Where to Eat in Washington
Merrill, Jill
Where to Eat in Washington by Jill Merrill Most of our readers don’t live in Washington but come here often because their work is connected with the government. For their benefit, we offer this...
...Empress (David Lee's), 1875 Connecticut Ave., 462-8111...
...The staff is accommodating and willing to explain the menu...
...Expensive...
...strip steak for $6.95...
...Peking duck is available without advance notice...
...There are three or four excellent specialties each day, and the food is not only well-prepared but entirely fresh and preservative-free...
...Moderately priced, this tasteful restaurant provides a relaxed respite from the noise of downtown life...
...I Moderate...
...Inexpensive...
...If you’re already having dinner, there is no charge for tbe entertainment...
...Belly dancer upstairs in the evenings...
...But if the milieu isn't charming, the building itself is, and inside there's a warm, dark, friendly bar with a loyal clientele...
...Jean-Pierre, 1835 K St., 333-1066...
...The service is good and the setting attractive and quiet, but, by all accounts, the food is uneven...
...yo credit cards or reservations...
...Expensive...
...Reservations essential at lunch...
...Court of the Mandarins, 1824 M St., 223-6666...
...Right near the Washington Hilton...
...The menu is extensive, ranging from squid (superior) to thany variations of chicken with rice...
...An escellent Italian restaurant...
...A self-service salad bar, but not much else, distinguishes it from the other fast-food places listed here...
...EI Palacio, 1827 M St., 785-8228., One of five El Palacios in tlie Washington area, serving undistinguished Tex .. Mex food...
...We recommend fettuccine with clam sauce...
...the bar is “intimate” and attractive and the drinks generous...
...Lots of hanging plants and salads as the name implies...
...Gaylord’s, 1731 Connecticut Ave., 232-1 128...
...Good service, good food, good value...
...the striped bass with a delicate sauce-either hot or cold-is another delight...
...Located right next to the Mayflower Hotel, the food is probably better at lunch than at dinner...
...Moderate...
...Very crowded at lunch...
...Inexpensive...
...It's good as well...
...The quality of the food, like the prices, is modest...
...Better to take out than to stay...
...The atmosphere is lively, the food moderately priced...
...Although the namesake of this distinguished restaurant is now owner-chef of Le Lion d’Or, the food remains superb...
...Excellent value...
...The atmosphere is lively, the food moderately priced...
...O'Riley's Pub Rear 1122 18th St...
...The Middle Eastern dishes are a good value, the American only fair...
...Very expensive...
...They also share attractive surroundings complemented by discreet but attentive service...
...Prices are higher ($4.50-$6.95, drinks $2) upstairs at night, when the belly dancer performs after 8:30 p.m...
...Reasonable...
...A wide range of good, well-prepared French food...
...Open for lunch until 5 p.m...
...Mandarin restaurlmt with large portions...
...Located right next to the Mayflower Hotel, the food is probably better at lunch than at dinner...
...872-1114...
...Kramerbooks’ Afterwords Cafe, 1517 Connecticut Ave., 387-1462...
...In the same neighborhood as Napoleon’s, but the cuisine is more American with, naturally, an emphasis on seafood...
...Moderate Paradise Cafe, 1900 M St., 833-1218...
...No credit cards, reservations, or alcohol...
...n the summer, the courtyard offers the most charming setting for outdoor dining in downtown Washington...
...No reservations...
...Cold dishes such as the pate platter or tongue are particularly good...
...Couscous and kifta are good...
...The freshly made pastas are excellent and rich...
...Moderate...
...After 9 p.m., excegt Mondays and Tuesdays, there is a country-rock band and a nominal cover charge...
...Just off K St., this wellknown restaurant specializes in 1;'eldng duck and Hunan (spicy) dishes...
...A $2.95 and a $4.50 sandwich-anddessert tea are offered...
...Arabian Nights, 29 15 Connecticut Ave., 232-6684...
...La Brochette, 1825 M St., 296-1363...
...businessmen...
...Inexpensive...
...Columbia Station, 1836 Columbia Rd., 667~2900...
...The reviews are mixed...
...Expensive...
...strip steak for $6.95...
...Empress (David Lee's), 1875 Connecticut Ave., 462-8111...
...This Italian restpant stands apart in one way: with ten dining iooms, it is bigger than the others...
...Altogether a good bargain in simple surroundings...
...El Caribe, 1828 Cblumbia Rd., 234-6969...
