Columbia Firehouse

On paper it sounds good: a firehouse turned restaurant that crosses pubby conviviality with industrial chic, a menu that gives a nod to foodie trends. But this multilevel hangout falls short of its promise. Pacing is a problem—the wait to get a menu can be trying, and our starters and entrées showed up in tandem. A dazzling kitchen might redeem such snafus, but rosemary-garlic fries were flabby and a cider-brined pork chop was puckeringly sour. 109 S. Saint Asaph St., Alexandria; 703-683-1776.

Grapeseed

We often say we could make a nice night of it at this bistro by supplementing the wines from its excellent stash with a few small plates. But a recent dinner had us wishing we’d mostly stuck to sipping. Cornmeal-crusted oysters were a standout, as were pan-seared scallops. Nothing else sang. Gnocchi were sticky; a pork chop was listless. An off night? Perhaps. But it’s not as if the out-of-date dining room offers much compensation. And service was uneven. 4865 Cordell Ave., Bethesda; 301-986-9592.

Restaurant Nora

In the ’70s, chef Nora Pouillon was an early adopter of eating organic and local—a philosophy that nearly every chef worth his or her salt has come to embrace. Dining at this renovated 19th-century grocery—with its artifacts and Amish quilts—feels civilized and urbane. But while dishes such as Peekytoe crab with avocado and sake-glazed black cod are pleasant enough, they lack that “wow” factor that turns a good meal great. 2132 Florida Ave., NW; 202-462-5143.

This article appears in the April 2013 issue of The Washingtonian.