Diners' Choice: Contemporary American restaurants in District of Columbia

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Contemporary American cuisine in District of Columbia? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyzes more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favorites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

The Greenhouse at The Jefferson, DC

4.8

4.8 (1131)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Downtown

About the restaurant

Located in downtown DC, just four blocks from the White House, breakfast, lunch, dinner and weekend brunch are served under The Jefferson’s historic skylight in The Greenhouse. Natural light streams from above, creating an airy atmosphere that complements the light, fresh and energizing fare on our seasonal menus.

Top review

Stephen

Dined 7 days ago

Truly special occasion. Great atmosphere great menu and polite service. Great food. Will return.

Discover more

Experience

The Wine Cellar at Greenhouse

Equinox - DC

4.9

4.9 (3475)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Downtown

About the restaurant

Equinox on 19th has an upscale casual, crisp, atmosphere that firmly establishes a city chic decor. We are excited to offer you a regional, seasonal dining experience by a five-time James Beard Award nominee for Best Chef, Mid-Atlantic, Chef Todd Gray. We specialize in seasonal fine dining, plant-based, and vegetable-forward cuisine. Check out our beautiful brick fireplace room that looks onto 19th Street with soaring floor-to-ceiling windows for a perfect view. Our ample bar seats over 40 and is ideal for a beverage before dinner. Our lime-washed brick walls evoke a classic DC townhouse. Our vibe is friendly & upscale casual; our food is celebrated for all dining styles, from gluten-free and plant-based to locally farmed produce. If you have any dietary restrictions, please let us know when making your reservation and we will do our best to accommodate your needs. Located at 900 19th St NW, just a few blocks from our previous location.

Top review

SandyVIP

Dined 4 days ago

The plant-based vegan brunch at Equinox is absolutely my favorite meal anytime, anywhere. Do NOT miss it if you are in DC! The vegan Nutella French Toast was OMG!

Peacock Café

4.8

4.8 (2051)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Georgetown

About the restaurant

Maziar Farivar, Chef/Proprietor serves contemporary American cuisine with flavors of around the world in an elegant, comfortable & cosmopolitan setting. Celebrating over 28 year Anniversary in Georgetown, Peacock Cafe is a dining experience not to be missed when in Georgetown. In addition to our wonderful lunch menu, we do offer a selection of our popular breakfast items as well on weekdays (11am-4pm). Chef Maziar, on dinner menu offers a greater variety of small plates and entrees from contemporary American to small selection of Contemporary Iranian (Persian) dishes.
Enjoy a comprehensive wine list from boutique wineries to large labels and fabulous signature cocktails from the bar to compliment your dining experience.

Top review

RobertVIP

Dined on Jun 25, 2025

Excellent service from Ed, excellent food, and sweet acknowledgement of our anniversary with a delicious complimentary dessert. This is our favorite Georgetown restaurant!!

The Park at 14th

4.8

4.8 (3132)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Downtown

About the restaurant

The Park at 14th is a restaurant, lounge, and event venue on four floors overlooking Franklin Square in Downtown D.C. Offering a sense of timeless elegance, beautiful views, and a warm and welcoming interior, The Park at 14th is the perfect place dining, socializing, and hosting your next event. We invite you to join us. For reservations over 10 people, please TEXT (202) 550-0300

Top review

Kentez

Dined 4 days ago

Brunch was amazing and the food and service is unmatched! Thank you all for such a great experience!

Discover more

Standard BOTTOMLESS BRUNCH Reservation

Rosemary Bistro Cafe

4.8

4.8 (562)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Friendship Heights

About the restaurant

Rosemary Bistro Cafe is a restaurant based in Washington, D.C. that serves classic French-based cuisine. All our menu offerings prepared using the freshest ingredients. If you’re looking for a cozy dining experience in the D.C. area, come by our restaurant today.

Top review

LeslieVIP

Dined on Jun 25, 2025

Good food and attentive service at a reasonable price.

Discover more

Popular dish

French Onion Soup

Blue Duck Tavern

4.7

4.7 (6380)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Foggy Bottom

About the restaurant

When combined with the classic American touches of dark oak and blue burlap and mixed with a market-based menu featuring local farms and purveyors, Blue Duck Tavern captures the region’s natural bounty and culinary traditions. Handcrafted wood furnishings, including a 29-foot-long Windsor bench, enhance Blue Duck Tavern’s warm and rustic feel, inviting travelers and local residents to gather and celebrate the best ingredients of the season.

