The Capitol looms in the distance, but the moment you step onto the tiled floors of Ann Cashion’s restaurant, bipartisanship prevails: Bickering gives way to partying as politicos and their posses blow off steam. The feel-good food helps–time-honored dishes from the Gulf and Chesapeake, prepared without preciousness or ego.
In summer, don’t miss the barbecue crabs served on the patio, accompanied by live jazz.
What to get: Grilled chicken wings with green-goddess dressing; oysters on the half shell; oyster stew; seafood gumbo; Dungeness crab Louis; sautéed soft-shells; a definitive crabcake; spicy grilled lobster; chocolate angel-food cake; coconut cream pie.
Open Monday through Friday for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Saturday for dinner. Expensive.
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.
