Weekend in DC...need a Chow Itinerary

[anon646]

My wife and I are going to be in DC for a weekend and are looking for the best food in the city to cram into a weekend. We're going to Citronelle for dinner on Saturday night. Can we get a fellow hound to help us with meal suggestions for Friday night dinner (informal but really good...we have a long drive), and Sunday brunch and/or lunch? Thanks!

[guinness618]

Chef Todd Grey's Equinox and Chef Jeff Buben's Vidalia. you won't be disappointed.

[whiner]

I don't spend much time in DC anymore but I love Dino and would fit Friday night bill perfectly. Ask for their reserve wine list if you are into that sort of thing.

[boltz2000]

If it's true what they say that a perfectly roasted chicken is the hallmark of an excellent kitchen, then Dino fails miserably. I had their's last week; it was scrawny and roasted to the texture of an old baseball glove.

[Jeserf]

criticize a dish at Dino?
<gasp>

[jpschust]

That's odd- though I'll admit I don't order chicken at a restaurant (with the exception of Palena) as it's the big sign of amateur hour, not of what a kitchen can do.

[Jeserf]

isn't roast chicken, like an omelet, the real proof of what a chef can do?

On a good note, i used to like the bread pudding at Dino. But i think they took it off the menu. It was my favorite vegetarian option there.

[anon646]

Thank you all so much! We have a great idea of where we'll go now. I think we'll try Pesce first, and if we can't eat there we'll eat at our hotel. Blue Duck Tavern for brunch sounds great.

[LulusMom]

Pesce, Citronelle and BDT would be a fairly perfect food weekend. I'd just like to also give a shout out to two fun Sunday brunches - Bombay Club and Bistro Francais.

[jenikap]

"Best Food in the City":
Komi
Mini Bar
Buck's Fishing & Camping
Obelisk
Firefly
Blue Duck Tavern (haven't been but people seem to love it.)
Lunch @ Two Amy's (primo pizza) is always fun

Buck's & Firefly are probably the most casual, but BDT is in a hotel so I'm sure you could sit in the lounge (no res necessary) informally.

[jpschust]

You left out Palena and Buck's is nowhere near in that category (everyone on this board knows how I feel about minibar) and Firefly is probably in a bit of a slump at the moment because Wabeck is no longer there.

[jenikap]

To each his own. I pick Buck's over Dino. Dino's ok, but nothing special in my book. And I'm new to the board so don't know how you feel about minibar. I assume you're not a fan. Haven't been to Palena in 6 years.

[Jeserf]

<GASP>
something over Dino?
surely you are kidding!

[flipkeat]

My Husband and I were in DC in May last year and had a fun time at a place in Georgetown called Mei N Yu. Great Pu Pu platter at the bar and don't forget to try a Moroccan Delight..(from the Martini Bar)!! We were going to go in for dinner but stayed in the bar and had a fabulous time..very memorable...We also ate at Old Glory..a BBQ place that's apparently been there quite awhile...not so great.....Both places are casual.....My vote would be for Mie N Yu...they have a website also...www.mienyu.com

[CDouglas]

Sunday brunch at the Four Seasons on M Street is hard to beat.

[jpschust]

Agreed, but extremely expensive.

[jpschust]

Friday night- get a reservation at Dino- informal, casual, wonderfully affordable Italian food with one of the top wine lists in the city. You can wear jeans and a nice top in there. Get your reservation now.

Sunday brunch- I'd go to Blue Duck Tavern or to Tabbard Inn, both of which have excellent brunches.

[JAC13]

You might want to try Pesce in Dupont- it has a relatively casual atmosphere (the menu is presented on a chalkboard) and it is delicious. They don't take reservations so keep that in mind.

For Sunday brunch, why don't you try Cafe Atlantico in the Penn Quarter area- they do latin dim sum.