Top 10 Restaurants in Washington, DC

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When you’re in the DC area, you have to eat! Food is at the forefront of this melting pot of cultures, backgrounds and history and there are so many great restaurants to enjoy! For any city, I personally use the app YELP to help me find types of food and popular bites. I love that you can see dollar signs, photos of their dishes, and reviews from real people.. Luckily, for all who visit the District, there are tons of options when it comes to choosing a restaurant you love. Here are some of our favorite picks (from a local) …

1.) Old Ebbitt Grill: Established in 1856, the first thing that comes to mind when you visit Old Ebbitt Grill is that this restaurant is practically in the backyard side yard of the White House. Take a look on their website not only for a menu but also take a look at some of their very own recipes. They serve breakfast, lunch, dinner and have a variety of foods on their menu. The food is traditional, as far as American food goes, and it is delicious. We have brought many of friends for the feel of true city DC. Expect to see many working individuals as it is in the heart of government. You’ll want to make reservations at this restaurant or be prepared to wait. That’s okay, their bar is pretty fun too!

2.) Founding Farmers: Another great pick in the DC area of restaurants, Founding Farmers is also located between the White House and Georgetown (there is also a location in Virginia at Tyson’s Corner). It opened in 2008 and offers customers a farm-type vibe. You’ll find they offer everything from brunch, dessert, and more. The food is made from scratch every day and you will find a variety of foods available! This restaurant is one of my favorites!

3.) Cava Mezze: You’ll love Cava Mezze for the simple fact that they offer a traditional Greek menu. I would call it a Greek Fusion as the food is creative, fun and tasty. The setting of the restaurant is warm and cozy. It’s a comfortable, casual ambiance but everyone will be dressed nicer – jeans and a nice top to dresses that sparkle .  It’s a great place to grab a glass of wine, some cheese and sample the items on their menu. They have four locations, but this particular one is in DC. Some of their menu staples include Grape Leaves and Spanakopita, tableside flambéed Saganaki (you must get this!) and braised Elysian Farm lamb shank. This is also one of my favorite restaurants. I love that they have a “fast food” option with a sister restaurant called  Cava Grill. You can find this in malls or shopping areas. There are over a dozen locations.

4.) Fiola & Fiola Mare: One thing you will love about Fiola is that they are focused on Italian food all of the way. Although they are two separate restaurants, they owners are the same. Fiola DC is focused on offering sophisticated food for many of DC’s finest. Fiola Mare is focused on flavor and texture with the various types of seafood they offer. It is also located on the edge of the Potomac River making it a beautiful view at night.

5.) Le Diplomate: This restaurant in the DC area offers French food. They offer simple, but delicious items like cappuccinos and croissant rolls. They also offer items like Onion Soup Gratinée, Steak Frites and Escargots, and items like Bouillabaisse and Entrecôte de Boeuf. Grab a glass of wine and enjoy their extraordinary menu. This is a very nice restaurant. You can expect to pay top dollar for this top quality French food in DC.

6.) Carmines: This restaurant is focused on Southern Italian Cuisine and they do a mighty fine job of it. You might recognize the name from their famous NYC locations. Carmines is more focused on value and offering their customers a great experience and large family-style dishes. On their website, they show a general menu, where you can find that they offer items like Porterhouse Steak and Veal Cutlet. They also of course, have more simple items like Chicken Marsala and Cold Antipasto. Take a look at the review I did HERE.

7.) The Red Hen: Another restaurant with  Italian influenced food. They offer dinner, wine, cocktails, and desserts. The prices on their dinner menu are reasonable. They offer pasta, appetizers, and other traditional Italian foods. Their website is very detailed and gives you a good idea of what you’ll experience if you decide to visit. I personally love the atmosphere an ambiance with their open kitchen feel.

8.) Blacksalt Fish Market & Restaurant: When you are this close to Maryland and the coast, seafood is fresh and great. Visit Blacksalt Fish Market & Restaurant for lunch, dinner, and brunch. Their menu is pretty pricey, so you’ll want to keep this in mind before you visit. If you are looking to save, lunch is probably your best time to visit.  They do have great reviews, so it may be worth every pretty penny you spend. You can eat light later in the day.

9.) Rose Luxury: Located on Capitol Hill, this is a place that reflect the heart of DC. They are open Monday through Saturday only from 5-10 PM, and they serve dinner and drinks nightly. Good to know in case you are thinking of visiting earlier in the day. They offer a small menu with items like Beef Ribeye, Hand Cut Chitarra, and Confit Goat. Yeah, you’ll definitely want to check out the menu before you head out, however, the prices are reasonable. I love the description on their website “- Order yourself a nice cocktail or glass of wine, Choose a couple of Small/Family Style dishes to share, Eat, go home, come back tomorrow!”

10.) Rasika: Finally, a restaurant in DC that offers modern Indian cuisine. My husband lived in India for a year, so his standards are pretty high. This is an award winning restaurant in which the owner started in 1989. They have won many RAMMYs and the owner has a long list of other awards. They even have been named in the top 20 restaurants in America by Zagat 2014. Need suggestions on what to order, consider Naan and Tandoori Chicken (my favorites) or their tasting menu to get a sample of it all!

If you’re looking for a restaurant in DC to try out, these top 10 are sure to NOT disappoint. If you have ever eaten at any of these, fill me in, did you love/hate any of them?

Take a look at the list of Washington, DC Travel Tips – What To Do OUTSIDE the District. Pin to Pinterest.

Don’t forget the List of 10 Free Things to Do in Washington DC. Pin to Pinterest.

Also check out the 10 Things to Do in Washington DC with the Kids – Pin to Pinterest.

