City: Washington, DC

Category: Restaurants

Address: 675 15th Street NW

City: Washington, DC

Category: Restaurants

Telephone: (202) 337-3406

Address: 3139 M Street NW

Description: Great barbecue, sandwiches, and burgers; a lively, casual atmosphere; and fascinating history-rich decor combine to make Georgetown’s Old Glory something to shoot fireworks about. If you take your barbecue seriously, you’ll want to sample all six of the sauces here: Each follows the recipe of a different barbecue region, like Memphis or Texas. Corn muffins, biscuits, and hush puppies are the real thing, but save room for the mouthwatering desserts. This is a noisy, fun spot, so be sure to add it to the list of places to consider for birthday celebrations or other get-togethers. Old Glory is open for lunch Monday through Saturday, dinner nightly, and Sunday brunch.

City: Washington, DC

Category: Restaurants

Telephone: (202) 265-8385

Address: 1342 U Street NW

Description: Polly’s Café typifies the ethnically diverse, rapidly gentrifying Shaw/Cardozo neighborhood along U Street. It’s a restaurant and bar where bikers and brokers seem to feel equally at home. There’s the usual range of burgers, chicken, and seafood, with a revolving selection of specials, such as chicken stuffed with spinach. Open for dinner daily and for brunch on Saturday and Sunday. For night owls and folks who’ve just been to the nearby Lincoln Theater, Polly’s Café stays open until 3 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights.

City: Washington, DC

Category: Restaurants

Telephone: (202) 466-8811

Address: 2020 K Street NW

Description: This is a place for high rollers, and you’ll sense it as soon as you see the flashy blondes at the lively bar and lots of fit, fiftyish men . . . with lots of money. People dress up for dinner here: dark suits, slinky black dresses, and even a bit of glitter. The dining room has the feel of an old-time lovers’ rendezvous, with its draperies and martinis and baby-grand piano—but it’s too crowded for an effective hideaway. The food here is as much an attraction as the ambience. You won’t find better prime aged beef, and there’s live Maine lobster and fresh Florida seafood flown in daily. Don’t forget the traditional accompaniments either: mouthwatering mashed potatoes and creamed spinach. Prime Rib is open for lunch weekdays and dinner Monday through Saturday.

City: Washington, DC

Category: Restaurants

Address: 2132 Florida Avenue NW

City: Washington, DC

Category: Restaurants

Telephone: (202) 965-1789

Address: 1226 36th Street NW

Description: Perhaps it’s the location, a two-story Federal town house in a quiet residential area of upper Northwest in the shadows of Georgetown University. Then, once you treat your palate to the food, that immediately carries equal weight. Whatever the reason, 1789 captivates with its country-inn charm and elegance and the efficient, first-class service. Although named for the year the university was founded, 1789 offers a truly modern American menu, serving dinner nightly, with such classic treats as pheasant, venison, fish, veal, soft-shell crabs, lobster, and homemade soups. Be sure to leave room for the breads and desserts, all whipped up on the premises. 1789 is open for dinner nightly.

City: Washington, DC

Category: Restaurants

Address: 1990 M Street NW

City: Washington, DC

Category: Restaurants

Telephone: (202) 654-0999

Address: 800 F Street NW

Description: Zola abuts the International Spy Museum and pays tribute to the world of espionage itself. Named for the French author Émile Zola, who championed the cause of a falsely accused spy, the restaurant also includes art works made of shredded CIA documents. Food is strictly cutting-edge American, from lobster macaroni and cheese to crispy veal meatloaf sliders served with Maytag blue cheese potato salad. Even if you’re not visiting the Spy Museum, the restaurant is convenient to other attractions within a couple of blocks, such as the Verizon Center and Smithsonian American Art Museum. Open weekdays for lunch and daily for dinner.

City: Washington, DC

Category: Restaurants

Telephone: (202) 232-7600

Address: 1942 9th Street NW

Description: Etete may not be what you’d expect from an Ethiopian eatery. It looks more like a stylish downtown restaurant than an authentic ethnic neighborhood outpost. It’s worth a visit, though, particularly if you’re new to Ethiopian cuisine. The friendly wait staff will talk you through the menu and will alter the spice level to the uninitiated palate. The injera is tasty, but not as sour and dense as some you’ll encounter. Try the lamb dishes, seasoned with hints of jalapeño and berbere spices. Vegetarians will have ample choices, but we’d recommend the azifa, a lentil dish flavored with onions, jalapeños, bell peppers, lemon juice, and spicy mustard, which you won’t see on the menu at every Ethiopian restaurant in town. Etete is open daily for lunch and dinner.

City: Washington, DC

Category: Restaurants

Telephone: (202) 462-4100

Address: 2434 18th Street NW

Description: National recognition and awards galore have done a lot to enhance the reputation of this Ethiopian restaurant, which some critics rank as the nation’s finest. If you enjoy such dining adventures, one visit will have you singing its praises too. Enjoy the big, floppy crepelike bread for scooping up the various hot and mild meat dishes (including beef, lamb, and chicken), the lentils and green vegetables, and all that glorious sauce. You can’t beat the prices. Lunch and dinner are served daily.

City: Washington, DC

Category: Restaurants

Telephone: (202) 333-4710

Address: 1201 28th Street NW

Description: Only alphabetical order put Zed’s at the end of the list for recommended Ethiopian dining. Although it offers less ambience than some of its competitors, it always scores high where it matters the most for a restaurant: food. In particular, the rich sauces, beef dishes, and a unique offering of broiled short ribs help place Zed’s ahead of many of its contemporaries. Zed’s serves lunch and dinner daily.

City: Washington, DC

Category: Restaurants

Telephone: (202) 371-2233

Address: 509 H Street NW

Description: Ask anyone in the know where to find the best soups and dumplings in Chinatown and they’ll point you in the direction of Full Kee. Customers line up outside this simple, cash-only restaurant for wonton or hot and sour soup. You’ll also find the dishes you’d expect at any Chinese eatery here, including some of the best lunch bargains in the city.

City: Washington, DC

Category: Restaurants

Telephone: (202) 530-5500

Address: 1915 I Street NW

Description: There are a few great places for sushi in this city, and Kaz is at the top of the list. The decor is deceptively plain, but Chef Kaz Okochi’s creations are downright artistic, crafted from the freshest fish and the finest rice. Kaz’s signature dishes include tuna sushi with kalamata olives and even foie gras. Vegetarians will find about a dozen sushi options, made with mushrooms, eggplant, and tofu. For a true culinary adventure, sign up for an eight-course tasting menu.

City: Washington, DC

Category: Restaurants

Address: 4822 MacArthur Boulevard NW

City: Washington, DC

Category: Restaurants

Telephone: (202) 234-6218

Address: 1811 Columbia Road NW

Description: An Asian restaurant named Perry’s? Well, yes, in a way. Perry’s, at the throbbing heart of Adams Morgan, offers pretty darned good sushi and other Asian dishes, along with international standards like pasta. Some dishes are a wonderful fusion of East and West. Perry’s is for those who like to party hearty and, in summer, there’s no better place than the rooftop garden sparkling with fairy lights. For a touch of decadence, there’s a drag show at Sunday brunch. It’s open for dinner and the Sunday brunch.