Help! Major Foodie Visitors!

[Anonymous]

My friend literally works for a major food magazine. She is such a major foodie - she is also a fabulous cook and has had recipes published. They haven’t visited us in about a decade. The last few times we saw them it was on their turf or when we met up in city none of us lives. She usually takes care of finding places. Now they are coming for 5 nights and she asked me to pick all the places and surprise her. The pressure!

I haven’t gone anywhere cool/fun in forever. I’d like to keep prices below $35 entree since I’ll be treating them (her and her husband), plus me and my husband so with apps, drinks, wine… it could get super pricey really quickly.

I’d like places in DC that are lively, busy, seem “happening.” Some sort of outdoor seating is necessary because her husband has actually received a donated organ and they are still very Covid conscious. There are no food restrictions and they like everything.

Please help! I have read a bunch of lists but that doesn’t always translate into real life, and i really want them to have a great time given all they’ve been through the past few years with her husband’s surgery, Covid, etc.

Thank you sooooo much

[Anonymous]

Pupusas are very DC. My favorites do not have outdoor seating though

El Rinconcito near the convention center, all pupusas are amazing as is the Salvadoran breakfast
https://rinconcitocafe.com/menu-item/combinacionescombinations-pupusas-tamales/

Also like Ercilia’s Restaurant in Mt Pleasant

[Anonymous]

Take them out for Ethiopian food.

[Anonymous]

I would include a least one Jose Andres restaurant.

[Anonymous]

Elle in Mount Pleasant (can also do La Tejana for breakfast tacos on the same street)

Yellow in Georgetown (now has dinner service as well).

As someone mentioned look for a highly rated Ethiopian place with outdoor seating.

Nina May could be ok but might get a bit pricy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would include a least one Jose Andres restaurant.

Jaleo has a lot of outdoor seating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would include a least one Jose Andres restaurant.

Another nod for going to a Jose Andres restaurant. Check out the menus for each. Tip: I used the inkind app to prepurchase restaurant credit at a discount.

[Anonymous]

A Korean restaurant in Annandale.

[Anonymous]

Good food doesn’t have to be exotic. I would go with a traditional French bistro at least one night.

[Anonymous]

Hard shell crabs - maybe Cantler’s?

[Anonymous]

Eden center

[Anonymous]

I love this question!!

Some ideas:
- Market Lunch at Eastern Market (fish sandwiches). You can eat at picnic tables outside
- Bullfrog Bagels - brunch at home
- La Famosa in Navy Yard - nice patio
- Salt Line in Navy Yard (get reservations) - waterfront patio
- Hanks on the Wharf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Elle in Mount Pleasant (can also do La Tejana for breakfast tacos on the same street)

Yellow in Georgetown (now has dinner service as well).

As someone mentioned look for a highly rated Ethiopian place with outdoor seating.

Nina May could be ok but might get a bit pricy

Yellow is soooo goooood. That would be the one foodie destination in my mind. I think you could get it to go and sit by the waterfront?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pupusas are very DC. My favorites do not have outdoor seating though

El Rinconcito near the convention center, all pupusas are amazing as is the Salvadoran breakfast
https://rinconcitocafe.com/menu-item/combinacionescombinations-pupusas-tamales/

Also like Ercilia’s Restaurant in Mt Pleasant

La Plaza in Eastern Market has outdoor seating and strong margaritas. Stick to the Salvadoran dishes.

[Anonymous]

For novelty…and something delicious https://www.seoulfooddc.com/home/our-story