Cuisine: Nostalgic comfort food from the Great American Restaurants group. The kitchen puts out original dishes—deviled eggs with sugared bacon, lemon “marshmallow meringue” pie—but there are plenty of the chain’s classics, such as the flourless chocolate waffle.
Mood: The restaurant pays homage to the memory of the late chef Bill Jackson, with both a Norman Rockwell–style painting and a letter board listing all his nicknames (“Charmer”) and favorite things (wasabi). All-booth seating and cheery service keep diners happy.
Best for: A relaxed, not-too-expensive date; dinner with a picky eater; a kid-friendly meal.
Best dishes: Deviled eggs with sugared bacon and pecans; pimiento-cheesy red-pepper dip and guacamole; lobster mac and cheese; field greens with warm goat cheese and spiced pecans; crab cakes; sea bass with a gingery soy broth; lemon meringue pie with a graham-cracker crust; flourless chocolate waffle.
Insider tips: The restaurant looks big, but it fills up quickly—call ahead to put your name on the waiting list. Portions are generous and easy to share.
Service: •••
Open daily for lunch and dinner. Moderate.
>> See all 100 Best Restaurants
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.
