12 Best Restaurants in DC.

Keren Restaurant at 1780 Florida Avenue NW in Washington, DC, serves Eritrean food that first-time diners describe as a memorable introduction to the cuisine. Staff are called friendly and welcoming, and the room is plain in a way diners find honest, with prices that stay fair.

The Keren Special with chicken and the Special Tibsi are the platters named most, and the special shiro arrives in a clay pot. Both come with spongy injera, which diners tear and use to scoop. Lentils, beef firfir soaked in injera, and a hearty beef entree appear in diner accounts. Ful and a breakfast combo start the morning.

Practical notes: breakfast is quiet early, and a Sunday coffee is served free, according to one diner. Ask for forks if injera feels heavy. One visitor was advised to avoid a busy weekend night for the calmest meal.

Rose's Luxury at 717 Eighth Street SE in Washington, DC, is the restaurant diners book for anniversaries and big nights. The room is narrow, with a vaulted ceiling and a rustic exposed wall, and several diners compare the feel to a beautiful DC home. Servers are described as spectacular by those who were seated promptly.

The pork and lychee salad leads every account, called refreshing and a little like Thai cooking. Pasta follows, including a sweet pea pasta and pasta en papillote, and steak and soft shell crab also appear. Tasting menus have been offered on holidays, and the bar is a favorite perch.

Practical notes: demand is high, and reservations are difficult. Diners report snagging bar seats the same morning. One party waited past the reservation time standing at the door because there is no waiting area, and another found service uneven, so patience helps.

Pisco y Nazca Ceviche Gastrobar at 1823 L Street NW in Washington, DC, serves Peruvian food on the first floor of The Quincy hotel. Diners call the experience incredible from the first greeting, and first-time visitors to the District say it exceeded expectations.

The ceviche sampler and traditional fish ceviche lead the orders, with causa served on whipped potatoes, including a crocante fried shrimp version. Lomo saltado, tallarines a la huancaina, aji de gallina, arroz chaufa, and tuna tartare tacos fill out the menu. Pisco sours are balanced and refreshing, and the arroz con leche cheesecake is called out of this world.

Practical notes: reservations are wise, though walk-in bar seating exists. A diner found the steak in one dish a little firm, though the sauce made up for it. Arriving at six in the evening helped one couple find a table. Restaurant week menus also draw guests.

Le Diplomate at 1601 14th Street NW in Washington, DC, is a French brasserie that diners return to for birthdays, weekend mornings, and big family dinners. A group on a busy Saturday was seated at its reserved time, and servers are consistently described as excellent.

The French onion soup is the dish most mentioned, and steak frites, steak with pepper sauce, the burger, chicken club, beef bourguignon, warm shrimp salad, and escargot all appear. Steak tartare and the bread basket start many meals. A cheese plate with honeycomb and mint is praised, and the madeleine finishes the table. A peach cocktail with Earl Grey tea is named too.

Practical notes: reservations are wise, since the room fills. The terrace is pleasant, but diners warn about mosquitoes in warm months. Lunch is a calmer way to try the burger.

L'Ardente at 200 Massachusetts Avenue NW in Washington, DC, is an Italian restaurant known for a short rib lasagna built in many thin layers. Diners describe the flavors as deep, intense, and clean, and some call it the best lasagna they have eaten.

The carbonara earns equal praise, and one diner called it the best they have had in the United States. Meatballs with a beef and pork blend, duck ravioli, risotto, oysters, crudo, a Caesar salad, and a pepperoni pizza fill out the menu, with tiramisu to end. A newly added happy hour has already become popular with after-work crowds.

Practical notes: the room is open and relaxed, so tables sit close together and conversation carries. Portions of the duck dish run small, and a few diners found the meatballs salty. Reservations are common, and celebrations of birthdays and anniversaries fill the evenings.

il Canale at 1065 31st Street serves Italian dishes in a large dining room with an even larger terrace. Diners reach for the pizza first, and the Margherita earns the loudest praise: a springy crust, fresh toppings, and pies that arrive quickly. The meat lovers pie and the mortadella and pistachio pie also appear in diner accounts.

Beyond pizza, the pasta list gets steady orders: lobster ravioli, mushroom and truffle ravioli, gnocchi alla Bolognese, and lasagna. Diners start with the house salad and its strawberry vinaigrette, fresh focaccia, or arancini, and finish with tiramisu or cannoli. Servers receive more praise than any other topic.

Practical notes: reservations come up often, and the road beside the terrace is loud, though diners seated outside were not bothered. A happy hour menu runs next to the regular one. A few diners found some dishes uneven, so the pizza and pastas above are the dependable picks.

