100 Very Best Restaurants 2013: Ray’s to the Third

Michael Landrum’s minimally adorned steakhouses—Ray’s the Steaks in Arlington and Ray’s the Classics in Silver Spring—offer white-tablecloth fare at reasonable prices. At Ray’s Hell-Burger and Nice ’n’ Greasy Steak ’n’ Cheesy, he elevates junk-food favorites with great ingredients. This movie-poster-lined dining room offers the best of both. You can go high end with a bone-marrow-flanked New York strip or casual with a gloriously greasy cheesesteak (get it with the spicy mayo known as “groove grease”) or the spectacular Mack burger, topped with American cheese and tangy “heck sauce.” Don’t miss: Mixed baby greens; crab bisque; lobster mac and cheese; crab royale; creamed spinach; Shake and Bake shake with caramel, chocolate, bourbon, and bacon crumbles. Open: Daily for lunch and dinner. Moderate.