Mike's American Grill

6210 Backlick Rd
Springfield, VA 22150

tom n. writes: Surprising restaurant for lunch.  A client had recommended this place for lunch and was I glad for his selection.  The environment is very Americana, lively, and very welcoming.  The staff is very zealous and attentive.  

We started off with the crab…

Valentino's New York Style Pizza

4813 Beauregard Street
Alexandria, VA 22312

Jim B. writes: I starting reading reviews of this place after I caught Lyle B's review on Yelp's front page. His line of "the BEST pizza in the DC area..." caught my eye and I made a note that I needed to eat there that night.

Little did I know that my girlfriend…

Trusty's Full-Serve Bar
Neighborhood: Capitol Hill/Southeast, Barney Circle

1420 Pennsylvania Ave SE
Washington, DC 20003

andra e. writes: This is a special place even though it may appear to be nothing special at first. Great atmosphere--love the light fixtures fashioned from motor oil cans and the cut-out states from an atlas that make up the wall mural of the US. Great bar tenders.…

Recessions

1823 L St NW
# 1
Washington, DC 20036

Kori K. writes: So even I have those rare nights where I'm not all that interested in going out, nevertheless, going in the city, but if somebody says "Recessions" and grabbing my Smartcard and I'm out the door.

I am total disbelief that I haven't written about this…

Great Sage

5809 Clarksville Square Dr
Clarksville, MD 21029

dave h. writes: I am not a vegan or a militant vegetarian, although i do respect those that are, but this place is organic and  vegetarian and most of the menu can be or is vegan.  I am definitely a carnivore, but this place did satisfy me and was extremely tasty.…

Thai Luang Restaurant

171 Elden Street
Herndon, VA 20170

Matt N. writes: Best Thai food outside of Thailand. I love this place. I spend the summer in Thailand and Thai Luang is spot-on authentic. They have dishes from every region.

Even though it kills me every time I pay $12 for a dish that would cost 30 baht ($1) in…

Sushi Yama Restaurant

328 Maple Avenue W
Vienna, VA 22180

Gayle G. writes: Just had dinner here and, gotta say..the sushi was excellent. Not better than my fave sushi place in VA (Konami up the road).

I was impressed that at 5:30pm on a Friday night that we got seated right away. There was another table with a family of 5,…

Zengo
Neighborhood: Chinatown

781 7th Street NW
Washington, DC 20001

Nicole P. writes: When a guy told me this is where he wanted to go on our second date, I all but jumped at the chance. The guys I usually go out with are comfortable going to, say, Cosi or Chipotle. C'mon, now...

Anyway, I arrived at Zengo straight after work. I…

Ardeo

3311 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20008

angela n. writes: Today was the third time I've had brunch here. Elegant atmosphere.  My friend, a regular, has even spotted celebs here, including Jim Lehrer and Gloria Steinem.

One of their sides is made of delicious little fried potatoes with peppers.  But when it…

Tune Inn
Neighborhood: Capitol Hill/Southeast

331 Pennsylvania Ave SE
Washington, DC 20003

Sean G. writes: The best bar on the Hill. Why? Well here's why -- there's ALWAYS some grizzled old guy at the bar with a stack of Playboys from the '70's piled high on the stool next to him. It's a dive bar's dive bar. The new-ish remodel job regrettably took some…

Biddy Mulligan's
Neighborhood: Dupont Circle

1500 New Hampshire Ave NW
Jury's Hotel
Washington, DC 20036

Stef W. writes: ***3.5 Stars***

Biddy Mulligan's was the spot where my former co-workers and I would go for Happy Hour every Friday after a long week in the office.  We were here so much that we had our usual table in the back room, and would even use the name of the…

Atomic Billiards
Neighborhood: Cleveland Park

3427 Connecticut Ave NW
Washington, DC 20008

Rich L. writes: I like Atomic Billiards as far as pool halls go.  I like it because it is laid back without the Adams Morganish "I'm totally laid back check out how laid back I am seriously, I am also physically laying myself backwards to indicate my forced…

Raku-An Asian Diner

7240 Woodmont Ave
Bethesda, MD 20814

Chang W. writes: Raku is a great place to take a first date for lots of reasons. It has that fusion thing going on so finding something on the menu that will suit both parties won't be too tough (order the Tuna Tartare). Moreover, it has a good ambiance, a decent…

Cafe Deluxe

3228 Wisconsin Ave NW
Washington, DC 20016

Liam D. writes: I take or leave Cafe Deluxe - in fact, I think that the best word to describe it is "meh." This is the sound that accomodates the shrug and face of slight disinterest I project when someone suggests this as a lunch or dinner spot. It's not that the…

Bob & Edith's Diner

2310 Columbia Pike
Arlington, VA 22204

Maggie B. writes: Bob and Edith's is the DC standard for drunk food and hangover breakfast. I've only been to the original, not the one further down Columbia Pike.

