Am spending several days at the Hilton Washington at Dupont Circle next week and would be grateful for restaurant advice for a few nights. Would be most interested in some good food/good value (don't mind expensive as much I mind overpriced) spots either walking distance or easy transport. Would really appreciate being able make reservations. Appreciate any advice from the locals or anyone else who knows the area.

Luna Grill on Connecticut - very short walk. Breakfast, or any meal really.
Lauriol Plaza on 18th - short-medium walk. Mexican.
Lebanese Taverna on Connecticut - one hop north to Woodley Park on the metro. Obviously, more ethnic, as is the theme in nearby Adams Morgan.

Overall, a beautiful immediate area, with many coffee/pizza/other options, but those 3 above stand out for me. Check them out on the web. Have fun.

Since there is a Washington DC destination forum, I will move there from Dining Buzz for the sake of future searching.

cblaisd
Senior Moderator

Since there is a Washington DC destination forum, I will move there from Dining Buzz for the sake of future searching.

cblaisd
Senior Moderator

Oops. Sorry. New to this forum. And thank you chowder.

Am spending several days at the Hilton Washington at Dupont Circle next week and would be grateful for restaurant advice for a few nights. Would be most interested in some good food/good value (don't mind expensive as much I mind overpriced) spots either walking distance or easy transport. Would really appreciate being able make reservations. Appreciate any advice from the locals or anyone else who knows the area.


Allmost all washington food is overpriced, unless you compare price-value to San Fransisco. :D

That hotel is quite a distance from the places considered to be in the dupont circle area. both Adams Morgan and U St (both about 5 blocks away), and have some of the best price-value food in washington,dc.

I think Pasta Mia is still on vacation, but now would be a good time to get in line for when it opens. I like San Marco for a very traditional style Italian, and Cafe St EX(yes they do serve food) for a really interesting menu.

Hm, I just looked up that hotel. I wrongly presumed it was near the Westin I used on Dupont Circle.

So to re-orient my earlier post, you are now very close to Lauriol, and equidistant from and not close to the other two. Being not as close to a metro is not ideal, but being closer to the diversity of Adams Morgan (northeast of you, and kinda like the Mission in SF) is pretty nice.

I'd second the Cafe St. Ex recommendation. An eclectic menu and a nice place.

Al Tiramisu is a good Italian restaurant. Leans more toward Mediterranean Italian than the spaghetti and meatballs with checkered tablecloth italian variety. Its at 2014 P street, about 5 / 6 block walk. Small downstairs at street level, easy to miss while walking by. Very good. I think they have a website, you can probably just google it and it will come up.

Firefly at New Hampshire and N, a couple of blocks from DuPont Circle, is moderately priced (for DC) and I've found the food quite good. It can be pretty loud and the tables are very close together so it's definitely not the place for an intimite dinner. It can be reserved on OpenTable.

Firefly at New Hampshire and N, a couple of blocks from DuPont Circle, is moderately priced (for DC) and I've found the food quite good. It can be pretty loud and the tables are very close together so it's definitely not the place for an intimite dinner. It can be reserved on OpenTable.


Oh, I love places that can be reserved on OpenTable! Makes my travel life so much smoother.

I live right near the Mission in SF and on Dolores a couple of blocks from the new ground zero for food in this town: Valencia and Guerrero. Hard to beat. Appreciate all the helpful advice. Nice to know I will not starve :D

Way OT, but you're spoilt. Andalu, Boogaloos, Fresca, Pauline's, and bit farther out Zante's, Manora, and Liberty Cafe. I'm just lucky to have a best friend there.

Way OT, but you're spoilt. Andalu, Boogaloos, Fresca, Pauline's, and bit farther out Zante's, Manora, and Liberty Cafe. I'm just lucky to have a best friend there.

I have to tell you chowder, I have gotten take out pizza from Pauline's for most of the Fridays in the last 20 years since I moved here. Have been to all the rest on your list and if you have not been: Tartine (best bakery this side of Paris at 18th and Guerrero), Delfina (and Pizzeria Delfina), Firefly (24th into Noe Valley), Foreign Cinema, Ti Couz, Kiji ...... That said, I am very much looking forward to my trip to DC :)

Hello OP,

I am not sure if you consider these restaurant suggestions as being in Dupont Circle. If they aren't, then they this... close..

Capital Grill -- excellent food. WOW! slightly (cough cough) expensive

and

Sesto Sento -- Italian -- great food.

Have fun.

David

Am spending several days at the Hilton Washington at Dupont Circle next week and would be grateful for restaurant advice for a few nights. Would be most interested in some good food/good value (don't mind expensive as much I mind overpriced) spots either walking distance or easy transport. Would really appreciate being able make reservations. Appreciate any advice from the locals or anyone else who knows the area.

