Celebratory restaurant recommendation!!

[Anonymous]

Next week is my daughter’s 13th bday and we will be driving to DC that afternoon. I rarely go out when I’m there as I’m usually there for work, but I’d love a recommendation for a celebratory dinner spot.

She’s mildly annoyed that I’m not letting her spend the evening with her friends (she has a party planned a few days later and I’m having a surprise bday breakfast for her before we leave), so I want to find a nice place. (I know I’m the worst mom in the world but I have to be in DC for work early the next morning and then that night we are going to a show at the Kennedy Center as part of her bday gift, and she’s very excited for that.)

We are a family of 5, she’s the oldest kid. We enjoy pretty much every type of food. We are staying in Penn Quarter so somewhere in NW DC is probably best. Any pre-theater recommendations for the next night would be great too!

[Anonymous]

Cranes

[Anonymous]

It sounds like you don’t live in DC metro area, right? Meaning your kids aren’t regular visitors to those areas? Assuming so, I’d go to Zatinya for her birthday dinner (or tell us her favorite foods and we can suggest other ideas), and before the show I’d book an early dinner at Sequoia and eat outdoors with the view of the Potomac. You can even walk to the Kennedy Center after so long as you leave enough time. I know many think Sequoia is meh but I ate there recently and it was much better than I remembered, and you can’t beat that lovely patio and view for persons new to DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like you don’t live in DC metro area, right? Meaning your kids aren’t regular visitors to those areas? Assuming so, I’d go to Zatinya for her birthday dinner (or tell us her favorite foods and we can suggest other ideas), and before the show I’d book an early dinner at Sequoia and eat outdoors with the view of the Potomac. You can even walk to the Kennedy Center after so long as you leave enough time. I know many think Sequoia is meh but I ate there recently and it was much better than I remembered, and you can’t beat that lovely patio and view for persons new to DC.

We do not live there (I am a native but haven’t lived there in 20 years). We visit about once a year but usually for an event and don’t spend a lot of time dining out. So yes she hasn’t spent a lot of time eating in DC restaurants. We live in NYC so we do know and enjoy good food. Dd likes most things, but is a big fan of sushi, Indian, Mexican/Latin American, Chinese… ok actually she really likes everything! Is there any place that would feel like a celebration and maybe make a bit of a fuss over her?

[Anonymous]

I think Zaytinya is a great choice for a teen. Or Oyamel if she's into Mexican food. We used to live in Penn Quarter, but I can't think of a place that made a fuss over any of DS's birthdays when he was younger. Maybe Clyde's, but the food there isn't as good as Zaytinya or Oyamel.

[Anonymous]

Zaytinya was my first thought as well - DS (15) requested it for his end of school year celebration dinner last year.

[Anonymous]

Ok, Zatinya only has outdoor reservations available- do you think it’s crazy to consider eating outside next week?

[Anonymous]

China Chilcano is my favorite of the Andres restaurants.

Rooster and Owl is one of my favorite restaurants and service there is always great so I bet they’d do something extra for her birthday but not sure they take parties of 5. Also it’s up 14th st so less convenient, altho maybe interesting to see that neighborhood in its own right. Maydan is also up that way.

[Anonymous]

Rasika is lovely!

[Anonymous]

If she likes sushi, then Sushi Nakazawa! It's in the former (thankfully) Trump Hotel, which is rather lovely as well.