Japanese sushi$$$$logan-circleTue-Sat 18:00-22:30
Raw Omakase DC in Washington DC is Chef John Yi's Logan Circle Japanese tasting counter on the third floor above Takara 14 on 14th Street, a sub-ten-seat.
Signature: Edomae nigiri progression, Seasonal sashimi course
Order: Whichever nigiri course leads the run.
Tip: The 18:00 seating is the 15-course $125 menu; the 20:15 seating is the 18-course $150 menu. Reserve via the website Tuesday through Saturday.
New American$$$shawTue-Thu 17:30-21:30, Fri-Sat 17:30-22:00
The Dabney in Washington DC is Jeremiah Langhorne's Michelin-star Blagden Alley room in Shaw, a Mid-Atlantic wood-hearth kitchen built around regional.
Signature: Wood-hearth oysters, Cast-iron cornbread
Order: The cast-iron cornbread with sorghum butter; the kitchen pulls it from the hearth on a long handle.
Tip: Book the bar seats facing the hearth; the show is the kitchen, not the dining room. The Cellar wine bar is the quieter alternative.
Middle Eastern$$$logan-circleWed-Sat 17:00-22:00, Sun 17:00-21:00
Maydan in Washington DC is Rose Previte's James Beard award-winner above 14th Street, a courtyard around a live-fire pit serving North African.
Signature: Whole-fire lamb shoulder, Flatbread from the live fire
Order: The lamb shoulder cooked over fire for ten hours, ordered as a family-style bookend.
Tip: The booth seats face the fire; ask for one. The pre-shift cocktail flight at the upstairs bar is the value pick.
French Brasserie$$$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.