3 days in DC.

[YUM25]

Hello everyone. Im planning a 3 day trip to DC in August. Im looking for suggestions on the districts top restaurants. Any price range. Trying to steer away from french. Preferably Italian but most other cousines are fine. Maybe some fancy fine dining for dinner and more casual for lunch. Im looking for the places that are a "MUST" when visiting Washington DC. Thanks and I appreciate any help or suggestions.

[hill food]

I have to second the Ethiopian suggestions, some ARE better than others (I don't want to revive THAT debate - already too many threads on that topic and to DC-ers: you may very well have no idea just how good you have it in that category) but really any of them blow and I mean BLOW any other in the country I've yet been to so far out of the water it belongs as a segment on America's Most Shocking Whatever.

[YUM25]

Thnx again for everyones input. So far my list is:

Friday dinner - Fiola

Saturday lunch - Rasika / Dinner - Dino

Sunday lunch - Zaytinya / Dinner - Cityzen

Im thinking about replacing CityZen. Any suggestions?

Also planning to stop at Obrycki's Crab in Baltimore monday on the way back to nyc,

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CityZen Restaurant
1330 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20024

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

Zaytinya
701 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001

[JAC13]

I would echo the sentiments of many above- Komi should be on your list. They do a hiatus from August 23-September 7, though, so keep that in mind.

One other idea is to make a reservation at the Columbia Room for their cocktail-tasting. The Columbia Room is the back of a neighborhood bar called The Passenger. The room has an 8-seat bar that allows you get up-close to the true art of the original cocktail, and feels like a throwback to prohibition-era. The cocktails are well-crafted and delicious, and they pair them with great small bites (my husband and I did it before a late dinner reservation and we were still able to eat dinner afterward but we are kind of gluttons :)). Enjoy your trip!

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Komi
1509 17th St NW Ste 1, Washington, DC 20036

[YUM25]

The cocktail tasting sounds interesting. Never tried. The only thing im worried about with Komi is there is no printed menu. Its a little too adventurous for me to go for a 300-400 dinner without knowing what will be served. And my girlfriend is even more picky.

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Komi
1509 17th St NW Ste 1, Washington, DC 20036

[JAC13]

This is a valid concern, but I will tell you that when you call to make a reservation, they will ask you about your dislikes and limitations. I don't recall anything being extremely out there. In fact, I have sent my parents, who I would not describe as very adventurous eaters, and they loved it so much they went back again with friends.
The 10-12 mezze you will get before the main course vary so I can't speak to them, but the main course (if it is still the same as when I was there) is either a whole spit-roasted goat, a roast sucking pig, or a salt-encrusted whole fish, and I bet you could request that you get one of those and not the others. I don't mean to sound like a salesman- CityZen is delicious so if you are more comfortable, stick to that and I think you will be very happy. If you still want to replace CityZen, another option is Tosca, which is delicious and high-end Italian. Good luck!

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CityZen Restaurant
1330 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20024

[kathryn]

The Columbia Room is fantastic. The bar is 10 seats, and they do a 4 turns a night. Once your two hours is up at the bar, you can move to the banquette and have an additional 4th or 5th drink if you like.

The menu is $64 including tax and tip for 3 drinks, a small plate, and a snack to finish. The drinks include one welcome drink, one special of the night, and the last of your choosing (can be ordered by name or by giving your preferences, i.e., boozy, refreshing, citrus or no citrus, using gin/rum/etc). There are two bartenders for the 10 seats.

Note that you MUST make a reservation, and they are only open Tuesday through Saturday.

[woodleyparkhound]

I don't think Rasika is open Sat. for lunch.

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

[ginafly]

My husband and I absolutely loved Zaytinya...one of my favorite meals of the year. Enjoy! You must save room for the walnut ice cream.

We also had a great time at Oyamel. Great ceviche there, and mole fries are to die for.

[ktmoomau]

I doubt you can get a Komi reservation anyway so probably don't have to worry about it. My dinner at Fiola the other evening was really great, the dining room is loud, but the food is fantastic, and the dining room gets quieter after peak times (7-8:30).

If you were going to replace CityZen I would go to the Palena dining room instead. A worthy substitute.

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CityZen Restaurant
1330 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20024

Palena
3529 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008

Komi
1509 17th St NW Ste 1, Washington, DC 20036

[YUM25]

Your right, Rasika is not open Sat for lunch. Have to move that around. Im gonna try to do the Columbia roomsomewhere in between. I moved it up to Sept 30th so i think anything is still available as far as reservations.

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

[YUM25]

Another debate im having is Dino vs Obelisk. Any thoughts?

[woodleyparkhound]

Both are very good. Obelisk is higher end. If money is no object, and if you are able to get a reservation, I'd choose O. Otherwise, I'd choose Dino. Dino also has the best wine list in town; you may want to take that into consideration.

[dining with doc]

Obrycki's is good and it is closing at the end of this season. Gunnings is near bwi , more convenient to I95 and the food is comparable.

[will_5198]

CityZen is not open on Sundays and will be closed for a couple weeks in August for their annual break. Fiola is also closing from August 21 until the start of September.

[Riccardo]

If you're arriving from the West Coast in the later p.m. and are staying downtown near the WH, note that the expansive Old Ebbitt Grill serves till 1 a.m. and has good chowder, raw-bar items and historic ambiance, among other things (including cannelloni, tortelloni, linguini w/ soft-shell clams). Presidents since Grant have dined there.

Central Michel Richard, at Penn. Ave & 11St., is a really fine contemporary bistro experience.

We also liked the quality and variety at the cafeteria inside the Smithsonian's American History Museum, e.g., roasted eggplant, portobello mushrooms, young asparagus, etc., on the salad bar.

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Old Ebbitt Grill
675 15th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005

Central Michel Richard
1001 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20004

[YUM25]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. So far CityZen and Rastika are a definite. Dino as well. Still deciding between a few others.

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CityZen Restaurant
1330 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20024

[Jeserf]

Do you have a reservation at Rasika? If not, try to get one or you'll be out of luck - I've had to plan 2 months out for Saturday reservations. I personally wouldn't chance just walking in unless I had a near by back up restaurant.

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

[mdpilam]

I've been able to walk in and seat at the bar without problems on weekend nights.

[dinwiddie]

I doubt you can get a reservation at Komi for August, but you could try. Places you should consider if cost is no object for fine dining; Citronelle, Palena (not overly costly), the Source, Marcel's, Restaurant Eve, City Zen,

Other fantastic places to consider: Rasika for fantastic Indian food, Etete for good Ethiopian food, Zaytinya for good Mezze..

Good bets for Italian: Tosca, Obelisk, Dino (best Italian wine list in town, maybe anywhere)

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Etete
1942 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001

Restaurant Eve
110 South Pitt Street, Alexandria, VA 22314

Palena
3529 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008

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

Citronelle
3000 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007

Komi
1509 17th St NW Ste 1, Washington, DC 20036

Zaytinya
701 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001

[Delucacheesemonger]

Komi should be on any top list.

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Komi
1509 17th St NW Ste 1, Washington, DC 20036

[MoCoMe]

my must would be
Komi , Rasika, Etete

Other on my short list
Dino, Founding Farmers, Jaleo, Aggain, Blacksalt, Nora, Ravi Kabob, Tacklebox

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Etete
1942 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001

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

Komi
1509 17th St NW Ste 1, Washington, DC 20036

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

[ChewFun]

This question has been answered many times. Search the board and you will find extensive discussions regarding this.