Mintwood Place
1813 Columbia Rd. NWWashington, DC 20009
202-234-6732
American
French
$$
$23.90
★★★
Good ValueMORE INFO
★★★
Good ValueLESS INFO
Before coming to Mintwood Place, chef Cedric Maupillier helped open Central Michel Richard, which won a James Beard Award for best new restaurant. While Maupillier brings much of the style and playfulness of Central to his new restaurant in Adams Morgan, he takes it a step further, delving deeper into the American lexicon for ideas and imbuing them with even more classically French techniques and ingredients. Appetizers of deviled pickled eggs, escargot hush puppies, and chopped chicken liver tartine retain what everyone loves about these classics yet Maupillier elevates each to new heights. Entrees like Crispy rainbow trout with green papaya and aji amarillo slaw read more like typical "modern American fare," but combine flavors and techniques in a way the sets them apart. Desserts like baked Alaska receive the same careful attention, so save room.
3 Stars (10/7/2015) — Fall Dining Guide 2015
"Have you heard? Cedric Maupillier has left the building. Relax, already. He’s still the executive chef and remains a partner, but Eric McKamey has replaced him at the stove, bringing years of experience at two regrettably shuttered restaurants (CityZen, Palena) and the good sense to know not to change what works at the American draw with a Gallic tilt in Adams Morgan. … The creativity continues to flow freely, too. … One of the few neighborhood restaurants that treats desserts like first-class citizens…. The clamor can be uncomfortable. The solution is to dine early in a booth near the big windows…. See Full Review…»
No. 38 (2/8/2016) — 100 Very Best Restaurants 2016
"Cedric Maupillier led 2015’s most exciting restaurant opening (that’d be Convivial, number four on this list), but his original Adams Morgan bistro isn’t suffering from inattention. This is strapping Franco-American comfort food executed with immaculate care—as evidenced by his burnished, beautifully crisp escargot hushpuppies. The menu changes just enough to keep things interesting. Still, we’re glad Maupillier doesn’t seem willing to part with the stacked beet-and-goat-cheese salad and bacon cheeseburger that have been around since day one. …" See Full Review…»
Italic — Recommended
"Chef Cedric Maupillier is the backbone of this restaurant, now serving the most exciting food in Adams Morgan."
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Tail Up Goat
1827 Adams Mill Road NWWashington, DC 20009
202-986-9600
American
$$
$24.00
★★★
Good ValueMORE INFO
★★★
Good ValueLESS INFO
The owners behind Tail Up Goat, beverage director Bill Jensen, chef Jon Sybert, and service director Jill Tyler, all spent a long time at Johnny Monis' acclaimed restaurants Komi and Little Serow before striking out on their own. That experience shows in the casual refinement of nearly every aspect of the experience.
2.5 Stars (5/11/2016) — Spring 2016 Dining Guide
"Behind the quirky name are three 30-somethings who have either cooked or served at two of the best dining experiences in town, Little Serow and Komi. No surprise, then, that they’re packing in scenesters with similar good cheer and food that pushes boundaries, but also all the right buttons. …" See Full Review…»
3 Stars (6/1/2016)
"… There are a few winking allusions to the owners’ alma maters—the pale-blue walls recall the pool-hued Little Serow; an abundant heap of shareable lamb ribs conjures the generosity and communal spirit of the platter of baby goat at Komi—but mostly what has carried over are larger lessons: smart, warm service; thoughtful cooking with roots in the Mediterranean; and a dedication to the craft of making breads, pastas, even crème fraîche. …" See Full Review…»
Italic — Recommended
"Modern American by three members of the great Komi / Little Serow team, this place has every indication of being very good, if not excellent" See 4/6/2016 Review…»
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Jack Rose Dining Saloon
2007 18th St. NWWashington, DC 20009
202-588-7388
American
Cocktail Bar
$$
$23.40
★★½
Good ValueMORE INFO
★★½
Good ValueLESS INFO
Jack Rose has always been one of the best bars around. The wood-paneled, four-story space boasts one of the largest whiskey collections in the world, excellent cocktails, 20 beers on tap, a craft cocktail "speakeasy" in the basement, and a roof deck that draws crowds in warmer months. With the arrival of chef Russell Jones, it finally has food to match the setting. Jones' contemporary American menu has a bit of a Southern accent, showing the chef's South Carolina roots. There's also considerable refinement in the cooking, reflecting Jones' prior job as a sous-chef at Restaurant Eve.
