10 Best Steakhouse Restaurants in DC.

Seoul Prime on Founders Avenue in Falls Church, Virginia pairs a steakhouse menu with Korean dining, and diners describe the meal as paced and flavorful rather than heavy. The prime steak and the wagyu are the cuts named most. Banchan, soups, dumplings, an egg souffle and a cod roe rice bowl give the table a lot to share, and cheesecake closes many dinners.

Birthdays and anniversaries are the most common occasions, and servers by name get credit for walking guests through the menu and the cooking. Servers give a quick introduction at the table and make recommendations, which helps first-time guests. A library room is among the seating choices for a family group.

The bar deserves a look. Diners who started at happy hour found specials running into the early evening and returned as regulars. Cocktails like the Dong-Hae are called well made. Reservations are taken online, and last-minute tables have turned up for a party of five on a Sunday.

St. Anselm on 5th Street NE in Washington serves steak, oysters and generous starters, and diners often start with the buttermilk biscuits, which come with pimento cheese. Deviled eggs and an endive salad make good openers, and the oysters and blue crab give the menu a seafood side.

Steak is the main event. The ribeye is named often, and a group that shared the Ax Handle steak called it exceptional. Salmon, a lamb leg steak and a chicken sandwich cover other tastes, and lunch includes a cheeseburger. Brunch has its own following. Wine gets heavy mention, and servers are praised for knowing the list and the cuts.

The room offers booths and a patio, and it handles anniversaries and birthdays well when the reservation notes the occasion. Weekend dinners fill, so book ahead. A few diners found portions modest for the price, which is worth keeping in mind when ordering sides for the table.

Guerra Steakhouse on Wilson Boulevard in Arlington, Virginia keeps its menu short, with a few appetizers and a clear focus on beef. Diners call the steak outstanding and name the ribeye, the filet and the New York strip. For a group, the cowboy and the tomahawk are the bigger cuts. The French onion soup is a starter with a heartier, stew-like edge.

Lobster mac and cheese, crab, salmon and a plain mac and cheese support the steak, and the service gets praise for staying even. Birthday dinners are common, and one family found last-minute space for a party of seven.

The room is small. Diners say it gets loud when full, so a quiet romantic dinner is better planned for a slow night, when one guest called it exceptional. The restaurant sits in a strip with other restaurants and is easy to miss, so check the address before heading out. Reservations help on weekends.

RARE Steakhouse & Tavern in downtown Washington is a dining room that diners choose for honeymoons, Valentine dinners and birthdays. The decor is called romantic, and servers walk first-time guests through the different cuts of meat in detail, which helps with a long menu.

Steak leads the orders. Ribeye, filet, rib cap and wagyu all appear in the praise, and the tomahawk is the cut for a table that wants to share. Lobster, crab, shrimp and mac and cheese give the sides range, and a caesar salad is a common opener. The wine list draws more mentions than almost anything else on the menu, and cocktails at the bar are a favorite way to begin.

Happy hour is an easy way in for a first visit. Families with kids report being welcomed, even on a holiday. A few diners had uneven evenings at peak times, so booking ahead and arriving early for a drink makes the visit smoother.

Oak Steakhouse on North Saint Asaph Street in Alexandria, Virginia is where diners go to mark a milestone. Birthdays and anniversaries are the most common reasons, and the service is the quality mentioned most, with managers greeting tables and servers staying on top of the pace. Diners have held a reunion here and returned for solo dinners.

The filet and the ribeye are the cuts named most, with hanger steak and wagyu behind them. Oysters and shrimp start the meal, and mac and cheese is the side to add. A wagyu burger works for a simpler visit. The wine list is a regular draw, and cocktails are well liked.

One diner called it on par with the better steakhouses in the area, and the room is described as elegant but comfortable. Waits are the most repeated practical point, so book ahead and allow extra time on weekends. Tell the staff about the occasion when reserving, since that is when the room goes out of its way.

