Fourteenth Street north of Thomas Circle: Le Diplomate's French brasserie patio, Doi Moi's Thai, Pearl Dive Oyster Palace and a clustered Saturday-night strip.
Maydan in Washington DC is Rose Previte's James Beard award-winner above 14th Street, a courtyard around a live-fire pit serving North African, Levantine and Caucasus dishes.
Signature: Whole-fire lamb shoulder, Flatbread from the live fire
Order: The lamb shoulder cooked over fire for ten hours, ordered as a family-style bookend; pre-order on the booking page.
Tip: The booth seats face the fire; ask for one. The pre-shift cocktail flight at the upstairs bar is the value pick.
Le Diplomate in Washington DC is Stephen Starr's 14th Street brasserie at the P Street corner, the city's anchor French room since 2013 with a wraparound patio and a 7am pastry pickup.
Signature: Steak frites, Onion soup gratinee
Order: The steak frites with bearnaise; it has been on the menu since opening night and remains the room's most-ordered dish.
Tip: The walk-in bar takes the same menu and runs at a third the wait. Brunch is the busiest slot of the week.
Bresca in Washington DC is Ryan Ratino's Michelin-star 14th Street dining room above the boutique scene, a 60-seat space with a beekeeping rooftop and a four-course tasting menu.
Signature: Hand-cut pastas, Tasting menu courses
Order: Whichever pasta course is on the tasting; Ratino's hand-cut shapes change weekly.
Tip: The downstairs Bresca takes a la carte; the upstairs Jont (separate venue) is the tasting-menu sister.
The Pig in Washington DC is the 14th Street nose-to-tail dining room from EatWell DC, with a menu built end-to-end on heritage pork from local Mid-Atlantic farms and a porchetta plate.
Signature: Pork belly sliders, House charcuterie board
Order: The pork belly sliders on house buns; the room's most-ordered appetiser since opening.
Tip: Brunch on weekends runs a deep boozy menu; the bar counter takes walk-ins on weekdays.
Doi Moi in Washington DC is the 14th Street Southeast Asian dining room from the Eat Group, a Thai-Vietnamese-Lao kitchen with an outdoor patio and a deep low-intervention wine list.
Signature: Khao soi, Whole fish in tamarind
Order: The khao soi northern Thai curry noodles; the menu's most-ordered single dish.
Tip: The patio runs from April to October and is the better seat at sunset; the bar takes walk-ups.
Ghibellina in Washington DC is the 14th Street Tuscan dining room next to Le Diplomate, a casual high-ceiling Italian room with pinsa Roman flatbread and the bistecca cut for two.
Signature: Pinsa Roman flatbread, Bistecca alla fiorentina
Order: The pinsa Roman-style flatbread with prosciutto and stracciatella; the room's most-ordered appetiser.
Tip: The patio runs to October; the back room is quieter than the front bar on Saturday nights.
Ted's Bulletin in Washington DC is the 14th Street art-deco American diner from the Matchbox group, an all-day breakfast room with the in-house adult pop-tart line as the signature.
Signature: Homemade pop-tarts, All-day breakfast
Order: The homemade strawberry pop-tart with milkshake; the all-day breakfast headliner.
Tip: Weekend brunch fills up by 11:00; the original Barracks Row Ted's takes walk-ins on weekday mornings.
Rooster and Owl in Washington DC is Yuan and Carey Tang's 14th Street Michelin-mentioned modern American dining room, a four-course prix fixe with a strong vegetable-forward focus.
Signature: Pork rind chicharrones, Crispy chicken bites
Order: The pork rind chicharrones with chili lime; the most photographed dish on the menu.
Tip: The four-course prix fixe is $79 at dinner; the wine pairing leans natural and is the value upgrade.