DC Club Restaurant Recommendations

DC is often criticized for the lack of creativity and quality in the food. It is easy to pay a lot for a mediocre meal in DC, but below are some area standouts. Please feel free to reply to this post with your recommendations.

Oceanaire Seafood Room (Metro Center)– Outstanding seafood, classy setting, you can’t go wrong, but you’ll pay for the assurance of quality!

Lebanese Taverna – The original is located in Woodley Park. It is excellent for everyone and has great vegetarian options as well. There are now several other branches open around town, including Bethesda.

Zaytinya (MCI/Gallery Place) – Similar to Lebanese Taverna but with a younger, hipper atmosphere. Definitely worth checking out the scene and drink specials, especially if you are staying in Penn Quarter.

Nando’s Peri Peri (MCI/Gallery Place) – For anyone who has been to South Africa, this needs no explanation. Nando’s is a chicken joint, plain and simple, but it is some of the best chicken around and the US chain serves wine and beer as well.

Proof (MCI/Gallery Place) – Wine bar and much, much more! Expensive, but worth it, Proofis a place that should have pretentious servers and sommeliers, but they are unbelievably down to earth and will help you enjoy the experience, even if you are not trying to break the bank. And the best part is they have a great late night menu of smaller, delicious and reasonably priced bites after 11:00 pm.

Dr. Granville Moore’s Gastropub (Atlas) - This Belgian gastropub serves some of the best beers in town. If you’re not from DC, drive or take a cab because while it is possible to walk from Union Station, the walk may not inspire confidence, unless you already know the area. In the same neighborhood are a number of bars – Palace of Wonders, the Red and the Black and Rock and Roll Hotel, to name a few. If you’re up for a Sunday night out on a pub crawl, this is a great place to start.