Washington, DC, is a great restaurant town with options ranging from old standards and next generation upstarts, plus a plethora of ethnic restaurants. And, there's also Ben's Chili Bowl. Here’s our favorites:

1. The Best Restaurants in DC
Washington, DC, is a great restaurant town with options ranging
from old standards and next generation upstarts, plus a plethora of
ethnic restaurants. And, there's also Ben's Chili Bowl.
Here’s our favorites:

2. 1. Rasika
Rasika is a modern, sensuous restaurant in the Penn Quarter that serves
inventive Indian cuisine in a vibrant, hip setting. Chef Vikram Sunderam has
been nominated for numerous James Beard Awards and has won local “Chef
of the Year” honors. In 2014 he was awarded the James Beard award for best
chef in the Mid-Atlantic region. The food at Rasika showcases many styles of
Indian cuisine and includes Tawa (Griddle), Sigri (open Barbeque) and
Tandoori cooking. Attention to detail is evident in everything from the
fragrant rices to the fresh vegetables to the perfectly spiced sauces. The
cocktails at the modern bar are expertly prepared, and the wine list is quite
large. Service is attentive, dependable, and friendly. The restaurant is often
named as one of the best Indian restaurants in the country. It is notable that,
unlike many highly-regarded restaurants, the prices at Rasika are reasonable.
A trip to Rasika is not complete without getting their signature dish –
the Palak Chaat. Tasting menus with optional wine pairings are
available - read more here (Photo by Shashi Bellamkonda)

3. 2. Rose's Luxury
Rose’s Luxury brings excellent, innovative food, along with a very genuine
attitude of caring for the diner and the dining experience, to Washington’s
Barracks Row neighborhood. The eatery opened up in 2013, and, in 2014,
Rose’s Luxury won the award for the Best New Restaurant in America
2014 from Bon Appétit. The success is no fluke – Chef-owner Aaron
Silverman spent time developing his craft under the tutelage of such
celebrated chefs as David Chang of Momofuku Noodle Bar in New York,
George Mendes of Aldea in New York, and Sean Brock of McCrady’s and
Husk in Charleston.
The food is innovative Southern fare with global influences, and it’s served
family-style. As part of the dining experience, the servers are permitted to
deliver complimentary dishes to diners, and there are also off-menu items and
goodie bags offered. The extras are listed on the check as “from us.” Rose’s
Luxury is only open for dinner and does not take reservations – waits for the
limited seating can be as long as to 2.5 hours. It is best to get there before
opening time. The ten coveted spots at the roof garden table can be reserved,
but they sell out weeks in advance - read more here (Photo by T.Tseng)

4. 3. Old Ebbitt Grill
Old Ebbitt Grill has been a quintessential meeting spot for DC insiders since
1856. It is reputedly the oldest saloon in town, and it has played host to such
dignitaries as Presidents Grant, Cleveland, Harding and Theodore
Roosevelt. The restaurant has been at its current location since 1983, and it is
still a thriving DC institution. There’s four bars at Old Ebbitt. The Oyster Bar
being the most famous and specializes in oysters and a great wine list. The
Old Bar features mounted game trophies and a long, dark mahogany bar.
Upstairs is the Corner Bar and Grant’s Bar. The Main Dining Room
resembles a turn-of-the-century dining parlor, and the Atrium Room allows
for the feeling of outdoor dining year round. Guests will discover dark wood
decor, velvet booths, marble and brass, antique gas chandeliers, plus a walrus
head bagged by Teddy Roosevelt - read more here (Photo by Jay Cross)

5. 4. Ben's Chili Bowl
Ben’s Chili Bowl has been open most hours of the day and night since it
opened back in 1958, and the legendary eatery is still a must stop for both
tourists and locals, as well as some celebrities. In its glory days, the diner was
a vital part of the U Street corridor’s hallowed “Black Broadway,” with
frequent visits by celebrities such as Duke Ellington and Martin Luther King,
Jr. After the race riots of the late 60’s and the drug dealing in the 70’s, the
neighborhood lost its luster. Lately, U Street has experienced a resurgence.
President Obama has been a big fan of Ben’s chili while in office, and Bill
Cosby is a regular. The iconic restaurant won the ‘America’s Classics’
Restaurant Award from the James Beard Foundation and has been featured
on Oprah and the Today Show. Ben’s Next Door is a more upscale soul food
restaurant that opened in 2009 and serves the same menu as Ben’s - read
more here (Photo by T.Tseng)

6. 5. Zaytinya
Zaytinya restaurant is operated by celebrated chef José Andrés and offers an
innovative menu inspired by Turkish, Greek and Lebanese cuisines, all
served up in a sleek and modern setting. Upon opening in 2003, Zaytinya was
soon written up by the James Beard Foundation, Conde Nast
Traveler and Food and Wine magazines as a must-try restaurant. The gushing
accolades have continued ever since, and José Andrés has continued to
expand his empire throughout DC and beyond. Small plates (called “mezze”)
of authentic and innovative Mediterranean cuisine are served with creative
cocktails and obscure Mediterranean wines in an airy blue-and-white space
with a soaring ceiling. It is typical for each person to order two or three of the
plates and share. The menu is quite large, so there’s plenty of dishes to
try - read more here (Photo by Jing)

