Downtown grid between Capitol Hill and the White House, anchored by the Jose Andres tasting-menu cluster (Jaleo, Zaytinya, Minibar, China Chilcano) and 7th Street's gallery row.
Minibar by Jose Andres in Washington DC is the chef's two-Michelin-star, 12-seat counter on E Street, a 20-course modernist tasting menu pulled across a single quiet evening.
Signature: 20-course modernist tasting, Caviar cone
Order: Whatever course requires both hands; the kitchen is unsentimental about it.
Tip: Book at midnight three months out via Tock. The wine pairing leans Old World Spanish; ask for the deep-dive option.
Jaleo in Washington DC is Jose Andres's 7th Street Spanish tapas room, the kitchen that opened ThinkFoodGroup in 1993 and codified DC's modern small-plates dining template.
Signature: Gambas al ajillo, Paella valenciana
Order: The paella valenciana with rabbit, snail and green bean; ordered table-wide and finished with a torch.
Tip: Lunch is the easier reservation; the sherry list runs deep into Manzanilla pasada that the bartenders will pour by the glass.
Zaytinya in Washington DC is Jose Andres's Penn Quarter Eastern Mediterranean room on 9th Street since 2002, a high-ceiling space drawing from Greek, Turkish and Lebanese kitchens.
Signature: Spicy fries with feta, Wood-grilled octopus
Order: The Greek-style spiced fries with feta; the most-ordered single dish in the room.
Tip: Pre-theatre reservations from 17:00 are the fastest seat; the upstairs bar runs the full menu without the reservation pressure.
Rasika in Washington DC is Ashok Bajaj's Penn Quarter modern Indian dining room on D Street, the city's anchor Indian fine-dining room since 2005 and a State Dinner regular.
Signature: Palak chaat, Lobster moilee
Order: The palak chaat (crispy spinach with sweet yoghurt and tamarind); the room's most-ordered single dish.
Tip: The West End Rasika is the larger room; the Penn Quarter original is louder and harder to book but holds the editorial top spot.
Matchbox in Washington DC is the original Penn Quarter pizza-and-burger room on H Street since 2003, a wood-fired oven kitchen on Chinatown's western edge with a deep cocktail list.
Signature: Wood-fired pizza, Mini burger trio
Order: The mini burger trio with thin onion rings; the room's most-ordered appetiser.
Tip: The upstairs dining room is quieter than the busy ground-floor bar; ask for it at booking.