Le Diplomate is fun, but not amazing food. Palena Cafe has much better food, though not as good people watching.

If you're up for an adventure, Little Serow has great food (definitely better than Doi Moi) - you just have to wait in line from 4:45-5:30 to get your name on the list, then go have a drink and return for dinner.

Has anyone bothered to withstand the crazy waits at Rose's Luxury? Is it worth it?

Love Acqua al 2 -- the pasta sample is amazing and the steak incredible. Cozy but it can get very loud. And it is on the Hill so the distance can be a deal breaking for some.

I know Le Diplomate is getting mix reviews -- but I have been there three times, and loved it. But you need to like french inspired food, so check out the menu. Fun, upbeat atmosphere and then you could go somewhere else on 14th for a drink.

Best meals I have had in the last year have bern at Equinox and Acqua al 2.

Anonymous wrote:It's funny b/c a lot of posters equate "best" with "expensive." In my mind the best restaurants is where I consistently enjoy every meal and the service is pleasant.


I'd say go exploring from a culinary perspective--this area has great papusas, dim sum, and Ethiopian food.

Actually, best in terms of quality is often going to equate with most expensive. What you are describing is more of a best value, quality food and service that you can afford to do on a regular basis.

If you really think this area has great dim sum, you are sadly mistaken. It's OK, not great, but ridiculously over priced compared to other major cities.

Anonymous wrote:Any new takes on this? I'm taking DH out for his birthday at the end of March (too soon for a month-out Komi reservation). We haven't been downtown for a nice dinner in ages (moved to VA, baby and toddler) and I am now 2.5 years out of the scene. I'd planned on Le Diplomate, but now wonder if there's somewhere else we should go. If you could visit just one restaurant in 2014, where would you go (that I can get reservations)? We love everything, but especially French, sushi, novelty (think Citronelle tasting menu).

For sushi you can't beat Sushi Taro at the chef's counter in the back of the restaurant. We finally went recently and it was as good as any meal I have had in Japan. Nice diversity of dishes in addition to the sushi, and the variety of fish available is amazing. They will adjust to your likes and dislikes to some degree. People sitting next to us had a slightly different meal based on preferences etc. It's not cheap as we paid $160 though I think it can vary up or down by $20 or so. It's around a dozen dishes plus sushi and sashimi which you can choose yourself or leave up to the chef to pick what he thinks is the best for the day. Would estimate this to be one of the top 5 meals I have eaten, slightly ahead of CityZen for best in DC at a still operating restaurant. Citronelle tasting would have been tops if still open.

Anonymous wrote:I'm 10:00 - Lively. It's march madness, so someplace with a fun atmosphere, as we'll probably be watching bball before and maybe after. I've considered both District Commons and Pearl Diver -but I don't necessarily want bar food or a corporate atmosphere.

PP here who asked. Pearl Dive is good. Not great, but good and fun. If you've been to any of the other restaurants they own (Black's Bar and Kitchen, BlackSalt, the late Addie's) then you know what to expect. But they don't take reservations, which is a deal-breaker for some.

What about Ghibellina? Chez Billy?

Anonymous wrote:I'm 10:00 - Lively. It's march madness, so someplace with a fun atmosphere, as we'll probably be watching bball before and maybe after. I've considered both District Commons and Pearl Diver -but I don't necessarily want bar food or a corporate atmosphere.

Try 14th street - lots of options for bar hopping and watching games while still getting good food. Pearl Dive, Kapnos, Cork, Ghibellina, Etto, Doi Moi, Estadio, Garden District.

CityZen, Corduroy, Marcel's, Palena, Rogue 24, Roberto's 8.

I'm 10:00 - Lively. It's march madness, so someplace with a fun atmosphere, as we'll probably be watching bball before and maybe after. I've considered both District Commons and Pearl Diver -but I don't necessarily want bar food or a corporate atmosphere.

I love the food at Vidalia, but it's not happening and there's no scene. It's kind of a bland office-y setting. Still, I think it's one of the best meals in town. To PPs, do you want lively, or romantic?

Also interested in places to go - DH and I staying in DC Friday night to have a evening out. Also, to the PP interested in Le Diplomat, I was there in January for dinner and loved it.

Any new takes on this? I'm taking DH out for his birthday at the end of March (too soon for a month-out Komi reservation). We haven't been downtown for a nice dinner in ages (moved to VA, baby and toddler) and I am now 2.5 years out of the scene. I'd planned on Le Diplomate, but now wonder if there's somewhere else we should go. If you could visit just one restaurant in 2014, where would you go (that I can get reservations)? We love everything, but especially French, sushi, novelty (think Citronelle tasting menu).

It's funny b/c a lot of posters equate "best" with "expensive." In my mind the best restaurants is where I consistently enjoy every meal and the service is pleasant.

So, OP, I don't know if you meant DC proper, but one of my favorite restaurants is Kadhai (used to be called Haandi) in Bethesda for Indian food: http://kadhaimd.com/client/

Get the Tandoori mixed platter and the smokey eggplant dish.

Also, I've never had a bad meal at any of the Black restaurants and the service is always good. (This is a family name, fyi.)
http://www.blackrestaurantgroup.com/

I'd say go exploring from a culinary perspective--this area has great papusas, dim sum, and Ethiopian food.