Local Restaurants

The Washington Office is located two blocks from Dupont Circle,  providing dining options from casual to elegant.

 

**W&M Washington Office Staff Favorites

In the Dupont Circle Area

Budget & Fast Food Restaurants

Baja Fresh: Mexican (corner of 19th & Dupont Circle South next to Front Page)

Brookings: Cafeteria, salad/sandwich bar (next door)

Chipotle: Mexican (19th & M; Connecticut & Q)

Five Guys: Fresh burgers, great fries (Connecticut, between Q & R)

Marvelous Market: Bakery (19th & Q Street)

McDonalds: Fast Food (19th & M)

Moby Dick's House of Kabob: Mediterranean (19th & N)

Potbelly: Deli (Connecticut & R)

Subway: Deli (Q Street & Connecticut)

Mid-Range Restaurants

Attached to the independent bookstore Kramerbooks, Afterwords Cafe (tel 202-387-1462, 1517 Connecticut Ave) changes its moods throughout the day: in the morning, people schmooze over lazy cups of coffee and muffins; in the afternoon and early evening, readers dally over newspapers and new-bought novels; at night, it's a bar scene with live music. The basic cafe menu is pretty overpriced for what you get, but it's a peerless see-and-be-seen place.  Five minute walk.

Firehook Bakery (tel 202 588 9296, 1909 Q St NW), a nice neighborhood joint with a windowside counter from which you can scope passersby, offers big-as-your-head cookies and good lunchtime sandwiches (on diverse breads from levain to spelt) and salads. Five minute walk.

**Across the street, Raku (tel 202 265 7258, 1900 Q St) enjoys a great corner location with wraparound windows for people-watching and offers a menu of 'pan-Asian tapas' (tuna napoleons, ginger mussels) and sushi. It's moderately priced and has a funky drinks menu, too. Try the green-tea martini, watermelon margarita, or plum wine-sake mix. Five minute walk.

Zorba's Cafe (tel 202 387 8555, 1612 20th St NW) is beloved for its cheap, generous portions of Greek food and its small patio. Chicken souvlaki and excellent tzatziki (yogurt dip with cucumber and garlic) are both available. Five minute walk.

**Circa (tel 202 667 1601, 1601 Connecticut Ave, NW) offers brunch on the weekends and lunch and dinner during the week. Menu items include everything from seafood to pizza to steak and salmon, there's something for everyone. Nice outside patio seating area.

California Pizza Kitchen, or "CPK" (tel 202 331 4020, 1260 Connecticut Ave, NW) A national pizza chain, offering everything from buffalo chicken pizza to pear and gorgonzola...and just plain cheese if you'd like! Also serves salads, soups, and sandwiches.

The Front Page (tel 202 296 6500, 1333 New Hampshire Ave, NW-- corner of 19th and Dupont Circle South) Known for their happy hour specials and "famous" patio, a casual place to grab a beer and wings or a heartier burger or entrée.

Heritage India (tel 202 331 1414, 1337 Connecticut Ave, NW--18th and Connecticut) Calls themselves the "finest Indian cuisine in the Nation's capital", you'll have to try their tandoori chicken, nawabi platter, or any number of small plates to see for yourself.

** Luna Grill & Diner (tel 202 835 2280, 1301 Connecticut Ave) is a cheery storefront operation with sun-and-moon decor, a parquet floor, and secluded booths. Luna does diner cuisine like grilled-cheese sandwiches, sweet-potato fries, and comfortingly creamy mashed potatoes. Five minute walk

**Pizzaria Paradiso (tel 202 223-1245, 2029 P Street) A neighborhood, wood fired oven pizza and sandwich restaurant.  Set in a townhouse, PP has such a great reputation that lines can often spill on to the sidewalk during peak times.  Five minute walk. 

On the circle's south side is a Cosi Coffee and Bar (tel 202 296 9341, 1350 Connecticut Ave), with windows on both sides, big armchairs for flopping in, and relaxed tables full of folks reading and chatting. There's a wide range of espressos and teas, plus sandwiches, panini, and wraps.  Five minute walk.

At Bertucci's Brick Oven Pizzeria (tel 202 463 7733, 1218 Connecticut Ave), you could pay $13 for a so-so pizza. But the soup and salad in this popular chain costs only about $5, and there's an endless supply of hot, freshly baked rolls. Five minute walk.

A great little takeout place with one glass table, Julia's Empanadas (tel 202 861 8828, 1221 Connecticut Ave NW) serves up its namesake food in big portions - buy a large chilena empanada and eat it while you sightsee. Five minute walk.

Daily Grill (tel 202 822 5282, 1200 18th St NW) A higher end national chain, it caters to the DC suit lunch and dinner crowd with white linens, large portions and good service.  Seven minute walk.

La Tomate (tel 202 667 5505, 1701 Connecticut Ave) offers pasta plates and Italian dishes in a bright and airy downstairs bar or upstairs on its deck.  Seven minute walk.

