'Burbs vs. Inside The Beltway: Restaurant Challenge (Reston, Jefferson: coupons, apartment)

[Alicia Bradley]

I don't know if it's actually any good, but I've been dying to try Founding Farmers at 1924 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. (Yet again, some progressive Midwesterners - this time a North Dakota farmers union - step up to the plate [hehe] to fill a gap in D.C.-area culinary creativity.) Their "popcorn of the day" is the kind of concept that really appeals to me. FF doesn't look too pricy, either, especially for lunch.

The Stardust Restaurant & Lounge in Alexandria (like lots of things in Old Town, not too close to a Metro, but the King St. Trolley can make the journey a lot easier) I *can* actually vouch for. It's like a darker, smokier Franklin's (in Hyattsville, MD) but without the toys and penny candy and with better food. (That's not to knock Franklin's or anything - they're hit or miss, but their "hits" are usually very good.) The Stardust has got a funky-random-fusion sort of menu with Asian-inspired leanings and kitschy '50s decor and will most definitely not break the bank. Again, not surprisingly, perhaps, started by transplanted Midwestern foodies. It's like Evanston in D.C. (normie should get that one. )

[cdmurphy]

Last week my husband went to Ray's The Steaks (without me!) for the first time, and he really enjoyed it. It's near Courthouse Metro, and probably easier to get into now that Ray's Hellburger is in the limelight.

I'm not one for fancy or complicated food - my favorite thing to eat in this area is the steak-and-cheese sub from Quick Pita in Georgetown. It's on Potomac Street just north of M St (across from Georgetown Cupcake). It was my favorite in college, and I still grab one every chance I get. Uh, per your Metro-accessibility, it's a short walk across the Key Bridge from Rosslyn.

[themommy]

Originally Posted by Alicia Bradley

I don't know if it's actually any good, but I've been dying to try Founding Farmers at 1924 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. (Yet again, some progressive Midwesterners - this time a North Dakota farmers union - step up to the plate [hehe] to fill a gap in D.C.-area culinary creativity.) Their "popcorn of the day" is the kind of concept that really appeals to me. FF doesn't look too pricy, either, especially for lunch.

I've been dying to go there too, ever since they opened. It sounds fun and yummy and nicely homey.

[Stephen 81]

Originally Posted by Alicia Bradley

I don't know if it's actually any good, but I've been dying to try Founding Farmers at 1924 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. (Yet again, some progressive Midwesterners - this time a North Dakota farmers union - step up to the plate [hehe] to fill a gap in D.C.-area culinary creativity.) Their "popcorn of the day" is the kind of concept that really appeals to me. FF doesn't look too pricy, either, especially for lunch.

I'm not really a fan of Founding Farmers. It's like eating at a chain restaurant (huge portions, the more basic the food the better, servers are clueless about the dishes), only this one has an admirable mission. The thing is...shouldn't a farmers union know something about eating in season? You'll still find plenty of tomatoes and strawberries on the menu in January. I will say, though, that the mixed drinks are quite good

I would recommend Clarendon Hearth for pizza made with locally-sourced ingredients, but you Loudoun County residents already have Ashburn Hearth.

[GoHokiesGo]

I can probably give you a few good ones to add in there, I'll try to exclude the more expensive restaurants.
Georgetown

• Mr Smiths has good happy hour food specials, fun piano bar atmosphere. Good for a $10-15 meals.
• Meiwah - a few blocks outside gt on M-Street/New Hampshire. It's a fun chinese restaurant (big bright neon sign outside, you can't miss it). This is probably my most visited "cheap eat" in DC. They have tons of neat tiki drinks (and they can be very strong). The chinese food is great, it's somewhere between pf Changs and authentic chinese; it's one of our favorites

Dupont Circle

• Bua Thai - a block or two off of dupont. It's one of the better Thai restaurants I've been to. Their crispy duck dish is extremely good.
• Cafe Citron - latin bar. They serve margaritas and caipirihnas by the pitcher. As it gets later, they pass around conga drums that you can play with the music
• Russia House - a little outside dupont, my favorite bar. The crowd is all kinds of ages. It's a Vodka bar and is rumored to be where the Russian Mob meets, it has that feeling as well. This one is a bit of a hidden gem, you get younger people at one table, and the next table over you'll see high-power lawyers chatting away. Don't let the vodka part scare you, they have flavored vodka's that are surprisingly good; all served on the rocks, but even my wife likes the fruity ones. It's a great lounge to sit and talk, and then it becomes packed around midnight.