We were there last week. It's a short cab ridee from DuPont Circle (22605 Connecticut Ave. NW, right on Restaurant Row). REALLY GOOD - and they have a splendid selection of Asian dishes if you are not a sushi fan. www.tonosushi.com has a menu. Definitely worth a visit.

chowder, or anyone, forgot to ask this: any wine shops near that area?? Love to visit wine stores when I travel and always like to have some nice wine in my room (not much for hotel bars) :)

Thanks again to all for the great restaurant suggestions.

Sorry, can't help you there.
Thanks for the SF rec's though. I certainly have heard of Tartine and Delfina.
In case you didn't know, you'll be close to the Nat'l Zoo. I went to see the baby panda back in Feb. Free and fun. Here. (http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/GiantPandas/cubtickets/)
And on the chance you love Maryland Blue Crabs, now's the time in DC/Baltimore for them. Closest to you that I've tried would be The Dancing Crab on Wisconsin. The place is nothing to look at, but they sure know what they're doing.

chowder, or anyone, forgot to ask this: any wine shops near that area?? Love to visit wine stores when I travel and always like to have some nice wine in my room (not much for hotel bars) :)

Thanks again to all for the great restaurant suggestions.

Wash DC does not have to adhere to the 3 tier system, and therefore has some of the finest wine stores and best prices on imports in the US.

Calvert Woodley
Addie Bassin's McArthur Liq
Scheniders
Pearsons(formerly plain old pearsons)
Bell's

wide world of wines is also supposed to be good. I have never been there.

chowder, or anyone, forgot to ask this: any wine shops near that area?? Love to visit wine stores when I travel and always like to have some nice wine in my room (not much for hotel bars) :)

Thanks again to all for the great restaurant suggestions.

There's a wine shop about 2 blocks from the Hilton Washington. It's called Best Cellars. It's closed on Sundays. It's a great little store with fun wines and reasonable prices. I think you'll find a nice bottle there (or four). The selection is not expansive though. For that, you would have to trek up to Calvert Woodley (Van Ness Metro).

Restaurants near the Hilton that are good (not spectacular) and fun: Bistro du Coin, Lauriol Plaza, Thaiphoon. Rowdy and guaranteed good time.

For amazing, I would go for the aforementioned Firefly (20/NH) or Komi (17/P). Also check out Hank's Oyster Bar (17/Q) and/or Mark & Orlando's (21/P). Dupont Grille (19/Circle) is worth checking out too. If you like pizza, Pizzeria Paradiso (21/P) is the fav. It also has a good bar for a single diner. Another good place for a single diner is the bar area at Logan Tavern (14/P). Fantastic people-watching. All are in Dupont Circle area within walking/stumbling (depending on how much you like your libations) distance.

If you want to venture further, Zengo and IndeBleu in Chinatown are delicious and hip. For transcending (IMO) and bank-breaking, Citronelle and CityZen are your best bets (and the city's too).

Enjoy DC!

Wash DC does not have to adhere to the 3 tier system, and therefore has some of the finest wine stores and best prices on imports in the US.

Thanks. Do not know what the 3 tier system is but always interested in finest wines and best prices :D

No no no no no -- I can't believe some of the recommendations on this thread! You CANNOT send a visitor to Senso senso or Lauriol Plaza on a trip to DC, do we really want to embarass ourselves as a city? ;-) How about Pesce or Johnny's Half Shell for seafood, for starters. 21P has its good nights (American), or you can head out to Zatinya which is a little further out but a lot of fun. Firefly, as someone mentioned, is ok too -- how about the fries with truffle oil? Or Heritage India for Indian? DC has plenty of quality, mid-priced restaurants...

Allmost all washington food is overpriced, unless you compare price-value to San Fransisco. :D

Woah! What does this mean? San FranCisco is widely regarded as the best restaurant city in the U.S., and I find the price-to-quality ratio amazing here, even more so if you get out of downtown and into the neighborhoods!

How about Pesce... Or Heritage India for Indian?

I definitely second these suggestions.

Zaytinya is in Chinatown, but very very yummy indeed.

I definitely second these suggestions.

Zaytinya is in Chinatown, but very very yummy indeed.
Definitely. Divine.

Zaytinya
701 9th St NW, Washington, DC
202-638-0800

Also that other place run by the same chef nearby (oh why can't I suddenly remember the name of it?)

And for Italian:

Obelisk
2029 P St NW, Washington, DC (just one cough from Dupont)
202-872-1180

Set menu. Very reasonably priced. Very small place. Reserve!

Jerene
:p drool :p

Woah! What does this mean? San FranCisco is widely regarded as the best restaurant city in the U.S., and I find the price-to-quality ratio amazing here, even more so if you get out of downtown and into the neighborhoods!


That's what everyone from SF sez.