Inside Blue Duck Tavern’s open kitchen with a custom-designed Molteni range, our award-winning culinary team brings seasonal and bold flavors to the table through simple cooking methods and modern techniques. Savor delicious slow-roasted cuisine from the restaurant’s wood-burning oven, capturing the flavors of America’s best wholesome foods and sustainable gastronomy.

Top review

Anthony

Dined 3 days ago

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 Arsenal at Bluejacket

4.6

4.6 (1075)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Navy Yard

About the restaurant

Bluejacket is a brewery without boundaries—pushing the limits of traditional styles to create small-batch beers that are bold, balanced, and full of character. Set in a striking former Navy Yard warehouse, our dining room and bar offer a front-row seat to the brewing action. Here, guests can enjoy a diverse lineup of beers alongside a seasonal menu that highlights local ingredients and is thoughtfully designed to complement what’s in your glass.

Top review

Robert

Dined 4 days ago

Great food and good selection of beers especially IPA's The service was outstanding!

Tabard Inn

4.7

4.7 (3961)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Dupont Circle

About the restaurant

Since our early days as a tea room, we’ve been a respite for locals and visitors alike, offering a haven for conversation and memorable cuisine. The tradition continues as our culinary team has curated an inventive and elevated menu through New American cuisine while paying homage to the beloved dishes that have been served at the Tabard Inn for years.
Join us for a meal on our covered patio or one of our intimate dining rooms. Or enjoy drinks and light fare in our historic fireplace lounge, where you can enjoy our creative cocktails! A DC institution since 1922, we look forward to offering our guests all the comforts of a home away from home.

Top review

April

Dined 2 days ago

Our server was fantastic! Great recommendations and so sweet to celebrate our slightly belated birthday honoree.

Discover more

Popular dish

Chicken Fricassee

Estuary

4.6

4.6 (767)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Penn Quarter

About the restaurant

At Estuary, we celebrate the essence of contemporary American cuisine while embracing the rich bounty of the Chesapeake region. Modern design and floor-to-ceiling windows await you, giving way to sweeping views of DC’s iconic skyline. Here, the city’s dynamic energy pairs seamlessly with a menu that tells a story of culture, tradition, and artistry – all firmly rooted in the Chesapeake.

To complement the flavors on your plate, we present an extensive selection of meticulously curated wines and handcrafted cocktails.

Chef de Cuisine Arturo Elias brings a deeply personal touch to every dish, making full use of his traditional French training while also drawing inspiration from memories of cooking side-by-side with his grandmother in Mexico. His multicultural experience shines through in bold, flavorful accents that add a unique twist to Mid-Atlantic fare, blending time-honored techniques with a passion for innovation.

Top review

Christina

Dined 7 days ago

Excellent view from the window side seats. The bar area has congregating areas for parties; it gets rather loud. (Not an ideal area for a date or business meal.) The food is excellent, fresh, and inventive.

CUT by Wolfgang Puck

4.5

4.5 (688)

$50 and over

Contemporary American

Georgetown

About the restaurant

A contemporary culinary destination where innovative design meets impeccable service. Nestled in the heart of Georgetown, CUT by Wolfgang Puck presents a fine-dining experience featuring the finest selections of beef, complemented by fresh, locally inspired dishes that embody the vibrant spirit of Washington, D.C.

The restaurant boasts two iconic bars: one at the entrance, providing a stylish and inviting setting for pre-dinner drinks, and a second atop the hotel, offering breathtaking city views alongside a menu of bespoke cocktails, curated wines, and craft beers. For private gatherings, our exclusive 14-seat dining room provides an intimate space for celebrations, meetings, or special occasions.

To ensure an exceptional experience for all guests, we request 24 hours' notice for cancellations. Late changes may result in a $25pp fee. Guests can bring their own wines (not featured on our extensive list), with a corkage fee of $45 per bottle or $90 per magnum, limit 2 per table.

Top review

Brian

Dined 4 days ago

Server rushed the meal and blew up on his teammate cleaning a table

Discover more

Popular dish

Tomahawk Ribeye

Popular dish

Dark Chocolate Soufflé

Explore Diners' Choice best of District of Columbia