One not-too-expensive memorable meal this Wednesday for visiting NYers

[rteplow]

We're visiting DC from NY and are looking for a restaurant for this Wednesday. I know how to use the search engine, but it would be useless since I can't really narrow it down much. Here are the parameters:

Not too expensive (though doesn't have to be rock bottom pricewise)
Something unique, or at least something hard to find in NYC
Not too spicy (and probably not Thai since my husband hates peanuts)
Not too loud

Cuisine: open to lots of possibilities. Husband can be adventurous, though he really does love meat-and-potatoes or seafood.

Neighborhood: we're staying on E St., N.E. but could be open to any neighborhood that is dense with interesting restaurants. I remember from my last visit about 15 years ago that Adams Morgan was a good neighborhood for that. Still true?

Hope that helps. I love Chowhound and check the NYC boards daily. If anyone has any questions about that, I'd be happy to help.

Thanks everyone.

[woodleyparkhound]

I third the recommendation for Rasika. Don't fail to order the palak chaat!

-----
Rasika Restaurant
633 D Street, NW, Washington, DC 20004

[Jeserf]

My two faves in DC now are Rasika and Bibiana. I'm pretty sure you can get similar to Bibiana in NYC, but if they have an excellent pre-theater meny for $30 for 3 courses before 6:30 that is completely worth it.
Rasika is amazing and can be as affordable as you want it to be.

-----
Rasika Restaurant
633 D Street, NW, Washington, DC 20004

Bibiana
1100 New York Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20005

[katecm]

Kushi might be a fun find for you. It's pretty much as expensive or inexpensive as you want it, depending on how much you order. As he's a meat eater, the grilled menu might be right up his alley. I highly recommend the pork belly:

http://eatkushi.tumblr.com/

[R122055]

1) The Market Place

Best Crab Cake and Crap Soup the best nude art collection in the city.

It is where many senators, congressmen, and staffers eat but spend less than 20 bucks. Artsey

2) I love Horce and Dicks on 14th H street. It's been on Food TV, 2 or 3 can both eat there for 8 dollars. (one big platter of fish, greens, patatoes, ect.

The best fish that you will ever have in DC. local

Tell Big Momma Geno sent his love.

[Lori D]

If by Market Place you mean Market Inn, it has been closed for a few years now.

-----
Market Inn Restaurant
200 E St SW, Washington, DC 20024

[chaofun]

Check out Birch and Barley. The food is great and the tap of beers available (Churchkey is above it) is great.

-----
Birch and Barley
1337 14th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005

[jenniferpdc]

If you're in NE Capitol HIll, you may want to go check out H Street - it's certainly eclectic.

I've heard pretty good things about Ethiopic, an ethiopian restaurant that is pretty budget friendly. I like Liberty Tree and if you're in the mood for mussels Granville Moore's is always a good bet. Johnny's Half Shell (by Union Station) for seafood, although it's a little more expensive. But if you're used to NY prices, I would guess everything seems cheap here.

-----
Johnny's Half Shell
400 North Capitol Street NW, Washington, DC 20001

[Steve]

Some unique places in DC:

Oohhs and Ahhhs, Coastal Carolina soul food, a dive with 4 stools in front of a tiny kitchen.
Againn, an Irish gastropub
The Lounge at Citronelle, play on foods like the mushroom cigars or the tuna napoleon from a reknowned chef.
Zaytinya, pan-Helennic tapas.
Etete for Ethiopian food.
Coco Sala, cacao-inspired menu. Limited selection of salads, sliders, and mac n cheese featuring chocolate. Flight of chocolates for dessert.
In Arlington (not far from a metro stop):
Cafe Assorti, Eastern European bakery/restaurant with some fine stuffed breads and dumplings
Chez Manelle, Tunisian

Adams Morgan has a ton of restaurants, so if you are looking for quantity, that's an interesting place to look around.

DO a search for specific menu recs at the above places.

If you have wheels, then there are very large communities of Korean, Vietnamese, and Bolivian restaurants in the suburbs which may not have an exact equivalent in NYC Eden Center is a Vietnamese shopping center with over 23 restaurants plus cafes, delis, jewlery stores, and other retail. Hopping on a Friday or Saturday night.

www.edencenter.com

-----
Etete
1942 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001

Eden Center
Falls Church, VA, USA, Falls Church, VA

Citronelle
3000 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007

Zaytinya
701 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001

Cafe Assorti
1800 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201

[kathryn]

2nd Zaytinya, I'm not aware of anywhere in NYC that is doing innovative Turkish/Greek/etc. small plates. Also when we visited DC from NYC, we really enjoyed Acadiana as you don't get a whole lot of Creole cooking in NYC, much less the more upscale atmosphere Acadiana provides.

Another option is Rasika -- NYC doesn't have that many creative, upscale Indian options.

-----
Rasika Restaurant
633 D Street, NW, Washington, DC 20004

Zaytinya
701 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001

Acadiana
901 New York Ave NW Ste 200A, Washington, DC 20001

[rteplow]

Wow, is that Kathryn with the encyclopedic knowledge of NYC food?! Thanks.

[sweth]

Sounds like you want to go to U St and check out one of the many Ethiopian restaurants there.

[hill food]

yeah I'm stumped what else DC proper might offer better that NYC and it's boroughs can't? and Ethiopian can be as spicy or mild as you want (depending on the dish of course) and hey you have the bagels? DC has the injeera.

E street NE, where? near Union Station? A-M does still have a wide variety, but food-wise it's sorta been eclipsed by many other areas (DC has changed a LOT in even just the last 5 years)