Maestro or Citronelle? Or....?
 

Hi everyone,

I found good comments about the above two restaurants here and was wondering what you'd recommend for a first-timer to DC. I'll be travelling alone, unless I get lucky that is ;)

Or is there maybe another place you would recommend above the above?

Cit has a noise problem. Maestro is not close to DC or public transportation. 6:30-7 may be a problem due to traffic, if comming from downtown.

I also like Melrose, Seasons, Vidalia, Obelisk, Signatures. Marcel's is also noisy but good.

I've been twice to Citronelle and find the tasting menu very good. I would call it nouveau french food (which I like better than traditional). Service is so-so but the food is outstanding, IMHO.

Maestro is out in Tysons and I've been once. It's generally very good and quite elegant but service is also so-so (seems like DC has a service issue :) ). The menu is very intriguing; two sections - one traditional and one contemporary, both based on Italian food.

Either one would be a fine dining experience in DC. I wouldn't necessarily go to Maestro by myself but Citronelle has a great outdoor area as well as a nice lounge (bar menu?) where one can dine enjoyably alone. CityZen is also a good option with a great bar menu. Citronelle, Maestro and CityZen are the big boys of DC dining with prices to match (add Makoto to the list if you're a big fan of Japanese food). Melrose, Seasons, Vidalia, Obelisk, etc. (Komi, Firefly, Zaytinya, DC Coast, Cashion's, Ceiba, Eve, 2941) are all very good but not in the same category.

I dunno, I'm not much for dining alone at a big table for a few hours but if I can sit at the bar and chat with a bartender or something and still enjoy the kitchen's outstanding cooking, that'd be my preference.

Either that or find a date, fast! ;)

Brilliant advice, as usual.

If you know of anyone...Then again, with a handle like 'Fliar' I probably won't have much success :D

I haven't been to Maestro, but I think Citronelle is terrific. I have had lunch there alone, and it was fine. While I haven't been to Maestro, I wouldn't want to brave the brutish DC rush hour traffic to get there unless you're going after 730. I like several of the other choices mentioned above, but agree they are not in the same class.