2.5 Stars (10/9/2014) — Fall Dining Guide 2014
"Named for the cocktail blending applejack and grenadine, Jack Rose rolled out three years ago with one of the most dashing bars around — and cooking that required some drinking to forget. Pitching in: 1,800 bottles of whiskey on the walls, some of the inventory reached with the help of ladders on rollers. The spring debut of Jones, a former sous-chef at Restaurant Eve, tempts me to become a regular. The South Carolina native has a Midas touch with snacks.…Equally impressive are the chef’s bigger plates, best eaten with a skillet of warm cornbread and (splurge alert) bacon jam." See Full Review…»
Unrated (3/17/2013)
[Bar Review] "You don’t have to know the difference between whiskey and whisky to enjoy this three-story watering hole at the base of Adams Morgan—though the global collection of 1,500-plus bottles is the main attraction. The elegant first-floor saloon, complete with high shelves and rolling ladders, is the best place to expand your brown-liquor knowledge with helpful bartenders and an extensive cocktail list. It’s also a refuge on weekend nights, when a hard-partying crowd claims the terrace and outdoor tiki bar." See Full Review…»
Italic — Recommended
"Surely one of the greatest Scotch, Bourbon, and Rye selections in the world, recent loss of chef Michael Hartzer."
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Lapis
1847 Columbia Rd NWWashington, DC 20009
202-299-9630
Afghan
$$
$15.40
★★½
Excellent ValueMORE INFO
★★½
Excellent ValueLESS INFO
This modern Afghan restaurant replaced the former French bistro Napoleon. It still has the same owners, the Popal family, who seem newly invigorated by the chance to showcase their native cuisine. Although most think of kebabs when someone mentions Afghan food, some of the best dishes here are the vegetarian offerings.
2.5 Stars (2/17/2016)
"… Retrofitted into the sunny corner space that once housed Napoleon Bistro, a former Popal project, Lapis gently mocks the kebab-intensive stereotype of Afghan cuisine: 'Veggie dishes are Afghanistan’s best-kept secret,' the menu states, 'because most people think we are meat-eating mountain people with large turbans (that’s also true).' Education and self-deprecation rolled into one sentence; it’s a recurring menu tick that endears Lapis to me faster than a half-dozen freebies from the kitchen. Just as delectable are the meat-free plates that reveal the fruity, earthy, spicy flavors of the Afghan table. …" See Full Review…»
Washingtonian has not reviewed this restaurant.
Don Rockwell does not recommend this restaurant.
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Pop's SeaBar
1817 Columbia Rd. NW.Washington, DC 20009
202-534-3933
Seafood
$
$12.78
★★
Excellent ValueMORE INFO
★★
Excellent ValueLESS INFO
This casual seafood shack next door to and owned by Cashion's recalls the childhood beach trips of owners Justin Abad and John Manolatos. The simple menu features a selection of fried, grilled, and steamed classics, plus burgers, hotdogs, and chicken for landlubbers. Upstairs, there's a bar with a small selection of easygoing cocktails, beers, and wine.
