15 ria
1515 Rhode Island Ave NW, Washington, DC 20005 202-742-0015

Description: DOWNTOWN. This restaurant has swiftly become a favored stop for downtowners seeking home cooking with an edge. Simple foods such as pork chops, catfish, brussels sprouts, and squash become culinary masterpieces. Seasonally-inspired dishes, like marinated quail, are delightful, and desserts are just as appealing ­ chocolate brownie sundaes and double chocolate cake. The bar specializes in high-end bourbons. Sunday brunch available. Smart casual dress. Reservations accepted.
More Details

Bistro D'Oc
518 10th St NW, Washington, DC 20004 202-393-5444

Description: DOWNTOWN. This restaurant successfully juxtaposes traditional French cuisine with Far Eastern flavors. While the menu primarily features standbys like snails and roast chicken, it also offers chicken satay and a few Asian appetizers. Fish selections are fresh and well-prepared, as yellowfin tuna and salmon attest. A friendly waitstaff and cheery surroundings add to the appeal, along with pre-theatre dining options. Conveniently located across from Ford's Theatre. Smart casual or business dressy attire.
More Details

Blue Duck Tavern
1201 24th St NW, Park Hyatt Washington D.C., Washington, DC 20037 202-419-6755

Description: FOGGY BOTTOM. Housed in the Park Hyatt Washington D.C., this casually stylish space is outfitted with blue lacquer, gray stone and an open kitchen. Tender roasted meats and recreated comfort foods like French fries prepared in duck fat highlight the menu. An awesome Sunday brunch features offerings that range from Hog Island oysters to the Belgian waffle with honey-glazed pecans to mettwurst with beer and red cabbage confit. METRO: Foggy Bottom
More Details

Bombay Club
815 Connecticut Ave NW, Ste 302, Washington, DC 20006 202-659-3727

Description: DOWNTOWN. This little-known find is one of the top places in town for flavorful Indian cuisine, and its location near the White House means it typically crawls with staffers and political types. Reportedly a favorite of the Clintons during his time in office, the refined, palm-dotted dining room is a combination of British and Indian styles. But the food is authentic Indian all the way, with skillfully prepared tandoori dishes, lamb in saffron with yogurt and spices, and a fantastic array of curries. Vegetarians and carnivores will both be satisfied. Just don't miss the naan, a flavorful, soft bread that's a Bombay Club specialty. Business casual dress. Reservations recommended. METRO: Farragut West
More Details

Café Luna
1633 P St NW, Washington, DC 20009 202-387-4005

Description: DUPONT CIRCLE. Ideal for a leisurely weekend brunch, this café offers classic morning dishes you love, made just like mom used to ­ assuming your mom was a great cook. Traditional eggs Benedict are topped with creamy Hollandaise and served with a flavorful side of onion-spiked home fries. Eggs tomato florentine is terrific too, but the most popular dish is light, sweet French toast, made with batter-dipped, bakery-fresh bread, drizzled with syrup and sprinkled with powdered sugar. Enjoy the vivid, artsy dining room, or head out onto the sunswept patio. Brunch served 10am-3pm Saturday and Sunday.
More Details

Café Promenade
1127 Connecticut Ave NW, Mayflower Hotel, Washington, DC 20036-4301 202-347-2233

Description: DUPONT CIRCLE. Set in the historic Mayflower Hotel, Cafe Promenade features a Mediterranean menu whose eclectic dishes hail from Spain, Greece, Portugal, Italy, North Africa, and France. Appetizers and entrees are created from the freshest seasonal foods and prepared by expert chefs. Skillful servers and a well-selected wine list also provide appeal. The upscale dining room draws a well-heeled, sophisticated crowd. Business dressy attire. METRO: Dupont Circle
More Details

Café Saint-Ex & Gate 54
1847 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20009 202-265-7839

