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Restaurant list

Washington DC's Most Iconic Restaurants

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by The OpenTable team
Updated February 26, 2020

Seasons change, trends come and go, but these restaurants have withstood the test of time—and have become integral parts of the Washington, D.C. dining scene. Here are Washington, DC’s OpenTable Classics: the places that continue to excel after 10+ years. There’s a reason they’re still around: they keep giving us a reason to come back.

Zaytinya - DC
4.7 (20005)
$30 and under
Mediterranean
Penn Quarter
Chef Jose Andres is a DC legend, with restaurants of all types delighting diners around the city. Zaytinya is his Middle Eastern spot, with a myriad of dips and salads and meats and vegetables served family-style in a bright, clean, airy space. We love it as much for brunch as we do for dinner.
Top review
Stefanie
Dined 3 days ago
Always superb food. Excellent service. Theres a reason this is a DC institution. Great for meat eaters and vegetarians alike. Love it
Chef Jose Andres is a DC legend, with restaurants of all types delighting diners around the city. Zaytinya is his Middle Eastern spot, with a myriad of dips and salads and meats and vegetables served family-style in a bright, clean, airy space. We love it as much for brunch as we do for dinner.
Top review
Stefanie
Dined 3 days ago
Always superb food. Excellent service. Theres a reason this is a DC institution. Great for meat eaters and vegetarians alike. Love it
Oyamel
4.6 (9790)
$30 and under
Home cooking
Penn Quarter
Oyamel is one of those restaurants that manages to be elegant, refined, and a whole lot of fun. You’re here for upscale versions of Mexican street food—think tacos, ceviches, and tons of vegetable dishes—all served in a laid-back atmosphere, with plenty of margaritas to go around.
Top review
Denise
Dined 2 days ago
Enjoyable dinner with great service. Tasting menu was delicious and waiter was very knowledgeable.
Oyamel is one of those restaurants that manages to be elegant, refined, and a whole lot of fun. You’re here for upscale versions of Mexican street food—think tacos, ceviches, and tons of vegetable dishes—all served in a laid-back atmosphere, with plenty of margaritas to go around.
Top review
Denise
Dined 2 days ago
Enjoyable dinner with great service. Tasting menu was delicious and waiter was very knowledgeable.
Central Michel Richard
4.8 (7651)
$31 to $50
American
Penn Quarter
Since it opened 10 years ago, Central Michel Richard has been serving French-American food that is both elegant and low-key, winning accolades from all over the country. We particularly love the steak au poivre, rotisserie chicken, and French onion soup.
Top review
Beverly
Dined 3 days ago
We got to the restaurant early enough for the early bird dinner, on a hot July Saturday, before 6:30. Two of us got the 3 course special and two got a la carte off the menu. I shared the kale salad with my husband and we took home half. It was delicious but a huge portion for one person, much less two. I also got the fried chicken which was a breast filet and a chicken leg with wonderful au jus and mashed potatoes...it also had a sizable portion of fresh watercress salad (which I brought home); and then the chocolate "Kit Kat" dessert (which I shared). My husband got the prime burger without the bun so it was served with thin, flat potato "latkes" instead of the bun. The other husband got the "caesar goat salad, the salmon and creme brûlée; the wife got salads nicoise. The presentation of the caesar salad was unique...a thick cross slice of romaine head. The restaurant's interior has been redesigned since I was last there pre-covid. Service was excellent; we were offered extra plates so we could share portions and we oldsters were able to hear across the table for conversation. Highly recommend Central, especially the three course pre-theatre offering (which basically gives one a complimentary dessert). We lucked out with street parking across the street but Central offers $10 off the regular price of parking in a nearby lot (I was told regular parking prices are $15-$20 depending on the day of the week and time of day...that would yield $5-$10 parking, not bad if you can't find street parking.
