Originally Posted by MrAOK
well call me different, but my favorites include
bistro du coin (it's loud but a lot of fun)
http://www.bistrotducoin.com/
meza on 18th street (very underrated)
Grill from Ipanema
and I'm amazed no one mentioned cafe milano (for the scene rather than the food)
though I also like cafe atlantico.
I think rosa mexicana is a bit overrated.
Cafe Milano is memorable only if you like to see which "celebrities" are trying to pick up females. Otherwise the food is definitely off putting too.
Unlike Cafe Milano in Georgetown, Cafe Atlantico has done a reasonably good job of holding up on the food side over the years.