Thai Chef (tel 202 234 5698, 1712 Connecticut Ave) features a lengthy menu of soups, curries, salads, and noodles. Seven minute walk.

Nearby, Timberlakes (tel 202 483 2265, 1726 Connecticut Ave) is popular for its burgers and fish and chips made with farm-grown catfish.  Seven minute walk.

**Consistently named among DC's favorite Chinese restaurants, City Lights of China (tel 202 265 6688, 1731 Connecticut Ave) has wonderful dumplings, Hunan chicken, and other favorites. Ten minute walk.

Teaism (tel 202 667 3827, 2009 R St NW), an organic Japanese teahouse, offers more than 30 varieties of tea, including oolong, green, tisanes, and Darjeeling. Bento boxes are available, and you can eat them in the sun in front of this small, pretty townhouse. Seven minute walk.

On the Dupont Circle stretch of 18th St NW, Lauriol Plaza (tel 202 387 0035, 1835 18th St) graciously serves sophisticated Tex-Mex and Spanish cuisine, featuring knock-you-down margaritas. It's a crowded, happy place, popular with after-work diners. Ten minute walk.

You'll find Malaysian and Singaporean dishes like nasi goreng and satay with peanut sauce at Straits of Malaya (tel 202 483-1483, 1836 18th St). Ten minute walk.

A fine lunch stop, the popular pan-Asian Oodles Noodles (tel 202 293 3138, 1120 19th St NW; Metro Farragut North), ventures far beyond chow mein and pad Thai to spicy Singapore rice noodles and variations on ramen, udon, and stir-fry that demonstrate just why Marco Polo supposedly brought pasta from Asia back to Italy. No lunch Saturday; closed Sunday. Ten minute walk.

Farther east, U-topia (tel 202 483 7669, 1418 U St; Metro U St-Cardozo), a restaurant, bar, jazz joint, and gallery with a hip clientele, boasts an adventurous multicultural menu that includes jambalaya but also Middle East couscous and 'U-Street Shrimp-and-Rice'. No lunch Saturday.  Ten minute walk.

Higher Priced Restaurants

**Set in three beautiful 18th-century row-houses, the Tabard Inn (tel 202 331 8528, 1739 N St NW) is a delightful oasis: inside is a warm, dark bar; outside is a sun-dappled, walled garden filled with tables and decorated with cast-iron sculptures. Eclectic entrees abound - fish stew, pastas, chops. Come here for weekend brunch and dive into beignets with vanilla whipped cream or chocolate-almond pancakes, or show up on a cold, rainy night for a fireside toddy in the lounge.  Five minute walk.

**You'll find another storybook setting - but less interesting food - across the street at Iron Gate (tel 202 737 1370, 1734 N St NW), which serves high-end romantic dishes like lamb chops with ruffly paper garters. Closed Sunday.  Five minute walk.

Classic southeastern American seafood is on the table at Johnny's Half Shell (tel 202 296 2021, 2002 P St NW): Maryland crab-cakes, fried oysters, barbecued shrimp, plus carnivores' favorites like Eastern Shore chicken stew, all of it delightful. Closed Sunday.  Five minute walk.

Pesce (tel 202 466 3474, 2016 P St NW) is, as the name says, a fish restaurant. Things with fins are the sea-beasts to order in this crowded little cafe - bluefish, salmon, grouper, all perfectly fresh and simply prepared - but shellfish are on the menu, too. No lunch Sunday. Five minute walk.

Obelisk (tel 202 872 1180, 2029 P St NW) serves exquisite, plainly presented Italian cuisine such as veal with mushrooms. The prix-fixe menu offers only a handful of choices, but everything is perfectly prepared. Open for dinner only, Monday to Saturday. Five minute walk.

I Ricchi (tel 202 835 0459, 1220 19th St NW) serves Tuscan cuisine (in other words, a lot of grilled meats). Rabbit and grilled sausage are two dishes to try, but there are lots of grilled seafood dishes on the menu, too (although these aren't quite as pleasing). The pappardelle with rabbit sauce is great. Closed Sunday; no lunch Saturday.  Seven minute walk.

The Palm (tel 202 293 9091, 1225 19th St NW), a media and political celebrity magnet (Larry King likes to hang out here), is great fun for people-watching. It's another of DC's power-center steakhouses, where everyone's lunch seems to consist of sirloin, straight-gin martinis, and cigar smoke. No lunch weekends. Seven minute walk.

In southern Dupont, near the K St NW corridor, are many top-end restaurants that appeal to business diners. The New York-based steakhouse Smith & Wollensky (tel 202 466 1100, 1112 19th St NW; Metro Farragut West) is a chummy place, more laid-back than most of its DC brethren. The meat is nicely aged and big - you can get a 44oz porterhouse here. Good thing the tables are sturdy.  Ten minute walk.

