Trendy/Good Ambience Dinner for Group of 5 in DC
Looking for some suggestions for a dinner tomorrow night for a group of 5 for a birthday. Nothing over the top expensive, but a nice dinner. Looking for something with trendy, unique, fun, or interesting ambience. A little older crowd. Was considering Blue Duck Tavern to give you an idea of what I was thinking. Thanks!!!
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Blue Duck Tavern
1201 24th Street NW, Washington, DC 20037
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Agree, Westend has more of a trendy ambiance then Blue Duck. Also concur with the recommendations of Rasika, Central and Proof and would add Bibiana for great Italian food in a hip atmosphere. Blacksalt is delicious, but it's kind of off the beaten path (Palisades) and isn't particularly lively.
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Rasika Restaurant
633 D Street, NW, Washington, DC 20004Bibiana
1100 New York Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20005 -
I'd say that Blue Duck is pretty expensive, and not very "trendy". Great food, though. Westend Bistro is nearby and might fit the bill better.
Zaytinia in Penn Quarter
Commonwealth Gastropub
Mio in midtown.-----
Westend Bistro
1190 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20037Mio Restaurant
1110 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20005Commonwealth Gastropub
1400 Irving Street, Washington, DC 20010 -
I would not recommend Central. I had the most dismal dinner a few nights ago. Our salads, the Caesar with Goat Cheese, and the Iceberg with Blue Cheese and Walnuts were over dressed, and our dinners were drab. I had the salmon with lentils, the colors were boring and the lentils tasted of vinegar. My daughter had the filet mignon, which had good flavor but came with a potato hash that wasn't that good, and again, the plate was all browns and was really unattractive. I was sorely disappointed with the ambiance and the food after all I had read about this place. The waiters were okay, but we got the usual "do you want bottled water or JUST tap". This line is really old. And very annoying to hear these days.
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These are some of my favorite places--great ambience, good food. If you can afford Blue Duck Tavern, then these are in line with your budget or less:
--Proof (awesome wine selection, food is masterful, deserts are glorious, and the wait staff is top notch)
--Rasika (although can be a bit noisy--fantastic haute Indian fare)
--Brasserie Beck (Belgian fare and fancy beer)
--Masa 14 (just opened on 14th street, Asian/Latin fusion)
--Againn (upscale gastropub--I haven't been but have heard very good things)
--Central (Michel Richard's more casual restaurant--still very swanky)
--Black Salt (again, I can't personally vouch but have heard it's fantastic)If you want to venture out of DC, there's Restaurant Eve in Old Town that always gets raves reviews.
Bon appetit!
Sacha
GoingGreenDC.net-----
Blue Duck Tavern
1201 24th Street NW, Washington, DC 20037
