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Washington D.C. Guide |
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Caucus
Room ph: 202 - 3931300 401 9th St. NW - Washington, DC 
American
- Moderately Priced
Here is the apotheosis of the
Washington political restaurant. The limited partnership that owns
it includes a Democratic super-lobbyist and a former Republican
National Committee chairman. The updated clubby decor is perfect for
business lunches or dinners, and the many private dining rooms are
popular locations for political fundraising events. The menu is a
combination of steakhouse classics and "Continental
cuisine" resurrected from an earlier era of American cooking.
You're safer with the steakhouse favorites: crab cakes, Caesar
salad, Dover sole, swordfish chops, and great steaks. Metro: Navy
Archives. |
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Palena ph: 202 - 5379250 3529 Connecticut Ave. NW - Washington, DC
American - AffordableChef Frank Ruta and pastry chef Ann Amernick met when they were both working in the White House kitchens in 1980; now they've teamed up to open this contemporary American restaurant named for the Italian village where Ruta's great-grandmother lived. The menu combines French, Italian, and American influences, reflecting Ruta's experience in each, and changes seasonally. Sometimes Amernick and Ruta team up, as for an appetizer of crisp puff pastry with fresh sardines and greens. In other instances---a veal chop with a barley-stuffed pepper or a pork chop with flavorful baked beans---Ruta goes it alone. The desserts---a spritely lemon--caramel tart or a chocolate torte---are homey and comforting, a perfect match for Ruta's earthy cooking. Metro: Cleveland Park. |
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Georgetown
Cafe ph: 202 - 3330215 1623 Wisconsin Ave. Washington, DC
AmericanWith its unpretentious decor, cheap prices, and eclectic, lowbrow menu, this café is a bit of a neighborhood oddball. Students and other locals are known to frequent it for the pasta, pizzas, kabobs, gyros, and such home-style American favorites as roast beef, baked chicken, and mashed potatoes. Closed only from 6 to 9 AM weekdays and open 24 hours on weekends, Georgetown Café is also good for a late-night snack. |
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Bethesda
Crab House ph: 301 - 6523382 4958 Bethesda Ave. Bethesda, MD 20814
Seafood -
Moderately Priced
The Scene Pure South Beach, in all its exciting, enervating, energizing glory. There's a handsome dining room with a large bar that's probably the place for those who want a calmer dining experience. But for a real taste of the never-a-dull-moment Ocean Drive scene, snag a table on the outdoor patio or in the heart of the crush on the sidewalk. Luckily, one thing about Avalon that isn't pure South Beach is the personable, non-attitudinal service. The Food The seafood-oriented menu trots all over the culinary globe, from Frenchified dishes like salmon wrapped in puff pastry (surprisingly light and quite good) to Japanese-style seared/raw tuna with ponzu sauce and stir-fried veggies (fresh-tasting but tending toward bland). Snapper with black bean salsa and orange sauce is solid Floribbean cookery and fun to eat. Start with spicy, succulent "Bang Bang Shrimp" or a fine tropical calamari salad; end with a suave key lime pie. |
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La
Bergerie ph: 703 - 6831007 218 N. Lee St., between Queen and Cameron Sts., 2nd floor Alexandria, VA
French - Affordable
One brother does the cooking and the other runs the dining room of this elegant Old Town restaurant, which specializes in the food of the Basque region of southern France. Try such robust dishes as duck confit and pipérade (scrambled eggs with ham and green peppers), but don't neglect the specials, where some of brother Jean's most imaginative cooking shows up. Main-course selections usually include duck, venison, and lamb. Dessert soufflés and the apple tart must be ordered in advance---go for it. |
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Pizzeria
Paraiso ph: 202 - 2231245 2029 P St. NW, between 20th and 21st Sts. Washington, DC
ItalianA sister restaurant to the pricier Obelisk next door, the petite Pizzeria Paradiso sticks to crowd-pleasing basics: pizzas, panini (sandwiches such as Italian cured ham and sun-dried tomatoes and basil), salads, and desserts. Although the standard pizza is satisfying, you can enliven things by ordering it with fresh buffalo mozzarella or unusual toppings such as potatoes, capers, and mussels. The intensely flavored gelato is a house specialty. A trompe l'oeil ceiling adds space and light to a simple interior. Metro: Dupont Circle. Top |
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Paolo's ph: 703 - 3188920 11898 Market St. Reston, VA
Italian - Moderately PricedHomemade bread sticks get meals off to a good, crunchy start at Paolo's. Wise choices to follow might be the "beggar's purse" (filled with wild mushrooms, spinach, and Taleggio cheese) or grilled sea scallops. Then two of you can split a pizza from the wood-burning oven; toppings range from roasted vegetables to grilled chicken to Portobello mushrooms. Grilled meat entrées and a variety of pasta dishes are also available. The Georgetown location (Wisconsin Avenue) is noisy. Other location: 1303 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington, DC, 202/333--7353. AE|DC|MC|V. |
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