New place just opened up in the Penn Quarter Section - near Spy Museum and Portrait Gallery - called CoCo Sala. It is a chocolate lounge. http://cocosala.com/. We went the other night. Loved the lounge feel too it. The chocolate beyond description! They also have a few small bites to start the evening. The cocktail list was also really inventive!
Nora is fabo! I will also second Marrakesh as mentioned above. Beware- they take cash only!
I also love Mama Ayesha for Middle Eastern food (on Calvert just over the Ellington Bridge from Connecticut Ave). They have recently added several new dishes...both meat-based and vegetarian. Great food, nice ambiance and some of the most gracious staff in DC, I think.
My daughter who lives in Spain is home visiting for a few weeks. We watched 'Made in Spain' together and LOVED it. I was in Madrid a few weeks ago and based on Jose Andres' shows, I tried a couple of restaurants that serve regional food (Asturia and Gallego). Big success...thanks Jose. We also love Jaleo and Zaytina.
How were you able to get reservations there 3 times?! Is there a secret I don't know about?
Sorry about all the typose and spelling errors. Looks like it was written by a lazy illiterate who doesn't proof before posting. I'm not an illiterate.
Been to Minibar three times. In fact, I took a chef friend the second time (and a client the third.) Never disappointed. Point of reference José spent time in Ferran Adria's kitchen... and Katsuya Fukushima (his exec chef at Minibar) gets props too. They (and the working chefs who actually prep and present to 34 course menu in front of you like a sushi bar) spend time during the day experimenting like Adria's atelier does in Barcelona. José has a series on PBS called Made in Spain... which is a travel/cooking show and where he shows some of his simply techniques. It's worth the investment in the DVD... just to here his astonishing enthusiasm. The rest of his "empire" consists of 3 Jaleo locations (tapas), Zaytina (middle eastern small plates), Oyamel (Mexican) and they're opening a hotel near the Beverly Centre in LA. Anyhow. Minibar is a real treat. And while cutting edge experimental cooking/ thinking is great for special occasions, all the other places offer lots of great tastes too.
Palena in Cleveland Park (a block or two down from the natl zoo).. fantastic little place. the prix fixe menu is a steal if you want 3 courses, and their bar menu burger is consistantly ranked one of the best in dc. my favorite certainly! great drink menu- best old fashioned in town.
2 Amys has the best neapolitan pizza (glover park/cathedral area), but Faccia Luna (old town alexandria and arlington) has the best overall pizza around.
Georges for a cheesesteak, if you find yourself in Georgetown.
I second Cafe Atlantico and Zaytinya. Both are Jose Andres's restaurants are fabulous. Also, the Minibar at Cafe Atlantico is suppose to be superb and quite the dining experience. Unfortunately, I too have yet to get a reservation. They open up a month prior to the date (ex. call at 10 am, July 24th for reservation on August 24th). If you've been or heard of the tasting menu at WD50 in NYC, I believe it is similar. If price isn't an issue, I would also suggest trying to make reservations at Citronelle, Michel Richard's other place in DC. AMAZING.
If you can plan ahead and have the cash, go to Jose Andres' minibar (inside Cafe Atalantico in the District). This is a very tough reservation to score (only 12 seats per night), so go here:
http://www.cafeatlantico.com/miniBar/reservations.htm
to read the policy and get ready to dial. I have yet to get lucky enough to get a reservation or off of the waiting list, but it would be worth it if you were so lucky! (See the phots of the food on the webiste.) I also am told that Cafe Atalantico is very good, but have not been because I would be gobbled up with envy of the people who got the rez at minibar.
For a place that is somewhat easier to get into, call now to book into Central, Michel Richard's fabulous (but relatively moderately priced) restaurant in the District. If you cannot get a rezzie, show up just as it opens at 5:30 pm and sit in the bar to dine.
I highly recommend starting with the gougeres (we ate two orders between two of us), and then moving on to the oysters, the lardon tart, the fried chicken (not a joke; even though the menu here is heavily French, the chicken was some of the best I ever had and comes with a tasty mustard sauce) and then the cassoulet. Delish!!
Several other people have recommended Zaytinya, but a word of caution -- get a reservation and be prepared for a VERY loud room. The bar always is packed, so waiting can be both uncomfortable and time-consuming. The food is good, but in my view not fine enough to merit a seventy-five minute wait for a table.
I have enjoyed Thai Square (multiple locations, but I like the one in Arlington) for some very authentic and moderately priced food. The duck curry is great!
For something informal, I recommend trying out a Five Guys burger (multiple convenient locations in DC). Order the spicy fries and accompany with your carbonated beverage of choice (try the root beer!!).
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