4 days/ 3 nights in DC

[custo]

Hey all,

I'm heading down to visit a buddy of mine studying at Georgetown next month and would really appreciate some resto recommendations.

I'm a 23 year old Montrealer and will eat pretty much anything (some fave foods are: burgers, tartar, oysters)

My buddy lives in Gallery Place - Chinatown and I assume we'll also be spending a fair bit of time in the mall area to see the white house etc.

I've searched through the boards here and so far these are the suggestions that i've found/appealed to me.

Ray's Hell Burger
Founding Farmers
Matchbox

My buddy has also suggested we eat at these places:

1789
Filomena
Cava
Buddha Bar
pizzeria paradiso
clydes
rosa mexicano
vapianos

Thanks in advance for all the comments/suggestions/advice.

[custo]

Hey everyone,

So I'm back from washington and thought I'd post a quick review of the places I ate at:

- Ray's Hellburger: all around excellent experience. Any resto that lets me have blue cheese on a burger and have that burger medium rare makes me happy. The Mac & Cheese was also really amazing

- Founding farmers: went for brunch, was delicious. If I could eat some of their thick cut bacon every day I'd die a happy man (and probably of a heart attack)

- Oyamel: I thought this was just ok. It was pretty expensive and not any better than Rosa Mexicano IMO. The tableside guacemole at Rosas is better.

- Ted's Bulletin: my favorite restaurant of all those I ate at. Had the sloppy joe (well cooked, well spiced with a little kick to it) and a milkshake. All winners.

- Clyde's: ate here my first night in as my flight was delayed and only arrived at 11pm. Food was ok, pretty average as everyone suggested. Their raw bar however is half off during happy hour...which includes from 11pm-1am and at $12/dozen the oysters were a steal. They were also perfectly shucked.

- Vapiano's: cool concept, overpriced food, average.

All in all I'm very happy with my eats, Ted's Bulleting, Founding Farmers and Ray's being the absolute standouts.

Thanks for all of your suggestions everyone.

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Vapiano
1800 M St NW, Washington, DC

Founding Farmers
1924 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20006

Ted's Bulletin
505 8th St SE, Washington, DC 20003

[Raids]

Interesting. Sorry I missed your first post since I live in this neighborhood. Pass along the following recs to your friend, I guess? Many of the great restaurants in the neighborhood have good discounted lounge menus, PS7 and Jaleo or Zaytinya (for happy hour 4-7) are two excellent examples. I liked my burger at PS7 quite a bit better than many that I've had at what are supposedly the city's best burger joints.

Rasika is generally considered one of the best restaurants in DC. It's expensive, but not $100+ tasting menu expensive.

I really like the platters and sandwiches at Urfa - little hole in the wall place on 6th Street. They deliver.

I think us DC Chowhounders should make a note about the constant negative feedback we've been getting about Oyamel and think twice about recommending it. I know I've recommended it in the past, but in all honesty I haven't been back in over a year.

I should also note that I'm surprised to see a positive review of Founding Farmers. That, however, I do not think is a trend.

[woodleyparkhound]

I strongly second Ray's Hellburger -- don't miss it! I also would 2nd Pizza Paradiso; it's very good. I think there are better pizza places in DC, but I wouldn't discourage you from going to PP. Cava is also on my list of places to go, but I haven't been yet. The other places I either haven't been (and don't want to go) or have been and have found mediocre (Matchbox).

[custo]

Wow thanks everyone for the quick replies!

[link_930]

Hank's Oyster Bar may also appeal to you. They have a fantastic lobster roll and are quite competent with its fish dishes well.

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Hank's Oyster Bar
1026 King St Ste 1, Alexandria, VA 22314

[dining with doc]

two-amys for pizza

[Jay F]

Google "restaurant Penn Quarter". It's where your friend lives, and where many, many good restaurants are.

[KeithW]

I would suggest you try Oyamel and/or Zaytinya.

http://www.oyamel.com/

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Zaytinya
701 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001

[tdmort]

I second Oyamel. It's fun, and the food is good. The tableside guac was delicious.

[sekelmaan]

Definitely skip Filomina, Clydes, Rosa Mexicana and Vapianos.

If you are interested in some ethnic foods D.C has awesome Ethiopian. NoVa has awesome Vietnamese, Korean, Salvadorean, Peruvian and traditional Chinese (Rockville, MD as well). If you are interested in any of those cuisines let us know and we'll send you a barrage of information.

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Vapiano
1800 M St NW, Washington, DC

[katecm]

Agreed on the skipping. I'd also skip Buddha Bar since it's a chain.

I'd add, for burgers, oysters and tartar, both Central and Brasserie Beck. Excellent foods, Beck has a great raw bar, just food done really, really well.

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Brasserie Beck
1101 K Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005

[custo]

I've never tried Ethiopian, so I'd definetly take a couple of recommendations for that. What would you all say are the 1-3 "must try" ethiopian places?

[woodleyparkhound]

I would recommend Etete for Ethiopian. Lots of people like Ethiopic, but I haven't been. I also like Queen Makeda and Dukem.

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Etete
1942 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001

Queen Makeda
1917 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001

[Jeserf]

Filomena is not worth it, IMO - just heavy Italian in a crowded setting. Vapiano is just fast Italian. Clydes is pretty boring food.

Since you are young, I HIGHLY recommend sitting at the bar at Founding Farmers for dinner- it's great fun to watch the bartenders make the cocktails and you meet lots of interesting people.

Burgers - Good Stuff Eatery for lunch, walk around that area to see Eastern Market, the Captiol Visitor's Center and all that, then consider hitting Ted's Bulletin for dinner. Or just one or the other.

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Vapiano
1800 M St NW, Washington, DC

Founding Farmers
1924 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20006

Good Stuff Eatery
303 Pennsylvania Ave SE, Washington, DC

Ted's Bulletin
505 8th St SE, Washington, DC 20003

[agarnett100]

I would skip clydes and rosa mexicano they are not really worth your time.