Why go: Chic restaurants abound in Georgetown. But a chic restaurant with budget prices? This window-wrapped Turkish cafe puts out excellent renditions of mezze and kebabs, all accompanied by soft, wood-fired bread.
What to get: Thick, smoky hummus; phyllo-encased sigara borek filled with feta; dolmas (currants, pine nuts, and rice stuffed into grape leaves); manti (house-made pasta pockets with beef and yogurt sauce); spicy adana kebab, made with ground beef; doner kebab; rice pudding topped with ground pistachios.
Best for: A romantic date that doesn’t feel cash-conscious.
Insider tip: On Thursday, the restaurant roasts a whole lamb.
>> See all 2010 Cheap Eats restaurants here
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.
