We asked you to tell us your favorite people, places, and things in Washington. Here are the winners of this year’s reader poll.
Best New Restaurant
Maydan
Also popular: Supra, Chiko, Del Mar
Best Food Truck
Rito Loco
Also popular: Swizzler, Captain Cookie and the Milkman, Pepe
Best Food Stand at Nats Park
Shake Shack
Also popular: Ben’s Chili Bowl, District Doughnut
Best Bagels
Bethesda Bagels
Also popular: Bullfrog Bagels, Brooklyn Bagel Bakery, Bagels Etc.
Best Indie Coffee Shop
Compass Coffee
Also popular: La Colombe, Swing’s, Northside Social
Best Doughnuts
District Doughnut
Also popular: Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken, Sugar Shack, Duck Donuts
Best Bakery
Baked & Wired/A Baked Joint
Also popular: Buttercream Bakeshop, Bread Furst
Best Sushi
Sushi Taro
Also popular: Rakuya, Kaz Sushi Bistro, Sushiko, Sushi Rock
Best Tacos
Taco Bamba
Also popular: District Taco, Taqueria Habanero, Taqueria el Poblano
Best Pasta
The Red Hen
Also popular: Sfoglina, Osteria Morini, Al Volo
Best Pizza
Timber Pizza Co.
Also popular: 2 Amys, All-Purpose, Wiseguy Pizza
Best Burger
Duke’s Grocery
Also popular: Le Diplomate, Good Stuff Eatery, Shake Shack, Lucky Buns
Best Butcher
Red Apron Butchery
Also popular: Harvey’s Market, Stachowski’s, Organic Butcher of McLean, Let’s Meat on the Avenue
Best Crabcake
Hank’s Oyster Bar
Also popular: Clyde’s, Old Ebbitt Grill
Best for Spicy Food
Thip Khao
Also popular: Little Serow
Best Barbecue
Federalist Pig
Also popular: Hill Country, Texas Jack’s, Sloppy Mama’s, Rocklands
Best Steakhouse
Bourbon Steak
Also popular: Ray’s the Steaks, BLT Steak, Medium Rare, Rare Steak and Seafood
Best Restaurant for Vegetarians
Chaia
Also popular: Fare Well, Shouk, Beefsteak, NuVegan Cafe
Best Farmers Market
FreshFarm Dupont Circle Market
Also popular: Eastern Market, Falls Church Farmers Market, Old Town Farmers Market, Arlington Farmers Market (Courthouse)
Best Restaurant With a View
Fiola Mare
Also popular: Sequoia, District Winery
Best Special-Occasion Restaurant
Le Diplomate, Pineapple and Pearls (tie)
Also popular: Rose’s Luxury, Fiola Mare, Komi, Iron Gate, Del Mar
Best Sandwich Shop
Taylor Gourmet
Also popular: Bub and Pop’s, Sundevich, the Italian Store, Jetties
Best Fried Chicken
Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken
Also popular: Bonchon, Maketto, Popeyes, Bantam King, Central Michel Richard
Best Fast-Lunch Spot
Cava
Also popular: Sweetgreen, Buredo
Best Grocery Store
Trader Joe’s
Also popular: Whole Foods, Harris Teeter, Glen’s Garden Market, Wegmans, MOM’s Organic Market
Best Ice Cream/Frozen Yogurt
Ice Cream Jubilee
Also popular: Dolcezza, Jeni’s, Pitango Gelato
Best Outdoor Dining
Iron Gate
Also popular: El Techo, the Salt Line, Whaley’s
Best Tasting Menu
Komi
Also popular: Pineapple and Pearls, Little Serow, Minibar
Best Kid-Friendly Restaurant
Ted’s Bulletin
Also popular: 2 Amys, Matchbox, Pizzeria Paradiso
Most Overhyped Restaurant
Founding Farmers
Also unpopular: Cafe Milano, Le Diplomate, Momofuku CCDC, Rose’s Luxury
Best Happy Hour
DC Reynolds
Also popular: Bar Charley, Ambar, Penn Commons
Best Rooftop Bar
POV at the W
Also popular: El Techo, 801, Roofers Union, Takoda
Best Dive Bar
Dan’s Cafe
Also popular: Red Derby, the Codmother, Ivy & Coney, Tune Inn
Best Sports Bar
Nellie’s
Also popular: Buffalo Billiards, Penn Social, The G.O.A.T., Penn Quarter Sports Tavern
Best Bar With Games
The Board Room
Also popular: Penn Social, H Street Country Club, Franklin Hall, Buffalo Billiards
Best Cocktail Bar
Columbia Room
Also popular: Service Bar, Barmini, Copycat Co.
