The Food: You’ll find all the hallmarks of a standard, guac-laden Tex-Mex menu--big platters holding burritos, chimichangas, fajitas and enchiladas--plus carne asada and pollo primavera (grilled chicken breast piled with zucchini, onions and tomatoes). On the seafood front, shrimp and scallops adorn most dishes.

The Scene: A yellow glow from wall sconces bounces off wood paneling and exposed bricks. Tile flooring, ceiling fans and knick-knacks (like a skeleton mariachi band and dusty tequila bottles) provide a feeling of dining in someone’s casa. A chiminea illuminates decorative crosses of different sizes and colors.

What’s Nearby: Just north of Dupont Circle between R and S streets on Connecticut Avenue, Alero is close to shopping, restaurants and bars, and the Phillips Collection and DC Improv. The Dupont Circle metro station (red line) is about 2 blocks away.

Insider Tips: While Alero’s other locations on U Street and in Cleveland Park offer outdoor patios, the Dupont Circle location does not.