Rayth’s guidebook - Coffee & Restaurants

Rayth
Rayth’s guidebook - Coffee & Restaurants

Coffee

Spots to grab coffee like a local
Open City is a local coffee joint. They opened up a location on the grounds of the National Cathedral. It sits in the old Bishop's House across from the front entrance of the Cathedral and just above the Bishop's Garden. It is a great spot, particularly on a sunny day, to grab some coffee and breakfast/lunch and walk around the Cathedral grounds. The gardens are great and typically very beautiful. I would recommend either driving or taking an Uber/Lyft as it is about 2.2 miles away. My wife and I have walked back from Open city (and even Georgetown) when we have nice Spring or Fall weather.
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Open City at the National Cathedral
3101 Wisconsin Ave NW
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Open City is a local coffee joint. They opened up a location on the grounds of the National Cathedral. It sits in the old Bishop's House across from the front entrance of the Cathedral and just above the Bishop's Garden. It is a great spot, particularly on a sunny day, to grab some coffee and breakfast/lunch and walk around the Cathedral grounds. The gardens are great and typically very beautiful. I would recommend either driving or taking an Uber/Lyft as it is about 2.2 miles away. My wife and I have walked back from Open city (and even Georgetown) when we have nice Spring or Fall weather.
Starbucks is Starbucks. You know exactly what you are going to get and will be consistent with your local hometown Starbucks. Also, the convenience is fantastic. It is merely 2 blocks away and if you order using your Starbucks App, your order will likely be ready by the time you get there.
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Starbucks
1101 S Joyce St
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Starbucks is Starbucks. You know exactly what you are going to get and will be consistent with your local hometown Starbucks. Also, the convenience is fantastic. It is merely 2 blocks away and if you order using your Starbucks App, your order will likely be ready by the time you get there.
Little Red Fox is a local favorite. It is an upscale/connoisseurs coffee spot. It is a great spot to grab coffee or a bite. They have a variety of breakfast sandwiches and other baked goods ranging from pie, croissants, frittatas, and other delicious items. Note that the owners of the Little Red Fox also own Comet Pizza, Big Bucks Hunting & Fishing Restaurant, and Sugar Fox next door.
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Little Red Fox
5035 Connecticut Ave NW
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Little Red Fox is a local favorite. It is an upscale/connoisseurs coffee spot. It is a great spot to grab coffee or a bite. They have a variety of breakfast sandwiches and other baked goods ranging from pie, croissants, frittatas, and other delicious items. Note that the owners of the Little Red Fox also own Comet Pizza, Big Bucks Hunting & Fishing Restaurant, and Sugar Fox next door.

