The best restaurants in The Wharf & Southwest.

Falafel Inc on Maine Avenue SW is a small counter that does one thing well and charges less than most of its neighbors. One diner who had never liked falafel called this the only one enjoyed, and the falafel is described as freshly made, with generous portions in every sandwich and bowl.

The falafel sandwich and the falafel bowl are the main orders. Zaatar fries are the side almost every table adds, and hummus, a falafel salad, a chicken rice bowl and a pack of baklava round out a meal. The plant-based shawarma has drawn happy returns from vegan diners, and the menu works well for vegetarians and vegans overall.

This is a pick-up counter, not a dining room. Seating is outside, and rain makes that harder, so plan to take food along. Prices are low enough that diners call it one of the less expensive meals in the city.

ilili DC on District Square SW is the Lebanese restaurant that diners recommend to anyone visiting Washington. The room is open and airy, with cascading vines and custom touches, and servers are credited for guiding a table through a menu built for sharing. Birthdays and anniversaries are common, and the volume rises on busy nights.

The hummus is the dish named most, and the duck shawarma is the other headline order. Mouhamara, a spread of walnuts and peppers, starts many meals, and falafel, a lamb burger, lamb and beef meatballs, moussaka and a mixed grill platter fill out the table. Cocktails and wine are frequent additions.

Brunch is a draw, with a prix fixe menu that lets a group sample widely, and a Swiss chard benedict on the list. Reservations are wise for dinner and brunch. The Wharf is easy to reach and not far from Metro, which diners count as a plus. A few found service uneven, so patience helps when the room is full.

Grazie Grazie on District Square SW treats the sandwich seriously, and diners say it is not an average shop. Neon signs, wall art and a lively look set the tone, and bar seating lets a party skip the wait for a table. Some diners ate their first meal in a new apartment here and have returned on the same date each year.

The Philly Special and the original Philly cheese steak lead the orders, called oniony, melty and beefy, and Nonna's meatball is the other favorite. Hot Bird and Russionello get praise as well. A custom section lets a table design a sandwich, and one diner built a ribeye, mushroom and onion version with provolone. The risotto, a salad and a waffle round out the menu, and cannoli close the meal.

A few diners point to service lapses and difficulty changing online orders, so ordering in person or by phone is smoother. When the kitchen is on, diners call these sandwiches as good as any they have had.

Philippe Chow DC on Wharf Street SW is a polished Chinese restaurant with white tablecloths, fine glassware and a room that diners call elegant and full of energy. Birthdays are the most common reason to come, along with anniversaries and date nights before a show, and service is the quality praised most often.

Start with the wok-fried pork dumplings and the hot and sour soup. Beijing chicken, kung pao chicken, sweet and sour salmon, sesame chicken and chicken fried rice carry the mains, and lobster, shrimp and filet cover the richer end. The menu suits a group sharing several plates. Cocktails and wine are available, and a patio is open in good weather.

Reserve ahead, since weekends fill. Parking at the Wharf can be chaotic, and one diner spent a long while finding a space, so a rideshare is easier. A few diners found prices high and mixed experiences at busy times, so a smaller order of shared plates is a sensible way to start. Arriving early gives the best pace.

Chopsmith on District Square SW is a fast-casual restaurant where diners order from a kiosk and either settle in or take food along. It works best for lunch and an early start to the day, and visitors staying nearby ate here several times in one trip, finding the staff friendly and the room clean.

Salads lead the menu. The custom option has its fans, and the Wharf Louie and the Chopsmith salad get named, along with a cashew salad. An avocado bowl, a banh mi sandwich, a burger, salmon, tropical chicken and chimichurri steak give the bowls and plates range. Breakfast brings a burger topped with egg, bacon and caramelized onions, and the case holds bread, deli salads, cookies and baked goods.

Prices run a little high for premium toppings, and a few regulars say order accuracy has slipped on busy days, so checking the bag before leaving is wise. Takeout is the easiest way to enjoy it, especially on a pleasant afternoon near the water.

Surfside Taco Stand on District Square SW serves tacos in portions that diners call large, and two are plenty for most appetites. Visitors walking the Wharf grab them to go, and delivery has also arrived hot, which surprised a family in town for a short visit.

The Negril tacos with blackened mahi mahi are the pick named most, and the birria tacos are an easy add. Shrimp and steak tacos both earn praise, with flour tortillas popular and corn offered for those avoiding gluten. Burritos, a Belize quesadilla, nachos, chicken fajitas and a Tahiti salad round out the menu. Margaritas pair with the food, and the stand stays open late.

Two tacos come with a side of rice and beans, and the price runs high for individual tacos, though diners call the ingredients generous. A few diners had trouble with online pickup timing, so ordering at the window is the simpler route. Event days at the Wharf bring a line.