Description: U STREET. Everybody's welcome at this cozy 14th Street bistro-bar, where folks gather at the close of the work day to enjoy each other's company, the European-style atmosphere and terrific prices on everything from a glass of Stella Artois to a bottle of 2003 Torbreck Woodcutter's Shiraz. Another feather in Saint-Ex's cap is its menu, which features striped bass with lemon pesto and a BLT made with fried green tomatoes. Downstairs is Gate 54, a hangar-inspired lounge that's a comfortable place for listening to DJ-spun tunes and conversing with the lovely clientele. METRO: U Street
More Details

Chef Geoff's
1301 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20004 202-464-4461

Description: DOWNTOWN. Set across from the Warner Theatre, this New American bistro derives energy from the young professionals who frequent it. It also boasts a comfortable feel and a creative menu. Among the dishes you'll find are gourmet pizzas, almond-crusted salmon, shrimp and grits, and NY strip. Desserts deserve attention too, as proven by chocolate toffee bread pudding or autumn apple and cherry crisp. The wine list includes vintages available by the glass. Outdoor patio dining during warm weather. Three-course theatre special every day from 4pm to 6:30pm.
More Details

Coeur de Lion
926 Massachusetts Ave NW, Henley Park Hotel, Washington, DC 20001 202-638-5200

Description: DOWNTOWN. The Henley Park's Coeur de Lion boasts a stately dining room that meshes perfectly with the hotel's elegant atmosphere. Hundreds of gargoyles decorate the historic hotel's exterior, and the restaurant's interior is traditionally British. The restaurant offers three different venues: the main dining room serves new American cuisine, the parlor-like Wilkes Room presents an elegant afternoon tea, and the relaxed Blue Bar features small plates and drinks. Dressy attire. Reservations suggested for lunch and dinner.
More Details

Firefly
1310 New Hampshire Ave NW, Hotel Madera, Washington, DC 20036 202-861-1310

Description: DUPONT CIRCLE. Boasting a whimsical name, this restaurant is decorated with earth tones and features a backlit amber-glass bar, a birch log wall, and a large "Firefly Tree" that dominates the room. The menu includes both meat and vegetable items, like succulent Amish chicken with red chili gravy or braised short ribs cooked in red wine and served with roasted vegetables. Outdoor dining is available. Smart casual or trendy dress. Reservations accepted.
More Details

Georgia Brown's
950 15th St NW, Washington, DC 20005 202-393-4499

Description: DOWNTOWN. This upscale restaurant attracts a wide mix of politicos and world citizens longing for South Carolina's Lowcountry cooking. Barbecued salmon fillet, shrimp and grits, Frogmore stew (seafood, no frogs) and Southern fried chicken are menu classics that come with cornbread, biscuits and lots of animated conversation. Vegetarians find warm embrace in meatless dishes like sautéed black-eyed pea cakes. Fried catfish, biscuit-battered French toast, country ham with gravy and other brunch delights also gain wide approval. Some say that this type of food is a bit heavy ­ others simply nod and butter another biscuit. METRO: McPherson Square
More Details

Lafayette Room
One Lafayette Sq, Hay-Adams Hotel, Washington, DC 20006 202-638-2570

Description: DOWNTOWN. A top destination for something savory, the signature dining room of the Hay-Adams Hotel offers subdued surroundings and views of the White House. If you have Sunday morning free, make plans to take brunch in these elegant confines. Doing so entitles you to indulge in their fantastic appetizer buffet before savoring your plated main course. Will it be fresh Virginia three-egg omelet or country-style corned beef hash with poached eggs and Provencal tomato? You really won't go wrong either way.
More Details

Morrison-Clark Historic Hotel & Restaurant
1015 L St NW, Washington, DC 20001 202-898-1200

Description: DOWNTOWN. This luxurious hotel, converted from two circa-1864 townhouses, offers exquisite service and genteel ambience. Along with laundry service and valet parking, guests can expect a restaurant, concierge, fitness center, and business services. Individual rooms are quiet and elegant, boasting antiques and soothing color schemes. They also feature television, dataport, climate control, mini-bar, hair dryer, and iron. Robes and turndown service are available as well. For a rewarding dining experience, try the inn's celebrated restaurant, which has received numerous national and local awards. 53 rooms. Parking $25/day.
More Details

