WASHINGTON, D.C.
Clockwise from left: Pearl Dive Oyster Palace, in logan Circle; ground duck over noodles at little Serow; outside Ben’s Chili Bowl, in downtown D.C.
a 14th Street Culinary Crawl these days, the best place to eat (and drink) is logan Circle’s 14th Street corridor. THE pLACE Ben’s Chili Bowl, a 60-plus-year-old institution known for its no-frills grub. THE ORDER the Chili half Smoke, a half-pork-and-halfbeef smoked sausage on a steamed bun with mustard, onions and ben’s signature chili sauce. benschilibowl.com.
Eat D.C.’s culinary cred is rising: seven places to go right now (book early). KOMI AND LITTLE SEROW young chef johnny Monis and his wife, Anne Marler, run Komi, a haute dupont Circle spot that takes Greece as a starting point (slow-roasted baby goat with pita and tzatziki). Also of note: the duo’s new and nearby thai spot, Little Serow. komirestaurant.com; set menu for two $270. littleserow.com; dinner for two $90.
THE SOURCE wolfgang Puck’s sleek and spacious glass-andsteel dining room in the Newseum plays with pan-Asian flavors,
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skipping from China (lacquered duckling with lo mein) to japan (stir-fried yaki-udon), Korea (barbecued-steak salad) to India (tandoori arctic char with raita). wolfgangpuck.com; set lunch for two $90.
RASIKA d.C.’s elite, from CNN’s wolf blitzer to Virginia Senator Mark warner, flock to this classic Indian restaurant and its flashily mod new sibling Rasika west End for authentic northern Indian cuisine. Ask the server for guidance, and share everything. rasikarestaurant.com; dinner for two $100.
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SUppER CLUB AT SEASONAL pANTRY the city is slowly embracing the pop-up restaurant, with the wednesday-throughSaturday 12-seat dinners at this specialty market in the Shaw neighborhood. Chef daniel o’brien—a contestant on the current season of Top Chef—turns out an ever-changing multicourse menu with seasonal delights such as wild mushrooms accompanied by chicken, pumpkin and pickles. seasonalpantry. com; prices determined by set menu of the week.
JALEO AND MINIBAR Spanish-born star chef josé Andrés jumpstarted his career in his new home city with jaleo, a tapas spot that recently got a playful makeover. Sample from the new menu—a paella or a tortilla with sobrasada, onions, and Mahón cheese. the more daring might try Andrés’s reopened Minibar, nearby, with one-bite molecular concoctions. jaleo.com; dinner for two $50. minibarbyjoseandres. com; tasting menu for two $450. Prices are in US dollars.
THE pLACE Pearl Dive Oyster Palace, a low-key bar and restaurant with a retronautical feel. THE ORDER Oysters, oysters, and oysters, accompanied by a local microbrew, or the Pimm’sbased Pearl Cup. pearldivedc.com; oysters for two $18. THE pLACE estadio, an ode to tapas in a chic, loftlike space. THE ORDER the roasted shishito peppers and the montadito (a Spanish sandwich) of duck and foie gras. estadio-dc. com; tapas for two $130. THE pLACE Birch & Barley and Church Key, an upstairs/ downstairs, beer-focused restaurant and gastropub. THE ORDER At birch & barley, cavatelli and flounder tartare; at Church Key, tater tots and charcuterie. birchandbarley.com; $110. churchkeydc.com; $130.
L I t t L E S E R o w : S C o t t S U C H M A N . I L L U S t R At I o N b y L A U R E N N A S S E F
THE pLACE the Gibson, a clubby speakeasy serving classic cocktails. THE ORDER one (or two or three) of the old-fashioned fizzes or sours; plus olives or another light bite from the snack menu. thegibsondc.com.