7. 6. Founding Farmers
Founding Farmers is a rustic Foggy Bottom farmhouse restaurant
specializing in upscale comfort foods served in a cozy space with friendly
servers, fresh ingredients, and communal tables. The popular restaurant is
frequented by everyone from hipsters to lobbyists, and everyone is made to
feel welcome. The service is excellent and unpretentious, and the decor is
comfortable and warm. With all of the attention paid to details, Founding
Fathers has managed to accumulate local awards for such items as “Best
Bloody Mary,” “Best Sunday Brunch,” and “Best Cocktail Selection.”
As the name suggests, Founding Farmers takes seriously the sourcing of their
ingredients. The restaurant is actually a coop that is owned by 42,000 family
farmers of the North Dakota Farmers Union, and many of the ingredients are
bought from local farmers while others are bought from some combination of
the best and the most sustainable producers. The beef is 100% all natural,
grass-fed. The chicken is free-range and stress-free. The fish and seafood
are wild line-caught or sustainably farmed. Everything is hormone and
antibiotic free. The fresh, locally-grown, seasonal produce is delivered to the
restaurant daily except on Sundays. The restaurant is also the first LEED
Gold Certified restaurant in the city - read more here (Photo by Davis
Staedtler)

8. 7. Le Diplomate
Le Diplomate serves classic French bistro fare such as escargot, oysters,
steak frites, and omelets in warm setting made to feel like an authentic
Parisian cafe. Noted Philadelphia restaurateur Stephen Starr spent upwards of
$6 million refurbishing the 14th Street space to his liking, and he left no
detail to chance. The wood floors are weathered, the tin ceiling looks as if it
were stained by years of cigarette smoke, and red awnings covers the small
cafe tables on the sidewalk. The fresh flowers and French baguettes on the
table certainly foster the perception that the diner is in Paris and not
DC. Don’t expect innovative dishes – the mission is to perfect the classics.
The menu starts with a large raw bar section of oysters, shrimp, and clams,
and the hors d’oeuvres includes foie gras parfait, onion soup gratinee, and
escargots. Seemingly all of the traditional French entrees are present,
including steak frites, trout amandine, and moules frites. The food is
accompanied by an enticing list of specialty cocktails and a well-curated
wine list - read more here (Photo by Ted Eytan)

9. 8. BlackSalt
BlackSalt is a restaurant and fish market that serves fresh seafood – with an
emphasis on sustainability – in a the Palisades neighborhood of northwest
DC. The casual upscale restaurant takes the sustainability of fish and shellfish
seriously, but they also could an expert job creating exquisite seafood dishes
flavors from around the world. Guests enter the restaurant through the fish
market in front, which offers a testament to the freshness of the seafood
served inside. A raw bar offers an enticing selection of oysters and drinks,
and, beyond that, the warm and polished dining room fronts the open kitchen.
The food is impeccably cooked and the menu meanders from fry baskets to
stews and cioppino to innovative fusion dishes. Also, be sure to save room
for dessert – BlackSalt has their own pastry chef. For those wanting to
indulge, the Chef’s Tasting menu is sure to please. On the other end of the
spectrum, the happy hour bar menu is a great way to sample the food and
drinks without shelling out too much money - read more here (Photo
by cdorobek)

10. 9. Compass Rose
Compass Rose is like Epcot for food – if Epcot were a hole-in-the-wall
tavern on 14th Street that served international street food. The idea was
Compass Rose was formed when owner Rose Previte took 3 years off and
traveled the world with her husband. Together, they visited over 30 countries
and came to love sampling the local food and drink. An idea was born. We
they got back, Rose partnered with local restaurateur Mike Schuster to open
Compass Rose.
Of all the foods offered on the menu, the Georgian khachapuri is the crowd
favorite. It’s a crusty flatbread saucer filled with a rich mixture of egg,
cheese, spices, and butter. All the dishes come in small tapa-style portions so
there everyone can sample. The bars offers an awesome cocktail menu
liquors from around the world and obscure Georgian wines - read more
here (Photo by Sergey & Jenia)

