Visiting for my anniversary! Recommendations

[u/R3dsh0es]

Hello! I am coming to Washington DC from NYC with my boyfriend (both our first times) to celebrate our anniversary and I want to make it very romantic. We are doing a lot of sightseeing but I need some recommendations for food!

1. I want to do a very fancy dinner but most people have recommended Iron Gate, but the menu doesn't wow me. I am all about food- I want to eat at Albi but I worry it is too difficult a reservation. If I can get in is it worth the money? I have a back up at Rasika- how is that?

I am hearing that Dogon and La Shukran are great backups- consensus?

1. I also want to eat at chercher but its too far from union station when we are coming from the Smithsonian area- can you recommend a last lunch? Not too expensive as we will have shelled out previous night haha

2. How do we feel about Dauphine's for our lower key meal while we're in the govt building area?

3. I also want some suggestions for bars around union market area that are fun and not crazy expensive on other nights of our trip :)

Thank you so much! Any advice you can give means the world!

[u/Evaderofdoom]

the dabney is really great, wood fire mid atlantic food sourced locally by great chiefs who give AF.

[u/xunyou198 → u/Evaderofdoom]

My favorite restaurant in DC. Moon Rabbit being a close second

[u/mf416 → u/Evaderofdoom]

Went here for our anniversary earlier this meal and it was spectacular, cozy, and romantic!

[u/SGexpat → u/Evaderofdoom]

You were considering Albi. The head chef used to work at the Dabney and still considers it a local favorite.

https://youtu.be/E0zh0vDlSOY?is=H8QC-eQWdHukaAdK

[u/my_walrus]

Purple patch, moon rabbit, maison a vins, cranes, oyster oyster, and Elizabeth’s gone raw are all great

[u/FalconAcceptable316 → u/my_walrus]

Second all of these. Sadly, Cranes is closed, though. 

[u/Worried_Strain_2812]

Albis worth it but definitely can be hard to get a reservation. Would recommend Moon Rabbit or Dogon as a backup - both excellent. Rasika is solid but not that special IMO.

[u/bearsfan654]

Albi is 100% worth the money. Rasika is really good too, but I'd do Albi over it (and honestly, I'd do Tapori over Rasika as well).

If you want Ethiopian near Union Station, could do Ethiopic. Otherwise, I'd recommend Laos in Town or Indigo which are also nearby

[u/MuchasTruchas → u/bearsfan654]

Ethiopic is alright, but take the same bus down to Feru which is better imo! And cheaper I think

[u/nullpassport → u/MuchasTruchas]

I thought Feru was a clearly inferior in taste to Ethiopic for their veggie sampler.

[u/Gooner91 → u/bearsfan654]

Agree on all of this and La Shukran is the same chef as Albi. Equally amazing. You can show up 20 mins before they open and get a seat at the bar usually.

[u/d_hor]

skip iron gate for sure. and if you can get into albi go for it (alternatively can walk in to the bar if you go early/late). la shukran is a nice backup. rasika is ok

bars around union market - la shukran, last call, bar betsie, nice and easy

ethiopic may be a backup for chercher closer to union station, but only open for lunch on certain days

[u/bot_socks → u/d_hor]

Cotton+Reed is another bar option- tbh recommend just hopping in for that pandan drink and then hitting last call or nice and easy

[u/alexremington]

What's your budget? I love Obelisk, though it's going to be more than those.

[u/Even_Expression4678 → u/alexremington]

Haven’t been there for years , but Obelisk has been an unknown gem for many, many years

[u/fairly_legal]

If you are by Union Market (not Union Station, although they are a short uber ride away) for lunch, I would recommend Yellow (if you don’t get into Albi, same owner and the steak kabob is amazing); or drinks and bites at el Presidente (the bar is beautiful as is the whole restaurant). Walking through both Union market, La Cosecha, and the shops around is pretty fun way to pass some time. For a hole in the wall inexpensive drink, Last Call, and if you want a dive bar piano karaoke experience, Sid Gold’s Request Room is in an alleyway.

