Logan Circle and U Street Dining
For the purposes of dining we have decided to combine Logan Circle and U Street. Both areas have enough options to separate them, but the main thoroughfare connecting them--14th Street--also has several wonderful spots. Since we weren't exactly sure whether to place 14th Street into Logan Circle or U Street, we ended up here.
The history, culture, and true local feeling that you get from both the U Street and Logan Circle neighborhoods makes them all but must visits. Seeking out one of the below establishments for a meal or two is a great way to get away from the tourist crush and explore these wonderful areas. If you plan on spending a night out at the local watering holes, some of the Fast Casual restaurants below are open very late.
Jump to Fast Casual DiningThis brick-and-board neighborhood hangout is one of the city’s best gastropubs, with a beer list that tops 550 (and correctly designed glassware to match). The decor points to the mission; in fact, the display of copper draught lines behind the bar is nicknamed the pipe organ, for good reason—it makes strong men sing, if not weep. Birch & Barley is one of those two-for-one establishments: B&B is the more formal dining room and, if you can get the bar, has better service and a more restrained noise level. Churchkey (Get it? A pairing of bottle openers and beer ingredients?) upstairs is a more informal bar, with a younger, clubbier, and louder crowd. The menu is shorter, but the beer list is the same. Even better, if you have time in advance, reserve seats at the kitchen counter.
Beer is the bread-winner here, and so are some of the breads, including fresh pretzels and flatbreads, and pasta. but the predictable beer-bar fare—housemade charcuterie, fried chicken and waffles, a “brat” burger with beer-braised kraut—shouldn’t obscure the more surprisingly brew-friendly entrées: pan-seared mackerel with sunchokes and fennel, honey-roasted duck bread with leg confit, a version of Belgian waterzooi with oysters, leek and wolf fish, and so on. Sweetbreads with grilled asian pear and cashew butter? Sign us up. Brunch is what a Sunday day-killer ought to be: fig and prosciutto flatbread, cavatelli with corn pudding and maitakes, house-brined corned beef hash with duck eggs.
Our Rating: 3 stars Address: 1337 14th St NW Hours: Brunch: Sun, 11am-3pm Dinner: Tue-Thu, 5:30pm–10pm; Fri-Sat, 5:30pm-11pm; Sunday, 5pm-8pm Cost: Expensive Metro: McPherson Square - Blue, Orange, Silver (0.5 miles) Nearby Attractions: White House (0.8 miles), Logan Circle (0.2 miles)
This celebration of Southeast asian street food mixes noodles, skewers (really fresh head-on shrimp), dumplings, curries of a refreshingly broad flavor spectrum, and family-style platters of roast chicken, ribs, or chargrilled whole fish. (The name means “new changes,” a Vietnamese term that could be applied both to the kitchen and to the neighborhood.) This is a playful as well as deft kitchen: noodles sometimes turn into origami. Don’t underestimate the spice ratings here.
Street food may have inspired it, but the upscale wine and beer lists are American benefits. (The wacky-sweet drink-desserts are true cultural fusions.) Except for the family dishes, however, some plates may seem small. Doi Moi’s brunch is anything but typical; the restaurant also has an extremely lengthy vegan/veggie and gluten-free menu, with its own mild-to-spicy range.
Our Rating: 3 stars Address: 1800 14th St NW Hours: Brunch: Sat-Sun 11am-2pm. Dinner: Mon-Thu 5pm-10pm; Fri-Sat 5pm-11pm; Sun 5pm-9pm Cost: Inexpensive Metro: U Street - Green, Yellow (0.5 miles) Nearby Attractions: African American Civil War Museum (0.5 miles), Logan Circle (0.4 miles)
It might seem like just another tapas bar in a neighborhood crammed with small plates, but Logan Circle’s Estadio remains a prime choice. The look is post-Moorish occupation, so to speak: patterned tiles, wrought iron, stone, heavy wood, and a touch of steel; food might be plated on wood boards or even slate.