1. Sh*t on a Shingle rocks. Get it with the potatoes.
2. I would pay extra just for the late night…

Mr. Chen's Organic Chinese Cuisine
Neighborhood: Woodley Park

2604 Connecticut Ave NW
Washington, DC 20008

jenn h. writes: Mr Chen, are you sure you're Chinese? I know Chinese food, mister: my friend's cousin's family owned a Chinese restaurant, and I visited that kitchen. Organic was NOT known in the vocabulary there.  I lived in San Francisco, where the Chinese…

South Austin Grill

801 King St
Alexandria, VA 22314

Dorris L. writes: i agree that you can't really vouch for the food - coupled with the fact that i live near a horrible austin grill - it just seems wrong to give a great review of the place. but the alexandria (are these related?) location is very different - there's…

Quick Pita
Neighborhood: Georgetown

1210 Potomac St NW
Washington, DC 20007

Leila S. writes: What we're gonna do right here is go back,
Wayyyyy back,
Back into time...

::: end Blackstreet throwback :::

Lets just go back to Friday night. It's 3 AM, you're belligerently drunk, and you bear a striking resemblance to Medusa's cousin.…

Clyde's

10221 Wincopin Circle
Columbia, MD 21044

Katharine S. writes: I may be biased because I grew up in Columbia, but Clyde's is one of my favorite restaurants.  My friends and I have gone there so often to celebrate birthdays that it has now become tradition.  The food is good, although not amazing, but it's the…

Sorriso Ristorante & Pizzeria
Neighborhood: Cleveland Park

3518 Connecticut Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20008

Ray C. writes: If you're looking for authentic Northern Italian cuisine, specifically from the Friuli Venezia Giulia region, look no further than Sorriso!  I never knew it existed.  Since I live near Chinatown and rarely go to Cleveland Park, I was totally in for…

Adam's Mill & Bar Grill

1813 Adams Mill Rd NW
Washington, DC 20009

kainanny c. writes: OMFG! ADAM'S MORGAN!!!!!!

i completely forgot what it was like to go out in adam's morgan because i haven't been back in years, but adam's mill brought it all back!

randomest bar EVER! three stories tall.

first story = sports bar (lame)
second story =…

Maggiano's Little Italy
Neighborhood: Friendship Heights

5333 Wisconsin Ave NW
Washington, DC 20015

Jack F. writes: Family-style dinners aren't meant for just large groups of people - a party of two is just fine.  The beauty of Maggiano's and other factory-production chains is that there's so much food served that you're always guaranteed leftovers.  My fondest…

Faccia Luna Trattoria

2909 Wilson Boulevard
Arlington, VA 22201

Heather M. writes: I went out to Arlington because my friend Annie had moved there and we hadn't seen each other for a while. Both Annie and I have trouble making decisions, which meant that we wandered around for a good 15 minutes before deciding on where to eat.

Annie…

Misha's

102 S Patrick St
Alexandria, VA 22314

Nina B. writes: Ok, the coffee kinda sucks, and their food isn't great.  But, that's not why you go to Misha's.  So, why do you go then?

1) You don't want another Starbucks in your neighborhood, so you support local business.
2) All the locals are there, it's really a…

Trader Joe's

6831 Wisconsin Ave
Chevy Chase, MD 20815

alana r. writes: i'm a trader joe's whore.

i go here almost everyday for lunch (sushi, ready to eat wraps) and regularly consume their salmon, scallops, pasta, pesto and just about everything else they offer.  

the people are always friendly and the lines move fast.  …

Bilbo Baggins Cafe-Restaurant

208 Queen Street
Alexandria, VA 22314

Aaron E. writes: My bread was not warm. Does anyone really like stale bread? Doubt it.