Best Wine Bar
Maxwell Park
Also popular: Barcelona, Flight, Cork, District Winery
Most Overhyped Bar
Brixton
Also unpopular: Hawthorne, pop-up bars, POV at the W, Columbia Room
Best Margarita
Oyamel
Also popular: El Centro D.F., Taqueria el Poblano, El Techo
Best Brewery/Brewpub
Right Proper Brewing Company
Also popular: Bluejacket, Atlas Brew Works, Port City Brewing Company
Best Craft-Beer Selection
ChurchKey
Also popular: Bluejacket, Pizzeria Paradiso, Bier Baron Tavern
Best Local Winery
Stone Tower Winery
Also popular: District Winery, RdV Vineyards, Barrel Oak Winery, Paradise Springs Winery
Best Local Distillery
Cotton & Reed
Also popular: New Columbia Distillers, Republic Restoratives
Best Movie Theater
Landmark Atlantic Plumbing Cinema
Also popular: Landmark E Street Cinema, AMC Loews Georgetown, AMC Loews Uptown, Angelika Film Center & Cafe at Mosaic
Best Museum
National Museum of African American History & Culture
Also popular: National Portrait Gallery, Newseum, National Gallery of Art
Best Day Trip
Annapolis
Also popular: Shenandoah National Park, Virginia wineries, Baltimore
Best Dog Park
Shirlington Dog Park (Arlington)
Also popular: S Street Dog Park (at 17th Street, Northwest), Shaw Dog Park (11th Street and Rhode Island Avenue, Northwest)
Best Live-Music Venue
9:30 Club
Also popular: The Anthem
Best Festival
National Cherry Blossom Festival
Also popular: H Street Festival, Snallygaster
Best for Women’s Work Attire
Loft
Also popular: Ann Taylor, Nordstrom Rack, J. Crew, Banana Republic
Best for Women’s Casual Attire
Loft
Also popular: Madewell, Violet Boutique, Nordstrom Rack, Anthropologie, South Moon Under
Best for Vintage Clothes
Buffalo Exchange
Also popular: New to You
Best for Women’s Shoes
DSW
Also popular: Nordstrom Rack, Nordstrom, Hu’s Shoes
Best for Men’s Suits
Suitsupply
Also popular: Brooks Brothers, Bonobos, Nordstrom
Best for Men’s Casual Attire
J. Crew
Also popular: Bonobos, Banana Republic
Best for Jewelry and Watches
Boone & Sons
Also popular: Shah & Shah, Shinola, Tiny Jewel Box
Best Consignment Shop
Second Ascent
Also popular: Current Boutique, New to You, Crossroads
Best Neighborhood for Shopping
Georgetown
Also popular: Old Town Alexandria, Friendship Heights
Best Place to Buy Furniture
Room & Board
Also popular: West Elm, Ikea
Best for Interior-Design Finds
Salt & Sundry
Also popular: Miss Pixie’s, West Elm
Best for Vintage and Antique Furniture
Miss Pixie’s
Also popular: GoodWood
Best for Kitchen Goods
Hill’s Kitchen
Also popular: Sur la Table, Home Rule, Williams Sonoma
Best Place to Buy Plants and Trees
Little Leaf
Also popular: Merrifield Garden Center, Ace Hardware, American Plant
Best Yoga Studio
CorePower Yoga
Also popular: Down Dog Yoga, Yoga District
Best Pilates Studio
Solidcore
Also popular: Reformation Fitness, Mind the Mat, Toolbox
Best Barre Class/Studio
Pure Barre
Also popular: Barre3, FlyBarre
Best Indoor Cycling Studio
Flywheel
Also popular: SoulCycle, Zengo Cycle
Best High-Intensity Interval Training
Elevate Interval Fitness
Also popular: 202strong, Urban Boxing, Orangetheory Fitness
Best Gym
Vida Fitness
Also popular: Urban Boxing, 202strong
Best Gym Locker Rooms
Vida Fitness
Also popular: Equinox, Mint
Best for Workout Apparel
Lululemon
Also popular: Athleta
Best Place to Take a Long Walk
Rock Creek Park
Also popular: Great Falls Park, Billy Goat Trail, C&O Canal towpath
Best Place for a Long Run
Rock Creek Park
Also popular: C&O Canal towpath, Mount Vernon Trail, National Mall
Best Day Spa
Blu Water Day Spa
Also popular: Bliss DC, Aura Spa
Best Women’s Haircut
Bang Salon
Also popular: Immortal Beloved, Bubbles
Best Men’s Haircut
Barber of Hell’s Bottom
Also popular: Hendricks Barbershop
Best Manicure/Pedicure
Mimosa Salon
Also popular: Blu Water Day Spa, Nailsaloon
Best Waxing/Threading
Dupont Threading
Also popular: Blu Water Day Spa, European Wax Center, Capital Waxing
Best View of DC
POV at the W
Also popular: Meridian Hill Park, Newseum, Kennedy Center, Old Post Office Clock Tower, Washington National Cathedral
Best Local Athlete
Bryce Harper
Also popular: Alex Ovechkin, John Wall
Best Local TV Anchor/Reporter
Doreen Gentzler, Eun Yang (tie), NBC4
Also popular: Doug Kammerer, NBC4
Best Local Radio Personality
Tommy McFly, 94.7 FM
Also popular: Kojo Nnamdi, WAMU; The Kane Show, Hot 99.5; Elliot Segal, DC101
Best Local Social-Media Account
@DCFoodPorn
Also popular: @capitalweather, @PoPville, @aCreativeDC, @brightestyoungthings, @wethepeopledc
Best “DC” TV Character
Olivia Pope, Scandal
Also popular: Claire Underwood, House of Cards; Selina Meyer, Veep
This article appeared in the June 2018 issue of Washingtonian.
