This Tricks of the Trade post is specifically for all of the food lovers out there, welcome to heaven! DC is known for having an amazing selection of culturally diverse food choices ranging from food trucks, to inexpensive (but delicious) little hole in the wall diner spots, to some very ravishing upscale dining options. Since living here this summer, I have made it a point to expand my palate and try new things in the food world; and now I want share with all of y'all my experiences I've had so far! I have developed a list below (that I will continue to update as I try more new things) of reviews of restaurants I have dined at in the city.
Lunch Time Hot Spots
Chop't (Creative Salad Company) http://www.choptsalad.com/
This quick lunch spot focuses on freshness and quality of its food. The owners have made is their mission to offer only the premium, most ultra-fresh ingredients at the Chop't restaurant. Nothing at Chop't is processed, pre-cut or pre-shredded. Everything is made right in front of you.
I've only been here once so far, but both the service and food were GREAT when I did try out a Chop't salad.
Atmosphere: Super Busy! There is ALWAYS a line out the door when I am walking passed this restaurant. But obviously, there's a reason for that..people must love the food!
Time: While some people eat in the restaurant, because it's so busy and because many people are on a time constraint, a lot of people get it to go. The day I went, the line was already at the door..yet I was still able to make it in and out in 10 min! They are super fast at getting your perfect salad all ready for you to enjoy.
Price: I paid about $10 for my salad once I had gotten all of my favorite ingredients and dressing added. A little pricey for just a salad some would say; however, this salad was huge. I was able to eat it for both lunch and dinner.
Overall: Chop't has a great philosophy and delicious ingredients. Yes, it is super crowded, but worth the wait in line..I promise you that!
Nandos Peri-Peri http://www.nandosperiperi.com/
This lunch spot is famous for their legendary butterfly-cut, flame grilled Peri-Peri chicken. Peri-Peri, also known as African Bird's Eye Chilli, is a spice found in Africa by a few Portuguese explorers years ago. In 2008, this Peri-Peri made its way over to US soil, with the first Nandos restaurant opening its doors on July 3rd on 7th street in Washington, DC (Chinatown). Since the, they have spread our wings by adding 13 more restaurants around the metropolitan area-including locations in the DC, Northern VA and also in Maryland.
I have fallen under the Nandos curse and eaten at both the Chinatown and Old Town Alexandria locations for a total of 4 times already.
Atmosphere: Great. very casual and welcoming
Time: It is perfect for a quick lunch or dinner (you go up to the counter and order your food as soon as you've decided what you would like, in which the staff will then bring it to your table once it's ready)
Price: I would say that it ranges between $8-$13 per person, depending on how hungry you are.
Overall: This place is definitely a decent choice I would say. Although, I prefer the Chinatown location over the Old Towne Alexandria location (I feel that I have had a better experience at the Nandos on 7th street with the food and the service)
The Tiny Little Cafes
Oohh's N Aahh's! http://www.oohhsnaahhs.com/
This place is overlooked by many passersby due to the fact that you hardly notice it when you walk by...the one thing that draws these over lookers in is the smell of heaven coming off the grill. Oohh's N Aahh's is known for their Soul Food!...and not just by DC residents, but also by Food Network. This restaurant has been featured on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives for their Shrimp&Grits and wings!
I was introduced here by my friend, Brianna. I got the MacNCheese while her and her sister shared the legendary Shrimp and Grits. The food was nothing short of amazing and it far exceeded our expectations.
Atmosphere: Yes, it seems like a little hole in the wall restaurant (but looks are very deceiving). The staff are very welcoming and they will be sure to show you to the upstairs dining area if you are looking to dine in!
Time: The chefs here are quick and precise. While my mac and cheese only took about 3 min, the shrimp&grits were ready in less than 10 min. We were out the door with our food in no time, and enjoy our yummy snack in the park area across the street!
Price: Ranging from about $5-$17 per person, the prices here are VERY reasonable for what you are getting. It seems expensive at first when you look at the menu, but once you get your food, I promise that you will definitely be satisfied.
Overall: I would highly recommend checking this place out while visiting the DC area. Not only is it great food for a great price, it's located right in the heart of U street (which is a very popular area of DC..so there are a lot of fun things right within walking distance)
Fancy Schmancy Dining
1789 http://1789restaurant.com/
If you happen to make your way into Georgetown while visiting DC, be sure to make your way to the upper west side where you will find an elegant stone building with the number, 1789 posted on a plaque; this is where you will want to go to experience an impeccable dinner service. This restaurant has been named one of DC's top 100 restaurants by the Washingtonian for the last 7 years, and has been given the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for the last 11 years.
My experience at 1789 was over the July 4th holiday while my family and friends were in town. We happened to find the restaurant after returning to the Georgetown dock from our "Booze Cruise". Entering, we felt quite under dressed, however, the wait staff assured us that we were completely fine and welcomed just as if we were the special guests of the evening. I cannot rave enough about how great our waitress was for the night, she appreciated us being inquisitive and was very enthusiastic in answering each of our questions. Moving onto the food quality; everyone really enjoyed their meal at the restaurant. Some of our entrees varied from the veggie choices of the menu, to the steak, as well as the seafood options. Below are a few pictures of a couple of our entrees.
