Go to Matchbox on 8th Street, SE, put in your name, tell them to call your cell instead of taking a buzzer, and go have a drink at a different nearby bar. Totally fun and one of our low key date nights.

They just opened a new Matchbox restaurant in the U/14th St area in NW DC. Might be easier to get a reservation there since it's brand new.

Rustico? Red Rocks Pizza?

Matchbox!!!

Isn't there a Pizza Paradiso in Virginia now?

Rays Hell burger?

Anonymous wrote:We love Mike's American Grill in Springfield. Although I live in MD, I try to stop there whenever I'm in the area.

This whole chain is great. We like Mike's American, Sweetwater Tavern in Merrifield, Silverado in Annandale, and Coastal Flats in Fairfax (yes, we each there a lot!). The food is good, the service is always great, and you can call ahead for seating (no reservations). Sweetwater Tavern also brews it own beer.

Anonymous wrote:Why save a place like this for a birthday? You might get more "foodie" responses in the Food and Cooking forum.

I'm not "saving" a place -- just looking for somewhere new-to-us to take my husband for a delicious burger or pizza for his birthday.

Why save a place like this for a birthday? You might get more "foodie" responses in the Food and Cooking forum.

We love Mike's American Grill in Springfield. Although I live in MD, I try to stop there whenever I'm in the area.

OP. IVE got the best suggestion for you. Give me a second to look it up. We go here all the time its literrally a 5 min walk from my house. And they serve bison burgers. The ambiance is great too. I think your DH Will feel special...hold on let me google the name. This is so sad that i go here all the time and dont know the name i just know how to walk there. OK found it! Its called Ted's Montana Grill its right across from the AMC hoffman center movie theatre off the yellow line -Eisenhower Ave stop!

Wow, NO reservations available at Matchbox for Saturday 2/26! I guess we could go early, put our names on the list, and spend the wait time celebrating at the bar.

OP here. We live in Del Ray, pretty close to Old Town. For some reason unknown to me, he hates Chadwicks.

I could try Matchbox if they take reservations -- I'll check. Otherwise I've heard it's a total madhouse in there and I don't want to spend half the night waiting around for a table.

What about Clyde's or Matchbox by Verizon Center, or someplace in Old Town (Union Street, Chadwicks?)

I'll be taking DH out for his birthday, just the two of us. I know him well enough to know he would rather forgo the fancy steak house, and just eat a really good burger somewhere (or steak, or pizza/pasta). He also likes a good beer. Fun, casual vibe would be a bonus.

Any recs? Prefer somewhere in Nova, or on the blue/yellow lines in DC.