Bistrot Du Coin — French Cuisine
To enter Dupont Circle’s Bistrot du Coin is to enter the world of the genuine French bistro: a smoky, noisy place of crowded tables, gruff waiters and charming if unsophisticated food.
This perpetually busy area favorite is certainly not the place to take your visiting parents or a conventional date who is looking to be wowed by extravagance. The game plan here is to avoid the overpriced entrées and focus on the small dishes, in particular the mussels.
The Francophone wait staff serves up pots of mussels steamed in several delicious ways that cost $7.95 for a small order and $14.95 for a pot big enough for two.
Go with the Moules Marinières for the very French combination of mussels, garlic and white wine. While sharp in its garlic flavor, it is a joy to sop up with decent sourdough bread once the mussels themselves are kaput.
The mussels with curry cream sauce offer an interesting, if overpowering detour away from traditional French cooking.
For a memorable time, however, order the Moules Provençales. This dish takes the Marinières and adds a bit of sautéed tomato and oregano to temper the garlic. It makes fine fodder for a unique experience with an enthusiastic date. Munch on a side of crisp fries, fish shells from the soupy pot, spill mussel juice all over the paper table cloth and, voilà! You have a true bistro experience. —Chris Stanton & Anna Ziajka
Hours: Sun-W 11:30am-11pm, Th-Sat 11:30am-1am.
Dupont Circle Metro or GUTS.
Jaleo — Spanish tapas
Imagine sitting down for a meal and perusing a menu entirely in Spanish. Now imagine there being no mention of nachos, gorditas or burritos but words like tapas and gazpacho. ¡Olé! You may have just stumbled into Jaleo, home of some of the best Spanish food in downtown D.C.
Jaleo offers an extensive menu of Spanish tapas—small, inexpensive dishes—to satisfy myriad cravings. With everything from homemade sausage with white beans to squid cooked in ink, Jaleo has something for everyone. ‘Montegetes’ were a highlight, complimenting the crackling sausage. The squid, meanwhile, might leave your lips a little stained, but it’s a small price to pay for the ability to brag about consuming the chowdery-tasting squid ink and living to tell the tale. The menu also offers a Moorish tomato-based stew with spinach and chickpeas that even an Inquisitor would have to like.
The Spanish culture shines through with massive murals of Spanish dancers, decorative plates on the walls and candles lighting various parts of the restaurant. It’s a relaxing scene. The servers are equally laid back, yet timely.
While the sheer number of dining options may seem overwhelming, the tapas-style portions mean ordering two or three tapas should be in your plans. Sharing makes the experience even better. A unique serving style, ambience and choice of dishes make Jaleo an encouraging dinner choice for foreign cuisine in the D.C. area. —Phil Perry
Address: 480 7th Street
Phone: (202) 234-6969
Directions: Two blocks north of the Archives/Navy Memorial exit on the Green/Yellow lines or one block south of Gallery/MCI Centerexit on the Red Line
Sette Osteria — Italian Cuisine
Dupont Circle’s Sette Osteria approaches the ancient art of pizza with reverence and taste. The menu hews closer to Italian tradition than super-sized American combinations, but if you can look past the lack of pineapple chunks and Canadian bacon, there’s plenty to enjoy. The bready, thin-crusted pies are sized to split a few among friends, and the fresh toppings are their finest asset.
The Quattro Stagioni pizza in particular throws together diverse ingredients like artichokes, mushrooms and porchetta ham while preserving the distinct flavors of each, which results in a subtle interplay not unlike a spirited croquet match but doesn’t overwhelm the tongue.
Other clean, simple combinations like prosciutto and arugula complement each other quietly but deliciously, like a relaxed game of bocce. For those less interested in pizza, the pastas are also great (if a touch plainer), and there’s a wide selection of appetizers, salads and other Italian entrees to choose from.
The quality is on par with other great D.C. gourmet pizza spots, but the atmosphere is a cut above the rest, catering to a mixed, largely youthful clientele that’s stylish but comfortable and approachable. Arrive early to grab a table in the busy, pleasant outdoor patio, since no reservations are accepted. —Chris Norton
Address: 1666 Connecticut Ave.
Phone: (202) 483-3070
Hours: 11:30am-12pm Sun. 11:30am-1am M-Thurs. 11:30am-2am F-Sat.
Margarita’s — Mexican Cuisine
For those ready to pass up the fast food delights of Chipotle (come on, you can get it anywhere), authentic Mexican fare awaits at Margarita’s Mexican Cafe.
Northern Wisconsin is an area often overlooked by Hilltoppers, but the savvy diner will quickly learn that Georgetown’s culinary delights are not limited to popular M Street haunts. Upper Georgetown is filled with quirky bistros and cafes whose prices are friendlier to a student budget than the caviar-laden menus of some of the neighborhood’s stodgier establishments.
Margarita’s appearance is fun and down-to-earth, but don’t be fooled; this place is all about the food.
Kick off a Margarita’s experience with their nacho platter, a piece of true Mexican perfection. The wide variety of entrees, crafted from the family recipes of owner Maria Villalta, will not disappoint. Time-tested and skillfully prepared, the steaming platters of chicken, beef, beans and rice always hit the spot. Satisfying favorites include chicken enchiladas with meat and melted cheese and hearty Taquitos Rancheros. For those in the mood for food that is practically on fire, the Fajitas al Carbón are served through an aromatic smoke screen, with warmed tortillas, guacamole and pico de gallo on the side.
