Diners' Choice: Best Overall restaurants in District of Columbia

OpenTable

Updated November 05, 2024

Looking for the best overall restaurants in District of Columbia? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Causa

5.0

5 (53)

$50 and over

Peruvian

Shaw

About the restaurant

Causa is our Michelin-Starred tasting room where the world of Peruvian culinary tradition comes to life, thanks to the artistry of Chef Carlos Delgado. Here, you'll embark on a journey through the gastronomic heritage of the Peruvian geographical regions.

Reservations are released on the 1st of the month at noon for the following month for our Causa dining experience. This prix-fixe menu is priced at $179. Taxes and service charges are added separately. Enhance your experience further with a Remarkable Wine Pairing to compliment your 6-courses or venture into North America's rarest pisco selection and fully immerse yourself in the bounty of Peru's national spirit.

If you have any questions or need clarifications on allergens or restrictions, reach out to antonio@causadc.com prior to booking.

Causa only accepts inKind House Account credit and is unable to accept general inKind credits. Please reach out to inKind support for further clarification.

Top review

Patrickvip

Dined 4 days ago

Exquisite meal and perfect wine pairings! Would highly recommend.

Afghania

4.9

4.9 (87)

$31 to $50

Afghan

Georgetown

About the restaurant

Our newest restaurant, Afghania is the sister restaurant to Bistro Aracosia in the Palisades neighborhood of DC, Aracosia in McLean Va and Afghan Bistro in Springfield VA. Afghania accommodates any diet and is proud of taking cooking back to its origins.

Welcome to Afghania, where the Steppe of Central Asia meets the Hindu Kush and Suleiman Mountain Range, bordering South Asia. Come and enjoy the warm hospitality, exquisite flavors, and the mystery of the Afghan frontier that so many have been intrigued by.
At Afghania you will enjoy some classical dishes of the warriors from the frontier. Smoked meats, vegetables full of flavor, exotic spices, exquisite flavors and aromas and unmatched hospitality are promised at Afghania.
Come and enjoy dishes that date back to the early 1800’s from the Afghan Empire - Afghania.

Top review

Sandi

Dined 3 days ago

Excellent, flavorful food and cocktails. Attentive and pleasant service without being intrusive. Attention to detail was impressive (remembering who was vegetarian and who was an omnivore) and arranging food in a sensible manner to accommodate).

La Piquette

4.9

4.9 (2920)

$31 to $50

French

Cleveland Park

About the restaurant

Dear Guests,
A neighborhood Bistrot located in Cleveland Park that stays faithful to its French roots offering the best French dishes on this side of the Atlantic
Executive Chef Francis Layrle prepares a daily menu with farm raised and seasonal fresh ingredients. The bar offers a carefully curated wine selection and house cocktails. La Piquette presents an authentic bistrot atmosphere the way it is meant to be: fun, simple and delicious.

Top review

nancyvip

Dined 4 days ago

Small touches make a big difference. Warm crusty bread. Complimentary dessert for a birthday. Exquisite service and delicious food.

Jônt

4.8

4.8 (93)

$50 and over

French / Japanese

U Street Corridor

About the restaurant

At Jônt, we are a team of young and inspired chefs taking down the walls between kitchen and guests and taking you on a culinary adventure. Immerse yourself in a progressive tasting menu focusing on the simple, yet luxurious, ingredients around the world with deep inspiration from Japanese cuisine.

We challenge the seasons, navigate beyond the limits of time and break with tradition— getting playful with process and tricky with techniques at the intersection of place and possibility.

Jônt has been recognized with two Michelin stars since 2021.

Top review

Kellamvip

Dined 4 days ago

Best flavors and food in dc! Extremely playful play on textures, with running motifs of flavor throughout the night. Everything looked exquisite. Truly an unforgettable dinner.

Discover more

Experience

Chef's Tasting Menu

Experience

$295 Chef's Tasting Menu

Experience

Jewels of the Season : A Celebration of Truffles

La Chaumiere

4.9

4.9 (4801)

$31 to $50

French

Georgetown

About the restaurant

La Chaumière is as close as it gets to dining in a French country inn. Celebrating 48 years, La Chaumière features traditional dishes like escargots en coquille, boudin blanc, quenelles of pike, cassoulet and Grand Marnier souffle. Chef Javier's specials reflect a modern approach to seasonal produce, seafood and game with favorites like baked oysters, Dover sole and our speciality, housemate Boudin Blanc. La Chaumière has won the 100 Best Restaurants award 29 times since 1978! We will be serving Al fresco as soon as the weather permits, please reserve, outdoor space is limited. Parking is available at the Four Seasons Hotel for $30 with validation stamp.

Top review

Ramvip

Dined 7 days ago

Very Good , Authentic French Cuisine . The waiters and Owner “Gil” are very friendly and super pro. The place to go if you want to feel you are in France !

Elizabeth's

4.9

4.9 (1277)

$50 and over

Vegan

Downtown

About the restaurant

Elizabeth's offers an extraordinary dining experience every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night. We merge our gorgeous venue with a prix fixe Vegan Tasting Menu at $110 per person. Elizabeth's is a destination for special occasions and adventurous cuisine.