Since it opened 10 years ago, Central Michel Richard has been serving French-American food that is both elegant and low-key, winning accolades from all over the country. We particularly love the steak au poivre, rotisserie chicken, and French onion soup.
Top review
Beverly
Dined 3 days ago
We got to the restaurant early enough for the early bird dinner, on a hot July Saturday, before 6:30. Two of us got the 3 course special and two got a la carte off the menu. I shared the kale salad with my husband and we took home half. It was delicious but a huge portion for one person, much less two. I also got the fried chicken which was a breast filet and a chicken leg with wonderful au jus and mashed potatoes...it also had a sizable portion of fresh watercress salad (which I brought home); and then the chocolate "Kit Kat" dessert (which I shared). My husband got the prime burger without the bun so it was served with thin, flat potato "latkes" instead of the bun. The other husband got the "caesar goat salad, the salmon and creme brûlée; the wife got salads nicoise. The presentation of the caesar salad was unique...a thick cross slice of romaine head. The restaurant's interior has been redesigned since I was last there pre-covid. Service was excellent; we were offered extra plates so we could share portions and we oldsters were able to hear across the table for conversation. Highly recommend Central, especially the three course pre-theatre offering (which basically gives one a complimentary dessert). We lucked out with street parking across the street but Central offers $10 off the regular price of parking in a nearby lot (I was told regular parking prices are $15-$20 depending on the day of the week and time of day...that would yield $5-$10 parking, not bad if you can't find street parking.
Jaleo - DC
4.7 (11271)
$30 and under
Home cooking
Penn Quarter
Chef Jose Andres is an integral part of the Washington, DC food scene, and with Jaleo—a modern tapas bar in the Penn Quarter—it’s easy to see why. Couple the top-notch food with impeccable (and unpretentious) service and you’ve got one of the most fun spots to dine in the city. Chef Jose Andres is an integral part of the Washington, DC food scene, and with Jaleo—a modern tapas bar in the Penn Quarter—it’s easy to see why. Couple the top-notch food with impeccable (and unpretentious) service and you’ve got one of the most fun spots to dine in the city.
Top review
BrianVIP
Dined 3 days ago
Excellent food and wonderful service. Xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Chef Jose Andres is an integral part of the Washington, DC food scene, and with Jaleo—a modern tapas bar in the Penn Quarter—it’s easy to see why. Couple the top-notch food with impeccable (and unpretentious) service and you’ve got one of the most fun spots to dine in the city. Chef Jose Andres is an integral part of the Washington, DC food scene, and with Jaleo—a modern tapas bar in the Penn Quarter—it’s easy to see why. Couple the top-notch food with impeccable (and unpretentious) service and you’ve got one of the most fun spots to dine in the city.
Top review
BrianVIP
Dined 3 days ago
Excellent food and wonderful service. Xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Bombay Club
4.8 (5357)
$31 to $50
Indian
Downtown
It’s hard to believe that Bombay Club has been around for thirty years; the food at this posh Indian restaurant still feels exciting and new. Don’t miss dishes like the green-chili chicken, Goan crab masala, and duck kebabs—and even meat-eaters should check out the vegetarian section, with exemplary versions of paneer makhni, gobi matar, and kale-spinach kofta.
Top review
Doris L
Dined 6 days ago
Great DC lunch spot for business meetings and colleague catch up. Wait staff accomdating - they are observant and respond to needs promptly.
It’s hard to believe that Bombay Club has been around for thirty years; the food at this posh Indian restaurant still feels exciting and new. Don’t miss dishes like the green-chili chicken, Goan crab masala, and duck kebabs—and even meat-eaters should check out the vegetarian section, with exemplary versions of paneer makhni, gobi matar, and kale-spinach kofta.
Top review
Doris L
Dined 6 days ago
Great DC lunch spot for business meetings and colleague catch up. Wait staff accomdating - they are observant and respond to needs promptly.
