Washington, DC Dining and Drinking …
… Found ‘em on Facebook!
My fun friends Bill and Julie recently enjoyed a little Washington DC getaway.
Bill got the inside scoop (he always does) and posted some terrific dining recommendations on Facebook. Of course, I pounced and asked if I could share them here!
Bill and Julie’s Washington DC Dining Recommendations
Old Ebbitt Grille A MUST SEE!
Favorite of presidents since 1856. Truly a landmark in DC, as historic as visiting many monuments and memorials.
675 15th St, NW, PH: 202-347-4800.
Located in Downtown DC, just steps from the White House. Excellent seafood, steaks, American favorites; one of the city’s best oyster bars; four full-service bars, good value, and top-notch service! Breakfast, lunch, dinner, late night, Sat and Sun brunch. Check out Oyster Happy Hour M-F 3-6 and 11-1, all raw bar items 1/2 off!
Bill says: We had Valentines Day at Old Ebbitt Grille. We walked in and could not find anywhere to sit … I asked a bus boy where there might be a small space for the two hungry souls from Cleveland …”Steve,” he asked the bartender, “do you have a small table to seat our distinguished guests?” We sat down at a most wonderful table. The manger, Jenna Velella, came by quickly… read our minds on wine and presented a wonderful South African red… which we loved. We had a great time that night and we made a good friend in the culinary world of DC, Jenna.
Clyde’s of Georgetown
3236 M Street, NW, Ph 202-333-9180
Lovely sister restaurant to Old Ebbitt, much smaller, located in Georgetown. Menu a little more contemporary. Sunday is Half Priced Wine Night.
Bar Pilar
1833 14th St NW Ph. 202-265-1751
Near Cork (see below) this Mediterranean Tapas restaurant is a REAL neighborhood spot for people in the Logan Circle/U Street area. Small, but worth the wait. The food is excellent - all small plates, but you can really load up on delicious stuff. Wine selection is smaller than Cork but always unique and a fabulous beer selection - lots of local and micro stuff - is always available.
Cork Wine Bar
1720 14th Street, NW Ph. 202-265-2675
Carries an exceptional selection of international wines. Offers flights and tasting options for many wines. Serves delicious small plates and excellent cheese and charcuterie.
No reservations? Here’s a strategy tip:
The good thing about Cork is that if it’s a long wait you can walk down 14th street to Bar Pilar and check their table status. There’s also a place that just opened called Posto on 14th street, good Italian, you could check their wait.
Dino
3435 Connecticut Ave, NW Ph. 202-686-2966
Perfect combination of good Italian food and good wine. The menu is awesome - all regional Italian with options to do big plates, small plates, cheese, charcuterie, meat, fish … all very good. The owner’s two loves are Italian food and wine. Dino is a neighborhood spot in Cleveland Park, which is a pretty, residential neighborhood away from downtown, but not as casual as Bar Pilar and Cork. It combines a good restaurant with a good wine bar feel well.
Sonoma
223 Pennsylvania Ave SE, Ph 202-544-8088
Great neighborhood spot on Capital Hill. Wine bar and restaurant, focused on naturally-raised and local ingredients, and the best American and Italian wines. Cheese, charcuturie, salads, wood-oven pizzas, wood-grilled fish and meat, well-executed pasta dishes. It’s sister restaurant, Mendocino Grill, is located in Georgetown.
Tenpenh
1001 Pennsylvania Ave, NW Ph. 202-393-4500
The best place for pan-aisan cuisine. The food is superb and the wine list is lengthy. Located downtown near the Ebbitt with a beautiful dining room.
Filed under: General
