Hi everyone!

I’m taking my girlfriend to DC for her birthday next month, and I really want dinner to feel special. She’s had a big year (graduated and started her first full-time job), so I want this to be a memorable evening.

Right now, my shortlist is:
ISLA
dLeña

I’m looking for two more options to let her choose from.

I’m hoping for restaurants that are:

- Beautiful inside (somewhere that feels like a birthday dinner, not just a regular date

- Great food (ideally 4.3+ stars)

- Not Italian

- Open to any cuisine - she loves seafood, tacos, Caribbean, and trying new foods

- Comfortable and welcoming for a Black lesbian couple

If you had one restaurant that dmade you think, “This is where I’d celebrate someone’s birthday,” what would it be? Thanks so much!

What the title says. We have an intern who's never tried pho before. Obviously, we have to rectify this.

We'd like to get pho or banh mis for lunch while we're all in the office. Unfortunately, our office is in downtown, and particularly appears to be in a dearth of pho places. Hiking up to Columbia Heights or out to Arlington would take too long to fit into our lunch hour.

Anyone know of any decent pho places in downtown/Gallery Place?

does anyone know where to find Cambodian cuisine? kuy teav + lok lak?

I lived in DC for over 20 years and now return every month for Work and my impression is that while high-end DC restaurants have gotten better your smaller, local places have suffered. Where is the best Thai food right now?

What’re your favorite restaurants that an out of towner would have trouble finding much about?

Basically, places not in the Michelin guide, on eater, infatuation, Washingtonian, or James beard

Looking for a spot that serves this soup. Anywhere in and around DC is fine.

The Oak Room in Georgetown doesn’t show prices on their online menu. My guess is, that means it’s probably…outrageously expensive. Has anybody been? How outrageously expensive is it?

Looking for top tabbouleh recommendations please? Thank you! Restaurants, middle eastern grocery stores or delis. TIAs

It's a scorcher in DC today, which got me thinking about cold soups, sushi, seafood towers, and other non-hot or fried foods on the menu. Any stand-out dishes at DC restaurants to recommend?

Looking for a seafood boil place with a mix of variety of seafood. Honestly anywhere in DC or MD would be fine. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated!

Going to Snallygaster in October with a few friends and wondering what the best drunk guy feast might be for dinner afterwards?

The festival is near the Capitol building but I don't know where we're staying yet.

Any kind of food suggestions are welcome as long as the atmosphere isn't too stuffy. Price doesn't matter.

Thanks

Hello! I am coming to Washington DC from NYC with my boyfriend (both our first times) to celebrate our anniversary and I want to make it very romantic. We are doing a lot of sightseeing but I need some recommendations for food!

1. I want to do a very fancy dinner but most people have recommended Iron Gate, but the menu doesn't wow me. I am all about food- I want to eat at Albi but I worry it is too difficult a reservation. If I can get in is it worth the money? I have a back up at Rasika- how is that?

I am hearing that Dogon and La Shukran are great backups- consensus?

1. I also want to eat at chercher but its too far from union station when we are coming from the Smithsonian area- can you recommend a last lunch? Not too expensive as we will have shelled out previous night haha

2. How do we feel about Dauphine's for our lower key meal while we're in the govt building area?

3. I also want some suggestions for bars around union market area that are fun and not crazy expensive on other nights of our trip :)

Thank you so much! Any advice you can give means the world!

Is Quarterdeck a good destination for blue crabs in DC?

Does anyone know of a spot I could find a gluten free sushi boat in or around DC? Hoping to find a place that can do it for my birthday 🥲

I'm in the mood for some incredible chocolate cake that is worth the calories. Where can I get the best piece of chocolate cake in DC? It desn't have to be from a bakery, a restaurant or cafe that sells slices will do! Looking for some good frosting or ganache and moist cake!!

If there any other incredible desserts on the menus around town worth shouting out, would love to hear em

Baked and wired was too dry for me, but I got it delivered at the end of the day so it may not have been given a fair chance.

Why do we serve shrimp with tails when it’s intended to be eaten with a fork? Shrimp in a salad. Shrimp scampi. Shrimp in pasta. A shrimp poked with a fork and cut with a butter knife is no way to live life. You’ll have an accident, make a mess, and miss out on the meat in the tail. Do you really want to stain your date’s shirt with ajillo? Do we only do it right in ceviche and tacos? 

Finger foods are fine and fun with the tails: shrimp cocktail, big pile of peel & eat with old bay, a fried shrimp.

Am I missing something or am I just bitter from a butter disaster?

5 60 year old friends will be visiting in August and we will be down on the Mall all day. Looking for a fun place to eat dinner

Once again, I have an opportunity for a $150 gift card to Causa/Amazonia via credit card rewards. I’m not into those places, so I’m selling it. I’d accept $120 via PayPal or Venmo for the gift card. It would come directly from the restaurant to your email, so I don’t see any codes.

Does anyone know of any restaurants in the DMV that don't play background music?

I know managers have music playing in stores and restaurants because it leads customers to spend more, but it makes it more difficult to have a conversation, especially if the place is full.

I’m wondering what folks think is a reasonable cancellation policy for a higher end restaurant? I understand the economics of a restaurant are tough, and it’s important to get butts in seats. And maybe there are sourcing issues for high end ingredients. I made a res recently where the cancellation penalty is the full tasting menu price if you don’t cancel four days in advance. That’s a bit different than if you are buying a “ticket” on Tock, where you’re really going to plan. Or maybe there is no difference. Life happens though even if you’re someone who totally tries to respect restaurants because you love the DC dining scene.