Odeon Café
1714 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20009 202-328-6228

Description: DUPONT CIRCLE. Long a favorite for dinner and late-night snacks, this atmospheric café has added weekend brunch to its agenda. A diverse crowd shows up in the comfortable dining room to enjoy eggs Benedict (spinach, ham, or salmon) or fresh-baked quiche. The menu is small, but each dish is well-prepared and attractively presented. A relaxed vibe and bottomless cups of coffee make this a peaceful place to ease into the day. The entire lunch menu is also available during brunch.
More Details

Old Ebbitt Grill
675 15th St NW, Washington, DC 20005 202-347-4800

Description: DOWNTOWN. Since 1856, this landmark bar and restaurant has served DC's power class. Rich with furnishings, including Teddy Roosevelt's hunt trophies, the place never fails to satisfy. Known for its American cuisine, the saloon has a fantastic raw bar with seven types of oysters. It also makes a terrific burger, along with reuben sandwiches, chicken wings, and a more complete dinner menu featuring homemade pastas, fresh steaks, seafood (including the signature trout parmesan) and seasonal vegetables. Moderate prices. METRO: Metro Center
More Details

Restaurant at The Morrison-Clark Inn
1015 L St NW, Washington, DC 20001 202-898-1200

Description: DOWNTOWN. The golden interior of this inn's dining room is punctuated with soft-hued floral arrangements and gilt mirrors. Elegant details extend to the food as well. Influenced by Southern comfort cooking, the seasonal menu features only the best ingredients and options. Among the entrees you may find are pan-seared grouper accompanied by crawfish pierogi, and country ham or beef pot pie with mushrooms and red wine sauce. When the weather is mild, you'll want to dine on the brick-paved terrace amid the sunshine and potted plants.
More Details

Sign of the Whale
1825 M St NW, Washington, DC 20036 202-785-1110

Description: DUPONT CIRCLE. Although it's best known as a local bar for lawyers and other professionals, this place offers a terrific brunch as well. The pub-like decor, rustic but welcoming, features wooden walls, a fireplace, and taxidermy animals. The menu includes waffles, egg dishes, and more filling entrees, such as steaks.
More Details

Tabard Inn Restaurant
1739 N St NW, Hotel Tabard Inn, Washington, DC 20036 202-331-8528

Description: DUPONT CIRCLE. Within one of DC's oldest hotels, this restaurant plies guests with delicious American cuisine. It places a premium on fresh, regional produce and meats and changes the menu depending on what's available. An apple and walnut salad skillfully mixes flavors and textures. Seafood is the house specialty, and sautéed soft-shell crabs over wilted greens are proof of the attention. Rigatoni with bolognese sauce also delights, as do homemade ice creams and white chocolate cheesecake. If you don't mind waiting for a table, the enclosed courtyard is bliss during mild weather. METRO: Dupont Circle
More Details

Urbana Restaurant & Wine Bar
2121 P St NW, Hotel Palomar Washington DC, Washington, DC 20037 202-956-6650

Description: DUPONT CIRCLE. At this alluring eatery and bar, patrons nibble on gourmet pizza and savor wines bearing remarkable European labels. The interesting Mediterranean cuisine extends from savory brandade beignets with garlic aoli to grilled meats and seafood. An aesthetically pleasing arrangement of wine bottles lines the wall, and sommeliers behind white marble counters help you choose from the vast selection.
More Details

Willard Room
1401 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Willard Inter-Continental Hotel, Washington, DC 20004 202-637-7440

Description: DOWNTOWN. A superb hotel restaurant, the Willard Room features exquisite Nouveau American and French cuisine. Characterized by complex flavor combinations and delightful presentation, the seasonal menu features only the freshest ingredients. Notable dishes include chilled tomato soup and grilled halibut. The dining room's elegant ambiance is enhanced by a bi-level design and warm oak paneling. Dressy attire. METRO: Metro Center
More Details