I'll give this place another shot. They have tons of beers from far aways places and an interesting menu. They also have an interesting name.

I tried the egg pie. Call it quiche…

McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurants

11920 Democracy Dr
Reston, VA 20190

Lynn S. writes: I've been back to this restaurant/bar five times since my earlier review and things have been better.  In the dining room, service was pleasant, but not sufficiently attentive, (i.e., we had to search out the waiter when we had a request or was ready…

Vidalia Restaurant

1990 M Street NW
Washington, DC 20036

Stephen A. writes: I would just like to say that Vidalia is an absolutely incredible restaurant. The service was top-notch, the atmosphere was elegant, and the food... there was definitely a party in my mouth and everyone was invited.

Upon receiving the wine list, I was…

Old Town Coffee Tea & Spice

215 S Union St
Alexandria, VA 22314

Justin S. writes: I found myself standing at the counter of Old Town Coffee Tea & Spice once again.  It was moments from closing and the old man running the store knew from experience that I've got a bad habit of taking too long.  As I mulled over the selection I…

Nam Viet & Pho 79
Neighborhood: Cleveland Park

3419 Connecticut Ave NW
Washington, DC 20008

MiRIAM w. writes: I love crispy spring rolls and pho ga on Saturday morning. It's one of my favorite breakfasts. I'd take it over French toast and pancakes almost any day.

Typically a Saturday morning craving for pho means driving out to Arlington. Thankfully though,…

The Cheesecake Factory
Neighborhood: Friendship Heights

5335 Wisconsin Ave NW Ste 440
Washington, DC 20015

Stef W. writes: People seem to have very strong feelings about The Cheesecake Factory!  Best thing since sliced bread in one corner v. worst menu and horrible wait in the other.  

I have been dining at this DC location for 13 years now.  I've always enjoyed the food…

Ruth's Chris Steak House

1801 Connecticut Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20009

Chang W. writes: I went here for Restaurant Week because it was dubbed the best value in the DC talk thread. My experience was mixed.  

Crowd - Eclectic, to say the least. The whole gamut of the DC metro population came out that night: one older lady was wearing a…

Whole Foods Market
Neighborhood: Glover Park

2323 Wisconsin Ave NW
Washington, DC 20007

Stef W. writes: ***2.5 Stars***

All Whole Foods are not created equal.  I used to LOVE this store and would frequent it several times a week.  Now, though, I rarely come here.  What changed for me?

1. In the late 1990s, I noticed that the inventory was inconsistent.…

Max's Best Ice Cream and Sandwich Shop
Neighborhood: Glover Park

2416 Wisconsin Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20007

Kathleen M. writes: Max's just screams Glover Park to me: small, locally-owned, kid-friendly, supportive of the neighborhood, and absolutely perfect on a warm spring/summer day.

It always smells exactly like a good ice cream shop should: super sweetness mixed with…

Thai Chef
Neighborhood: Dupont Circle

1712 Connecticut Ave NW
Washington, DC 20009

Tiffini B. writes: Thai Chef without a doubt brings back ever-so-sweet recollections...
It was the mutually agreed meeting spot for dinner for myself and a Cuban beauty who was a blind date...
This would be our first meet and she had recommended Thia Chef.
"The foods…

Ghana Cafe
Neighborhood: Adams Morgan

2465 18th St NW
Washington, DC 20009

Chloe F. writes: Skank away....skank away (its a kind of dance!!! I swear!)

Once, maybe 6 months ago, I was there...skanking my life away (dancing, dancing!) to the live reggae band playing Marley covers and others...they do it riiiight! the entire floor was full of…

Busara Restaurant
Neighborhood: Glover Park

2340 Wisconsin Ave NW
Washington, DC 20007

alexis g. writes: I lived in Glover Park for two years, and just moved in May. To be honest, I still crave Busara from time to time (at least twice a week). I've dragged a countless number of friends and family here over and over, and though they weren't really…

The Diner
Neighborhood: Adams Morgan

2453 18th St NW
Washington, DC 20009

alexis g. writes: I really love eating after a night of boozing, so this place is perfect for when I go out in Adams Morgan. The food here is OK, just your typical American stuff for the most part.

Often there is a long wait, so try to get here before 2 a.m. if you're…