Adams-Morgan

[sabg]

WILL BE IN DC FOR THE WEEKEND AND WOULD LIKE TO TRY SOMETHING IN ADAMS MORGAN..WE LIKE EVERYTHING..ESPECIALLY THAI, ASIAN, ORANY ETHIC CHOICE. SOMETHING A LITTLE UPSCALE BUT NOT A LONG TASTING

[Mark Sommelier]

Try Cashion's Eat Place on Columbia Road. Don't miss the tortelloni with Tuscan meat sauce and the Fritto Misto.

[JennyUptown]

This thread may help

Also, Mantis is pretty good.

[sabg]

This thread may help

Also, Mantis is pretty good.

after looking at the thread maybe its not such a good idea...i was there about 15 years ago and heard its now really happening....what did i miss?

[bilrus]

My impression of Adams Morgan is that it is more happening for nightlife than food.

[JennyUptown]

That is true, nightlife over food, but Cashion's is very good.

Why don't you give us some other info about how/where you'll spend your time in DC, what you'd like to spend, etc.

Zaytinya will surely come up in our recs so check out those threads (there are two).

[hillvalley]

Not too far from 18th st., which is the main strip in AM, is a restaurant called Coppi's. It is on U, I think between 14th and 15th. Great woodburning pizza and pasta with a nice wine selection.

[JennyUptown]

And then there's Kuna (reservations necessary), right near Coppi's.

[sabg]

That is true, nightlife over food, but Cashion's is very good.

Why don't you give us some other info about how/where you'll spend your time in DC, what you'd like to spend, etc.

Zaytinya will surely come up in our recs so check out those threads (there are two).

we srre staying at the jw marriott near the white house...have client dinner that i think will be at palena, unless there is a better suggestion. have been to dc coast and loved it. citronell and liked it a lot. mc cormick and schmick, the four season and some great thai i cant remember the name of. my 8 year old will be with us and always "wants to go somewhere new and have something hea has never had before" i have wanted to try ten phen, how is that??

[JennyUptown]

That is true, nightlife over food, but Cashion's is very good.

Why don't you give us some other info about how/where you'll spend your time in DC, what you'd like to spend, etc.

Zaytinya will surely come up in our recs so check out those threads (there are two).

we srre staying at the jw marriott near the white house...have client dinner that i think will be at palena, unless there is a better suggestion. have been to dc coast and loved it. citronell and liked it a lot. mc cormick and schmick, the four season and some great thai i cant remember the name of. my 8 year old will be with us and always "wants to go somewhere new and have something hea has never had before" i have wanted to try ten phen, how is that??

The JW Marriott is a good location - near many of the restaurants in the newly hyped "Penn Quarter."

Palena is a bit of a haul from that area, but definitely worth the trip.

I personally really enjoy Ten Penh - good proximity to your hotel.

Your eight year old will, in all likelihood, have a ball at Zaytinya.

[Tweaked]

If you want to do ethnic and stay in Adams Morgan, then check out the Ethiopian restaurants, DC has one of the largest Ethiopian populations in the country and therefore we have really good Ethiopian food. Fasika's and Meskerrem are both on 18th Street and in the heart of Adams Morgan, and across the street from each other. I like the food a bit better at Fasika's but the decor at Meskerrem is better.

But either is a solid choice.

If you are unfamiliar with Ethiopian food, it's mostly stewed and braised meat and vegetable dishes, heavy on beef, lamb, chicken, lentils and greens. It's served communally with injera which is a sour bread that looks like a huge crepe. You scoop the food up with the injera, like one does with naan or pita.

[Steve Klc]

We had really good Ethiopian restaurants, had being the operative word. When I had my first meal out in Adams Morgan back in 1982 it was Ethiopian (Red Sea) and it was wonderful, eye-opening, really, on many levels. Adams Morgan rocked 15-20 years ago and over time people argued which Ethiopian was better amongst those mentioned but all of them were damn good. I went back many, many times to the usual Ethiopian suspects over the years until they just sunk too far toward mediocrity and inconsistency; it was either poor ingredients, less deft spicing, inconsistent service and/or declining value--even the two Ethiopian places which later opened promisingly in Georgetown declined or closed as well. Sad to say it's about as difficult to find quality Ethiopian as it is quality Chinese in DC these days--but recent reports here might give renewed hope. (It's not like I'm alone on this--the usual Ethiopian suspects once showed up often on the annual Post and Washingtonian Best lists--alas, no more.)

But then I feel that way about Adams Morgan in general--I find I'm in the bilrus camp on this: there's little reason to make a point of going there, Adams Morgan and environs isn't what it once was culinarily-speaking, not even close. It doesn't present the depth, value or distinctiveness it once did and it just might be the most unimpressive dining destination of our metro area--with the fewest good options available high and low. Bethesda is even a better dining scene than Adams Morgan now. Cashion's underwhelms me, set against the backdrop of creative and interesting "New American ingredients-driven comfort food" going on around the country, but I'm in the distinct minority on that: chef Cashion was nominated again for Beard Best Chef in the Mid-Atlantic region and Sietsema, the Washingtonian critics and many here speak highly of her work. (I also haven't had the dish Mark recommends.)

Given what you're looking for, sabg, Yanyu and Spices might be better options for you, and if you liked DC Coast you'll probably love Ten Penh as well. Hope that helps.

