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No matter what style of fine dining you prefer—from that of the molecular– gastronomy whiz, to the latest Le Cordon Bleu–trained chef who re-invents the local scene, to the tried and true haunts that have earned the moniker “classic”—you will fine in these shortlists the pitch-perfect restaurant for a singular night on the town.
Best Fine Dining in....
Best Fine Dining
D.C.
Citronelle 3000 M St. NW, Georgetown, 202-625-2150 citronelledc.com
The Draw: The passionate and ebullient Michel Richard is a chef-artist whose wry sense of play makes for wildly inventive French cuisine (the puréed apricot–topped merengue looks for all the world like a fried egg) and a festive ambience. The Scene: This is the first place local foodies take visitors whom they wish to impress. Politicians, celebs, and executives fill the dining room nightly, though Saturday is busiest. Tue–Sat 6–9:30pm. $$$$ Hot Tip: Richard offers a chef’s-table experience nightly inside his glass-enclosed showpiece kitchen, but you must have a minimum of six people to reserve it. If you’re not in a group, ask for a table with a kitchen view and you’ll at least be able to see Richard at play.
The Draw: Snagging a table here is considered quite the coup, and deservedly so, since it requires a combination of persistence, luck, and flexibility. Everyone wants to taste cutting-edge chef Eric Ziebold’s latest culinary conquests—from phyllo-wrapped veal sweetbreads to an upscale take on a banana split. Monthly menu changes keep diners guessing. The Scene: Come Thursday through Saturday to dine in this minimalist, cathedral-like dining room, whose banquettes and dimly lit tables are filled with locals and visiting celebs. A dress code prohibits the wearing of shorts, denim, and sportswear, but beyond that, it seems anything goes: You could see coquettes in evening gowns or tattooed rockers in T-shirts and skinny twills. Tue–Thu 6–9:30pm, Fri–Sat 5:30–9:30pm. $$$$ Hot Tip: When the restaurant is booked, you may still be in luck: Fronting the dining room is the very cool Zen Bar, which serves a three-course, $50 variation on CityZen’s main menu.
The Draw: Two delicious, Mediterranean-inspired set menus crafted by the limelight-avoiding, Johnny Depp–resembling, 30-year-old chef extraordinaire Johnny Monis. Plus, a young, sophisticated, and unflappable staff with uncompromising attention to detail. The Scene: It’s all about the food here, so everything else is just background—the décor is minimal, and the intimate dining room just quietly attractive. Diners are all types, but alike in their enjoyment of the gastronomic pleasures issuing from the partly open kitchen at the back of the room. Tue–Sat 5:30–10pm. $$ Hot Tip: Ask for table 24, the only one positioned in Komi’s picture window, which offers fine views of the passing Dupont Circle scene, should you ever glance away from your plate.
