Best mid-range place for catching up on a Friday night

[daves_32]

Looking for a place to take my 20 something friend (from home-Michigan) this Friday night for a good dinner. I really would like it to be (without alcohol) no more than $25 PP. She is not super adventurous and I don't think she would like the sour and varying flavors of Ethiopian which I would have liked to take her to. In the past, I have taken her to Beck (she had the beef bourginone) and Majestic (house made vegetable pasta). Beck was my birthday so I was trying to stay a bit lower than that because I want to remember that (when i am with her at least, I go there with other friends occasionally) as a nice treat.
It HAS to be a place where we can sit, relax, and be able to (relatively) easily talk.
Would I be better off at Founding Farmers, one of the wine bars, or somewhere else. Please help me out. No Andres outfits this time.

[discojing]

Zengo is great for catching up (Chinatown)
Zatiniya (depending on how much you eat) (Metro Center)
Bangkok Joes (Georgetown) -- plus maybe a stop at baked & wired!
Rice (Logan Circle) with a trip to ACKC Cocoa Bar afterwards!
(Cork, a wine bar is in this area too)

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Rice Restaurant
1608 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20009

Artfully Chocolate Kingsbury Confections
1529 14th St NW, Washington, DC

[Gigi007]

I suggest Matchbox or Jaleo in Penn Quarter. Both have a varied menu and are reasonably priced. Proof would be a good option too.

[dcfoodie13]

Vinoteca on U Street would be a great choice for a wine bar. I recommend getting a couple cheeses to share and then one of their larger plates each - that would definitely keep you in budget.

[joann.hill12]

I agree dcfoodie...Vinoteca is a great recommendation. The sliders are fantastic and affordable. They also have a great cheese and hors d'oeuvres menu which would allow you to order a bunch of small dishes to share for an affordable price.

[littlew1ng]

i think boulevard woodgrill or harry's tap room would be good if your friend isn't an adventurous eater — both their menus manage to be creative without going too into foodie territory, and the prices are pretty low for a quieter, less scene-y meal. liberty tavern is a good suggestion but it can certainly get loud and crowded.

[Elyssa]

How about Pizza Paradisio, Hank's Oyster Bar, Ulah, Mark and Orlandos (upstairs has the full menu, including the more affordable Mark's Menu) or Sette Osteria? All have good food and are in your price range.

[jkosnett]

My wife and I went to Olives on a cold Friday night at the conclusion of a hellish week. We sat upstairs.. that is, up from the bar, and they gave us a lot of TLC. It was quiet because the bar is across the (large) room. I think that's your place...

[Jacey]

Olives can get $$$$.

[ktmoomau]

I really enjoyed Founding Farmers, but you might also consider:

Lebanese Taverna? I know she is not too adventurous, but I have gotten my unadventurous sister-in-law to be to go there and she seemed to really like it (I mean they have grilled chicken with veggies even).

Or Liberty Tavern, the entree prices are close to your price range, but they are very big portions, and the salads and pizzas are very good.

[mjhals]

I second Liberty Tavern, very good, classic food. I absolutely love their roast chicken with mashed potatoes and broccoli rabe, perfect for this kind of weather. Also, they have a nice selection of half-bottles of wine, I seem to remember a rioja, that was very well-priced that I LOVED. Good for two people.

[chicken kabob]

I had a great dinner at Foudning Farmers last weekend.
Food was excellent and service was good.
They take reservations which is something to consider.
Be sure to order the carrot cake if you go! HUGE & DELICIOUS.

[daves_32]

Founding Farmers is a place I have wanted to go to for a while and I think it would be a fun place to take an out of towner because of its story. If we decide we want to save a bit of money, we can just get a couple of apps and share an entree. The reviews I have read say the entrees are huge so I don't anticipate that would be an issue. Good idea?

[MDoodle]

Another vote for Liberty Tavern!

[jongchen]

Lebanese Taverna is a good place for catching up. At the Pentagon City location at least the service is so slow that you have plenty of time for talking. A quick lunch there ended up taking 2 hours. With an empty restaurant it look them 40 minutes to take my order.

[DCLindsey]

I went to Founding Farmers last Friday and it was a madhouse. We sat downstairs and could barely hear each other. We asked for the check as soon as the entrees were cleared...