Places we eat and drink

What we ordered

Whipped ricotta with focaccia, braised carrots and brisket. The photographs below show the dishes from our September visit, so you can get a feel for the meal rather than relying on a menu description alone.

From the bar

Our drinks included a Banana Forester Old Fashioned, an apple cider margarita ordered without alcohol, a French Pear Martini and a nonalcoholic beer. Ask about current options if you would like an alcohol-free drink; the choices can change.

A neighborhood evening

This is a nearby option for dinner with drinks, without turning the evening into a trip across town. It sits on T Street in Bloomingdale, so we have included it in both Walkable and Date Night.

Before you go

Check the current menu and availability before heading over. A service charge was included on our visit, so review your bill before adding a tip. Our price symbol describes food per person before drinks, tax and service charges, not the total cost of an evening.

What we ordered

• Chopped turkey club wrap
• Crispy chicken, “katsu style” sandwich
• Regular and sweet-potato fries
• Draft Old Fashioned and a vodka drink

Our take

The turkey wrap was good, the katsu sandwich was satisfying, and the fries were the standout; especially how hot and crisp everything arrived. Drinks are strong and the menu changes enough that we would check the current version before planning around a specific item.

Best for

An easy first night, casual dinner, drinks after exploring Bloomingdale, or a place you can walk to without turning dinner into a production.

One caveat

Service was efficient on our visit, but this is more local pub than polished hospitality. We think that is part of the point.

What we ordered

• Carne asada, carnitas, camarones and pollo asado tacos
• Carne asada entrée
• Mexican Coke

Our take

The tacos were good across the board and the carne asada entrée was a solid value. We especially liked the pickled toppings and jalapeño relish that gave the food a little more punch.

Best for

Casual dinner, tacos and drinks, patio weather, or staying within walking distance of the house.

Good to know

Happy hour and Taco Tuesday have been part of the draw, but specials change. Check what is current before going specifically for a deal.

What we ordered

• Brisket with Brussels sprouts and mac & cheese
• Rib and smoked-wing combo
• Frozen DCity Daiquiri and a vodka drink

Our take

The brisket was flavorful, the fried Brussels sprouts were a standout, and the smoked wings had a very crisp exterior. The ribs were good and smoke-forward; Stephen generally prefers saucier Southern-style barbecue. The pepper-jack style mac was decent but not the reason we would return.

Best for

BBQ close to home, casual lunch or dinner, frozen drinks and a meal where nobody needs to dress up.

Good to know

Order at the counter. Service was friendly. The dining room ran a little warm on our visit, so outside seating can be appealing in good weather.

What we ordered

• Naked & Famous
• House Manhattan

Our take

The Naked & Famous; mezcal, aperitivo, lime and amaro; was tasty and less smoky than we expected. The room is what makes the place memorable: shelves of records and books, warm lighting and staff who made it feel easy to stay awhile.

Best for

Drinks after dinner, a casual nightcap, or grabbing takeout somewhere else and bringing it in.

Good to know

This is a bar recommendation, not a dinner recommendation. They have a full bar, beer and simple beer-and-shot combinations, and outside food was welcome on our visit.

What stood out

• Brisket
• Spicy brisket
• Pork belly
• Premium meat options beyond the standard AYCE choices

Our take

The meat quality was the reason this moved above ordinary all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ for us. Food comes out by train, and servers help manage the cooking, so it feels a little more date-night friendly than the price structure might suggest.

Best for

A fun date night, dinner when you are hungry, groups who like trying several cuts, or guests with a car who want something very close.

Parking

Validated garage parking made this especially easy for us. If you walk, plan on roughly 20–25 minutes rather than a quick around-the-corner stroll.

What we ordered

• Warm gougères to share
• Joy Burger during happy hour
• Trout amandine
• Lavender lemonade

Our take

Service was excellent and the room hits the classic French-brasserie note without feeling stiff. The gougères were an easy start, the burger made happy hour useful, and the trout amandine was the kind of classic dish that fits the room.

Best for

Date night, a celebratory dinner that is not overly formal, or pairing dinner with an hour wandering Union Market.

Parking note

On our visit we used the garage associated with 1270 4th St NE; the entrance was from the rear/alley rather than directly from 4th Street. Union Market parking policies change, so check current signage and rates.

What we ordered

• Sinn haeng sesame beef
• Chicken kee mao
• Laab E Kae; alligator

Our take

The dried/sesame beef and kee mao were easy wins. The alligator laab was earthy and much more interesting than ordering the most familiar thing on the menu. Portions felt modest, so for two people we would think in terms of an appetizer plus a couple of mains rather than one dish each.

Best for

Adventurous eaters, guests who want something distinctly different, or anyone willing to make dinner itself part of the night’s activity.

Drinks

Cocktails were around $15 on our visit. The bar is perfectly useful, but the food and jungle menu are the reason we would make the trip.

What we ordered

• Chili wontons
• Beef noodles
• Pea shoots
• La-zi chicken
• Several cocktails

Our take

The chili wontons were the clear standout and the beef noodles were very good. The la-zi chicken was the miss for us; wetter than we expected, bone-in and not the version of the dish we were hoping for. Flavors overall felt a little more restrained than Chang Chang.

Best for

Date night, cocktails, a lively dinner with friends, or when you care as much about the room as the food.

Plan ahead

Cocktails were about $18 on our visit. We would make a reservation for Friday or Saturday rather than count on walking in.

What we ordered

• Sichuan la-zi chicken
• Stir-fried chili beef
• Hot & sour soup with wood ear mushrooms
• Chili wontons
• Beijing Old Fashioned and baijiu

Our take

The la-zi chicken was the standout version we had been hoping for, the chili beef had real flavor, and the hot & sour soup was especially good with the texture from the wood ear mushrooms. The chili wontons were fine, but did not beat Astoria’s.

Best for

A food-first dinner, Sichuan dishes, or guests willing to leave the immediate neighborhood for a meal we think is worth it.

Drinks

There is plenty to drink, including baijiu if you want to try the traditional Chinese grain spirit, but the cocktail program is not the main event the way it is at Astoria.