To the right: Teres Major (Beef Shoulder) with grilled asparagus and mushroom bread pudding...with a choice of Horsradish Cream or Bordelaise for the sauce. This dish was a popular pick of the table and it was quite delicious. Sarah and I had the Bordelaise, while mom chose the horseradish; both of which were enjoyed and thought to add a great addition to the steak. The only thing that no one seemed to be a huge fan of was the mushroom bread pudding. It was an interesting combination of flavors. I'm sure it would be perfect for anyone who enjoys both mushrooms and bread pudding though!
To the Left: Ravioli Carbonara (pancetta, english peas and parmigiano-reggiano. This dish was BY FAR a table favorite. We had both an appetizer portion of it, followed by Amanda ordering it as an entree as well (and we were all hoping that she wouldn't finish it so that we could scavenge off the leftovers). Never in my mind would I have thought that ravioli could taste so good. The pasta had the most incredible texture and flavor you could imagine, while the combination of the cream sauce poured over it was the icing on top of the cake. If you visit 1789, this dish is a MUST HAVE.
Atmosphere: VERY elegant (however, anything but snobby). While the environment may seem like its a place only for the rich and famous, the staff are very down to earth and will make any/every customer feel at home.
Time: This is definitely not an in an out kind of place. If you are dining at 1789, be sure to allot enough time for at least an hour and a half dining experience.
Price: About $30-$50 per person. While this place is quite pricey, you definitely get what you pay for. There are many other restaurants in the DC area in which you could spend just as much on a dinner; however, I can almost guarantee you that the food quality or the service would not compare to what you get while eating here.
Overall: We came into 1789 like the Beverly Hillbillies! haha. Our attire didn't quite match up to some of the other guests, but that did not matter one bit to the staff; neither did my lack of fine dining etiquette. I would HIGHLY recommend taking a side trip to Georgetown and experiencing 1789 for yourself when visiting DC. You will not be disappointed.
Bistro Cacao http://bistrocacao.com/
Over in Capitol Hill, you will find this quaint little restaurant called Bistro Cacao. This restaurant gives you modern bistro-style french cuisine in what I would call a very charming and quite comfortable setting.
This was my first time actually expanding my palate and attempting to indulge on some types of food that I would have normally every tried before. The food was wonderful, though I would really suggest being open to try new things if you are going to be dining at Bistro Cacao. Aunt Glenda definitely started us off strong with the Salade de Roquette (Baby Arugula Salad, Roasted Pecans, Crumbled Bleu Cheese, Raspberry Vinaigrette) and the Pate de Faisan (Pheasant Pate with French Cornichons and mixed greens), both of which were surprisingly very tasteful. I've never been a big fan of bleu cheese, nor do I usually venture far from my Ranch Dressing, but I must admit that the salad was on point. I could not get enough of it. As far as the Pate, well, it's not quite like anything I've ever had. The texture was a little like bologna, but the taste was very different than such. It was not bad at all though, I even had more than one taste of it! As for our dinner entrees, I was able to remember to take a picture of them so that you can see what I am describing to you.
Top Left: Aunt Glenda had the best pick of the night with the Herb, Mustard and bread crusted rack of lamb; with a side of roasted potatoes, asparagus and sauteed mushrooms. I had never experienced eating lamb before, but "Oh My Goodness", Bistro Cacao's lamb entree was to die for. It was succulent, finger licking good! The sides were great as well, but the lamb definitely stood out above the rest!
Bottom Left: I played it safe with the Stuffed Chicken breast that had goat cheese, sun dried tomato and spinach; with a side of french green beans and roasted potatoes. My chicken was very good, but I definitely feel that it didn't really stand out from other stuffed chicken breasts that I've had (and I've had many because it is one of my favorites). My green beans and potatoes were completely gone by the end of my meal though; I thought that they were delicious, especially when dipped into the Rosemary Jus that was on my plate.
Atmosphere: Walking in, it seems as if they only have about 5 tables to sit at, but don't let your eyes deceive you. When Aunt Glenda and I told the host we needed a table for two, he led us deep into the restaurant, through various corridors (each with the most adorable dining set up you ever did see). When we finally got to our table, we were pleasantly surprised at just how comfortable and personable it was. Our dining seats were like living room chairs (but fancy ones of course). Each with a pillow in it, and extremely soft...making the experience even more enticing.
Time: Do not come here if you are in a hurry for anything! The service was good, but slow. Not because our waiter was extremely busy or because he didn't care to come check on us, but because the entire restaurant was very french (as was our waiter) and so that is just the custom of french dining culture. It took almost 2 hours to complete appetizers and entrees for two of us.
Price: Dinner would range from about $40-$50 per person here (but that is including drinks and appetizers though). For the quality of the food that you are getting, it's definitely worth it.
