American Upscale Restaurants in Washington DC - Organic, Seasonal
Blue Duck Tavern
(American, West End, in the Park Hyatt hotel)24 & M Streets NW
Washington, DC 20037
202-419-6755
Blue Duck Tavern has a stunning interior with its hand-crafted wood furnishings and open kitchen. Features prime ingredients from American farms and purveors, who are credited on the menu. More interesting menu items include the house-smoked sturgeon rillet, oven roasted bone marrow, and kohlrabi gratin. Try vitello tonnato as an appetizer.
Buck's Fishing and Camping
(American, Upper Northwest/Chevy Chase Circle)5031 Connecticut Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20008
202-364-0777
We love Buck's. The ambiance is sophisticated rustic. You may be seated at the long communal table in the middle of the dining room. The food is about freshness and solid execution. Buck's ‘World-Famous' Wood-Grilled, Dry-Aged, Prime Sirloin Steak w/ Hand-cut French Fries is a much tastier hunk of meat than you would ever get in filet or New York strip.
Cashion's Eat Place - Review
1819 Columbia Road NW
Washington, DC 20009
202-797-1819
Cashion's started with an emphasis on New Orleans and Southern food. Their eclectic and changing menu now leans toward the Mediterranean.
City Zen - Review
(New American, East Potomac Park)1330 Maryland Ave SW
Washington, DC 20024
202-787-6006
The only AAA 5 Diamond restaurant in Washington DC, City Zen sports an open kitchen, 20-foot ceilings and luxurious furnishings, lampshades, and firewells. City Zen offers a three-course prix fixe menu, a six-course chef's tasting menu, and a six-course vegetarian tasting menu.
DC Coast
(New American, 14th Street and K)1401 K St NW
Washington, DC 20005
202-216-5988
Great seafood with New Orleans, Chesapeake, and Asian touches. The pan "smoked" lobster is an interesting signature dish-cracked lobster is served in a sweet, soy-based broth.
Fahrenheit - Review
3100 South Street NW
Washington, DC 20007
202-912-4110
Great for special occasions, Fahrenheit is an upscale restaurant featuring American regional cuisine in the Ritz Carlton Hotel. Prices are high, but the food and wait staff make this a great dining experience.
Kinkead's
(American Brasserie, Foggy Bottom GWU Metro)2000 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20006
202-296-7700
A longtime top spot in DC, Kinkead's specializes in seafood with items such as char-grilled squid with tomato confit, grilled skate with veal, and rockfish with artichokes. A pianist plays jazz during happy hour. The bar (and raw bar) is a popular meeting spot for World Bank, IMF, and executive branch employees.
Mahogony at Bohemian Caverns - Review
2001 11 Street NW
Washington, DC 20001
202-299-0800
Bohemian Caverns is a jazz club that holds shows for local and national artists. The Caverns are downstairs and the restaurant, Mahogany, is upstairs offering a New American menu with Southern and Caribbean emphasis. Guiness, Bass, Yuengling, Stella, Leffe Brown, Leffee Blond, Chimay White, Hoegarden, Lucifer Ale, and Delirium Tremens on tap.
Palena
(American/French/Italian, Cleveland Park)3529 Connecticut Ave NW
Washington, DC 20008
202-537-9250
Executive chef and owner Frank A. Ruta was executive sous chef in the Reagan and first Bush White Houses. His inspired dishes are well-executed. His Swiss Chard Ravioli with Ink Pasta and Tuscan Cuttlefish Sause is one example. Prix fixe menu in the main dinning room. The café up front offers a great cheseburger. "Palena Fries" is a dish unto itself. Be advised that perfect roast chicken takes 45 minutes to prepare so order right away.
Perry's
(American/Asian/Sushi, Metro - Woodley Park Zoo/Adams Morgan)1811 Columbia Rd NW
Washington, DC 20009
202-234-6218
Serving traditional Japanese cuisine and sushi along with modern American cuisine with an Asian touch. Enjoy rooftop dining in season. Their special Saturday tapas has miso soup, gazpacho, mixed Baby romaine salad, and cherry tomato and watermelon skewers. They offer several vegetarian items.
Restaurant Nora
2132 Florida Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20008
202-797-4870
Restaurant Nora is the first certified organic restaurant in America. Everything they serve is of high quality and the service is excellent. Nora's Housemade Country Pate with red pepper jelly, crostini, pickled vegetable salad, and grainy mustard is our favorite starter.
The Source
(Modern American/Asian, Downtown-near National Portrait Gallery)575 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20001
202-544-6930
Located in the Newseum, The Source is the first Wolfgang Puck restaurant in DC, featuring Asian/American fusion dishes as well as designer pizzas. They have separate lounge and dinner menus. Kobe beef sliders are a signature first course, and the Tandoori Arctic Char with Japanese Pickles and Cardamom Raita is representative of their Asian-inspired menu. A seven course tasting and vegetarian menu is available for $125 (or $200 with wine or sake pairing).
Vidalia
(New Southern, Midtown)1990 M Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
202-659-1990
Great American food with a Southern emphasis. Don't ruin your appetite with the Vidalia onion foccacia and the sweet corn muffins they bring when you sit down. Venison and pork jowel make frequent appearances on the seasonally changing menu, but the shrimp and grits with chorizo are a staple. Private rooms/banquet hall available.