Don’t let the meal stop there, though: the dessert menu offers fried plantanes and traditional flan, as well as fried Mexican ice cream—quick fried vanilla ice cream sprinkled with cinnamon spice atop a fried cinnamon taco shell. Beat that, Chipotle. —Clare Malone
Address: 2317 Wisconson
Phone: (202) 342-3377
Hours: Daily 11am- 10pm
Walking distance from back gates near Darnall
Chu’s Café — Chinese Cuisine
If you’re looking for delicious Chinese food at an affordable price, look just beyond Booeymonger’s. Chu’s Cafe, tucked away on Prospect Street, dishes out delicious, delectable delights to Hoyas in the know. What it lacks in size, the family-run Chu’s makes up for in pure, awesome taste.
Regulars know that there is no finer meal to be had than a bamboo tray of steamed dumplings, available in pork, beef and vegetable. These tasty bundles of flavor, while an excellent meal themselves, can also set the table for Chu’s many other delights when shared.
From pork lo mein to orange beef, Chu’s excels at all the classic dishes that will remind you of home—provided home is mainland China, or a reasonable Americanized facsimile thereof. That ultimate staple, General Tso’s Chicken, comes one step closer to nirvana (the ultimate mental state, not the band) than ever before.
Grab the big table near the back with a group of six to eight, or bask in the fluorescent glow at the intimate window table for two. Above all, don’t forget to bring cash, as Chu’s does not accept credit cards, checks or wire transfers. And if you find a date who wants to come to Chu’s as well, rest assured, you have found a keeper. —Mike Stewart and Will Mitchell
Address: 3261 Prospect St.
Phone: (202) 342-3377
Hours: Daily 11am- 10pm
Walking distance from front gates
Perry’s— Modern American Sushi
Perry’s, just like the surrounding Adams Morgan, is international and funky without a hint of pretension. The upstairs dining room is lined with dark wood and filled with softly-hued, elegant couches and small tables. The fourth wall of the room is a long sushi bar, tiled in a sea of colored glass. The dichotomy of space represents the two very different sides of Perry’s menu.
On the modern American menu, the appetizers are substantial enough to be ordered with a side or two—such as the Arab-accented lamb croquettes and the grilled peaches with honey oil and goat cheese. As an entree, the espresso-crusted beef loin, served with garlicky mashed potatoes and a fresh eggplant sauce, is a great take on pepper steak and prepared extremely well. An equally interesting vegetarian or vegan menu offers equally appealing fare.
Some combos sound a little scary—pea pesto, for example, or a dessert of panna cotta with blackberry gel and thyme—but the flavors are subtle and thoughtfully paired, melding into an undividable blend that is interesting rather than odd.
The sushi list, meanwhile, is one of the longest in D.C., and extremely fresh. The list of Japanese accompaniments, including miso soup dotted with shitake mushrooms, an unusual seaweed salad and an avocado salad with tomatoes and nuta sauce, among other staples, are as good as the sushi.
What makes Perry’s so great is its versatility: it can be a special night or simply a sushi stop. The summertime rooftop dining is rumored to be among the best in D.C. The menu almost seems incorrectly marked, far too cheap for its quality, innovation and elegance, with prices similar to what you might find at Clyde’s and a menu and setting with far more personality. Like Adams Morgan at large, Perry’s has something to please everyone. —Kathryn Brand
Address: 1811 Columbia Rd.
Phone: (202) 234-6218
Hours: Sun-Th 6pm-10:30pm. Friday 6pm-2:30am
Dupont Circle Metro or GUTS
Lalibela — Ethiopian Cuisine
While sitting in the small glass dining room of Lalibela’s under the flicker of four large televisions tuned to Spanish soccer games, a waitress stopped chatting with co-workers in Ethiopian to clarify how a diner wanted his beef done.
“Raw or cooked?” she asked, leaning in to hear the response over the din of music and soft chatter before turning back to attend to the regulars. Though keye wot, a ground beef dish, is traditionally eaten raw, the souls in question decided to venture only so far with an unfamiliar cook in a restaurant that proudly displays a five year-old review under the glass on the table.
Lalibela serves an affordable and exotic spread of traditional dishes in a casual setting. The hallmark of Ethiopian food is injera, a type of sourdough flatbread that looks like a soggy, purple, 15-inch tortilla. Entrees are served on a communal plate lined with injera and eaten with torn pieces of the bread used to scoop up mouthfuls.
Though the menus have many misspellings and occasionally don’t quite match, they include several dishes of lamb, two token chicken plates and a broad offering of beef, which can be eaten either raw or cooked. The meats are easily divided into two camps, those cooked mildly with herb butter and spices and those with a bit of heat from jalapenos and chili powders. The mild taye ketfo offers little excitement next to the spicier keye wot, a much tastier alternative.
The real hero is the miser wat, a lentil dish that is an excellent complement to the spicier beef and lamb. Other dishes on the extensive vegetarian menu feature peas, potatoes and carrots seasoned with onion, garlic and red peppers.
There are no desserts offered, and appetizers are limited to sambusas, small pastries stuffed with spinach, lentils, chicken or beef. Less interesting items include salads and variations on spaghetti and meatballs, and most entrees are under $10. Try the steak frites as a good, if unadventurous alternative for the anti-shellfish crowd. —Emilie Lis Pradera & Michael J. Bruns
Address: 1415 14th St.
Phone: (202) 265-5700
Hours: Daily for lunch and dinner until midnight. Open until 3am Fri. and Sat.
Take the G2 bus from the front gates
I an so so so proud of you tia paz:)