2 Stars (10/29/2014)
"Justin Abad and chef John Manolatos, co-owners of Cashion’s Eat Place in Adams Morgan,…snapped up a vacant storefront on the same block as Cashion’s and started offering diners a taste of their daydream. Pop’s SeaBar is inspired by the vacations Manolatos took to the Jersey Shore as a kid and Abad’s upbringing on the Gulf Coast of Florida.…The most expensive item on the menu is a $20 crab cake…The chef, who divides his time between his two kitchens, sweats the small stuff. Of the side dishes, only the curly fries are pre-bought.…The main floor bustles like a boardwalk at dinner. When I crave a little quiet with my fish, I climb to the slender bar upstairs." See Full Review…»
Washingtonian has not reviewed this restaurant.
Don Rockwell does not recommend this restaurant.
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Himalayan Heritage
2305 18th St. NWWashington, DC 20009
202-483-9300
Nepalese
Indian
$$
$16.00
★★
Good ValueMORE INFO
★★
Good ValueLESS INFO
Although there's an Indian menu, the real draw here are the Nepalese dishes you won't find anywhere else in DC.
Unrated (8/18/2011)
While “fans of Indian food will recognize some dishes at this surprisingly elegant Adams Morgan haunt," "the novelty here is the Nepalese offerings." See Full Review…»
Italic — Recommended
"The Nepalese dishes here aren't found anywhere else in town, friendly staff, civilized dining rooms." See 6/25/2011 Review…»
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Roofers Union
2446 18th St. NWWashington, DC 20009
202-232-7663
American
$$
$18.60
★★
Good ValueMORE INFO
★★
Good ValueLESS INFO
Chef Marjorie Meek-Bradley (also of Cleveland Park's Ripple) oversees a meat heavy menu of sausages and upscale pub food. For drinkers, there's a downstairs bar with good happy hour specials and a rooftop deck with its own bar and a great view of the strip.
2 Stars (2/10/2016)
"… Roofers Union opened its doors in February 2014 and has been amiably serving sausages and beer ever since to the crowds who have rediscovered Adams Morgan as a dining — not just drinking — destination. For the owner of Cleveland Park’s Ripple, where Meek-Bradley is also executive chef, the restaurant was a chance for her to be more casual. She splits her time between the two, with executive sous-chef Jenn Flynn taking a more hands-on role during service — and she’ll be stretched even further when her Shaw sandwich shop, Smoked and Stacked, opens this spring. …" See Full Review…»
2 Stars (7/1/2014)
"Chef Marjorie Meek-Bradley—who also oversees the Cleveland Park restaurant Ripple—has culled an odd but approachable collection of boozing-friendly snacks, sausages, and entrées. … Meek-Bradley is known for her way with charcuterie and meat. See Full Review…»
Don Rockwell has not reviewed this restaurant.
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Meat in a Box
2005 18th St. NWWashington, DC 20009
202-986-4646
Persian
$
$8.16
Cheap Eats
Exceptional Value
MORE INFO
Cheap Eats
Exceptional Value
LESS INFO
This little shop has a name that sounds like something from a Seinfeld episode, but it offers dependable falafel and kabobs for a good price. The second location in Adams Morgan also offers jumbo slices, which are about as good as (and no better than) all of the other jumbo slice places.
The Washington Post has not reviewed this restaurant.
Washingtonian has not reviewed this restaurant.
Italic — Recommended
"A mom-n-pop, order-at-the-counter, kabob pillbox, served to-go in cardboard boxes (hence the name), priced per skewer, and with reliable kabobs and genuinely friendly service."
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Amsterdam Falafelshop
2425 18th St. NWWashington, DC 20009
202-234-1969
Sandwiches
Vegetarian
$
$10.10
Cheap Eats
Excellent Value
MORE INFO
Cheap Eats
Excellent Value
LESS INFO
This local chain stays open late and sticks to the basics: delicious Israeli-style falafel with plenty of tasty toppings on the do-it-yourself bar and fries with several sauces. There are three locations in DC and one in Clarendon.
The Washington Post has not reviewed this restaurant.
Washingtonian has not reviewed this restaurant.
Don Rockwell does not recommend this restaurant.
