Dining near Ford's Theater

[tdmort]

The 3 of us (me, hubby, mom) will be in DC for the first time at the end of the month. We want to visit Ford's Theater and have dinner before our Moonlight Trolly Tour. It will be on a Friday night so I'm assuming we will need a place that takes reservations. Any good suggestions? We like American, Mexican, Italian, Asian - not a big fan of French or Ethiopian. Thanks so much!!!

[dinoindc]

Not far is one of my fav's - DC Coast. dccoast.com 5 min walk

[katecm]

I'd also take a moment to search Washington Post's City Guide for pre-theater menus. Most restaurants in Penn Quarter, like the excellent 701, have them, and they are great deals.

[Rosco1]

I like all the above suggestions. The Union Station area ones are (wisely) all on the west side of North Capitol St. and close to Union Station - not actually in Union Station. I don't like any places (sit down or food court) actually located inside Union Station.

OK, actually I do. There is an Italian Pastry and Coffee stand at the far west end of the food court in the basement called Vaccaro's. If you skipped dinner and had time, I would get a dessert there. The food court ambience is redeemed by the fantastic sweets and coffee. http://www.vaccarospastry.com/

[Elyssa]

That place does have really yummy pastries. Anything filled with cream especially!

[Rosco1]

I meant skipped DESSERT and had time...

[tdmort]

That's an excellent idea - thanks for the suggestion!!!

[tdmort]

Thanks for the suggestions - I'll check them out now. Since we will be going to Union Station for the Trolly Tour, we could eat there also. Is there anything worth while at Union Station? We'd prefer to stay away from food courts or fast food type places. Thanks!

[Elyssa]

Bistro Bis is right near Union Station. They have delicious french cuisine and a lot of politicians and news-related folks dine there. Often times you can get DC-celebrity sightings. The service is very good as well as the food.

Also in that area is Charlie Palmer's and Johnny's Half Shell.

[Dakota Guy]

All good but none convenient to Ford's Theater

[Elyssa]

The poster mentioned that he/she was interested in also checking out restaurants near Union Station--where their night tour of the monuments is picking up. Bistro Bis, Charlie Palmers, and Johnny's Half Shell are all in the Union Station/Capitol Hill area.

[lkmSS]

Bisto Bis is wonderful. We really love the food and service there.

[BigEats]

Oceanaire at 12th and F Sts has one of the best crabcakes in the city -- it's all backfin crabmeat with almost no filler whatsoever.

[Meg]

Too bad you don't like French, because Bistro D'Oc, right across the street from Ford's is spectacular, and one of my favorite french restaurants in all of DC. Though their food is very country, regional french cooking, not the haute cuisine of many "french" restaurants, so you may want to check out their menu before ruling it out. It certainly couldn't be any more convenient.

http://www.bistrodoc.com/home.html

[Dakota Guy]

Even if you don't like "French" the roast chicken with pommes frites (errr..French fries or Freedom fries!!) is very good.

[Elyssa]

This is my recommendation. This is one of my favorite restaurants in DC. Try the duck confit or any roast chicken and frites that they have. Most of the items on the menu though are absolutly delicious---so you can't go wrong.

[bordeauxfan]

For good high-end Italian look into Ristorante Tosca on 11th and F Streets. For Mexican (especially the tableside-prepared guacamole, and pomegranate margaritas!) investigate Rosa Mexicano on 7th and E Streets. Both have sample menus on their websites.