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1 Cava
Small plates fly around the tables at this brick-walled
mezzeteria, which at night is as loud and boisterous as a big fat Greek
wedding. You could make a meal out of the excellent dips—jalapeño-fueled
“crazy” feta, cooling tzatzi-ki, and fluffy
taramasalata.But don’t miss shares such as tender grilled octopus and
miniature lamb sandwiches enlivened with fiery harissa spread. 527 Eighth
St., SE; 202-543-9090. -
Photograph By Andrew Propp.2 Eastern Market
This historic food hall is a Capitol Hill landmark—and a
welcome antidote to chain grocery stores. Inside you’ll find butchers,
bakers, poultry, produce, and the famous Market Lunch, known for its
terrific crabcakes. On weekends, the outdoor flea market is a favorite for
handmade crafts, ethnic goods, and works by local artists. 225 Seventh
St., SE; 202-698-5253. -
3 Forecast
In business since 1978, this two-level boutique has all the
essentials of the Washington professional woman’s wardrobe: Eileen Fisher,
Lafayette 148, and Stuart Weitzman. Upstairs you’ll find an extensive
selection from those three brands plus Gräf & Lantz and Hobo totes.
Downstairs, gifts such as plush animals and twee stationery share space
with French milled soaps and chic glassware. 218 Seventh St., SE;
202-547-7337. -
4 Good Stuff Eatery and We, the Pizza
Photograph by Scott Suchman.Former Top Chef contestant Spike Mendelsohn takes a
boutique approach to fast food at his two popular hangouts. Good Stuff
Eatery serves skinny beef patties with dollops of chili and sour cream or
piles of bacon, onion marmalade, and tangy Roquefort—plus some of the
richest milkshakes around.Read Our Full Review of Good Stuff Eatery ››
We, the Pizza is the place for slices studded with spicy
sausage and peppers or done up Buffalo-chicken-style with blue cheese and
hot sauce. Soon Mendelsohn will add another restaurant to the block: a
steak-frites bistro called Béarnaise. Good Stuff Eatery, 303
Pennsylvania Ave., SE, 202-543-8222; We, the Pizza, 305 Pennsylvania Ave.,
SE, 202-544-4008. -
5 Senart’s Oyster & Chop House
With servers in Lacoste V-neck sweaters and wonk talk every way
you eavesdrop, this boxcar-wide oyster bar feels quintessentially DC. The
best time to hit it is between 5 and 6:30, when bivalves are $12 a
dozen—half off regular prices—and you can score a whole poached lobster
for $14 (normally $20). Throw in a copper-mugged Moscow mule and a bowl of
extra-thick clam chowder and happy hour can translate to dinner. 520
Eighth St., SE; 202-544-1168. -
6 Homebody
Find items for stylish city living at this purveyor of slick
home goods. Shelves are stocked with Umbra frames, Bodum coffee and tea
supplies, and design-conscious milk carafes and spice containers. In back
there’s a small selection of modern couches, tables, and chairs. 715
Eighth St., SE; 202-544-8445. -
7 Monkey’s Uncle and Dawn Price Baby
Why spend a fortune on your kids’ clothes when they’ll only
outgrow them? At the consignment shop Monkey’s Uncle, the options are cute
and clean. Sizes go from infant to preteen, and there are strollers,
highchairs, and other baby gear upstairs.
Photograph by Andrew Propp.If you’re searching for a baby gift, head a few doors down to
Dawn Price Baby. This boutique stocks all the favorites—Trumpette socks,
Sophie the Giraffe, Aden & Anais blankets—and the staff can help you
find just the right thing. Monkey’s Uncle, 321 Seventh St., SE;
202-543-6471; Dawn Price Baby, 325 Seventh St., SE;
202-543-2920. -
8 Montmartre and Seventh Hill
Change is always a little scary when it comes to restaurants
you love for their consistency, and Montmartre—with its jammed-together
tables, din of laughter and conversation, and old-school French-bistro
menu—is one of those places. But new chef Brian Wilson is proving his
worth with such dishes as mushroom consommé with chestnuts and spiced
Arctic char with sweet potatoes and anise-scented shrimp. One thing isn’t
different: the lovely floating-island dessert.Next door, sister pizzeria Seventh Hill turns out
Neapolitan-style pies and hefty sandwiches—we like the Italian crammed
with salami, mortadella, capicola, provolone, and a good dose of hot
peppers. Montmartre, 327 Seventh St., SE, 202-544-1244; Seventh Hill, same
address, 202-544-1911. -
Photograph courtesy of Federal Realty.9 Hill’s Kitchen
From aprons and towels to DC-shaped cutting boards, this shop
carries everything needed to prepare and serve a fabulous meal. Popular
products include Staub cookware, Kuhn Rikon and Mac knives, and Rösle
cooking tools. Cooking classes ($50 to $65 per person) are taught
upstairs. 713 D St., SE; 202-543-1997. -
10 Sonoma
With 35 Italian and American by-the-glass selections and an
array of charcuterie and cheeses, this concrete-floored wine bar is a
grazer’s paradise. Among more substantial plates, we’ve had the best luck
with pizzas, which sport tender, blistered crusts. Go for a basil-strewn
Margherita or an Autonno, a surprisingly appealing mix of butternut
squash, goat cheese, prosciutto, and pickled onions. 223 Pennsylvania
Ave., SE; 202-544-8088. -
11 Suna
Komi alum Johnny Spero concocts four- and eight-course
offerings for this tasting-menu-only spot tucked into a former apartment
above the restaurant Acqua Al 2. A rustic, brick-walled decor contrasts
with the modern-minimalist cuisine: Dishes such as dashi custard
with kombu-cured scallops and guinea hen atop faro and sunchokes
arrive on custom-designed plates from local ceramicist Amber Kendrick. 214
Seventh St., SE; 202-450-4585. -
12 Ted’s Bulletin and Matchbox
Photograph by Scott Suchman.Feeling nostalgic? Head for the faux diner Ted’s Bulletin,
where buttery grilled cheese sandwiches taste like they came out of Mom’s
skillet, milkshakes (some boozed up with rum or Baileys) are served in
fluted glass-es, and vintage sitcoms play on the big screen.Nearby sibling Matchbox has a more modern, industrial feel but
is just as crowd-pleasing. There it’s all about the sliders (we like them
with Gouda), thin-crusted pizzas, and fruity but stiff cocktails. Ted’s
Bulletin, 505 Eighth St., SE, 202-544-8337; Matchbox, 521 Eighth St., SE,
202-548-0369. -
13 The Tune Inn
Few establishments have the staying power of this wood-paneled
dive with more animal heads on the wall than a hunting lodge—it’s been
slinging burgers and cheap beer for 65 years. You could camp out here for
hours with friends and pitchers of Maryland’s Flying Dog amber ale. When
hunger strikes, tackle a grilled sandwich loaded with roast beef, American
cheese, and the tangy ketchup-and-mayo-based house sauce. 331 Pennsylvania
Ave., SE; 202-543-2725.
This article appears in the January 2013 issue of The Washingtonian.
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.
Sarah is the Editor-in-Chief of Washingtonian Bride & Groom, and writes about weddings, fashion, and shopping. Her work has also appeared in Refinery29, Bethesda Magazine, and Washington City Paper, among others. She is a Georgetown University graduate, lives in Columbia Heights, and you can find her on Instagram at @washbridegroom and @sarahzlot.
