Joseph Alsop, a renowned Washington host of the early 1960s, used to host lavish dinners at his Georgetown home. When asked why he threw so many parties, Alsop said it was because Washington didn’t have any good restaurants.
Today, the capital rivals New York and offers restaurants of all cuisines and prices. It is largely due to Washington’s cosmopolitan population that the city offers such a wide variety of cuisines, from Ethiopian to Vietnamese, with many new styles of “fusion food” in between. The seafood is also excellent, freshly caught in the nearby waters of the Chesapeake Bay. Crab and shellfish regularly appear on menus, especially in coastal areas outside of the city.
Places to eat
Washington’s restaurants are a reflection of their neighborhoods. Adams-Morgan has a mix of ethnic establishments, especially Salvadoran and Ethiopian, and cutting-edge cuisine.
Perry’s, Cashion’s Eat Place and Felix Restaurant and Bar offer creative fusion food with Asian and French influences, and the crowd is young and hip. Within walking distance of the mall, Washington’s compact Chinatown has some of the best deals for families.
Meals are inexpensive and often served family style. Adjacent to Chinatown is the restored Old Downtown district on Seventh Street. Fine dining restaurants like The Mark, Coco Loco and District Chophouse are housed in restored buildings from the early 19th century.
Georgetown has a mix of expensive and cheap places. Good value for money can be found at its many Indian and Vietnamese restaurants. North of the White House and south of Dupont Circle, downtown restaurants cater to business travelers and high-end lobbyists. More reasonable places, again mostly ethnic restaurants, are closer to the Circle.
With very few exceptions, all restaurants in Washington are air-conditioned. This has changed the city from one where most of the population used to escape in the summer to a bustling capital year-round.