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Donburi
2438 18th St NWWashington, DC 20009
202-629-1047
Japanese
$
$11.00
Cheap Eats
Excellent Value
MORE INFO
Cheap Eats
Excellent Value
LESS INFO
Seungjoon Jang's Donburi serves the eponymous rice bowls topped with fish, meat, vegetables and donburi sauce in varying combinations, including the minimalist sakedon (salmon), tricked-out katsudon (fried pork and shrimp over onions with soft fried egg), and rich unagidon (caramelized eel). Washingtonian named it one of its best "Cheap Eats" 2014.
Unrated (1/16/2014)
"The place is the Zen intruder in Bacchus’s backyard. Everything about Donburi exudes a Japanese minimalism[.] … Donburi was founded by Seungjoon Jang, 26, a Korean native who embraced Nippon cooking while working at Japanese restaurants[.] Jang’s menu runs, at best, eight dishes long, with a handful of sides and assorted drinks, none alcoholic." See Full Review…»
Unrated (5/5/2016) — Cheap Eats 2016
"… Donburi, Japan’s lesser-known one-pot meal of rice and savory toppings, is the star of this tiny Adams Morgan restaurant. The space still boasts only 14 stools, but chef/owner James Jang has expanded the menu since opening, adding a section of braised meats … and more varieties of fish, served sashimi-style over the toothsome grains. More traditional fried items like crispy pork cutlets are worth ordering for the curry sauce alone …" See Full Review…»
Don Rockwell does not recommend this restaurant.
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Astor Mediterranean
1829 Columbia Rd. NWWashington, DC 20009
202-745-7495
Greek
Pizza
$
$11.51
Cheap Eats
Good Value
MORE INFO
Cheap Eats
Good Value
LESS INFO
This Middle Eastern restaurant with two locations has consistently juicy kebabs, good dips and salads, and surprisingly good pizza, making it one of our favorites for takeout. In particular, try the vegetarian sampler, which is a combination of several classic Mediterranean dishes, a generous grilled salmon Greek salad, or the Egyptian pizza, which has a unique fennel seed crust.
Unrated (5/13/2011)
"For more than two decades, Astor Mediterranean, a tiny dine-in and carryout … has been a neighborhood favorite for quick and easy kebabs, salads and pizzas." See Full Review…»
Washingtonian has not reviewed this restaurant.
Italic — Recommended
"Vegetarian-friendly, good dips and kabobs, Egyptian koshari, shockingly good pizzas (try the "Egyptian")." See 7/31/2013 Review…»
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Keren
1780 Florida Ave NWWashington, DC 20009
202-265-5764
Eritrean
$
$11.99
Cheap Eats
Good Value
MORE INFO
Cheap Eats
Good Value
LESS INFO
Keren is the second largest city in Eritrea, a country with a cuisine similar to Ethiopia. This convivial restaurant and café is open all day serving a full menu of ful and egg dishes, tibisi (tibs) and stews with teff enjera (injera), and some dishes over spaghetti that show the Eritrea's heritage as an Italian colony.
The Washington Post has not reviewed this restaurant.
Unrated (5/5/2016) — Cheap Eats 2016
"Even rainy weeknights can mean a wait for a table at this cozy Ethiopian-Eritrean restaurant in Adams Morgan. Credit the warm welcome and generous, home-style dishes that rarely edge past $10. You won’t find all the staples—there’s no kitfo or pricier proteins like lamb—but the kitchen excels with its concise menu. As at the best diners, breakfast is served all day, and you can pick your buzz between potent Ethiopian coffee and a cold St. George beer. The ful—a sort of bean chili topped with jalapeños, tomatoes, yogurt, onions, and two scrambled eggs—is delicious at any hour. …" See Full Review…»
Italic — Recommended
"Eritrean cuisine, an established little ethnic gem, different than Ethiopian, native dishes such as ful and kicha are well-worth exploring."
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