Tosca
4.9 (4587)
$31 to $50
Italian
Downtown
Tosca Ristorante is where the power-lunch-and-dinner types come for delicious Italian food, served in a handsome, stately room. The pastas, in particular, are excellent, as well as the appetizers; don’t miss the spaghetti with clams, pappardelle with wild boar ragu, and the crisp-fried squash blossoms.
Top review
NelsVIP
Dined 4 days ago
As always, everything was perfect at Tosca. Delicious and interesting food beautifully presented. Flawless service. Tosca is reliably superb.
Tosca Ristorante is where the power-lunch-and-dinner types come for delicious Italian food, served in a handsome, stately room. The pastas, in particular, are excellent, as well as the appetizers; don’t miss the spaghetti with clams, pappardelle with wild boar ragu, and the crisp-fried squash blossoms.
Top review
NelsVIP
Dined 4 days ago
As always, everything was perfect at Tosca. Delicious and interesting food beautifully presented. Flawless service. Tosca is reliably superb.
Blue Duck Tavern
4.7 (6381)
$31 to $50
Contemporary American
Foggy Bottom
The Blue Duck Tavern, which can be found in Georgetown’s Park Hyatt Hotel, isn’t your average tavern—it’s a classy, upscale variation on the genre, with cooking to match. Try dishes like the dry-aged beef tartare, soft shell crab, and braised beef rib, and make sure to save room for dessert.
Top review
Anthony
Dined on Jun 30, 2025
The service was excellent. The food was Michelin quality. The restaurant was a little empty, but it was after eight when we sat down to eat . It was my daughter's birthday and the menu had her name printed on it .When we left they had signed the copy with all the employees. It was a fabulous evening.
The Blue Duck Tavern, which can be found in Georgetown’s Park Hyatt Hotel, isn’t your average tavern—it’s a classy, upscale variation on the genre, with cooking to match. Try dishes like the dry-aged beef tartare, soft shell crab, and braised beef rib, and make sure to save room for dessert.
Top review
Anthony
Dined on Jun 30, 2025
The service was excellent. The food was Michelin quality. The restaurant was a little empty, but it was after eight when we sat down to eat . It was my daughter's birthday and the menu had her name printed on it .When we left they had signed the copy with all the employees. It was a fabulous evening.
Old Ebbitt Grill
4.8 (30496)
$30 and under
American
Downtown
There are few restaurants in DC as entrenched in the political scene as Old Ebbitt Grill, where politicos of all stripes come to hang out and unwind. You’ll find a menu of American classics such as oysters Rockefeller, New England clam chowder, and bacon-horseradish-glazed meatloaf, and if you’re caught at the office, not to worry—much of the menu is available late into the night.
Top review
Carrie
Dined 2 days ago
Our food was delicious and I love the classic DC ambiance.
There are few restaurants in DC as entrenched in the political scene as Old Ebbitt Grill, where politicos of all stripes come to hang out and unwind. You’ll find a menu of American classics such as oysters Rockefeller, New England clam chowder, and bacon-horseradish-glazed meatloaf, and if you’re caught at the office, not to worry—much of the menu is available late into the night.
Top review
Carrie
Dined 2 days ago
Our food was delicious and I love the classic DC ambiance.
BlackSalt
4.7 (6766)
$31 to $50
Seafood
Palisades Northwest
For a night of gorging on some of the freshest seafood in the city, head to BlackSalt, a DC institution in the Palisades neighborhood. We particularly love the clam chowder, crab cakes, and low country seafood stew—and if you’re feeling fancy, go for the caviar service.
Top review
Clarence D
Dined 2 days ago
I love their food and service. Excellent seafood dishes. Will dine there again!
For a night of gorging on some of the freshest seafood in the city, head to BlackSalt, a DC institution in the Palisades neighborhood. We particularly love the clam chowder, crab cakes, and low country seafood stew—and if you’re feeling fancy, go for the caviar service.
Top review
Clarence D
Dined 2 days ago
I love their food and service. Excellent seafood dishes. Will dine there again!

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