[PoorLawyer]

Perry's is pretty good up there

[Tweaked]

hmmm Steve, I've never been to Ethiopia nor was around DC 15-20 years ago, but if what I ate at Fasika's last week was crappy Ethiopian then the Ethiopian of years past must have been orgasmic, because the food we had was really damn good.

[morela]

sabg:

Sounds like you have a well behaved 8 year old...

I fifth the Ten Quarter recommendation. That part of the city keeps growing and growing and the options run from Hooters (not that I'd ever suggest) to fine dinner, to Spanish tapas, to Caribbean & fruity cocktails (Ginger Cove and Coral Reef). I really wish Zola had better marks (i can't say, haven't been in an age); the international spy theme there would make any 8 year old square. Ten Penh should be just right, but reserve early...

PS: Mark Slater, nice signature.

Edited March 24, 2004 by morela (log)

[frogprince]

i second the cashion's recommendation from the "grizzled restaurant veteran." everything about cashion's is, in my humble opinion, a class apart. it is not an incredible temple of haute cuisine with an army of servers to escort you to the restroom but straddles the line between professionalism and casualness, i.e. the kind of professionalism that is not over the top. and the food, my god the food. remarkable and, whilst not being cheap, i consider it a bargain for the class and care in each and every dish. many places would charge nearly double for some of the food there - $18 for braised rabbit leg, homemade rabbit sausage, delectable little nugget of seared rabbit liver and a refreshing frisee salad? thats a bargain in my book. and ive only ever seen one entree over 30 bucks. i could go on forever about that place but i will not for respect for the poor reader who stumbled onto this post.

meze has tasty turkish food, and mantis tasty "asian tapas" though more of "scene" than you might want with a child. hardly having been alive when steve klc sampled the wares at the ethiopian places, i've always had great food there (meskerem). perry's has always intrigued me with their menu but i've never been. and there's a creole type place on 18th whose name escapes me. but yes. cashion's. those ravioli, sweetbreads, those... those ... those..

[babka]

cafe atlantico's "dim sum" brunch. fantastic food, lots of plates, kids will love it, adults will love it, and you won't eat again for two days.

[butterfly]

For Ethiopian--

All the best Ethiopian spots are now to the east of Adams Morgan on the U Street/9th Street/14th Street axis. There are at least a dozen places within blocks of each other, each with different specialties. My overall favorite is Dukem (U Street Metro). Especially on Sundays afternoons for the coffee ceremony.

But I haven't tried them all and there are new ones opening all of the time (I just noticed a new one on 14th, just north of U on the west side and several new ones on 9th, south of U; and several creeping east along Florida Ave, past Georgia).

Fasika's and Meskerem are fine for delivery, but neither are geared toward an Ethiopian clientele, so the food is much more mild and less nuanced than what you'll find at the other spots. For Ethiopian near Adams Morgan, I think Addis Ababa is your best bet.

In my informal survey of Ethiopian cab drivers, Dukem almost always rates tops. Also frequently mentioned are Madjet, Lalibela (for kitfo), and Addis Ababa. Eritreans always mention Harambee.

There are also lots of corner stores around 14th that serve a few homestyle Ethiopian dishes and some of these are good, too.

[Tweaked]

I tried Lalibela years ago and wasn't impressed, but I will have to explore these other Ethiopian places.

[babka]

I really, really like Lalibela....but you do have to order what the eritreans are ordering in between the bottomless cups of tea. so yes to the lamb.

and that would be a yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes to the lamb.

and no to the vegetarian plate.

or the spaghetti.

edit b/c I can't spell

Edited March 25, 2004 by babka (log)

[butterfly]

From what I've heard, Lalibela's claim to fame is their kitfo... And they get extra points for having a good spot to sit outside in nice weather.

I should have mentioned that Meskerem and Fasika's are still really good compared to what you'll find in almost any other American city, but it would be a shame to just stick with those two when there are so many others to try...

In other Adams Morgan news... I noticed that Straits of Malaya is returning to the old Wazuri location. I think that might be a first in restaurant history... I can't think of another location where a restaurant left, was replaced and managed to come back...

What next? Kenny Rogers Roasters stages a coup at Palena?

[John Talbott]

I'd be interested if there have been any new places or old places getting better since 2004. Thanks

[mojoman]

Can't go wrong with Cashions.

People think Pasta Mia is the bomb. I don't think it's worth the wait outside (no rezzies).

[Busboy]

Can't go wrong with Cashions.

People think Pasta Mia is the bomb.  I don't think it's worth the wait outside (no rezzies).

←

I haven't been but Las Canteras has been getting some good notices. I likeCasa Oaxaca, as well, but I'd consider it upscale casual rather than fine dining.

Just at the bottom of the hill, technically a block or so outside of Adams Morgan Thai Regent puts out a pretty decent spread.

[jm chen]

I like everything about Las Canteras except the chocolate quinoa cake. Their aji de gallina is particularly good.

For something a little different, Adams Morgan now has a Korean restaurant, Mandu, which I've definitely enjoyed.

Is San Marco still there? I know the owner was talking about retirement, but it's a nice little neighborhoody Italian place, much more civilized than the no-reservations scheme at Pasta Mia.

There is hardly any Ethiopian in Adams Morgan anymore -- I think Meskerem's the last one standing.