11. 10. 1789 Restaurant
1789 Restaurant serves elegant American cuisine in a gorgeous,
historic Federal period rowhouse in residential Georgetown. The restaurant’s
origins date back to 1960, when Richard J. McCooey, a Georgetown alumnus
bought the home, which dates back to the mid-1800s. He opened a burger
and beer restaurant called The Tombs in the basement. The Tombs became a
gathering spot for students and faculty from nearby Georgetown University,
and McCooey subsequently turned to upstairs into a nicer restaurant that he
named the 1789 Restaurant. The 1789 originally served classic French
cuisine and was considered one of DC’s best fine dining restaurants. Over the
years, the restaurant has adapted and become a little less formal, and the
menu has evolved into more classical American regional cuisine. The hiring
of Chef Samuel Kim in 2014 brought renewed vigor to the historic
surroundings.
The setting and decor are as impressive as the menu at 1789. The pub room
in the front of the house, which is said to be the Clinton’s favorite room,
features a pendulum wall clock and an antique wooden puppet hanging from
the ceiling. 1789 is a perennial favorite politicians and foreign dignitaries – in
2011, President Obama dined there with German Chancellor Angela
Merkel - read more here

12. 11. The Gibson
The Gibson is a prohibition-era speakeasy in Washington’s U Street corridor
that is accessed through a simple black door next door to a liquor
store. Inside the black door, a staff member will escort guests down a dark
hallway into the bar. Old Edison-style filament bulbs lend a bit of light to the
two-room lounge. There’s a total of about 50 seats at the black leather and
wood bar, in the cozy booths, and at the white marble tables. There are also a
few seats on a back patio. A chalkboard lists the drinks, and black-clad
servers are helpful with advice. The drinks are made by bartenders who take
pride in their craft, and they can mix up something according to your likes if
necessary. The Gibson is dark and romantic, making it a great spot for a
date. However, the music can get a bit loud late at night. The cocktails are
deservedly the star of the show, but a few bar snacks are offered. Cocktail
prices are in the $12 range, and the menu changes regularly to keep things
fresh - read more here (Photo by John)

13. 12. Jaleo
Jaleo chef José Andrés brought the concept of small dish dining to America
when he opened his tapas restaurant in the Penn Quarter neighborhood in
1993. This original location was recently renovated after 20 years in
business, and the new look incorporates furnishings and artwork from some
of Spain’s most notable contemporary designers. The bold, festive decor
brings new energy to this landmark restaurant. Enjoy sangria or one of the
fabulous cocktails before delving into the tapas and paella.
José Andrés is a native of Spain who now oversees a small fiefdom of
restaurants in Washington DC ,Beverly Hills, Las Vegas, South Beach, and
Puerto Rico. His influence in the culinary world would be hard to
overestimate – his awards include “Chef of the Year” from Bon Appetit,
Outstanding Chef (2011) from James Beard Foundation, and one of the
“World’s 100 Most Influential People” (2012) from Timemagazine. In
addition to Jaleo, his restaurants in DC
are minibar, Zaytinya, Oyamel, Beefsteak, China Chilcano, and
the Pepe food truck - read more here (Photo by Jan Mark Holzer)

14. 13. Komi
Komi is an intimate Dupont Circle restaurant with 12 tables and no menu –
diners get a multi-course dinner beginning with numerous small, light
courses and culminating in larger and more robust dishes. The cuisine is
upscale Mediterranean. Chef-owner Johnny Monis wows diners with roughly
15 courses of revelatory small dishes, starting with raw seafood and
culminating in a roasted meat feast of baby goat or suckling pig. The plates
get larger and more complex with every course, and the creativity of the chef
is apparent with each dish. The entire meal makes for a wonderful evening
and an indulgent, very memorable dining experience. Service is attentive,
friendly, and informative. In 2012, Komi was ranked at #13 on the list of the
“The 100 Best U.S. Restaurants” by Forbes. It has also been named as one of
the Top 10 “Best Places for Pasta” by Gourmet magazine - read more
here (Photo by Elvert Barnes)

15. 14. Estadio
Estadio is a small and stylish Spanish restaurant in the Logan Circle
neighborhood serving tapas and drinks from Spain. The cozy, festive space is
loft-like and comes with wood and stone, Spanish tiles, an open kitchen, and
a large central bar. Chef Haidar Karoum runs the kitchen and offers a lengthy
and enticing menu of tapas, cheeses and charcuterie influenced by the
traditional cuisines of the Basque and Catalan regions. For drinks, there’s has
an enticing array of slushitos, Spanish beers, wine and sherries, sangria, and a
list of specialty cocktails. Be sure to save room for the Manchego
Cheesecake with Quince Jam and Raisin Granola. Estadio doesn’t take
reservations, so plan to arrive early or spend some quality time in the bar. The
wait for a table can be up to an hour on busy weekend nights - read more
here (Photo by stsnck)

16. 15. Obelisk
Obelisk is a tiny Dupont Circle restaurant that offers five-course, authentic
Italian dinners with wine pairings. Obelisk is located in a rowhouse – a tiny
sign on the door leads diners to Chef Peter Pastan’s 30-seat dining room, and
the handwritten menu showcases items made in-house using seasonal local
ingredients. This is slow dining in intimate surroundings at its best - read
more here (Photo by Seth Woodworth)
Featured photo by Ted Eytan. All photos CC-BY-2.0.

17. See our list of the 49 best things to do in DC here.