Our sommelier curates a pairing of wines and beverages sourced from around the world at an additional $85 per person. We also offer a non-alcoholic beverage pairing comprised of non-alcoholic wines, mocktails, and infusions for $65 per person.

Fully raw menus are not available. Please call the restaurant (202-347-8349) in reference to any allergies prior to making your reservation. Regarding reservations of 5 or more, please call the restaurant directly.

We source and prepare the freshest ingredients for our exclusive fine dining experience. For this reason, reservation confirmations are required 24 hours in advance. Thank you for your understanding of the commitment that is made to creating a memorable dining experience.

Top review

OpenTable Dinervip

Dined on Nov 22, 2024

The service was impeccable

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4.8

4.8 (1605)

$31 to $50

American

Downtown

About the restaurant

Washington’s destination for power dining, the Lafayette Restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. With large windows opening onto Lafayette Park and the White House, this sun-lit dining room is one of the most elegant settings in the capital and is certain to complement any dining experience.

Top review

Adrianvip

Dined 4 days ago

Amazing dining experience, but be prepared to need to hit Taco Bell on your way home. Service was fantastic and the food was amazing, but good lord my toddler eats more. We both left hungry.

Bistrot Lepic & Wine Bar

4.9

4.9 (2622)

$31 to $50

French

Georgetown

About the restaurant

Dear guests,
Now open for Lunch, Brunch and Dinner from Tuesday to Sunday for dining in, carry-outs and delivery through Door-Dash and UberEats.
Celebrating its 29th year Anniversary, this Grand Little restaurant is definitely part of Georgetown’s culinary landscape!
We are offering classic, regional and contemporary French cuisine.
At the Wine Bar, you will feel as comfortable and relaxed as you would in your home.
For Jazz night, please request a table in the Wine Bar. The Jazz performances are every Wednesday nights, from 6pm to 9pm.
In July, a 3% service fee will be added to all guest checks and will be used to cover the increasing server wages.
This fee is not a tip.
Visit our Sister Bistrot, La Piquette on 3714 Macomb Street Nw. in Cleveland Park - Tel: 202 686 2015 - info@lapiquettedc.com

Top review

Scotty

Dined 1 day ago

Simple, elegant French Bistro cuisine. Cooking. Efficient , warm, wait staff. Solid wine list, excellent cocktails. Atmosphere..yes.

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Popular dish

Duck leg confit

DeCarlo's Restaurant

4.7

4.7 (614)

$31 to $50

Italian

Tenleytown

About the restaurant

Lucy DeCarlo created DeCarlo’s Restaurant 40 years ago bringing the warmth and love of the Italian tradition to her restaurant. DeCarlo’s aims to be your home away from home and is a wonderful retreat from the demands of the city!

DeCarlo’s Italian Restaurant is the ultimate expression of a charming neighborhood restaurant! It is considered a local secret, where you can almost always hear Sinatra or Bocelli playing in the background. DeCarlo’s represents a dining experience where you can relax, talk, and enjoy a wonderful meal. The ambiance is a timeless feel of elegance – yet casual. DeCarlo’s is devoted to providing you personal attention with the highest standards of quality.

Join us in the main dinning room, Terrace Room, or alfresco on our patio. DeCarlo’s is the perfect setting to join friends and family. The menu features a diverse selection of Italian favorites and daily specials. DeCarlo’s feeds the body and soul!

Top review

Byronvip

Dined on Nov 26, 2024

DeCarlos is our go to restaurant. The service is great, we have never had a bad meal. It's always an enjoyable experience.

Caruso's Grocery - DC

4.8

4.8 (1161)

$31 to $50

Italian

Capitol Hill

About the restaurant

Please note that we are not offering Restaurant Week at our DC location.

Located at 914 14th Street SE in Washington, DC.

Caruso’s Grocery is modeled after the classic, Italian-American "red sauce" joint. You know the one: red banquettes, a killer chicken parmesan, Sinatra pouring through the speakers. If you’re looking for modern interpretations of a chef's take on the classics, you won’t find them here.

A joint venture from Neighborhood Restaurant Group and Partner Matthew Adler.

Top review

brookevip

Dined 5 days ago

When your first course is something to savor, you know you are in for a real treat. My tricolore salad was outstanding, served in a classic old style glass salad dish. The flavor stayed with me, pistachios, the perfect amount of olives, citrus and herbs, olive oil and vinegar. I have celiac and was entirely accommodated with gluten free bread and pasta. I chose the spicy bolognese, beef and pork topped with whipped ricotta and was catapulted into old Italian restaurants of my youth in NYC. The service was incredible. We were catered to instead of it being a chore, it seemed a pleasure for our server. The ambiance is fun, old school art and photos hung haphazardly evoking a feeling like the restaurant had been there for years. It is a small restaurant, hence the reservation wait, but it is a good feeling in a world of oversized restaurants. We got take out for members of my family who couldn’t be there, and the chef and partner, Matt Adler, brought us our bags with a smile. I’m grateful we had the opportunity to thank him. To top it off, the prices for food and drinks are so reasonable. That is outside the norm for hot restaurants here, but so welcome. I cannot wait to go back, but fear it may be a while with the food and service they have to offer for the limited space they have.

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Popular dish

Shrimp Scampi

Popular dish

Spicy Neapolitan Ragu

Popular dish

Carusos Alfredo

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