Penn Quarter/Verizon area

• Central Michel Richard - probably more expensive, but amazing food. Probably one of the best food restaurants, it's one of Michel Richards newest restaurants - James Beard Chef that owns Citronelle, arguably the best chef in DC. One of my most recommended restaurants for a nicer restaurant that has mid-level pricing. I believe you can eat at just the bar, although we've always sat down for dinner. Food is excellent, and their home-made ice cream is the best I've had.
• Oya - want to feel snazzy? go here. The whole restaurant is basically made with marble, the walls, floors, fireplace. This is probably our favorite DC restaurant for my wife and I. It's french-asian fusion, and I haven't had a bad dish yet there. Excellent sushi, the 3-course dinner is an awesome deal. Dinner can get up there in price, but they have really good happy hour deals on sushi.
• Cafe Atlantico - Jose Andres' restaurant, the food is very good. The drinks are very cool with a nice twist on traditional drinks, they have these foam flavors called "air" that they float on all their drinks. Don't waste your time on Minibar though, they're exclusive restaurant inside, it's extremely highly rated, but we hated it and spend a ton of money to try it.

There are a ton of other regular bars in dc, but I was trying to think of some fun ones that aren't entirely full of younger people. Most of my regular bars are people in their 20s, but the others listed were pretty diverse in age.

Originally Posted by jeksmom062405

There is a fantastic tapas place near the Verizon Center. It's called Zaytinya and the food is out of this world - mediterranean tapas. Plus, they have really great drinks. We have a preschooler, but any time we have an opportunity to go out, I always want to go there. I know my husband gets frustrated!

I've been wanting to try Zaytinya, their head chef is currently one of the competitors on Top Chef: Top Chef - Bios - Michael Isabella - Bravo TV Official Site

[anonymous703]

Originally Posted by ScranBarre

Thank you. I did the Race to Remember this morning in DC (placed right around the Top 10%, by the way), and we parked at West Falls Church for a change of pace. I was pleased to see that there is a bus route running from Reston to this station. From now on I will likely take the bus back-and-forth between this station.

You did not know about the 505 until now? Dang. I've commented on its service a bit on threads that talk about the silver line... I wish they'd tweak the schedule just a little bit... they do get points for running late on Saturday, but the last bus runs at 12:50, when last call and metro run so much later. And there is no late night on Fridays, either...

[anonymous703]

Oh, let me throw these in for the 'burbs:

Unclos Julios Rio Grande Cafe. Absolutely love the fajitas. It's $33/two people before drinks and everything else. I consider it a bit price, but very good.

Value? My fiance and I ate at 4912 Thai in Sterling a couple of weeks ago. I'd say it fits the value proposition quite well -- probably not the best Thai I've ever had, but it's decent, good portions, and a reasonable price.

[Flamingo13]

If you want Metro accessible, go to King St. and hop on the free trolley! You can eat at King Street Blues, Union Street, any of dozens of places but you can also walk down King and stop in shops that might look interesting, etc.

Get an ice cream or coffee and go sit and look at the water, watch the boats, people watch, stroll through Torpedo Factory.....

[irisheyes13]

Originally Posted by TheseGoTo11

Highly recommend it, also like Guajillo's next door.

I work in Rosslyn and agree that Rays Hell Burger and Guajillo's are great options. I also highly recommend Liberty Tavern in Clarendon and Rosa Mexicana in Penn.. I had a different experience then the previous poster on Talluha.. We had a fantastic meal there just a few weeks ago. There were 6 of us and everyone was very pleased with thier meal..

[bmwguydc]

Some places that I would recommend include:

Vegetate - 1414 9th Street, NW - Shaw: They prefer that people use public transportation due to limited parking, and for the environmental impact. Although it's vegetarian, the food appeals to meat eaters as well.

Bombay Club - 815 Connecticut Avenue, NW, between H & I Sts.

City Lights of China - 1731 Connecticut Avenue, NW - DuPont: Offers conventional and vegetarian Chinese cuisine.

Lauriol Plaza - 1835 18th St, NW - DuPont: Excellent Mexican cuisine

Bangkok Joe's - 3000 K Street, NW - Georgetown

Mr. Chen's Organic Chinese Cuisine - 2604 Connecticut Ave, NW - Woodley Park

Java Green - 1020 19th St, NW - Golden Triangle: Close to K Street, offers excellent vegetarian fare. Closed on Sundays.


Papa Razzi in Georgetown is a pretty good bistro, though it's also a chain, part of the Back Bay Restaurant Group. Papa Razzi is a concept that originated in the Boston area and is attached to upscale malls south of there, including the location at Georgetown Park. Others are located at Short Hills and Garden State Plaza in New Jersey, and on Long Island, aside from several in the Boston market.