Compiled by the e-Management “Foodie” Blog Team (Ola Sage, Bambo Bamgbose, Colleen Schuler, Ireti Alabi, Dagmar Alayash, and Dennis Powell).
If you live in or ever visit Washington DC, you know how easy it is to get caught up in the ongoing battles between Republicans and Democrats; liberals and conservatives; and even Cowboys and Redskins. What each of us can agree on, however, is food. Everyone in this town loves to eat. In the interest of bringing people together, the e-Management “foodie” blog team takes a break from our usual business and technology postings to compile a list of our favorite places to dine in the DMV.
So that we are all on the same page, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is a place where you stand in long lines to get your car registration renewed. But our DMV is a more enjoyable experience, and actually refers to DC, Maryland, and Virginia. In this DMV, you wait in long lines of cars to get to work, school, or home. Now that we cleared that up, let’s take time to savor this scrumptious list of eateries and lounges. Don’t worry you cannot gain weight reading. *grin*
District of Columbia (DC)
Eatonville Restaurant
(www.eatonvillerestaurant.com)
Eatonville is the sister restaurant to the popular Busboys and Poets chain (inspired by famed writer and poet Langston Hughes). Named for the hometown of Zora Neale Hurston, author of Their Eyes Were Watching God, the historic U Street restaurant is a popular stop for DC’s hippest connoisseurs of fine dining. So if you’re in the area, stop by and try their cajun mushroom loaf, or catfish and grits with jalapeno-cheddar grits served with collard greens and tomato butter. Also, be sure to check out their Food & Folklore events schedule online.
Napoleon Bistro & Lounge
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A newcomer to Adams Morgan’s restaurant row, Napoleon Bistro has some of the best lamb in town. Seriously. Have you tried it? Also, their duck casserole is as rich as ever. Plus, it would be a sin if you left this French restaurant without having their tasty crepes. Their tagline is “Paris at your Doorstep” – need we say more!
Oya Restaurant & Lounge
(www.oyadc.com)
Located in the hip Penn Quarters section of DC, Oya Restaurant & Lounge is a certified hit. We recommend their delectable sushi and spicy crunchy shrimp. If you are looking for a contemporary décor, look no farther than Oya. Great food. Great atmosphere. And great prices for gourmet food.
Policy
(www.policydc.com)
We don’t know where to start. But the Policy is our new found secret! What makes this place so fab? Well, maybe it is the roasted lamb chops? Or the Madras curry lamb sliders? Oh wait, perhaps it’s the grilled hanger steak or Texas Gulf shrimp? Did we mention the peppered diver scallops? Our foodie team can never decide on what’s best. Every bite feels like a foodies dream. We’re pretty certain you’ll be thanking the chef everytime you leave. The food is really that good!
Maryland
Chapala Restaurant
(www.chapala-restaurant.com)
If Tex-Mex and Salvadorean food does it for you, try Chapala in Burtonsville. Their steak is tender and the marinade is so delicious. Once you’ve tried their fajitas, you may not want to go anywhere else! We also recommend their Camarones brochettes (shrimp) that are stuffed with cheese and jalapeno wrapped in bacon. Yeah, we know it’s packed with cholesterol; so be sure to plan a day at the gym following your visit to Chapala.
Cava
(www.cavamezze.com)
This Greek and Mediterranean restaurant is vibrant, yet has a relaxing atmosphere with excellent service from waiters, who take your orders using their PDAs! How cool is that? Plus, we like the concept of small dishes that gradually fill you up and that you can take your time to savor each dish without feeling rushed to finish. Order as few or as many dishes as you want; the dishes are bought to your table within well spaced intervals providing you with enough time to digest and enjoy each dish before the next one appears. We love their Cypriot flaming grilled haloumi cheese, and grilled lamb chops.
Great Sage
(www.great-sage.com)
Vegetarians, vegans, and their friends and family will absolutely love Great Sage restaurant of Clarksville. The Great Sage proves that you can get a tasty, filling meal from plant-based, organic cuisine. The restaurant also caters to people who have special diets such as gluten-free, diary-free, or raw foods.
Old Hickory Grille
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Mondays are “Kids Free Dinner Night” (children 12 and under get dinner at no cost) at Old Hickory Grille. Plus there are discounts for Tuesdays and Wednesdays. What’s not to love about this place? In this economy, offering great deals throughout the week and providing quality dishes are great ways to attract patrons. But what keeps them coming back are their yummy crab cakes, flavorful bourbon street pasta, spicy cajun egg rolls, marvelous, Bourbon Street avocado burger, to-die-for pecan-crusted catfish, and we could go on. Really. This place has become a favorite among our “foodie” team.
Virginia
2941
(www.2941.com)
Located in the Fairview Park section of Falls Church, 2941 is another favorite of our foodie team. What’s more, 2941’s cuisine is fresh and seasoned to perfection regardless of what you order. You already know our foodie team loves lamb; so it should come as no surprise we are fans of 2941’s great roasted lamb rack entrée served with natural jus, crispy and spicy panisse, and baby turnips. For dessert, try their Bailey’s Irish cream mousse ganache. Hmmmmm good.
Monterey Bay Fish Grotto
(www.montereybayfishgrotto.com)
Ambiance is something we look for in any good restaurant. Monterey Bay Fish Grotto of Tyson’s Corner has plenty of it. The upscale restaurant also offers up to 20 varieties of fresh fish everyday prepared the way you like it. Monterey Bay easily has some of the best seafood in the area, and an excellent wine selection. So good, we keep going back time and time again.
The Other “D” in DMV
Go Fish
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Not quite DMV, but Rehoboth Beach (Delaware) is DC’s summer beach playground. So we would be remiss if we excluded one of our favorite nearby resort towns from the list. Next time you are at the beach, check out the Go Fish—an authentic British fish and chips spot. The eatery is truly an exceptional place! Why? Well, that’s a silly question. The fish and chips are phenomenal! Top this off with Sticky Toffee pie and you are all set! We love this food, and it’s a good thing we live far enough away from Rehoboth…we’re not sure if our waistlines could handle fish and chips every day. *smile*
Help Us Build on the DMV Hot & Spicy Restaurant List
Remember, this is not about the best restaurants in DMV, simply our favorite places to wine, dine, and kick back. We know there are plenty of places we missed from Annapolis to Leesburg, and Baltimore to Fredericksburg. So this is where you come in. What are your favorite eating establishments? What are your favorite dishes, wines, beers, or desserts served at those restaurants? Lastly, when you are on travel, are there certain cafes, restaurants, or lounges you just have to do? We look forward to your comments and additions. Feel free to share this thread with your family, friends, or social networks (e.g., Facebook) to help grow our list.