Neighborhood Restaurants

A few recommendations form the neighborhood
Trendy bistro with a southern flair/flavor. It is about 3 blocks away on Connecticut Ave., just past the Starbucks.
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Macon Bistro & Larder
5520 Connecticut Ave NW
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Trendy bistro with a southern flair/flavor. It is about 3 blocks away on Connecticut Ave., just past the Starbucks.
Little Beast primarily is a family pizza spot that serves individual pizza's with a few additional notable items (e.g., my wife likes their mussels). This is a great spot for families, particularly with little kids. They are very accommodating with young kids, and I think that is why they named it Little Beast. If going early, you should not have trouble getting a seat, but I would recommend a reservation if going at prime dinner time.
Little Beast Cafe & Bistro
5600 Connecticut Ave NW
Little Beast primarily is a family pizza spot that serves individual pizza's with a few additional notable items (e.g., my wife likes their mussels). This is a great spot for families, particularly with little kids. They are very accommodating with young kids, and I think that is why they named it Little Beast. If going early, you should not have trouble getting a seat, but I would recommend a reservation if going at prime dinner time.
Greek - Parthenon is a DC favorite for greek food and is about 2 blocks away. On the walls you will see photographs of the owner any many famous individuals. This is also a great spot to do takeout. They can usually get your order done in about 20 minutes. On a nice day, it is also a great spot to sit outside and enjoy some wine and food. I typically order the horiatiki salad with a meat (salmon or gyro/lamb) along with hummus and pita.
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Parthenon Restaurant & Chevy Chase Lounge
5510 Connecticut Ave NW
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Greek - Parthenon is a DC favorite for greek food and is about 2 blocks away. On the walls you will see photographs of the owner any many famous individuals. This is also a great spot to do takeout. They can usually get your order done in about 20 minutes. On a nice day, it is also a great spot to sit outside and enjoy some wine and food. I typically order the horiatiki salad with a meat (salmon or gyro/lamb) along with hummus and pita.
Pizza and bar - This pizza joint also has ping pong tables in the back. It has a solid number of beers on tap too. The decor is what you think of as a typical pizza joint. But, I personally think the pizza at Comet is better than Little Beast. Comet also has a nice patio to sit on. It is about 1/2 mile down the road and is next to Big Bucks, Little Red Fox, and Sugar Fox, which all have the same owners.
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Comet Ping Pong
5037 Connecticut Ave NW
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Pizza and bar - This pizza joint also has ping pong tables in the back. It has a solid number of beers on tap too. The decor is what you think of as a typical pizza joint. But, I personally think the pizza at Comet is better than Little Beast. Comet also has a nice patio to sit on. It is about 1/2 mile down the road and is next to Big Bucks, Little Red Fox, and Sugar Fox, which all have the same owners.
Upscale Italian food with great wine and cocktail list. This is one of my favorite Italian spots in DC. It is smaller plates, but delicious. Also, they have a great bar that also serves a number of mocktails. Sfoglina is about 1.3 miles down the road in Van Ness. I have certainly walked to/from there on a nice evening. You can also take a short uber/Lyft ride there or take the redline 2 metro stops to Van Ness.
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Sfoglina
4445 Connecticut Ave NW
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Upscale Italian food with great wine and cocktail list. This is one of my favorite Italian spots in DC. It is smaller plates, but delicious. Also, they have a great bar that also serves a number of mocktails. Sfoglina is about 1.3 miles down the road in Van Ness. I have certainly walked to/from there on a nice evening. You can also take a short uber/Lyft ride there or take the redline 2 metro stops to Van Ness.
Classic American food. Clydes is across from the Friendship Heights metro stop and is about 1/2 mile walk. Clyde's is classic American food at a great price point for DC Standards. Also, the menu is large and has something for everyone. They are generally kid friendly. Also, check out the bar downstairs.
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Clyde's of Chevy Chase
5441 Wisconsin Ave
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Classic American food. Clydes is across from the Friendship Heights metro stop and is about 1/2 mile walk. Clyde's is classic American food at a great price point for DC Standards. Also, the menu is large and has something for everyone. They are generally kid friendly. Also, check out the bar downstairs.
Traditional Italian - This is what I think of a more traditional Italian menu with larger plates than Sfogalina. Can't go wrong with Italian! It is about 0.7 mile walk across from the Friendship Heights Whole Foods store.
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Lia's
4435 Willard Ave
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Traditional Italian - This is what I think of a more traditional Italian menu with larger plates than Sfogalina. Can't go wrong with Italian! It is about 0.7 mile walk across from the Friendship Heights Whole Foods store.
Authentic Japanese/Sushi - If you are craving sushi or Japanese cuisine, this is your spot! High end Japanese cuisine.
Kobo
5455 Wisconsin Avenue
Authentic Japanese/Sushi - If you are craving sushi or Japanese cuisine, this is your spot! High end Japanese cuisine.
Israeli/Mediterranean food in Cleveland Park - If you like Mediterranean food, this is a modern slightly upscale spot. This is a great date night spot. Cleveland Park is not walking distance, but a short Uber/Lyft ride or can take the redline metro to the Cleveland Park stop. You can also drive, but parking may be difficult.
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Sababa
3311 Connecticut Ave NW
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Israeli/Mediterranean food in Cleveland Park - If you like Mediterranean food, this is a modern slightly upscale spot. This is a great date night spot. Cleveland Park is not walking distance, but a short Uber/Lyft ride or can take the redline metro to the Cleveland Park stop. You can also drive, but parking may be difficult.
Romantic Steak Frites in Cleveland Park - This is a great date night spot. They specialize in Steak Frites and is very good. Because they want you to enjoy your steak frites while hot, they actually give you two servings so that each bite is hot and juicy/crispy. This is also a good spot for families with older children. As we only have a 22 month old, we have not attempted to take him here. Cleveland Park is not walking distance, but a short Uber/Lyft ride or can take the redline metro to the Cleveland Park stop. You can also drive, but parking may be difficult.
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Medium Rare
515 8th St SE
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Romantic Steak Frites in Cleveland Park - This is a great date night spot. They specialize in Steak Frites and is very good. Because they want you to enjoy your steak frites while hot, they actually give you two servings so that each bite is hot and juicy/crispy. This is also a good spot for families with older children. As we only have a 22 month old, we have not attempted to take him here. Cleveland Park is not walking distance, but a short Uber/Lyft ride or can take the redline metro to the Cleveland Park stop. You can also drive, but parking may be difficult.
New spot in the neighborhood that focuses on locally sourced food.
Little Beet Table
5471 Wisconsin Ave
New spot in the neighborhood that focuses on locally sourced food.
Great place near American University for Nantucket take on Northeastern American Plates. This is a great place to take the family for brunch, lunch or dinner
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Millie's Spring Valley
4866 Massachusetts Ave NW
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Great place near American University for Nantucket take on Northeastern American Plates. This is a great place to take the family for brunch, lunch or dinner
Focuses on american cuisine from burger, steak, and fish. Owned by the same people that own Little Red Fox, Comet and SugarFox
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Buck's Fishing & Camping
5031 Connecticut Ave NW
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Focuses on american cuisine from burger, steak, and fish. Owned by the same people that own Little Red Fox, Comet and SugarFox

