Why go: The pig-themed tchotchkes and plain red curtains make it feel as though you’re eating in a Greek grandmother’s kitchen. And there’s real skill at the stove, resulting in a lineup of comfort food that’s lighter and better than most.
What to get: The Greek sampler, which includes a zesty cayenne-feta dip; baked crab-stuffed shrimp sauced with lemon, butter, and white wine; charbroiled, herb-spiked bifteki; tiramisu.
Best for: Anyone with a yen for unfussy cooking in an unstuffy atmosphere.
Insider tip: The restaurant had to leave untouched the historic sign for the Dixie Pig restaurant, which operated on this spot from 1949 through 1984; it creates some confusion but adds charm.
Open Monday through Saturday for lunch and dinner.
>> See all 2009 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.