Looking to take it outside? This list of Outdoor Activities in DC is perfect for adventures. Pin to Pinterest.

WHAT’S TRENDING? Looking for a few engaging activities? Grab Minute to Win it Games – Traditional, Holiday, Group, and more! Use these fun activities in the office, classroom, or at your next birthday party.

Washington, DC Travel Tips – What To Do OUTSIDE the District

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When you go on vacation to a place that’s full of exciting things to see and learn, you may not realize that a little further out there’s just as much to explore! Venturing out is also a great way to instill in your children to look for an adventure and go ‘off the beaten path’. So, now that you’ve spent some time visiting Washington, D.C. and getting to know the Nation’s Capital, you may be looking for things to do outside the district. I absolutely love the fact that we live in an area in which there is so much to do and see, and that includes areas of the District, Virginia and Maryland. I feel as though the beauty is never-ending and the list of activities is awesome, too comprehensive to include in this list of the Top 10. Don’t forget our 10 Free Things to Do in Washington DC, 10 Things to Do with the Kids and our list of Outdoor Activities in DC.

Check out some of these things you can do outside of the District. Have fun spreading your wings a little bit with these places!

1.) Visit the National Aquarium in Baltimore: Our family is a huge fan of the Aquarium. It’s always neat to see creatures and animals that live far below the surface of the water. The Aquarium has tons of experiences like Australia (Wild Extreme) or the Dolphin Discovery. This is a place where any family could spend hours. Consider buying tickets online as they have windows of time you can go. This is good, as well, if you want to spend part of the day instead of investing in a full day. When you are done, it’s a great time to visit the Inner Harbor and grab a bite to eat!

2.) Port Discovery Children’s Museum in Baltimore: If you love discovery and have children, the Children’s Museum is a great hands-on place to visit. WPort Discovery is so unique; they offer tons of things that any kid would love. Take a look at their KidWorks (and Urban Climbing Treehouse for kids and adults alike) and Miss Perceptions Mystery House for some uncovering and problem solving skills mastery.

3.) Shenandoah: An awesome place called Shenandoah National Park, it’s located 75 miles outside of Washington DC is an ideal place to visit outside of the district. You can take a hike, walk along Skyline Drive, and maybe even take a picnic. There is truly so much to do and see. This is the location of many wedding and photographs. Discover old barns, take a look at breathtaking Fall foliage, and see another side of Virginia – the countryside!

4.) Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland: I love the Naval Academy for so many reasons, it gives our kids a chance to see something historical up close and personal. You can take a guided walking tour of the Academy and soak up the history and beauty! Located on the Severn River, it’s a beautiful spot to catch a sunset. I also suggest going into the city of Annapolis for some amazing dive spots and crab! We really like Boatyard Bar & Grill.

5.) Hike the Potomac Heritage Trail:The Potomac Heritage Trail is more than just a place of beauty, these are paths explored by George Washington himself. You are literally walking down history lane. You can explore the various landscaping and bask in its gloriousness. If you are up for more hiking, make sure you check out the Great Falls Trail, here you’ll get an up close and personal view of the Potomac River as well as some beautiful falls!

6.) Huntley Meadow Park: Do yourself a favor right now and Google “Huntley Meadow Park” on Google Images. You’ll get an up close look at its natural beauty. This park has been around for 40 years, is over 1500 acres, and is majestic in its beauty. You can expect to see wildlife, wildflowers, and get in touch with nature all over again. It’s a great place to get out of the concrete and urban.

7.) Tysons Corner: When talking about DC and the Mall, often one things of monuments and Smithsonians. Get outside of DC, to Virginia to get some serious shopping a Retail Mall. Without a car? Arrive by the Metro and have an awesome day of shopping. There are dozens of retailers awaiting your arrival, you can even grab a bite to eat at any of the many dining locations.

8.) Air and Space Museums: The Air and Space Museums are a must see. There are two of them, one is in the District (at the National Mall) and a larger one is located outside the district at Dulles. The Air and Space Museums focus on exploring space, seeing various exhibitions, and even seeing what researches are currently doing. Admission is free, parking is not. During your visit, take a look at the Concorde, the space shuttle Discovery and we like visiting the Air Traffic Control Tower located right beside Dulles International Airport.

9.) Sandy Spring Adventure Park: There are tons of parks in Washington DC and outside of the District, but this one is remarkable! There are so many features of this park, such as a series of platforms in the trees- all connected by cable, rope, wood, and even zip-lines. You can even climb by night under the glow of the stars and lights, definitely a must-try!

10.) Visit Mount Vernon: One of our favorites is Mount Vernon, you get to check out George Washington’s home. The first president of the USA was certainly an amazing person, you can get an inside look at his home and what his life was like. The grounds are beautiful and much lager than you think. Take a look at that back yard and view of the Potomac River. Be prepared to take some time in the museum as there is a lot to uncover.

If visiting in Winter, around Christmas, take a look at Christmas at the Potomac and ICE! at the Gaylord and National Harbor.

As you can see, there is so much to do outside of the District. I’m anxious to visit our next place on this list. Have you ever visited any place on this list? Tell me about it in the comments.

Take a look at the list of these Top 10 Restaurants in Washington, D.C. Pin to Pinterest.

Don’t forget the List of 10 Free Things to Do in Washington DC. Pin to Pinterest.

Also check out the 10 Things to Do in Washington DC with the Kids – Pin to Pinterest.

Looking to take it outside? This list of Outdoor Activities in DC is perfect for adventures. Pin to Pinterest.

WHAT’S TRENDING? Looking for a few engaging activities? Grab Minute to Win it Games – Traditional, Holiday, Group, and more! Use these fun activities in the office, classroom, or at your next birthday party.