...E.J...
...A special for $3.50 is served every night and Spare Rib night (Thursday) is very popular...
...Harold’s Rogue and Jar, 1814 N St., 296-3192...
...There's delicious Latin-American food at this restaurant, which is north of the Washington Hilton in a Spanish-speaking community...
...Tiberio, 1915 K St., 452-1915...
...the other part is a sit-down sandwich restaurant of no great distinction...
...Upstairs food is served, but the one tUne we ate there it was truly terrible...
...Near the Washington Hilton Hotel, this is a neighborhood bar/restaurant in a primarily Spanish-speaking community...
...Its popularity, which is partially responsible for the harried service, is well-deserved...
...We've heard, however, that the Irish Stew is good...
...Greenery, 1144 18th St., 872-1658...
...beefburger for $2.65 to N.Y...
...Inexpensive...
...EI Dorado, 1832 Columbia Rd., 232-0333...
...The menu is extensive, ranging from squid (superior) to thany variations of chicken with rice...
...Romeo & Juliet, 2020 K St., 296-7112...
...We recommend the veal Francaise and the sole meuniere...
...Uneven in quality but worth taking a chance on if you’re up this way...
...The food is entirely Middle Eastern and the most expensive item on the menu is $4.25...
...Right near the Washington Hilton...
...The large Greek salad at $1.45 and the Moussaka for $2.25 at either lunch or dinner are quite good...
...I Moderate...
...Inexpensive...
...Cheap...
...Chez Camille, 1737 De Sales St., 393-3330...
...Christopher's Steaks Unlimited, 1232 20th St., 785-2100...
...EI Dorado, 1832 Columbia Rd., 232-0333...
...A number of stars lunch here regularly (but nqt many from the Carter Administration), so if you are more interested in craning yqpr 62 neck than eating good food, you won’t be disappointed...
...Near the Shoreham and Sheraton-Park Hotels...
...There's delicious Latin-American food at this restaurant, which is north of the Washington Hilton in a Spanish-speaking community...
...Moderate...
...The Best of the Wurst, 1900 M St., 223-01 79, and 1001 Connecticut Ave., 785-1003...
...This restaurant, across Rock Creek Park from the Shoreham Hotel, is a good value...
...Rocky Racoon Saloon, 1243 20th St., 872-1643...
...Harvey’s is a Washington institution...
...Gusti’s, 1837 M St., 331-9444...
...A good Indo-Pakistani restaurant with a wide selection of curries...
...Christopher's Steaks Unlimited, 1232 20th St., 785-2100...
...Sheraton-Carlton, 16th and K Sts., 638-2626...
...Moderately priced, this tasteful restaurant provides a relaxed respite from the noise of downtown life...
...Sans Souci, 726 17th., 298-7424...
...Vegetarian dishes also offered...
...Moderate...
...Cold dishes such as the pate platter or tongue are particularly good...
...No reservations...
...and 1621 H St., 483-2816...
...A handsome room with handsome beef at handsome prices...
...Crowded at lunch...
...Crowded and noisy but the cuisirie-AmericanIewish-is excellent and the jocks and lobbyists love it...
...Restaurants listed here are all located in the center of the city along-or near-the Connecticut Avenue comdor, beginning at Pennsylvania Avenue and ending above Rock Creek Park...
...Duke Zeibert's, 1722 L St., 296-5030...
...Very expensive...
...Iron Gate Inn, 1734 N St., 737-1370...
...Excellent value...
...Best of all, Roy has two excellent sauces you can’t find at other fast-food places-barbecue and horseradish...
...beefburger for $2.65 to N.Y...
...The place is done up in a Western way, and the food is strictly Tex-Mex...
...however, there’s a carry-out window for those who are short on time...
...The food is as average as the atmosphere is wild...
...Good if not exceptional American cooking in the most spacious non-hotel dining room in Washington...
...Prime Rib, 2020 K St., 466-8811...
...Tea, Sandwiches, and good sweets are served as a violinist strolls through this old-world hotel...
...Since there is no real kitchen, the menu is limited (quiches, salads), but the browsing is good...
...Inexpensive...
...In the Safari Lounge there is a more limited lunch menu and Heineken on draft, at moderate prices...
...No reservations...
...The portions are huge and the terrific pickles are gratis...
...Don’t bother with the over-cooked peas and carrots, but try the carrot cake, liver and onions, pies, and spoon bread...