DC Restaurant Favorites

A few favorites outside of the local neighborhood spots
Upscale New American food with locally sourced ingredients. Don't let the use of the word Tavern in its name fool you. This is not a bar or tavern. The food is very good and they have one of the best brunch menus in DC (excluding all of the bottomless mimosa joints :))
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Blue Duck Tavern
1201 24th St NW
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Upscale New American food with locally sourced ingredients. Don't let the use of the word Tavern in its name fool you. This is not a bar or tavern. The food is very good and they have one of the best brunch menus in DC (excluding all of the bottomless mimosa joints :))
Spanish Tapas joint - One of the most popular tapas joints in DC. Can't go wrong with this spot on 14th Street. Recommend driving or taking an Uber/Lyft. Could also take the Metro to Dupont Circle, but is about a 3/4 mile walk from Dupont Circle Metro stop.
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Estadio
1520 14th St NW
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Spanish Tapas joint - One of the most popular tapas joints in DC. Can't go wrong with this spot on 14th Street. Recommend driving or taking an Uber/Lyft. Could also take the Metro to Dupont Circle, but is about a 3/4 mile walk from Dupont Circle Metro stop.
Great Oyster and Seafood Bar. The only downside is that this location does not take reservations. But you can call ahead and put your name on the list. Although this location is in Dupont Circle and a short walk from the metro stop, they have a location on Capitol Hill and a brand new one on the Wharf.
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Hanks on the HIll
1624 Q Street Northwest
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Great Oyster and Seafood Bar. The only downside is that this location does not take reservations. But you can call ahead and put your name on the list. Although this location is in Dupont Circle and a short walk from the metro stop, they have a location on Capitol Hill and a brand new one on the Wharf.
Speakeasy twist on Classic American - This is actually one of my favorite restaurants in DC and it is not outrageously expensive. They have rotating dishes, but some classics. For example the roasted chicken and steaks are amazing. Their classic wedge salad is amazing and comes with fresh cooked bacon served table side (don't be afraid to ask for more bacon, they will scoop until you say stop!). This is a short walk from the Dupont Metro stop. But if going to enjoy their classic cocktails, dont be afraid to travel by Uber/Lyft.
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The Riggsby
1731 New Hampshire Ave NW
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Speakeasy twist on Classic American - This is actually one of my favorite restaurants in DC and it is not outrageously expensive. They have rotating dishes, but some classics. For example the roasted chicken and steaks are amazing. Their classic wedge salad is amazing and comes with fresh cooked bacon served table side (don't be afraid to ask for more bacon, they will scoop until you say stop!). This is a short walk from the Dupont Metro stop. But if going to enjoy their classic cocktails, dont be afraid to travel by Uber/Lyft.
Peruvian with Spanish and Asian influences - This is a newer concept for DC Celebrity Chef Jose Andres. It is quasi tapas, but very good. It is located south of China Town, so you can take the Redline Metro to the China Town stop and walk about 4 blocks.
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China Chilcano
418 7th St NW
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Peruvian with Spanish and Asian influences - This is a newer concept for DC Celebrity Chef Jose Andres. It is quasi tapas, but very good. It is located south of China Town, so you can take the Redline Metro to the China Town stop and walk about 4 blocks.