Restaurant Guide
Disclaimer: Comments below are drawn from many sources and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Folger Shakespeare Library staff members.
Inexpensive:
Burrito Brothers 202.543.6835 205 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE This restaurant specializes in quick Mexican foods such as tacos, fajitas, burritos, and more.
Café Recess 202.544.3049 209 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE Cafeteria-style hot and cold food bars with an Asian flair, as well as a made-to-order deli in the rear, make this a quick and versatile lunch spot.
Firehook 202.544.7003 215 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE Best known for its delicious bakery, Firehook also serves soups and sandwiches at lunch.
Gandel’s 202.543.1000 211 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE An unassuming liquor store with an authentic deli that draws the local lunch crowd.
La Lomita Dos 202.544.0616 308 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE Another Mexican restaurant, reknowned for its fresh salsa; open for lunch and dinner.
Le Bon Café 202.547.7200 210 Second Street, SE Here you can find a Parisian-styled café and espresso bar with a short menu of gourmet sandwiches on excellent bread.
Pete’s Diner 202.544.7335 212 Second Street, SE Sit down at the formica counter or take lunch to go from this traditional diner that veers from the ordinary with its daily Chinese specials.
Starbucks 202.544.9783 237 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE Get your daily fix at this stand-by coffee shop on the corner of Pennsylvania and 3rd Streets.
Cosi 202.546.3345 301 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE This fast-growing chain offers hand-tossed salads, flatbread sandwiches, pizzas, and soup with upstairs seating and a patio.
Young Chow 202.544.3030 312 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE Look no further for inexpensive Chinese food on the fly. Serves lunch and dinner.
Moderate:
Aatish On the Hill 202.544.0931 609 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE This bargain Pakistani spot specializes in items from the tandoori grill.
America Restaurant 202.682.9555 Union Station – Upper Level Big and uber-American, Union Station’s America serves big food from a big menu.
Capitol City Brewing Co. 202.842.2337 2 Mass. Avenue, NW Located across from Union Station in the historic Post Office Building with a gorgeous interior and tasty micro-brews.
Hawk ’n Dove 202.543.3300 329 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE Venerable Capitol Hill bar attracts staffers and locals for drinks, gossip, and good times.
Hunan Dynasty 202.546.6161 215 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE Some claim this is the best Chinese on the Hill.
Starfish Café 202.546.5006 539 Eighth Street, SE Seafood with a side of style, and a kitchen headed by a former cook at the Argentine Embassy.
Taverna: The Greek Isles 202.547.8360 305 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE Traditional family recipes; the flavors are authentic, and the portions are generous.
Thai Roma 202.544.2338 313 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE Thai Roma stands out for its distinctive and tasteful blending of Thai and Italian cuisine.
Thunder Grill 202.898.0051 Union Station – Main Level Mid-range entrees and a variety of Southwest-themed salads and sandwiches should keep train travelers and the nearby work crowd satiated.
Tortilla Coast 202.546.6768 400 First Street, SE This congressional staffer hangout serves basic Tex-Mex, albeit done nicely.
White Tiger 202.546.5900 301 Mass. Avenue, NE With tropical wood decor, hammered copper dinnerware and polished staff, this tidy Indian restaurant seems to whisper “Raj.”
More Expensive:
Belga Café 202.544.0100 514 Eighth Street, SE Belgian beer, five kinds of moules, and delicious pommes frites on Barracks Row.
Bistro Bis 202.661.2700 15 E Street, NW Heavy-hitters flock to Jeff Buben’s French bistro.
B. Smith’s 202.289.6188 Union Station – Main Level An art deco vibe and rich Southern fare come together in this elegant Union Station spot.
Johnny’s Half Shell 202.737.0400 400 N. Capitol Street, NW Ann Cashion’s Southern-accented seafood house.
The Monocle 202.546.4488 107 D Street, NE A Washington insider’s hangout in an unpretentious setting where tourists in sneakers are as comfortable as lawyers in pinstripes.
Montmartre 202.544.1244 327 Seventh Street, SE A petit gout de France on Capitol Hill near Eastern Market.
Park Café 202.543.0184 106 Thirteenth Street, SE This Hill haven offers contemporary American cuisine
Sonoma 202.544.8088 223 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE A wine bar with a bounty of charcuterie, cheeses, and by-the-glass selections.
This list is by no means exhaustive. Many restaurants are concentrated in two nearby areas: Pennsylvania Avenue between Second and Fourth Streets, SE; and Union Station, which also has an extensive food court on the lower level. Further afield, Eastern Market and Eighth Street, SE, offer even more options. Additional choices can be found in the Washington Post's Food and Dining section, and in the Washington City Paper's Restaurant Finder.