Overall: I would recommend this restaurant to a couple or a small family for sure. I don't think this is the best place to go when dining with a large party because it just wouldn't fit with the whole quiet and cozy atmosphere of the restaurant. If you are with a special someone (Or enjoying a lovely Aunt and Niece dinner) then it is a perfect little spot to check out on the Hill.
Zantinya http://www.zaytinya.com/
This restaurant is located in the heart of Chinatown and offers a Turkish, Greek and Lebanese inspired cuisine. Chef Jose Andres (owner of Zantinya), is also the owner of other well known restaurants in both DC as well as other happening US cities. This restaurant has consistently been ranking as a top DC dining destination since it opened in 2002.
Mom, Aunt Glenda and I chose to dine at this restaurant for some culturally diverse cuisine. We sat outside on the patio, and ordered quite a few different things to try since the menu was mezze style. The wait staff seemed to be a little lackluster and not as welcoming as we had previously had at the other restaurants. We started out with two appetizers; one being the Baba Ghannouge spread (fire roasted eggplant, tahini, lemon and garlic) and the Seared Halloumi Cheese (watermelon, tomato and mint); both of which were very tasty. We preferred the Halloumi cheese over the Baba Ghannouge spread just because the spread was a little on the salty side for our liking, however, it was one of those "okay" types of foods. The bread that you use for dipping was DELICIOUS though; light and fluffy, and perfect. Other dishes that we got are pictured and described below.
To the left: The bread that I just could not get enough of, as well as the Seared Halloumi Cheese (which I would recommend getting if you visit).
To the right: We have the Kotopoulo Youvetsi (chicken, orzo, tomato and kefalograviera cheese)and below it we have the Bantijan Bil Laban (crispy eggplant with a roasted garlic-yogurt sauce). These two dishes were our top two of the night for sure! The texture of the eggplant was perfect, as was the breading that it was fried in. The sauce was a surprise for me; I didn't think I would be a big fan of it, but I was proven wrong when I dipped the crispy eggplant in it. As for the Chicken orzo; well it is difficult to even describe this specific dish as anything other than GREAT. I can't put my finger on what part stood out the most, because it was the combination of all the ingredients coming together that made it so appetizing.
Top Left: Knisa Lamb Chops (grilled lambrib chops, smoked yogurt tzatziki and caper dill saltsa). I truly think that had the lamb been cooked a little less and had we been given a piece that wasn't as fatty, then it would have been a delicious dish. The flavors were definitely there, we just got the bottom of the barrel of chops I think. haha.
Bottom Left: Urfa Biftek (grilled hanger steak, traditional Turkish ezme salata, walnuts, peppers and tomato). The steak was decent, but a little over cooked and a tiny bit charred on the outside(maybe because it was such a small portion). However, the walnuts and veggie mixture surrounding the meat was very flavorful and yummy. It definitely added some extra flavor to the steak. In this dish, the veggies were the star while the steak took a back seat for sure.
Atmosphere: The environment was great, very laid back and casual, however the wait staff just didn't seem very up to par the night we went. We had actually ordered some Brussels sprouts as well (which never even made it to the table...were thinking that the waitress forgot to put the order in for it).
Time: The wait time and dining time is a perfect balance here. We spent about 45 min- an hour at the restaurant. The food was quick, and each dish came out at different times so that we were able to much on something throughout our entire dining experience.
Price: About $8-$15 per small dish. The pricing was not too bad, though I did expect a little better service and food quality on a few of the dishes.
Overall: I think that I would definitely try this restaurant out again for dinner sometime...until I do, I would definitely recommend trying it maybe for a happy hour or something. They do have some great dish options, with some being AMAZING while others are just "so-so". But I do believe that it is a decent upscale restaurant. I would recommend sitting inside though..it seemed to be a lot more wait staff inside (meaning you'd probably receive much better service).
Bottom Left: Urfa Biftek (grilled hanger steak, traditional Turkish ezme salata, walnuts, peppers and tomato). The steak was decent, but a little over cooked and a tiny bit charred on the outside(maybe because it was such a small portion). However, the walnuts and veggie mixture surrounding the meat was very flavorful and yummy. It definitely added some extra flavor to the steak. In this dish, the veggies were the star while the steak took a back seat for sure.
Atmosphere: The environment was great, very laid back and casual, however the wait staff just didn't seem very up to par the night we went. We had actually ordered some Brussels sprouts as well (which never even made it to the table...were thinking that the waitress forgot to put the order in for it).
Time: The wait time and dining time is a perfect balance here. We spent about 45 min- an hour at the restaurant. The food was quick, and each dish came out at different times so that we were able to much on something throughout our entire dining experience.
Price: About $8-$15 per small dish. The pricing was not too bad, though I did expect a little better service and food quality on a few of the dishes.
Overall: I think that I would definitely try this restaurant out again for dinner sometime...until I do, I would definitely recommend trying it maybe for a happy hour or something. They do have some great dish options, with some being AMAZING while others are just "so-so". But I do believe that it is a decent upscale restaurant. I would recommend sitting inside though..it seemed to be a lot more wait staff inside (meaning you'd probably receive much better service).
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