French Brasserie$$$logan-circleMon-Fri 11:30-23:00, Sat-Sun 09:30-00:00
Le Diplomate in Washington DC is Stephen Starr's 14th Street brasserie at the P Street corner, the city's anchor French room since 2013 with a wraparound.
Signature: Steak frites, Onion soup gratinee
Order: The steak frites with bearnaise.
Tip: The walk-in bar takes the same menu and runs at a third the wait. Brunch is the busiest slot of the week.
Spanish Tapas$$$penn-quarterMon-Thu 11:30-22:00, Fri-Sat 11:30-23:00, Sun 11:30-22:00
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.
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.
Eastern Mediterranean$$$penn-quarterMon-Thu 11:30-22:00, Fri 11:30-23:00, Sat 11:00-23:00, Sun 11:00-22:00
Zaytinya in Washington DC is Jose Andres's Penn Quarter Eastern Mediterranean room on 9th Street since 2002, a high-ceiling space drawing from Greek.
Signature: Spicy fries with feta, Wood-grilled octopus
Order: The Greek-style spiced fries with feta; the most-ordered single dish in the room.
Tip: Pre-theatre reservations from 17:00 are the fastest seat; the upstairs bar runs the full menu without the reservation pressure.
Italian Seafood$$$$georgetownMon 15:00-21:30, Tue-Thu 11:30-22:00, Fri 11:30-22:30, Sat 11:00-22:30, Sun 11:00-21:30
Fiola Mare in Washington DC is Fabio and Maria Trabocchi's Georgetown waterfront seafood room on K Street, a Potomac-facing dining hall with a crudo bar.
Signature: Crudo platter, Whole fish for the table
Order: The crudo platter to start; the kitchen builds it from whatever was unloaded that morning.
Tip: The patio runs from April to October; Sunday lunch on the water with a glass of vermentino is the room's editorial best moment.
American$$$downtownMon-Fri 08:00-02:00, Sat-Sun 09:00-02:00
Old Ebbitt Grill in Washington DC is the city's oldest saloon, founded 1856 and now serving 1.5 million guests a year across four bars at its 15th Street.
Signature: Crab cakes, Oyster Happy Hour
Order: The crab cake plate; the kitchen runs through 1000 cakes a week and the binder is invisibly thin.
Tip: The 15:00-18:00 oyster Happy Hour is the city's best seafood deal at $1.95 each; sit at the Old Bar.
New American$$$dupont-circleMon-Tue 17:00-21:00, Wed-Thu 17:00-21:30, Fri-Sat 17:00-22:00
Annabelle in Washington DC is Frank Ruta's elegant Dupont Circle dining room on Florida Avenue, the Knightsbridge Group's most polished kitchen with a French.
Signature: Wagyu tartare, Whole roasted duck for two
Order: The whole roasted duck for two, carved tableside; pre-order on the booking page.
Tip: The chef's counter overlooks the kitchen pass and is the better booking for the food show; book at lunch for a calmer pace.