Georgetown

The Bean Counter

Want a sandwich? Come here and get your Cuban for $8—it's worth every penny. The seating area is a nice little cafe with "fair trade" coffee, and delicious brownies.

Georgetown Cafe

A standard diner with a few authentic Middle Eastern offerings for good measure catering to those who go to sleep in the morning. The food is a little overpriced, but it's Georgetown, and it's open all night.

Patisserie Poupon

Pleasant outdoor seating on a relaxed section Wisconsin Ave, low prices, delicious croissants, quiche, and panini. This is a regular stop for just about everyone in Georgetown who knows the place.

Quick Pita

The reigning champ in Georgetown's pita rivalry serves food into the late hours. Wash down a soujouk with an Ayran, or marvel at the Quick Pita special, stuffed with fries. It's busiest around 3-4AM—lunch can be more pleasant, if less entertaining.

Wisemiller's

Chicken Madness! Rumor has it that some students go through four years at Georgetown eating this sandwich alone. And it is indeed delicious, topped with all sorts of melted cheese, bacon, tomatoes, onions, and hot peppers. It's take-out only, so wander over to a bench on the main quad to get your fingers messy. Don't give money to the Wisey's bums—they're a bunch of sleazy frauds and they don't at all need your money.

A small Middle Eastern cafe and bookshop, serving Lebanese and Syrian specialties. In back, there is a patio/lounge where hookah is available.

Excellent upscale Thai in a creative setting, plus the best sushi bar in the area. Reservations are necessary on weekends.

The standard advice for Turkish dining is to order a bunch of mezes and skip the boring kebabs altogether. This small triangular-shaped restaurant puts this advice on its head—the kebabs are fantastic, with an especial nod to the iskender and the yogurtlu kebabs, while the mezes are almost uniformly a disappointment. If you do want an appetizer regardless, get something that will go well with the great hot bread, like the taramasolata. Serves a fine cup of Turkish coffee and some great desserts.

Palatable French food at a great price. Terrace seating when the weather permits is something hard to find in Georgetown at any price. Try the Torte aux Courgettes, a flaky zucchini pie, a traditional quiche, salad, or sandwich. Brunch on the weekends includes an entree, mimosa or OJ, and fresh French pastry for dessert. Great coffee any time, but skip the wine.

A traditional, country-style French restaurant. It's a bit off the main section of the M St strip, and tends to attract mostly locals living in those pretty townhouses you've seen while walking around.

This amazing Austrian cafe features modern European cuisine, desserts, wine and atmosphere galore. A solid beer, wine, and cocktail selection makes it a viable option for happy hour as well. Quite fond of the color orange, which lends the place a sleek but entirely unstuffy vibe.

The "Silk Road" advertisements are nothing but a gimmick—you won't find any dishes here remotely resembling Central Asian cuisine. The Asian fusion on offer, though, is well executed. But the reason you come here has little to do with the food—the extravagant decor is an out of this world oriental fantasy think tables in tents, giant gilt birdcages, pillows, carpets, etc.. The $20 pri-fixe brunch is a very good value, and the bar gets fashionable on weekend nights when they have DJs spinning tasteful downtempo. This is a popular space, so you'll need reservations any night of the week.

An excellent upscale breakfast option, but make sure you have reservations for dinner, or you won't get in. Contemporary American cuisine.

Vietnam Georgetown

A neighborhood establishment that punches way above its price range. The decor is nothing to write home about, but the crispy spring rolls and seafood dishes are, particularly the soft shell crabs. Skip the pho, though.

Elegant French-inflected American dining in what is easily one of D.C.'s finest restaurants, near Georgetown University. Jacket & tie required for men. Ask to be seated in the main dining room. A pre-theater reduced price prix-fixe menu is available early evenings on weekdays with advance reservations.

One part traditional Washingtonian power dining, two parts fashionable contemporary American restaurant, using seasonal and regional ingredients. Some of the highest points on the menu are surprises and not steak—the root beer float, believe it or not, will knock your socks off.

Power lunches among the diplomatic and political elite, late night dinners for local and international celebrities. This Italian restaurant has excellent service and an extensive wine list, but merely average food—you come here to see and be seen. It is possible to keep your bill comparatively low here if you choose your menu selections carefully and avoid the expensive alcohol on offer.

Another competitor for the title of best dining in D.C. is Michel Richard's world renowned French-themed cuisine. Jacket required for dinner.

A very fashionable restaurant featuring regional New American cuisine. Sophisticated attire is a must.

One of D.C.'s most beloved restaurants and a Clintonian favorite, with plenty of overdecorated Italian kitsch right up to the Italian pasta-making grandmas on display. Yes, it's touristy, but the pastas are indeed excellent, the portions very generous, and you are almost certainly guaranteed a fun, memorable experience.

Spectacular views of the Potomac and the Kennedy Center, with outdoor seating right on Washington Harbour. People come here for the views especially in the summer and to see and be seen with the Georgetown elite, not for the overpriced, mediocre food and terrible service.