Bourbon Steak on Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington sits inside the Four Seasons, and diners use it for anniversaries, birthdays and even a bachelor dinner. Managers and servers are credited with turning an occasion into something personal, and the room works for breakfast and lunch as well as dinner.

The wagyu tomahawk earns the loudest praise, called tender, rich and juicy. Porterhouse, filet and ribeye are other cuts, and lobster is a common companion. Truffle mac and cheese is the side people mention most, and a burger fills the lunch slot. Cocktails and wine draw plenty of attention.

In cold months an outdoor igloo is offered, though one family was glad they stayed inside. The room can get loud at peak hours, so diners who want to talk should ask for a quieter table. Reservations are best for weekends and holidays. Spending is on the higher end, which suits an occasion rather than a casual night.

J Hollingers Watermans Chophouse on Colesville Road in downtown Silver Spring, Maryland pairs a steakhouse menu with a strong seafood side. Oysters are the dish named most, followed by crab, shrimp and a steak or ribeye. Diners also praise the squid ink pasta, lamb meatballs and cheesecake.

The all-night happy hour menu is a draw, and a diner who sat at a bar table sampled jumbo shrimp cocktail and other small plates at a good price. Brunch is the other busy window, with fried chicken and waffles on the menu. The room reads as grown-up and quietly confident, and servers are credited for friendly, attentive service.

Groups are a strength. One host found space for a birthday party of about twenty after being turned down elsewhere. Parking comes up often, so check parking options before heading to downtown Silver Spring. Reservations are accepted for dinner and brunch, and a few diners noted that attention to detail varies, so speak up early if something is missing.

La Estancia Churrasqueria on Lee Highway in Falls Church, Virginia is a no-frills South American grill in a small strip mall, shared with a Burmese and a Chinese restaurant. Diners who come for the grilled meat find home-style seasoning and cooking done as requested.

The half parrillada Argentina, built for two, brings steak, short ribs, sausages, sweetbreads and chinchulin, and it was enough that one couple boxed up a steak. Short ribs and Argentine sausages are named often, along with yucca frita served hot. Milanesa napolitana, a tomahawk and a lobster dish show up in other praise. Wines by the glass and smoothies made from fresh fruit round out the drinks.

The room is simple and casual dress fits. Early weekday visits are quiet, and families with kids have been comfortable there. Diners say service can be slow when waiters are busy, so patience helps on weekends. Value is a repeated point, and some travel from far away to try the platters.

GrillMarx Steakhouse & Raw Bar on Baltimore Avenue in College Park, Maryland serves the University of Maryland area, and diners say it holds its own against steakhouses across the region. Parents visiting for campus events, families and regulars all appear in the praise, and some report coming eight or nine times.

The steak is the draw, especially the Kona ribeye, along with prime rib and ribs. Crab is mentioned nearly as often as beef, including a crab dip served on warm bread and crab in several preparations. Salmon, lobster and a goat cheese salad cover other tastes, and a wedge salad starts the meal for many. Food arrives neatly plated, with a bit of flair.

Staff are described as attentive without hovering. Sitting at the bar for cocktails and dinner worked well for one couple, with a bartender who made recommendations. Birthdays are common, so mention the occasion when booking. A few diners had slower evenings, so ask the host about timing.

801 Chophouse on Westpark Drive in Tysons, Virginia is a classic steakhouse with a luxurious, old-school dining room. Diners use it for birthdays and anniversaries, and servers who greet guests warmly and take coats make the first minutes count. One diner marking a personal milestone chose the prime rib and left grateful.

Prime rib, filet and ribeye lead the cuts, with Delmonico and wagyu for variety. Oysters are a favorite opener, and lobster mac and cheese is the side people recommend. The chocolate souffle finishes many dinners, and cocktails and wine are well liked.

Parking is easy. Valet and self-parking are both offered, and the restaurant validates, which diners appreciate. Reservations are wise for weekends. Confirm any occasion note by phone a day ahead. Early dinners are quiet, and one birthday party had the room nearly to itself.