The Grill on Market Square SW offers inside and outside seating, and diners say the patio next to the water is serene and good for people watching. The design is called beautiful, the lighting is low, and the room suits date night, a solo meal at the bar or a table with friends.

Steak and seafood share the menu. The filet and the skirt steak are the cuts named most, and the burger covers lunch. Crab, shrimp, oysters, salmon and lobster fill out the seafood list, and crab deviled eggs are a favorite starter. Mocktails get praise, with one called among the best a diner has had. Kids are welcome, and families come for birthdays.

Reservations make the difference. Diners who walked in during busy periods found no table, while those who booked were seated promptly. An automatic gratuity is added, which is worth knowing before ordering. Servers are described as attentive without hovering, and a few diners had slower service on crowded evenings. Lunch is a calmer way to see the room.

Milk & Honey Southern Inspired Kitchen on Maine Avenue SW is a lively Southern restaurant where the staff set a warm tone from the door. Visitors from out of town have made it a planned stop, and diners at the bar single out bartenders for making the meal better.

Biscuits are the first thing most tables mention, served with honey butter and a sweet peach note. Chicken and waffles follow, along with honey Old Bay wings that arrive large. Shrimp, crispy salmon, a Biscoff waffle, pancakes, a cake benedict and Cajun pasta give the menu depth. Margaritas are a popular drink.

Brunch is the busiest meal, and weekend waits are real. Reservations help, and diners report that a party of five took a while to order on a crowded day. The menu is a little pricey, though portions are large. Birthday and anniversary tables are common, so mention the occasion when booking. A few diners had uneven bar service on slow afternoons, so sitting in the dining room is an alternative.

Mason's on Water Street SW is a lobster roll counter that diners compare to a hot dog stand in size and a seafood shack in focus. Staff earn steady praise for being welcoming and fast, and the food comes out fresh.

The Connecticut roll, served warm with butter, is the classic order, and the Bar Harbor roll carries extra lobster for diners who want more. Some diners prefer the lobster salad, which feels more substantial. The loaded Connecticut roll and a lobster tail add-on are other options, and the lobster bisque is called rich and creamy. For guests who skip shellfish, the menu offers a grilled cheese, a hot dog, mac and cheese and tots.

Price is the repeated point. The rolls run at a premium for their size, and a few diners wished for more lobster, so the bisque or a side helps round out a meal.

Willowsong on Wharf Street SW sits inside the InterContinental at the Wharf, and diners say it shows how a hotel restaurant can feel like a destination. The space is spacious and contemporary, a refresh of the room that came before, and outdoor seating makes lunch pleasant in good weather.

The nectarine salad is the dish named most, followed by fish tacos made with yellowtail, a steak sandwich, a chicken sandwich, roast chicken, meatballs and pasta. Frozen cheesecake is the dessert diners mention. The bar team earns strong praise, and cocktails are described as consistently outstanding. Breakfast and brunch are also served.

Service is a strength, with hosts and servers who explain the menu. A party with an allergy list got clear guidance from the kitchen about which dishes were safe. Diners with dietary limits should still ask early, since many plates include dairy or gluten, including every dessert on the menu. A few diners found service uneven on busy nights. The room works well for hotel guests and for locals who want a waterfront meal.

Makers Union on Maine Avenue SW sits on the street side of the Wharf, so diners should not expect a water view, but the room is described as relaxed and the menu is wide. Brunch is the busiest meal, and bottomless mimosas lead the reasons to visit, especially the watermelon flavor, which converted a whole table.

The brunch menu is set up so a table can order many plates in an unlimited style, and chicken and waffles are on the list. At lunch and dinner, the steak, prime rib, crab, salmon, bang bang shrimp and fish and chips get named. A Thai she crab soup stands out, and poke and Mediterranean bowls give lighter choices. Cinnamon bread pudding is the dessert diners mention.

Reservations matter. On a busy event day the dining room was slammed, and a diner who booked was seated within minutes of the reservation. Others without one waited, and a slow start to service came up in a few accounts. Birthdays are common here, and servers are praised for being friendly and prompt once the table is settled.

Fish Shop on Water Street SW looks like a market from the boardwalk, and inside is a tall-ceilinged dining room with art and a clear sense of scale. Diners call the atmosphere unique on the waterfront and the service impeccable, with team members who know the menu well.

Oysters, raw or grilled, are the starting point, and soft shell crab, crab with tater tots and shrimp round out the seafood. A catfish sandwich and a smash burger make lunch easy, and curry and lamb chops show the menu goes beyond fish. Bobo chicken surprised one guest who expected only seafood. A candied peanut tiramisu is the dessert that gets named.

Wine is a recurring topic, and cocktails are popular. The patio adds seats in warm weather, and birthdays are common. Diners note that pacing sometimes slows on busy nights, so lunch is an easy way to see the room. One group walked in looking for more food after a small meal elsewhere and left happy.