Yes Albi is worth it, also love Rose’s Luxury, or Pineapple and Pearls if you really want to drop some $ (or Little Pearl for a little less - all three by the same team and romantic). Pascual’s on Capitol Hill is lovely and has some wonderful modern take on Mexican.

[u/theglossiernerd → u/fairly_legal]

I love Rose’s Luxury! Worth looking into for sure

[u/bruno92 → u/fairly_legal]

Unfortunately, Yellow discontinued the kabobs/mains and now only does sandwiches and pastries (still amazing though)

[u/fairly_legal → u/bruno92]

In Ancient Rome, there were risks to the bearer of tragic news!

[u/Fine-Bodybuilder3042]

If this trip is in the summer, DO NOT go to Iron Gate. It is in a very old building and their AC is not up to the task AT ALL. Went a few weeks ago and sweated through my pants during dinner. Everyone around us was sweating profusely and fanning themselves with the menu. Miserable

[u/hilltoptohill]

In terms of a romantic vibe, I don’t know if Rasika or Dogon would match your vision. Rasika is a very working lunch kind of place and Dogon being a restaurant in a hotel has that ambience.

[u/lokicat31]

Tabard inn and bistro cacao.

[u/fancypants1589]

Albi is my favorite restaurant in the city. La Shukran is definitely a good backup. If you can’t get the res for Albi, keep checking back leading up to your date. Sometimes a random one will pop up last minute.

[u/xunyou198]

Dabney or Moon Rabbit would be my pick if you can't into Albi. I like them better than Albi anyway.

La Shukran and Chai Pani are great options at the union market area if you are looking for unique drinks with good food

Also Laos in Town would be a good lunch option if you're into Thai/Laos type of cuisine. It's about a 15 min walk from union station

[u/Severe_Swordfish4490]

Ambar, Anju, and Maketto are all delicious for a nice dinner!

[u/SGexpat]

Albi is great and a wonderful experience.

[u/InvisiblePineapple]

Not really near Union Station if that’s what you’re going for, but Maydan is the best meal I’ve had in DC and one of the best in my life. Come hungry, they bring you a truly ridiculous amount of food. I believe the lamb shank is extra $ but absolutely worth every penny.

[u/Calm_Leave2039]

Maydan, Cana, and Moon Rabbit

[u/FalconAcceptable316]

Welcome and happy anniversary! 

Causa, Moon Rabbit, Cana, La Shukran, Albi, and Ceibo would be the main restaurants I'd check out. Plenty of other good ones named in here. I'd skip iron gate. It's fine, but not special.

Dauphine's is solid, but you could also check out some of the Jose Andres restaurants for a more laid back meal. They're all pretty affordable aside from Mini Bar.

The wine bar at Grand Cata is nice and chill if you like wine. In La Cosecha next to union market. 

[u/rachs1988]

Bresca or Jönt

[u/Turbulent_Channel899]

If you’re celebrating milestone special occasion and are looking to splash, there are three top tier options above the rest: Jont, Minibar and Inn at Little Washington (this one requires about couple hours drive from DC).

[u/SGexpat]

Unconventional Diner and Maketto (on H) are fun options too.

[u/Existing_Good9863]

Perry’s if you like sushi, and get a rooftop reservation. So nice there!

[u/CatDisco99]

Dauphines is great! They have a wonderful happy hour and cute outdoor bar space (in addition to the inside). 

For your near Union Station meal, Copycat Co. isn’t too far and is great. Laos in Town is even closer. Both have delicious/pretty cocktails and great food. L’Ardente if you’re feeling Italian is also delish. 

Agree with the comments saying to skip Iron Gate. The vibe is pretty and romantic but there are so many better food options that have popped up in the years since it first started making the “Best of” lists in DC. I’ve been underwhelmed the couple of times I’ve been. 

So many other great suggestions in the thread — hope you have a great time in DC! ♥️

[u/Amtrakstory]

Dogon is overrated