Cuisine: Thoughtfully crafted renditions of home-kitchen fare (roast chicken, apple crisp) plus chef-driven creations with the occasional dash of lemongrass or chimichurri. The menu doesn’t change much, but this is one of the most consistent places around.
Mood: With its white-lattice porch and Pottery Barn aesthetic, this collection of cozy dining rooms is loaded with small-town charm. You’ll even hear the windows rattle now and then—that’s just the freight train rumbling by.
Best for: Casual dinners; the terrific brunch; a brief respite from city living.
Best dishes: Crunchy cornmeal-fried oysters with freshly made tartar sauce; roast chicken, straightforward and satisfying; barbecue shrimp over corn-studded grits; wood-grilled hanger steak with chimichurri; fried-onion-topped cheeseburger; apple crisp; potato latkes and orange-vanilla French toast at brunch.
Insider tips: The restaurant takes a very limited number of reservations each night, so go early or late to avoid a wait. On nights when there’s a performance at Strathmore, tables usually open up around showtime.
Service: ••
Open Monday through Saturday for lunch and dinner, Sunday for brunch and dinner. Moderate.
See all of 2010's 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.
