Food Washington

Johnny’s Half Shell
2002 P St, NW - Washington, DC 20036 - 202.296.2021 – www.johnnyshalfshell.net

Our barebones description of Johnny’s is this: If you’re in the mood for some seafood and you don’t want to drive to the Bay, you should come to Dupont and check out Johnny’s.  Johnny’s does the Chesapeake Bay classic crab cakes and does them well, if the wait and the hustle and bustle of Dupont didn’t give it away, you might be able to fool yourself into thinking you’re dining at some joint right on the water.  For starters the barbeque shrimp and grits is a top notch choice.  The flavor is succulent and helps white wash the wait you had to endure just to get to them.  The seared Scallops are also done well and are firm yet juicy.  If you’re not in the mood for dinner, you should check out the Po’boy sandwich, it’s a great substitute for some of the bigger portioned dishes and is perfect for people during lunch or those that believe in small dinners.  This is also one of those places where we actually would recommend saving room for desert.  The famed chocolate angel food cake is sublime and is a great foil for the wonderful seafood fare.  The price is what you would expect to pay for seafood in a town that’s not on the Sea.  Given that this is Washington, the prices are also a little bit on the high side but in line with other seafood establishments around town.  For our money, Johnny’s is a step ahead of it’s competition, let’s just hope it doesn’t stumble just because the line is always out the door.  They don’t take reservations so plan ahead.

Price: $$  (20-25 per entrée)

Bread Line
1751 Pennsylvania Ave, NW - Washington, DC 20006 - 202.822.8900

One of the best lunch places in town.  The Bread Line features some of the best breads in the city and because bread is a great building block, some of the best sandwiches in the city.  The Menu varies seasonally and usually is a blend of flavors around the globe.  They also carry American staples such as the the tuna, the turkey, the prosciutto and the ham.  But are spiced up a little bit to cater to the sophistication swirling around this part of town (right next to the White House and the World Bank…).   The portions are large and the service quick and hasty.  This place is all about the food, allowing movers and shakers to jet in and out and back to moving and shaking.  If you’re in downtown and in the mood for a well done sandwich this is your place!  Be warned, the later your lunchtime the worse the chances of actually finding something to eat here, the best stuff goes fast.

Price: $ 

Lauriol Plaza – http://www.lauriolplaza.com
1835 18th St., NW - Washington, DC - 202-387-0035

Now I’m not going to lie to you and say the real reason there is always a line out the door on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays is because of the food. Much of the appeal of Lauriol Plaza is the rooftop deck and other outdoor dining areas and people flock here to get a decent Mexican meal while sitting outside and enjoying some tasty libations (we recommend the Mojito). A lot of people in this town say things like “Lauriol Plaza is the best Mexican food;” personally, we find this to be a little preposterous. Given that there are several things on the menu worth trying, but you shouldn’t dupe yourself into thinking that it’s the best out there. For our money, we’ll take Taqueria Distrito Federal eventhough there is no rooftop terrace to be had. At Lauriol Plaza you’ll find that some of their best dishes aren’t Mexican at all. The Bistec Cubano (Cuban Steak) is an exceptionally tasty entrée to be enjoyed with its compatriot, a Mojito. Another thing that they do well at Lauriol Plaza is the quail, this might just be because quail isn’t generally found in the dc foodscape but even then, it is juicy and succulent as quail should be. All in all, the place isn’t too expensive, in some circles (read lobbyists and lawyers and the like) this might even be considered a cheap eat. The vibe is toned-down and hip; you wouldn’t feel completely out of place if you’re wearing a t-shirt and some jeans and you won’t feel overdressed if you’re wearing a suit, trust me I’ve been wearing both. One day after work, if you’re in the mood for some winding down, head over to Lauriol for some snacks and something to wash them down with, take advantage of that warmer than normal winter day or cooler than normal summer day.

Price: $10-15 per entree

Taqueria Distrito Federal
1400 Otis Street NW, Washington, DC 20010

This taco joint is a breath of fresh air in a town condemned to eating imitation Tex-Mex and even worse Mexican. The tacos remind one of the flavors of another Capitol city, Mexico City. The flavor of the meat and tortillas are as authentic as you can get while sneaking under the radar of the Health inspector. The place is a genuine hole in the wall and features only the things that you would expect to find at a street vendor in Mexico. The menu doesn’t have any fancy Mexican dishes that you would expect to find at the imitation joints around town. We tried the tacos and enjoy ever second. While we’re on the authentic streak, I would recommend the beef tacos. One bite was enough to evoke memories of waiting to scalp tickets outside El Azteca and killing the time with some tacos from the street vendors. If you’re in the mood for something authentic that won’t kill your budget and at the same time support local business head over to Columbia Heights and check this place out.

Price: $ (a fiver or less)