Cuisine: American comfort-food standards, especially the daily nostalgia plates such as meatloaf and skillet-fried chicken—a welcome taste of urban dining at suburban prices.
Mood: A ’50s vibe with bright colors, flashy patterns, and co-owner Jackie Greenbaum’s big hair. The restaurant’s previous existence as a car-repair shop is echoed in the work lights dangling from the ceiling.
Best for: Finicky French-fry-loving kids and anyone in need of dinner before catching a flick at the AFI.
Best dishes: Miniature “Elvis” burgers dripping with pimiento cheese; salmon baked in parchment; flatiron steak with chimichurri sauce and some of the best French fries in the area; crisp, succulent fried chicken (Wednesdays) and hearty meatloaf (Sundays); a chocolate brownie à la mode that takes you back to childhood. The menu changes daily.
Insider tips: The good stemware is your first clue that Jackie’s takes its wine as seriously as its food. The list is interesting and value-priced, although availability can be a problem. This is Montgomery County, after all.
Service: ••
Ann Limpert joined Washingtonian in late 2003. She was previously an editorial assistant at Entertainment Weekly and a cook in New York restaurant kitchens, and she is a graduate of the Institute of Culinary Education. She lives in Petworth.
