capitol hill visit- any ideas?

[Troika]

Hello everyone, I'm going to visit my friend in Capitol Hill this week and was wondering if there are any noteworthy places to visit to eat and drink. I'm not exactly loaded but I don't mind spending a moderate amount of money on having a good experience. I love all types of food and hate, HATE corporate type restaurants ( used to work there for quite some time ). Thanks !

[Elyssa]

I forgot to mention Levi's---a total dive soul food restaurant....the real deal. Delicious, artery clogging soul food. Yum!

[Gigi007]

I second the recs for Sonoma, Belga Cafe, and Cava. Belga is one of my favorites, although service can be hit or miss at times.

[ktmoomau]

I second the recommendation for Cava, Matchbox, Sonoma, Market Lunch for breakfast or lunch.

Not a lot of Asian in the area. Sticky Rice is sort of pan asian I like their Richmond location a lot, but haven't been to this one in a while now. You could head into china town, which has limited Chinese food, but a few places Tony Chengs (good peking duck and some good seafood), Chinatown Express for noodles, and there are a couple other places. That wouldn't be too too far.

[Troika]

again, thank you guys.

[flavrmeistr]

I'd also throw in Full Kee at 6th and H St NW for the shrimp dumpling soup. Good and cheap, mostly good.

[hamster]

Also check out some places on H Street NE, not a long walk from Capitol Hill though you might want to avoid going alone at night. Taylor Gourmet has tremendous Philadelphia-Italian sandwiches - very high quality ingredents, and certainly affordable. Also consider getting the moules-frites at Granville Moore's. Definitely not corporate, and very delicious.

[Elyssa]

I would check out Art and Soul for delicious Southern Cuisine, Cava for Greek/Med small plates/mezze, Matchbox for great pizza and mini-burgers, Lola's for good bar food, Sonoma for charcuterie, cheese, and wine, Good Stuff Eatery for burgers and shakes (I actually prefer their turkey burger....it's amazing), and Le Bon Cafe for french-style sandwiches and/or breakfast.

[Troika]

Thanks for all the help guys. Is there any good/ decent asian food nearby as well? I'm not picky, so long as its decent and they aren't too full of themselves ( i.e. P.F. Chang's type).

[ChewFun]

On Pennsylvania Ave., SE, between 2nd and 3rd Streets, there is a Chinese restaurant on the 2nd floor. I used to go there quite often and was always happy. It is your basic, slightly above average neighborhood Chinese restaurant.

[Elyssa]

On 8th St. there is a pretty good Thai restaurant called Old Siam. I use to always get the Rama Longsong.

[hill food]

Old Siam is about the only Asian place I'd suggest, but then to be honest, I've never made it back to Szechuan House after it became Fusion Grill. It looks popular, just haven't felt compelled.

[Elyssa]

It's pretty much the same exact food with a different sign.

One important thing to note---the take out menu it different than the menu inside the restaurant. I've been a few times for their lunch special.

[hill food]

that was kind of my hunch, thx for the clarification.

[ChewFun]

The classic Hill places are the Market Lunch at Eastern Market and the Tune Inn. Granville Moore's for mussels and beer is great. Le Bon Cafe used to be my regular breakfast spot when I was still on the Hill. None of these places are expensive all of these places are good and frequented by locals.

[littlew1ng]

sonoma or matchbox would be my first picks in that area.

[WestIndianArchie]

Spike's Good Stuff Eatery. - burgers, fries, and shakes.

[hill food]

which part of the Hill? there's so much more choice now than even just 4 years ago it's hard to nail it down.

In the SE quadrant my recent fave is Cava (Greek mezze) 2nd location, but still family owned and operated. Montmartre is dependable bistro fare (though can be 'spendy' for the neighborhood). Belga is good, but service can be 'odd' not bad, just odd. I hear good things about Lola's, but I've only had drinks there. The most corporate type place around this side is prob. Matchbox, but even that's local, the least? the Tune Inn is a great scruffy dive.

[Elyssa]

I wouldn't exactly call Matchbox corporate---it's a local pizza joint (that also serves other entrees). It's popular, not corporate.

[hill food]

I didn't mean to say MB is corporate, just rather they do seem to have their act together and really on this side of the Hill nobody comes off as "corporate"