The open-faced montaditos are not your grandmother’s tea sandwiches: foie gras with scrambled eggs or with duck breast, lump crab with jalapeños, and so on; the two-sided kind include pork belly with shishito peppers, blood sausage, and grilled vegetables. Grab a toothpick and nosh on chorizo, manchego (among a dozen or so cheeses), anchovies, or artichokes; or go big with pork loin, halibut romesco, spicy grilled chicken, mussels, and so on. The sherry and Madeira lists are unusually extensive and are mixed into some delectable cocktails.
Our Rating: 3 stars Address: 1540 14h St NW Hours: Brunch: Sat-Sun 11am-2pm. Lunch: Fri 11:30am-2pm. Dinner: Mon-Thu 5pm-10pm; Fri-Sat 5pm-11pm; Sun 5pm-9pm Cost: Inexpensive Metro: McPherson Square - Blue, Orange, Silver; Shaw/Howard U - Green, Yellow (both 0.6 miles) Nearby Attractions: African American Civil War Museum (0.6 miles), Logan Circle (0.2 miles)
Remember when the average Japanese restaurant offered something for everyone—teriyaki, sushi, soup, noodles, fried nibblies? For a while, that was considered “American,” because in Japan many restaurants specialize in only one of the above, but with the introduction of the izakawa style, basically the Japanese version of neighborhood pubs, variety is back in style.
It’s not only that the sushi is so fresh, but it’s also offered in ways that are haute in the old country but still new here: oversized scallops, flown in daily, glazed with soy and miso in the broiler and finished with an egg-creamy sauce, or slow-braised pork belly (and that pork broth is recycled to bathe udon noodles). Grilled yellowtail jaw is a classic, but grilled beef tongue with sharp miso should be. even heartier are the Korean-flavored short ribs and the skewered grilled pork belly. and if you remember when your non-sushi-savvy buddies would say, “You eat sea urchin???,” introduce them to the real sake drinker’s test: liver-cured squid or squid in fermented natto sauce.
Our Rating: 3 1/2 stars Address: 1117 V St NW Hours: Dinner: Wed-Sun 5pm-10:30pm; Tue seating at counter only (11 seats) 5:30pm-10:30pm Cost: Expensive Metro: U Street - Green, Yellow (0.1 miles) Nearby Attractions: African American Civil War Museum (0.3 miles)
Stephen Starr, the José Andrés of Philadelphia, owns Italian, German, and even Cuban and Japanese restaurants, and he knows the value of atmosphere. The decor here reportedly topped $6 million, with “authentic” nicotine stains on the ceiling, Piaf-lipstick-red banquettes, silvered mirrors, a bread bakery display (the bread is a high spot in general), floors that look as if they’d been tangoed on, and conservatory windows on the garden-room roof. Predictably, it became a local foodie rave, but even with a little settling in time, it’s a very hot spot. business diners, be warned: this is as loud as a real French market.
Foie gras “parfait” layered with chicken liver or a more rustic boar-and-venison pâté; mushroom tarte in fine pastry; steak frites (hanger steak here, basted with butter) or mussels and fries; skate; escargots, tartare, boeuf bourguignon; lamb shank with couscous; and duck confit, with the richness cut by kumquats and kale. In addition to the more-usual shellfish appetizer, such as oysters and lobster halves, look for live scallops and king crab legs, and beef tongue carpaccio. The brunch is almost as lengthy (side of black sausage?). Le Diplomate also offers its version of a blue-plate special, only a little fancier: lobster risotto, cassoulet, bouillabaisse, even prime rib on Saturday.
Our Rating: 3 1/2 stars Address: 1601 14th St NW Hours: Brunch: Sat-Sun 9:30am-3pm. Midday: Sat-Sun 3pm-5pm. Dinner: Sun-Tue 5pm-10pm; Wed-Thu 5pm-11pm; Fri-Sat 5pm-12am. Cost: Moderate Metro: McPherson Square - Blue, Orange, Silver; Shaw/Howard U - Green, Yellow (both 0.6 miles) Nearby Attractions: African American Civil War Museum (0.6 miles), Logan Circle (0.2 miles)
We're cheating. Sorry. Ghibellina is actually an above average Italian/pizza restaurant that is full-service. The reason we've placed it down here is because we wanted to specifically mention its outstanding happy hour. Daily until 6:30pm, you can get personal pizzas for $10, cocktails or beer for $6, and wine for $5. The pizza is very good, if a little chewy, but being able to eat a slightly early dinner with drinks for under $20 per person is a fantastic deal. Warning: happy hour is only at the bar, which has several dozen seats, but all of those seats stay full. Get there early or prepare to hover over anyone who looks like they may be done soon.
