I’ll come right out and say it. I plan my trips around where I want to eat, and I’m not convinced it’s not a genetic trait haha. (I come from a long line of women who appreciate the finer foods of life.)

As an aside: I’ve learned to be wary of Yelp. There have been times that I’ve gone somewhere that’s been highly rated on Yelp, only to be disappointed.

An app I would suggest though is OpenTable to make reservations. Also as a word to the wise, make reservations for meals as soon as you can because there have been too many times that I waited until the last minute to make a reservation for somewhere I really wanted to go, and there wouldn’t be another opening for weeks. While you can join a waitlist in person at the restaurant, it’s just easier to have a res.

If you’re visiting a large city for the first time, brace yourself, because dining out isn’t cheap. For example, cheap lunch will be around $10 per person. I just don’t want you to be shocked by how expensive food is. Check out the menu prices before making reservations to make sure that you’re comfortable spending what they’re charging.

restaurants that aren’t overrun with tourists:

Ted’s Bulletin: A great option for families since they have a kid’s menu (something I don’t remember seeing anywhere else in DC that wasn’t a chain), but also a fun option for a group of friends. The food is great, and they have a pretty varied menu. AND they have an extensive milkshakes / sweets menu. It has a 1920’s malt shop vibe, but modernized. Colin strongly recommends the PB&J shake, and thought I should let you all know. “10/10” lol.

*burger + shake from Ted’s Bulletin - photo from google*

*inside of Ted’s Bulletin - photo from google*

2. Founding Farmers: Less family friendly, but definitely perfect for a group of friends or a date. FF boasts itself as an “American eatery dishing out market-driven comfort cuisine along with rustic-chic style”. It’s also pretty cool because, by eating there, you are able to support local + regional farmers as all of the food is provided by them. The portions are also large, so you’re getting more bang for your buck. As a carb gal, I have a special fondness for their “farm breads” and want my last meal to be their brie farm bread, complete with onion jam and apples. However, if you’re more of a burger or pasta person, they have SO MANY OPTIONS of each of those on the menu, as well as steaks, salads, etc. (Okay so they basically have everything.) There are a few different locations around DC, so you have the flexibility to find one near you.

*outside of Founding Farmers - photo from google*

*interior of Founding Farmer’s - photo from google*

*the brie farmbread - photo by me of my last meal lol*

3. The Smith: This was recently suggested to us by a friend in DC, and it’s definitely worthy of sharing with all of you. Originally, The Smith was only in NYC, and I feel like it definitely has a New-Yorker vibe (read, upscale, but hip with subway tile + industrial furnishings). The menu isn’t as expansive some, but what is lacks in options, it makes up in quality. There are also two locations in DC, U Street and Penn Quarter.

*interior of the Smith - photo from google*

4. POV: If you love a good urban rooftop, this is your spot. It’s one of DC’s most iconic rooftop lounges, where it starts off with great brunch options, and slowly transitions into a lounge, where you can get drinks as you look over the Washington Monument and the White House (nothing like the juxtaposition of strobe lights + historic landmarks haha) . If you aren’t really into the club scene, don’t stay after dark. It turns rowdy pretty quickly, and even though I like to shake what my mama gave me from time to time, I know it’s not for everyone.

*POV lounge - photo from google - peep the Washington Monument on the far right.*

5. Le Diplomate: (or “Le Dip” if you want to sound like a hip local) I’ve saved my very favorite for last. When we visited in DC on the trip prior to our most recent trip, I tried SO HARD to get a reservation here. Unfortunately, there was not a single time slot available for time during our entire stay. This time, I found ONE time slot open - 2:30 on Saturday, the last day we were there. So naturally, I starved Colin until the very late lunch. (I needed my full appetite, okay.) When we got there, I was borderline giddy. It is beautiful. It is gorgeous. It is everything I hoped it would be. IT IS THE MECCA OF CHIC. Le Dip is a Parisian style brasserie that specializes in brunch and traditional French fare. Order anything and everything; you will not be disappointed. We’ve also heard that they have amazing burgers, but we stuck with the brunch menu.

