The Blind Dog Café: A Daytime Experience

When night turns to day, a local bar transforms into a trendy café in downtown DC. Welcome to the Blind Dog Café. Located just a couple of blocks from the U Street Metro Station, the Blind Dog Café is a trendy, comfortable place to come for breakfast or lunch. It’s hard not to like the ambiance, with brick walls, big windows to people watch and comfy chairs and sofas everywhere. This is the coffee house/café you’ve always wanted in your neighborhood! Get a tasty espresso and fresh baked goods to start your day, then come back for an equally delicious sandwich on a fresh baguette. But remember, when the sun goes down, the bar (namely Darnell’s Bar) comes out!

The Blind Dog Café
944 Florida Avenue
(between N Sherman Ave & N W Street)
Washington, DC 20001
(202) 290-2865
http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-blind-dog-cafe-washington

Sichuan Pavilion: A D.C. Spot for Chinese Food

Just a block from Farragut Square on Washington, D.C.'s K Street, you’ll find the Sichuan Pavilion, a great place for authentic Szechuan cuisine. Szechuan food is a bit spicier than other varieties of Chinese food, but there are also a lot of favorites on the menu.

Popular appetizers include the Dumplings in Sichuan Sauce and Squid with Pepper Salt. You’ll find interesting soups like Crab Meat and Asparagus and Preserved Turnip. The selection of authentic Szechuan and traditional Chinese entrees are so varied, everyone will find a favorite dish. You can also get everything served family-style!

Sichuan Pavilion is open every day for lunch, dinner or a late bite.

Sichuan Pavilion:
1814 K Street NW
Washington, DC 20006
(202) 466-7790

www.sichuan-pavilion.com
www.yelp.com/biz/sichuan-pavilion-washington

Keren Restaurant: Fabulous Ethiopian Cuisine

The cuisine of Ethiopia isn’t one that announces itself boldly – instead, you need to give it time to make its charms apparent. One of the best places to get an introduction to this complex and rewarding food is Keren Restaurant in Washington, D.C. Regulars rave about the incredible dedication to flavor on display in every dish. If you’ve never tried Ethiopian food, it’s served family-style on enormous platters and eaten with the hands and torn-off pieces of a moist, bitter bread called injera, and it's perfect for dining out as a group. Some of the best dishes at Keren include the fuul, a paste made from chickpeas that is expertly spiced and very filling, as well as the spicy eggs silsi. Keren might just be one of the best Ethiopian restaurants in the D.C. metro area.

Keren Restaurant
1780 Florida Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 265-5764
www.yelp.com/biz/keren-restaurant-washington
www.washingtoncitypaper.com/food/restaurantfinder/restaurants/2923/keren

The Coupe: A Diner With Attitude

After one visit, you’ll know that The Coupe is not your average diner. Located along the 11th Street corridor near N. Park Road, the Coupe might just be the coolest place around to get some real comfort food. Check out the interior, with modern appointments, comfortable booths and a dining room with lots of space between tables. This place might be called “the Coupe,” but you certainly won’t feel cooped up! Come with friends and hang out in the coffee-house style lounge, thirsty folks can hang out at the bar to enjoy beers on tap, wine by the glass or a terrific selection of specialty drinks. The breakfast, lunch and dinner menus feature all of your diner favorites, and stop on back for weekend brunch or a late night bite!

The Coupe
3415 11th Street NW
(between N. Park Road & N Monroe Street)
Washington, DC 20010
(202) 290-3342
http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-coupe-washington

The Pretzel Bakery: Tasty Twists

How good can a pretzel be, really? That’s a question you’ll never ask yourself again after your first visit to The Pretzel Bakery. Producing hand-rolled, small batch Philly-style soft pretzels out of a small door in a tiny storefront, this local favorite has grown into a Washington, D.C. destination spot for hearty snackers. So what’s the big draw? Plain and simple, these are some of the best pretzels you’ve ever eaten. Soft and fluffy on the inside with the perfect amount of crust and salt on the outside, all you need to pair them with is a little mustard (which you dispense yourself) and you’ve got the snack of a century. You can also opt for fancier toppings like Nutella and caramel mustard for a buck. Considering pretzels are just $2 apiece (and cheaper if you buy in bulk), that’s quite a deal. The Pretzel Bakery also lets you quench your thirst with a variety of Pennsylvania regional soda pops.

