<p>Daughter and son-in-law are finishing up graduate programs in DC–looking for restaurants with great food to celebrate. Would love suggestions from folks who love good food and know DC restaurants.</p>
<p>Could you let us know how many people and if you have a price range? Also - are you looking for any particular kind of food or atmosphere? Or anything to avoid?</p>
<p>What great timing on this post. I’m in a similiar situation. Daughter is graduating from American University on Mother’s Day in the afternoon. I need to take 10 people out to dinner. I probably need something ‘continental’ as grandparents are involved and they don’t stray far from their typical American diet. In other words, nothing exciting! Did I mention I have one vegetarian in the group. Ugh. Mother’s Day, what were they thinking.</p>
<p>I love Fogo de Chao, right down the street from the White House. It’s a brazillian steakhouse with a fabulous salad bar. You flip your card to green and the gauchos stroll by and offer you a cut of whatever meat/pork/chicken they have. Flip to red and they’ll leave you alone. [Home</a> | Fogo de Chao](<a href=“http://www.fogodechao.com/]Home”>http://www.fogodechao.com/)</p>
<p>We had a party of 8 and a great time was had by all.</p>
<p>^^ How are the prices at Fogo?</p>
<p>I believe for all you can eat meat and salad it’s under $50/pp. For just the salad bar it’s much less. For sure not an everyday type restaurant, but it is a pretty cool place. Ask to be seated on the second floor.</p>
<p>If it s Mother’s day get your reservation early. It is the busiest day all year for restauants in DC.</p>
<p>I loved Zaytinya! Great food, made for sharing. Nice ambiance, too.</p>
<p>Here are the top restaurants (2012) as rated by [*Washingtonian[/i</a>] magazine](<a href=“http://www.washingtonian.com/sections/restaurants/100best/index.html][i][u]Washingtonian[/u][/i”>http://www.washingtonian.com/sections/restaurants/100best/index.html). The reviews include links to the restaurant websites.</p>
<p>Some of my favorites: Central (American with a French twist), Elisir (Italian), Corduroy (American), Zatinya (Mediterrenean small plates), Jaleo (Spanish small plates), Rasika (Indian).</p>
<p>Prices at Fogo are around $50/pp and around $25/pp if you only have the salad bar. That’s where we’re going for graduation dinner for S2 in May. I had to find someplace that accommodated my sons, including the graduate, who are meat-lovers, as well as
S1’s gf who’s a vegetarian. We’ll be there the weekend after Mother’s Day.</p>
<p>I am going to be in DC. I love Maryland crabs. Can someone tell me where I should go? We won’t have a car, will be in central Dc, Pennsylvania ave.</p>
<p>
I haven’t been in a while, but The Dancing Crab was good for Maryland crabs. The sides are so-so, but the crabs are good. They’re on Wisconsin Ave., near the Tenleytown Metro stop (Red Line.)</p>
<p>Oldfort: try [url=<a href=“http://www.quarterdeckarlington.com/]Quarterdeck[/url”>http://www.quarterdeckarlington.com/]Quarterdeck[/url</a>] in Arlington. It’s a short walk from the Rosslyn metro.</p>
<p>We had a great meal at Founding Farmers, which is on Pennsylvania Avenue near GWU. Nice without being at all fancy, moderate prices, interesting menu, cool decor (though it does get noisy). [Lunch</a> & Dinner Menus | Founding Farmers Restaurant | True Food and Drink | Washington DC](<a href=“http://www.wearefoundingfarmers.com/washington-dc/ff_menus/menu-lunchdinner/]Lunch”>http://www.wearefoundingfarmers.com/washington-dc/ff_menus/menu-lunchdinner/) I’d enjoy a graduation celebration there.</p>
<p>There is also a Founding Farmers in Potomac, right off exit 4 on I-270. Haven’t been there yet.</p>
<p>Jaleo (tapas) in DC near Penn Quarter/Verizon Center, Bethesda and Arlington. [Jaleo</a> — the renowned Spanish tapas restaurant of Jos Andrs](<a href=“http://www.jaleo.com/]Jaleo”>http://www.jaleo.com/) The DC location is supposed to reopen 3/26 after renovations.</p>
<p>L’Auberge Chez Francois in Great Falls, VA [L’Auberge</a> Chez Francois](<a href=“http://www.laubergechezfrancois.com/]L’Auberge”>http://www.laubergechezfrancois.com/)</p>
<p>Vidalia at 20th & M NW [Vidalia</a> Restaurant in Washington, DC](<a href=“http://www.vidaliadc.com/]Vidalia”>http://www.vidaliadc.com/)</p>
<p>RIS @ 22nd & L St. NW [RIS</a> - Washington, D.C. - Restaurant](<a href=“http://risdc.com/]RIS”>http://risdc.com/)</p>
<p>Zatinya, also near Penn Quarter/Verizon Center, run by the chef at Jaleo: [Zaytinya</a> — innovative Turkish, Greek and Lebanese cuisine in Washington, DC](<a href=“http://www.zaytinya.com/]Zaytinya”>http://www.zaytinya.com/)</p>
<p>Red Hot & Blue in Arlington [Red</a> Hot & Blue - Barbeque, Burgers & Blues: Catering, Take-Out & Dine-In](<a href=“http://www.redhotandblue.com/]Red”>http://www.redhotandblue.com/) – great ribs, blues, informal setting</p>
<p>Now I’m hungry!!!</p>
<p>Yea - but are there any decent Mexican restaurants in DC or is that some kind of oxymoron?</p>
<p>My son lives in DC in Chinatown/Penn Quarter area. He likes Oyamel there, which I think is Mexican. So is Rosa Mexicano in Penn Quarter. Rasika has excellent Indian food . Zatinya is in that area as well near the Red Line.</p>
<p>Yet another vote for Zaytina! It was one of the best meals I’ve had anywhere.</p>
<p>mathmom, I’ll definitely have to get to Zaytinya then. It is very close to son’s apartment when we visit and it looks pretty cool from the outside. You can share things, I think?</p>