...Hot Shoppes, 1825 Connecticut Ave...
...The Washington Monthly/February 1978 Roxie Munro *El Caribe, 1828 Cblumbia Rd., 234-6969...
...Good service, good food, good value...
...Some fluke of city planning left E.J...
...Good Spanish food at modest prices...
...Good Middle Eastern (mostly Iraqi) food, spiced more interestingly than at most restaurants of this sort...
...Go there te) drink, but not to eat...
...This restaurant, in the Fairfax Ifotel, has undergone a great many changes since its ascendancy during the Kennedy years...
...Moderate...
...on the other hand, it is quieter and more serene at dinner...
...They are all northwest of the White House...
...Mixed drinks are only 75 cents...
...Monday-Fpday, 3 :30-5 : 30 p.m...
...there are several other specialties fot those who want to sample various Chinese cuisines...
...Inexpensive...
...Unpretentious on the outside (one has to walk downstairs into a black hole), but the food is superb most of the time...
...Good, tangy Szechuan fare...
...One part is fancy and dark, with a round bar and an electronic stock ticker, catering to 58Chez Camille, 1737 De Sales St., 393-3330...
...Just off K St., this wellknown restaurant specializes in 1;'eldng duck and Hunan (spicy) dishes...
...Like the Jockey Club, the Sea Catch is in the Fairfax Hotel...
...Yenching Palace, 3524 Connecticut Ave., 362-8200...
...Golden Temple of Censcious Cookery , 1 5 2 1 Connecticut Ave., 234-6134...
...one should not expect too much...
...A special for $3.50 is served every night and Spare Rib night (Thursday) is very popular...
...Empress (Trudie Ball's), 1018 VeTmont Ave., 737-2324...
...excellent dumplings, we’re told...
...Washington’s only bookstore-cafe...
...If you like Indian food, you will not be disappointed...
...Simple, home-style cooking in the middle of downtown Washington...
...Harvey’s, 1001 18th St.3 833-1858...
...The carafe wine is good and inexpensive...
...The fare is all-American, with an emphasis on seafood...
...The portions are huge and the terrific pickles are gratis...
...Inexpensive...
...Court of the Mandarins, 1824 M St., 223-6666...
...A fine Northern Italian restaurant right off Connecticut...
...Expensive...
...Expende...
...Expensive...
...The Black Beret, 1140 Connecticut Ave., 223-5542...
...The hamburgers are fresh and hand-formed...
...Very crowded at lunch...
...Astor, 1813 M St., 331-7994...
...President Adams Room in the Hay-Adams Hotel, 8bO 16th St., 638-2260...
...No reservatioqp...
...Empress (Trudie Ball's), 1018 VeTmont Ave., 737-2324...
...Once a wonderful "little" restaurant, Camille moved to its present location and is now a "big" restaurant but, sad to say, only in size and price...
...Moderate...
...A converted 19th-century...
...Expensive...
...In winter there are two fireplaces to keep you warm inside...
...stable...
...Fresh, vegetarian food...
...No credit cards, no reservations...
...Greek Village, 1712 Connecticut Ave., 232-4768...
...Moderate...
...Great fun and good food for a slightly unusual and inexpensive repast...
...Szechuan East, 1805 H St., 296-3588...
...Good Spanish food at modest prices...
...At dinner it’s half-empty and not chic at all...
...Peking duck can ,be ordered with no advance notice...
...The all-beef meilU is surprisingly low-priced: 7 oz...
...O'Riley's Pub Rear 1122 18th St...
...Expensive...
...It's good as well...
...Calved Cafe, 1967 Calvert St., 232-5431...
...Paul Young’s, 1 120 Connecticut Ave., 331-7000...
...Sea-Fair, 2655 Connecticut Ave., 667-5 11 5. No reservations...
...Right across from the White House, this is a splendid room in the grande dame of Washington hotels...
...Although it’s noisy and crowded (especially at lunch), the Astor has maintained a loyal clientelefor goodreason...
...Moderate...
...While the six kinds of wurst offered could be better, the condiments and frozen ice cream are very good...
...in fact, they share the same kitchen...
...Italian haute cuisine with an extensive menu and consistently good pastas and desserts...
...Apart from the Crab Imperial, however, there seems to be little here to justify the celestial prices...
...Expensive...
...Modest Greek fare at remarkably modest prices (particularly the specials...
...JJ Giardino, 1110 21st., 223-4555...