The Pretzel Bakery
340 15th Street SE
Washington, DC 20003
(202) 251-0953

www.thepretzelbakery.com
www.yelp.com/biz/the-pretzel-bakery-washington

Thunderburger: DC’s Spot for Exotic Meats

Located in Georgetown, Thunderburger throws down when it comes to burgers and exotic meats. This gourmet burger restaurant has a lot of rock and roll attitude with inventive food. Beef burgers are made from free-range beef and favorites include the Love Me Tender with aged white cheddar, tomato and remoulade, and the Buffalo Stomp, a bison burger wrapped in bacon and topped with gorgonzola cheese, and grilled onions. For vegetarians, the Rock The Casbah burger with a falafel patty with a cucumber yogurt sauce is a tasty option. For more adventurous eaters, Thunderburger is known for unique meats and the regular menu offers an Elk burger. Their specials menu offers even more exotic options like turtle fritters, kangaroo and alligator bites, and ostrich. The rock and roll menu pairs well with the creative menu, and makes for a fun, casual meal with a unique twist.

Thunderburger
3056 M Street NW
Washington, DC 20007
(202) 333-2888

www.thunderburger.com/index2.html
www.yelp.com/biz/thunder-burger-and-bar-washington

Red Hook Lobster: The Real Taste of Maine

With two trucks traveling through Washington, Virginia and Maryland, Red Hook Lobster is the perfect lunch stop, serving tasty New England favorites. Want to know where the truck will be on any given day? Check out the calendar online! You’ll always find a line but don’t let that stop you. The lobster is fresh because it’s brought down from Maine every day and packed into a real New England-style roll. Get it Maine Style or Connecticut style – either way, you’ll be satisfied. Complement your meal with a cup of chowder and a real Maine root beer. It might cost a little more than regular truck food, but it’s worth the price.

Red Hook Lobster
First and M Street NE
Washington, DC 20010
(202) 341-6263
http://www.yelp.com/biz/red-hook-lobster-pound-washington

Mellow Mushroom: Tasty Pies in Adams Morgan

Want to tune out and get turned on to a great place? Come to the Mellow Mushroom in Adams Morgan. Founded by a couple of friends who wanted to open a great place to go with friends, the Mellow Mushroom is just that – a great spot for a day or night out with friends. If you like beer, you’ve come to the right place, with a large variety of brews by the bottle and on tap to complement a full bar. The munchies and salads are tasty, but Mellow Mushroom is all about the pizza. Specialty pies like the Thai Dye and Maui Wowie are terrific, and you can also make your own pizza from a list of fresh ingredients. There are also hot calzones and cold or hot hoagies on the menu, something for everybody. And it’s all available for takeout. Having a party? Let Mellow Mushroom be your laid-back caterer!

Mellow Mushroom
2436 18th Street NW
Washington, DC 2000

(202) 290-2778

www.mellowmushroom.com
www.yelp.com/biz/mellow-mushroom-washington-2

Cure Your Blues With A Night At Tonic

Tonic, located in DC’s Mount Pleasant neighborhood, is a local bar and grille featuring great pub food specials. For snacking, regulars love the tater tots served with 3 dips; chipotle honey mustard, pepper aioli, and Cajun remoulade. There are over 10 burgers on the menu and you can choose from beef, veggie, or bison patties, or a grilled chicken breast. Try the Aztec burger with cheddar, guacamole, and a three pepper aioli. Monday through Friday from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m., burgers are half off! Happy hour also boasts half off drafts and rail drinks. Most regulars come for the sports bar feel, for NFL and college football, the bar offers $4 Yuengling and $.75 wings. Tonic also hosts UFC fight night watch parties. Taco Tuesdays are popular with $.50 tacos with the purchase of a beer, cocktail, or appetizer.

Tonic
3155 Mt. Pleasant Street NW
Washington, DC 20010
(202) 986-7661
www.yelp.com/biz/tonic-mount-pleasant-washington

Corduroy: Seasonal American Cuisine

The fabric corduroy is made for warmth and comfort, perfectly named for Corduroy Restaurant. Located in Northwest Washington, Corduroy offers classic American cuisine in an equally classic setting. The dining room is made to be cozy, but don’t even think about coming in jeans, shorts or sneakers – this is a dressy casual place!

For dinner, try the prix fixe menu, made special by the chef, and changing with the seasons. You can’t go wrong with the dinner menu, which includes tasty first and second courses. You know that everything you get is fresh because Corduroy makes it a point to use products from nearby farms and suppliers. It’s not a big menu, but the choices are well worth it, with delicious soups, salads and apps, followed by interesting entrees. A tasting menu lets you sample some of the chef's latest creations.

Check out Corduroy's website to find out more about this DC eatery!

Corduroy
1122 9th Street NW
Washington, DC 20001
(202) 589-0699

www.corduroydc.com
www.yelp.com/biz/corduroy-washington-4

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