Going to District - Where do you eat? Museums or ?? (crime, hotel)

[labratinaz]

Good day. Whenever we go down to the District we generally end up at The Capital Brewry. It is the one restaurant we know.

What others would you recommend?

We are middle aged folk ( mid 50s ) and looking for a good meal. We have seen lots of folks eating at the different dining areas around the Museums. Are there other places around the Mall area that you go to??

Thanks

[becwells]

Old Ebbitt Grill is always nice. It's over by the White House. (Old Ebbitt Grill)

[akorosdc]

There's a lot of stuff in Penn Quarter/Gallery Place. Just walk up 7th Street. I always liked lunch at Oyamel (fancy Mexican), and then there's Teaism, Gordon Biersch, Fado's, RFD, Matchbox, Mehak, Ella's, Elephant & Castle, Clyde's, Zaytinya, and numerous others nearby. I've also heard that the food court at the Old Post Office building is good, too. South of the Mall you're more limited to little sandwich shops inside office buildings.

You could also eat inside one of the museums. I usually get gelato at the National Gallery and I've heard that the restaurant in the American Indian museum is really good.

[imisscarlsbadcalifornia]

My husband and I found Ella's Woodfired Pizza by accident; it's right across the street from the Metro stop for the Spy Museum (which I don't recommend, we thought it would be more compelling). We had a butternut squash tortellini there that was probably one of the best dishes I've ever had. Their pizzas and salads are also good.

We are very new to the area so I don't have more to offer you about restaurants in the District but I'm sure reading your thread! We're heading back to do some museum browsing this coming weekend and are always looking for a good place for lunch. Good luck with your dining adventures!

[leighland]

Originally Posted by juniperbleu

There's a lot of stuff in Penn Quarter/Gallery Place................I've also heard that the food court at the Old Post Office building is good, too. .

Where exactly is Penn Quarter? And where is the old post office bldg? Thanks!

[akorosdc]

Originally Posted by leighland

Where exactly is Penn Quarter? And where is the old post office bldg? Thanks!

Penn Quarter is the name developers gave to the area around the Archives metro (between Chinatown and the National Mall). I'm not sure of exact boundaries, but I'd say the Mall to the south, F Street to the north, and then 5th and 9th streets to the east/west.

Penn Quarter Restaurants (http://godc.about.com/od/pennquarterrestaurants/Penn_Quarter_Restaurants.htm - broken link)

The Old Post Office as at 11th & Pennsylvania
Old Post Office Pavilion

[novahousehunter]

As far as eating at museums I've heard good things about the Native American museum cafe but never eaten there.

[janie01]

My Husband loves the DC Chophouse at 509 7th st. NW. It is next to the Museum of Crime and Punishment and down the street from the Spy Museum and the National Portrait Gallery (my favorite museum). It's not my favorite part of town (don't really know why), but those three museums are great. These museums aren't on the mall and the first two mentioned do charge admission but we loved them all. Have fun if you ever go!

[kevinm]

Palamino's in the Ronald Reagan building on Penn Ave.

[fittmom1]

Love Elephant & Castle..Good for a pint and food is good..you can catch some football as well...Also...Occidental is good. Top of the Washinton Hotel is good for cocktails and apps. We often go and have a drink in the Round Robin Bar at the Willard..>That's fun!