Thanks. Do not know what the 3 tier system is but always interested in finest wines and best prices :D

The required 3 tiers:

at the winery, $10 wine

Importer required charges 50% markup $15
Wholesaler required charges 50% markup $22.50
retailer required 50% markup charges $33.75

In DC, the retailer can buy and import direct from the winery.
the container comes in, and he sells the $10 wine for 20 bucks.

We were there last week. It's a short cab ridee from DuPont Circle (22605 Connecticut Ave. NW, right on Restaurant Row). REALLY GOOD - and they have a splendid selection of Asian dishes if you are not a sushi fan. www.tonosushi.com has a menu. Definitely worth a visit.

For Sushi, since you're recommending some place a cab ride away anyway, I'd say go to Sushi Taro at 17th and P (upstairs). Definitely one of my favorites.

Other suggestions - walk over to 18th St in Adams Morgan. You can find several Ethiopian restaurants there. (Meskerem is probably the most consistent). Also on 18th (at T, across from Lauriol Plaza) is a Burmese place that's reasonably priced and pretty good.

Pesce is great, I don't like the room, but the food is great.

I'm really fond of Restaurant Nora, but it ain't cheap.

TH likes Pomodoro and I know that joanek could chime in here.

Zaytinya... Also that other place run by the same chef nearby (oh why can't I suddenly remember the name of it?)

Jaleo :)

And for Italian: Obelisk
Set menu. Very reasonably priced. Very small place. Reserve!

I think DC is underserved when it comes to Italian food. But Obelisk is definitely one of the better ones.

Sushi Taro is the best sushi restaurant in Dupont, IMO. Can get a little noisy but it's all very good fun. Definitely two thumbs up!

I'd like to add Marcel's (24th/Penn) on the southern edge of Dupont (must cab from Hilton) to the list of good restaurants. It's Belgian (quite similar to French) and one of the best in the city... as long as you overlook the service mishaps ;)

Anyone been to Vidalia recently? They used to be dependable.

Am spending several days at the Hilton Washington at Dupont Circle next week and would be grateful for restaurant advice for a few nights. Would be most interested in some good food/good value (don't mind expensive as much I mind overpriced) spots either walking distance or easy transport. Would really appreciate being able make reservations. Appreciate any advice from the locals or anyone else who knows the area.

TRIP REPORT (still here but leaving soon)

Many thanks to all who responded so helpfully. This Hilton is a better location than I had remembered it and it was made easier by all of the advice. Some notes:

Best Cellars - a great resource close by. As blueDC said, it is not large and the selection is not huge, but the prices are right, the staff is thoughtful and the wines are good. Handy to have nearby.

Bistro du Coin - lively, French bistro with good staff, an effecient and attractive place and decent wine. If only the food had been better. Was decidedly mediocre, but decently priced and fine for one of those "it is 10 pm, I have been busy until now after a trip from the west coast and this is very near the hotel" kind of nights. At 9:40 pm on a Wed night I needed to wait for a place even at the bar and it is not small. The place was hopping.

Cirtonelle - Very elegant. Very nice wine service. Food very good, but to be honest not as good as the top Sf or NY places (not intending to start a competition here really). Portions, by SF standards - large. My appetizer was really, really wonderful and could have almost been my meal. I left a lot of my dinner and I hadn't eaten most of the day.

Pizza Paradiso(Dupont Circle) - lovely. No reservations taken but I got there at 8 pm on Friday and got a place at the 6 seat bar easily. By 8:30 or so the place had filled up, but there would be a large turnover around 9. Nothing quite like it in Sf (Pizzeria Tartine the closest). Good wine, nice servers, great pizza.

Coffee - if anything decent exists in this area I have not found it. (I don't count Starbucks as decent although for those who do, there is one nearby.) I have even asked locals. Lots of very mediocre coffee and supermarket level pastry. So far. Have hope for tomorrow

Going to Restaurant Nola tomorow night so will report.

TRIP REPORT
Going to Restaurant Nola tomorow night so will report.

Oops, I meant Restaurant Nora. And it was very lovely. Quiet and elegant with very good food. Pricey, but all of the food is organic and well prepared. A very short walk from the Hilton. The only real downside was only two wines by the glass (one of each color).

Also got to Leopold's Kafe (3315 M St NW) in Georgetown for coffee and pastry. Also lovely setting and very good coffee and pastry, although the pastries quite pricey given that they were so tiny. Down an alley with an outdoor area and great coffee.

That's it. Thanks to all who weighed in and helped with suggestions.

Definitely. Divine.

Zaytinya
701 9th St NW, Washington, DC
202-638-0800

:td: In my experience, this is the worst type of Washington restaurant - loud, "trendy" (by DC standards), overpriced, and with poor/inconsistent food quality. "Little plates" has become an excuse for gouging.

Even after almost 20 years in DC (albeit with a 4 year break in the middle), I dispair of DC ever developing a really good restaurant palate. At least for mid-range and pricer places - I think that cheap ethnic eats are a much better value here.

YMMV.