Our Rating: 3 1/2 stars Address: 1610 14th St NW Hours: Happy Hour: Mon-Tue 4pm-6:30pm; 3pm-6:30pm Metro: McPherson Square - Blue, Orange, Silver; Shaw/Howard U - Green, Yellow (both 0.6 miles) Nearby Attractions: African American Civil War Museum (0.6 miles), Logan Circle (0.2 miles)
Let's not kid ourselves, this is where you go when the bar is closed and you've spent the better part of the evening in there. The hours are crazy late, the falafel is crispy, the pita bread is warm, and the toppings are flavorful and plentiful. It's good Middle Eastern-inspired food at any time of day, but it's best late at night.
Our Rating: 2 1/2 stars Address: 1830 14th St NW Hours: Sun-Mon 11am-12am; Tue-Wed 11am-2:30am; Thu 11am-3am; Fri-Sat 11am-4am Metro: U Street - Green, Yellow (0.5 miles) Nearby Attractions: African American Civil War Museum (0.5 miles), Logan Circle (0.4 miles)
You know those toasters that hotels have at their continental breakfast? The ones that are basically a metal conveyor belt under a heater? Well, that’s the central idea behind &pizza. You can either choose from a handful of pre-created pizza combos or create your own mixture from dozens of toppings. The pizza professionals pile them on top of the long, rectangular crust, then place the whole thing into the conveyor belt oven. About 5 minutes later you’ve got your personal pizza.
The toppings here seem fresh, and it's nice they add certain things (basil, goat cheese, balsamic, etc.) after the oven so that they stay flavorful. That said, the pizza itself is just okay–much more of a flatbread than a pizza. The place is clean, but it doesn't help that it’s very sparse and industrial looking.
Our Rating: 2 1/2 stars Address: 1250 U St NW Hours: Sun-Wed 11am-11pm; Thu 11am-1am; Fri-Sat 11am-4am Metro: U Street - Green, Yellow (0.1 miles) Nearby Attractions: African American Civil War Museum (0.3 miles)
A brick-and-mortar version of a popular food truck serving burritos in a style very similar to national chain Chipotle. You pick either a burrito, a bowl with rice, or tacos and load them with proteins, veggies, and extras. Don't expect the food to change your life, but it's pretty good and very filling.
Our Rating: 2 1/2 stars Address: 606 Florida Ave NW Hours: Sun 10am-9pm; Mon-Thu 10am-12am; Fri-Sat 10am-2am Metro: Shaw - Green, Yellow (0.2 miles) Nearby Attractions: African American Civil War Museum (0.3 miles)
This is where to go if you feel like something healthy or if you or a member of your party lean vegetarian. Sweetgreen specializes in salads including delicious warm bowls and many organic, locally grown veggies. They have a wonderful, rotating seasonal menu and the freshest ingredients. The lunch line can get pretty long, but the line moves quickly.
Our Rating: 3 1/2 stars Address (Two U Street Location): 1471 P St NW and 1325 W St NW Hours: Daily 10:30am-10pm Metro: The P St location is closest to McPherson Square - Blue, Orange, Silver (0.6 miles); the W St location is closest to U Street - Green, Yellow (0.4 miles)
This local chain of sandwich shops takes simple-sounding sandwiches, makes them from fresh, local ingredients, and adds a little bit of sophistication (yes, we consider brie sophisticated). The food at Taylor Gourmet is good, but not great, although definitely better quality than you'll find at a Subway. If you are craving a sandwich there is probably one close by, and even though they will run you up to $12 for a large, that's way less than you'll pay at any table service place (and most museum cafes).
Our Rating: 3 stars Address: 1908 14th St NW Hours: Sun-Thu 11am-9pm ;Fri-Sat 11am-3:30am Metro: U Street - Green, Yellow (0.4 miles) Nearby Attractions: African American Civil War Museum (0.4 miles)