Unconventional Diner at 1207 Ninth Street NW in Washington, DC, serves breakfast, brunch, and dinner in Shaw, and diners praise the speed even when the room is full. Staff are called warm, with one outdoor manager singled out as kind and attentive.

Chicken and waffles lead the orders, and Cajun shrimp and grits is called rich, steamy, and sizzling. Loaded breakfast biscuits, pancakes, fried rice, burgers, and a chicken sandwich that is crunchy outside and juicy inside fill out the menu. One visitor scouting for restaurants with character found it a highlight of the trip.

Practical notes: the atmosphere is busy and casual, so reservations are recommended, especially on Sundays and holidays. Walk-ins were seated quickly at off hours. Inside and outside seating are offered. Large groups, including a table of seven, were handled smoothly.

Old Ebbitt Grill at 675 15th Street NW in Washington, DC, is a large dining room that draws tourists and regulars alike. Diners describe a beautiful room with character and uniformed servers who stay professional through weekend crowds.

Oysters lead the orders, with Dixon Point and Wellfleet recommended by a bartender, along with Oysters Rockefeller and a raw bar platter. Crab cakes and crab cake sandwiches are the second pillar, followed by steak frites, the burger, filet, ribeye, shrimp, and salmon. Sunday brunch and a late happy hour both have fans, and a former nearby worker returns often.

Practical notes: weekends are extremely busy, so use OpenTable to book. A table wait near forty-five minutes sent some diners to the bar, which diners say is a smart move. Kitchen times can stretch, and a raw bar platter once took thirty minutes. Allow extra time.

Zaytinya at 701 Ninth Street NW in Washington, DC, serves Greek, Turkish, and Lebanese mezze in a bright, airy room with high ceilings. Diners seated without reservations at off hours were surprised by the speed, and a covered patio gets praise.

Hummus, falafel, kofte kebab, Adana kebab, shish taouk, beef soutzoukakia, shrimp with dill, salmon, and cauliflower are all named. Warm pita bread is praised for its softness. Octopus and lamb are called well flavored, with lamb tender and free of any gamey taste. A pre-theater menu lets diners share plates before a show.

Practical notes: reservations are recommended, especially for groups, and the restaurant is easy to reach by Metro. A few diners found the hummus and some plates less exciting than the grilled meats, so order several meat dishes along with the dips. A weekend brunch is also served.

Blue Duck Tavern at 1201 24th Street NW in Washington, DC, sits inside the Park Hyatt and serves American dishes in a room with an open kitchen. Diners enjoy watching stations at work, and staff are described as polite, attentive, and warm toward every guest.

Crab cakes are named most, along with a wood-fired swordfish mousseline, whole duck, duck breast, duck wings, a pork sandwich, and seasonal soup. At breakfast, a duck confit hash, pistachio French toast, avocado toast, eggs Benedict, and pancakes appear. Sourdough bread and BDT fries are frequent extras, and a rice porridge side is called flavorful.

Practical notes: diners dine here for family holidays and anniversaries, and some stayed at the hotel and returned for breakfast. Prices are high, which diners accept for the service. Reservations are wise for dinner, and the open kitchen means walkways pass close to the cooking.

Founding Farmers on Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, DC, is a large American dining room in Foggy Bottom, and visitors rank it among their favorite meals in the city. A pre-show dinner near the Kennedy Center earned praise for prompt seating at the bar.

Beignets are the dessert and breakfast order most diners mention, six to a plate with raspberry, caramel, and chocolate sauces. Chicken and waffles, biscuits, a hot fried chicken sandwich, goat cheese ravioli, fried steak, fried green tomatoes, wings, and a blue cheese burger fill out the menu. Salads and shrimp dishes appear for lighter appetites.

Practical notes: the room is popular, and a table wait of about forty-five minutes was reported on a busy night, so reserve ahead. The bar is a faster seat. Servers stay attentive through the crowds, and breakfast is a quieter way to visit.

Busboys and Poets at 450 K Street NW in Washington, DC, joins a restaurant to a bookstore, and diners enjoy browsing shelves after a meal. The space is large and well decorated, with art and a generous book selection across genres.

Sweet potato pancakes and sweet potato hash are named at brunch, along with made-to-order omelets, catfish and grits, fried chicken, burgers, brisket, wraps, and sandwiches. Mimosas are popular. Servers earn warm notes, with several diners naming staff who gave recommendations on local events, including citywide art events that weekend.

Practical notes: food can take a while to arrive, so the restaurant suits diners who are not in a hurry and want to browse the books. Bar seating avoids a wait for a table. Events and poetry nights add energy to the evening, and the room was not crowded on some visits.