Budget & Mid-Range Restaurants

600 at the Watergate (tel 202 337-5890, 600 New Hampshire Avenue) 600 Restaurant at the Watergate features the creations of Chef Adolfo Olivera, the original chef of award winning Dominique's. The creative menu features such items as fresh rack of lamb, duck, Cornish hen, certified Angus beef, their unique version of bean soup & lobster bisque, the freshest seafood (Chilean sea bass, Norwegian salmon), crab cakes, fresh pastas & their famous artichoke ravioli. Chef Adolph Olivera continues to create new ideas & recipes, featuring the global cuisine you will enjoy at 600 Restaurant at the Watergate.  Cab ride.

Marshall's Bar and Grille (tel 202 333-1155, 2524 L Street) Marshall's Bar and Grille, a mainstay of the Foggy Bottom/Georgetown business district in DC is a short walk away from the center of Washington business: We are near embassy row, The White House, World Bank Headquarters, the K street business corridor, Washington's major hotels and GWU.  Cab ride.

Circle Bistro (tel 202 293-5390, One Washington Circle) Circle Bistro is a new Washington Bistro rooted in traditions of French Bistros and Bouchons with a menu of modern interpretations and a more refined touch. Happy Hour from 5-8pm featuring $5.00 martinis, half priced beer and wines by the glass.  Cab ride/20 minute walk.

Sequoia (tel 202 944-4200, 3000 K Street) As the sun dips below the spires of Georgetown University, Sequoia and its stunning views of the Potomac come to sparkling life. Featuring an extensive contemporary American menu and a large variety of specialty drinks, Sequoia plays host to Washington's most notable citizens. During the warmer seasons the restaurant's expansive patio dining and riverfront bar become the place to be.  Cab ride.

Meiwah (tel 202 833-2888, 1200 New Hampshire Avenue) The large variety of entrees, appetizers and, well, tastes on a Chinese menu is what attracts so many diners, who have made Chinese food popular both at the restaurant table and to go. While some traditional dishes are high in fat and salt, Chinese menus also feature lots of vegetables and grains - all good choices as centerpieces of a dish. An like many others, Chinese restaurateurs are beginning to respond to growing public interest in healthier, more nutritious food. Cab ride/20 minute walk.

Agua Ardiente (tel 202 833-8500, 1250 24th Street) Agua Ardiente captures the best elements of Spanish cuisine and presents them to you establishment through an array of the finest food and wine. Here you will experience a culinary adventure through every region of the country: from the North, to the Central Plains (Meseta), to the Mediterranean and, of course, covering the fried dishes and specialties of the South. At Agua Ardiente, all the flavors of Spain await you.  Fifteen minute walk.

Higher Priced Restaurants

 

Marcel's (tel 202 296-1166, 2401 Pennsylvania Ave.) Acclaimed Chef Robert Wiedmaier opened Marcel's in 1999 to rave reviews of his French cuisine with a Flemish flair, derived from his Belgian heritage. Signature dishes that have Washingtonians and critics talking are his seared foie gras, crispy skate wing and light as air Boudin Blanc complemented by his outstanding wine list. Marcel's offers a daily changing three-course Pre-Theater dinner with complimentary executive car service to and from the nearby Kennedy Center.  Cab ride.

Roof Terrace Restaurant and Bar (tel 202 416-8555, The John F. Kennedy Center) Enjoy a fantastic culinary experience and unequalled skyline views through two-story windows high above the Potomac River. The contemporary interior features chrome and glass, suede and wood with accents of granite. Check out the critically-acclaimed Sunday Kitchen Buffet Brunch. The Roof Terrace Restaurant & Bar is located on the Roof Terrace level of the Kennedy Center above the Hall of Nations.  Cab ride.

Aquarelle at the Watergate (tel 202 298-4455, 2650 Virginia Avenue) The famous Watergate hotel 202 returns to it's former glory. Aquarelle, the new restaurant overlooking the Potomac river will offer international cuisine. Aquarelle also has convenient Kennedy Center access through an underground walking tunnel.  Cab ride.

Dish (tel 202 338-8707, 924 25th Street) Dish is casually elegant American neighborhood restaurant set in historical Foggy Bottom.  Dish features innovative American regional cooking focused on the freshest local ingredients and influenced by foods from the Bay to the Blue Ridge.  Cab ride. 

Notti Bianche (tel 202 298-8085, 824 New Hampshire Avenue) When Rome stays up all night... There's a time each year when Rome shimmers with a festive celebration known as "White Nights." It is an all-night festival for the performing arts, a festival of the Roman spirit, and most importantly, a festival of food! Notti Bianche celebrates this spirit for you each day with a culinary festival all its own. Serving seasonal, reasonably priced Italian trattoria fare throughout the day. Come and experience Notti Bianche. A taste of the White Nights of Rome.  Cab ride.