...Moderate...
...The decor is California Redwood and the atmosphere, like the food, light and healthful...
...Go there te) drink, but not to eat...
...O'Riley's building in the middle of a city block, surrounded by parking lots...
...The first is close to the WsiShington Hilton, the second near the White Hodse...
...Duke Zeibert's, 1722 L St., 296-5030...
...The menu is extensive: a bit overwhelming for the uninitiated, but never dull...
...But if the milieu isn't charming, the building itself is, and inside there's a warm, dark, friendly bar with a loyal clientele...
...whole lamb stuffed with pine nuts is excellent but must be ordered two days in advance...
...Roma, 3419 Connecticut Ave., 363-661 1. A fiuge, Italianate garden complete with music and gurgling, grapeinfested plaster putti...
...EI Palacio, 1827 M St., 785-8228., One of five El Palacios in tlie Washington area, serving undistinguished Tex .. Mex food...
...A delightful restaurant in a charming hotel...
...Moderate...
...Columbia Station, 1836 Columbia Rd., 667~2900...
...Tuscon Cantina, 2605 Connecticut Ave., 462-6410...
...Upstairs food is served, but the one tUne we ate there it was truly terrible...
...Inexpensive...
...Formerly Tippy’s Taco House, the Cantina has expanded its menu to include such items as beef and chicken enchiladas...
...Several blocks off Connecticut, one of a spate of recently opened northern Italian restaurants in this area...
...Vegetarian dishes also offered...
...O'Riley's building in the middle of a city block, surrounded by parking lots...
...872-1114...
...In spite of its rather undistinguished decor, this is the ne plus ultra of Washington’s increasing number of fine French restaurants...
...The specialty of the house is a quite good roast beef sandwich, and there’s also so-so fried chicken...
...Mandarin restaurlmt with large portions...
...Moderate...
...Breakfast and lunch are particularly good times to spot luminaries...
...Jockey Club, 2100 Massachusetts Ave., 659-8000...
...Moderate...
...Inexpensive and a good value...
...Moderate...
...Peking duck can ,be ordered with no advance notice...
...It is so dark and so noisy, however, that one wonders if one isn’t inside the cow’s stomach, rather than the other way around...
...Roy Rogers, 2021 I St...
...No credit cards, no reservations...
...Inexpensive...
...For those who are cholesterol-conscious, no butter is served...
...A comfortable family cafeteria, clean and reasonable...
...Known as a jazz club, the Rogue is also a good place for simple lunch or dinner...
...Some fluke of city planning left E.J...
...there are several other specialties fot those who want to sample various Chinese cuisines...
...Those we recommend most highly are indicated by an asterisk...
...Cantina d’Italia, 1214-A 18th St., 659-1830...
...Sholl’s Cafeterias, 1032 Connecticut Ave...
...Very expensive...
...Jacqueline’s, 1990 M St., 785-8877...
...Near the Washington Hilton Hotel, this is a neighborhood bar/restaurant in a primarily Spanish-speaking community...
...Tabard Inn, 1739 N St., 785-1277...
...Moderate...
...Moderate...
...We've heard, however, that the Irish Stew is good...
...Sea Catch, 2100 Massachusetts Ave., 659-8000...
...Delicious onion rolls and an excellent wine list that, des ite recent price increases, still offers some gargains...
...No credit cards...
...For our money, this is the best-and most underrated-fast-food place around...
...It has some good specialties, such as the agnolotti and cannelloni in cream sauce, but .the service is poor at dinner and even poorer at lunch...
...For their benefit, we offer this guide to where to eat, and in alternate months, where to stay...
...E.J...
...Peking duck is available without advance notice...
...If you want to star-gaze at lunch, this restaurant negr the White House is the place for you...
...and 1433 K St...
...Very low prices-a full meal for $2-$3...
...Try the home-made soups, the spe cialty sandwiches, and the carrot cake...
...Simple, unpretentious, French food...
...The all-beef meilU is surprisingly low-priced: 7 oz...
...Moderate...
...This is a two-part restaurant in the basement of a modem office building...
...Once a wonderful "little" restaurant, Camille moved to its present location and is now a "big" restaurant but, sad to say, only in size and price...
...Crowded and noisy but the cuisirie-AmericanIewish-is excellent and the jocks and lobbyists love it...
...Burger Chef, 1216 18th St...
Vol. 9 • February 1978 • No. 12
