amazing bread.
The seafood is wonderful, especially the scallop entrée — which I almost never order at a restaurant because scallops are so easy to mess up. These are perfection.
And, you must — must — take home a loaf of their cranberry walnut bread. I have spoken.
Tail Up Goat
Tail Up Goat, the Michelin-starred Adams Morgan gem specializes in seasonal, American cuisine presented in inventive ways.
The menu is constantly changing because of this, but anyone with food restrictions or allergies can feel comfortable making a reservation here because they take a lot of care in accommodating these.
*NOTE: Tail Up Goat will close in December 2025, so book your table before it’s too late!
Oyamel, Jaleo and Zaytinya
José Andrés runs this town. And we (well, formerly and occasionally me included) are lucky that he blesses us with his genius in multiple locations throughout the city.
You can’t go wrong with any of his restaurants, but these are my top choices — all within a few blocks of each other.. you could do a little Andrés crawl:
Oyamel for Mexican food (read mouthwatering ceviches, tacos, etc…) If it’s a cheat day, try the quesadilla huitlacoche.
Jaleo for Spanish tapas. Get the pan de cristal con tomate — José flies this special bread in from Barcelona.
Zaytinya for Eastern Mediterranean flair. Man I could really go for some of their Taramosalata right about now.
Fiola and Fiola Mare
We move from the world of José Andrés, to another celebrated DC Chef building an empire of deliciousness: Fabio Trabocchi. If he and his wife/partner have made a culinary mistake, I have not been there to witness it.
Fiola - the OG. An Italian food mecca for those just want a knock-you-socks-off pasta dish. I was lucky enough to work next door to Fiola for four years. It’s one of only two restaurants whose marinara sauce rivaled my Nonni’s.
Fiola Mare - a gorgeous spot on the Georgetown waterfront that looks like it belongs in Capri. Come here for seafood and when you want to impress your dining companion/celebrate a special occasion. If not, go to the bar for happy hour to get the experience without the full price tag. But go early, there aren’t many seats.
Albi
The newest restaurant on my list, Albi, has won a Michelin Star and a James Beard award. This Navy Yard gem is centered literally and figuratively around their massive wood-burning hearth.
Albi, means “my heart” in Arabic, and you can tell that Chef Michael Rafidi put his heart into this menu. The space is modern and beautiful as well, with a view into the open kitchen.
The wood-fired pita with black garlic hummus and rockfish kebab were highlights for me.
Rasika
Rasika is a must-visit for delicious, modern Indian cuisine. It’s always a good choice for a night out or impressing guests.
It’s won awards, it’s been exceedingly popular for years… not much else needs to be said. It’s on everyone’s list.
As a non-meat eater, I recommend the veggie dishes and the black cod. But choose your own journey. You do need to get at least one order of warm, fluffy naan. (They have four flavors.)
I like the West End location. Just a preference.
Rose’s Luxury
I remember with Rose’s Luxury opened, it felt quite revolutionary. Their creative, modern American dishes created such a sensation, that reservations were impossible to get and people flocked to Eastern Market before work ended to wait in line for a chance at a table.
Or, maybe at the beginning they didn’t take reservations.. so there were only lines. I don’t remember, it was 12 years ago… but there were linessss.
When I finally had the opportunity to eat there, it definitely lived up to my expectations. It was a meal I won’t forget.