*Le Dip “green room” - photo by me. what a dream.*

*Le Dip french toast - photo by colin lol*

restaurants for if you love brunch as much as I do:

Le Diplomate: see the above rant haha
Succotash: Want to brunch like the quintessential wealthy southerner from decades past? (with less racism and general disregard for human life haha) This is the place for you. Located in Penn quarter, Succotash has been critically reviewed as the “best southern cooking this side of the Mason-Dixon”. A few of my favorite menu items were their pecan sticky buns, french toast, and the avocado toast blt. (Although frankly, we ordered so many things, and they were all amazing.) Even though you’re eating comfort food, you’ll still get the fine-dining experience. All of their dishes are elegantly plated, and space itself has pitched ceilings, chandeliers, and white columns; the entire venue is light, bright, and airy.

*exterior of Succotash - photo from google*

*interior of Succotash - photo from google*

restaurants for a tighter budget:

Sweet Green: Even though it’s a chain, I always make sure to grab lunch here at least once during the trip since the franchise is only on the east and west coasts. There are several across DC, so it’s easy to find one close to wherever you are staying. Warning to the haters of rabbit food: this is not the place for you. It’s a fast casual restaurant where you are able to build your own salad, or order one as it’s listed on a preset menu. It’s also a nice option for a healthier meal amongst all of the other less healthy meals you’ll be eating (lol).

*exterior of Sweetgreen - photo from google*

*salad bar at Sweetgreen - photo from google*

2. Buredo: Two words - Sushi. Burrito. The interior of Buredos are usually small and don’t have much seating, so we grab our buredos to-go and eat them in a park that’s close by (there are parks throughout DC, so you won’t have to walk far to find one). It’s similar to a Chipotle in that you can either have it “burrito style” or in a bowl, and you build it to your preference.

*eating Buredos in a park - photo by me hahaha*

*interior of Buredo - photo from google*

3. Good Stuff Eatery: The best burger I’ve had in DC, maybe ever (although technically what I like to order isn’t a “burger”, it’s a fried green tomato sandwich with avocado and goat cheese, aka HEAVEN). Which may not be surprising since it’s owned by celebrity chef, Spike Mendelsohn, who is no stranger to TV. He’s been featured on Bravo’s TV Top Chef, the Food Network, and Rachel Ray. They have dozens of burger options - both gourmet and classic - starting at $7 a burger. They also have 8 milkshake flavors, and the lemon meringue is SO GOOD. They do have a few salads, in case you want to continue the healthy lunch streak (lol). There are 2 locations in DC - Georgetown and Capitol Hill.

*exterior of Good Stuff Eatery - photo from google*

*my sandwich of choice - photo from google*

restaurants for the full tourist experience:

Ben’s Chili Bowl: Much to Colin’s chagrin (not sure what he has against chili dogs, but okay), Ben’s Chili Bowl holds a special place in my heart since I have memories of eating there back in 2006 during my first DC trip. But guys. This places oozes soul. Ben’s Chili Bowl was opened in 1927 by a black man from Trinidad, and is now run by his two sons. (The history of the place is laced with black rights activism, and has the coolest stories that I could spend pages writing about. Google it if you are interested!) Anyway. The menu consists of hotdogs, chili dogs, burgers, as well as a traditional breakfast menu (eggs, sausage, bacon, biscuits, etc). There are a few new locations but go to the original! It’s been in business for 60+ years, and has been a hot spot since “its legendary jukebox has blared soul and go-go music while customers groove in the aisles between tables”. The Bowl has also served countless African American leaders through the ages (from MLK to Obama), and their pictures are hung around the restaurant. Just take my word for it. It’s a neat experience. (as well as a cheap meal!)

2. We the Pizza: New York Style pizza right around the corner from the Capitol. We the Pizza also has specialty homemade soda flavors like “pineapple soda” and “sassy sarsaparilla”. It’s a great spot for feeding groups of people on a budget - you’re able to order “pizza parties” that feed between 8-12 people, for $87 total. Don’t want pizza? They have wings and salad options too. Their lunch specials are a good deal as well - for $10, you can get two huge pieces of pizza + a specialty soda. Just like Good Stuff Eatery (which is next door), We the Pizza is also a Spike Mendelsohn restaurant. It’s a great lunch choice if you’re spending the day touring the monuments.

*pizzas in We the Pizza - photo from google*

3. The Hamilton: I’m struggling to describe this one haha. It’s a “high- ceiling hunting lodge”, but with a funky twist and live music on the second floor. It’s usually crawling with people, and for a good reason. Their menu is massive, and changes every couple of months. And even though it’s busy, the restaurant itself is so large that walk-ins are welcome (even though I still recommend reservations). It’s also unique in that they have mostly American food (pastas, burgers, steaks, etc), they also have a separate menu just for (surprisingly good) sushi.