Like many, I associate Washington DC with history, monuments, and national pride. Visiting iconic landmarks like the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument was truly awe-inspiring. The city’s streets, lined with American flags, evoked a sense of patriotism I hadn’t anticipated. Exploring these historical sites definitely builds an appetite, and I was eager to discover the best culinary spots Washington DC has to offer. To navigate the vibrant food scene, I turned to local friends for recommendations, seeking out the must-visit restaurants for anyone new to the DC, Virginia, and Maryland (DMV) area. Their advice was invaluable, leading me to some truly exceptional dining experiences.
Brunch, Lunch, and Dinner Restaurants in Washington DC and Virginia: A Food Lover’s Journey
Founding Farmers
Founding Farmers takes the farm-to-table concept to a whole new level. This restaurant is unique, being majority-owned by over 47,000 American family farmers, creating an incredibly direct farm-to-table pipeline. You can truly taste the freshness and quality in every dish. Everything here is made from scratch – and I mean everything! Even the soda is homemade; I overheard a server describing their house-made orange soda to a nearby table, which sounded incredibly refreshing. While tempted by the homemade sodas, we were drawn to their cocktails, crafted with spirits from their own Founding Spirits distillery.
Drinks and Dinner at Founding Farmers
We opted for The Constitution, a mix of Founding Spirits Dry Gin, chamomile, ginger, blueberry, lemon, and jerk soda, and The Martinez, a sophisticated gin cocktail with maraschino liqueur, Dolin Rouge, and absinthe bitters. Both were excellent choices!
For a starter, we indulged in the Virginia ham and biscuits, a hyper-local and delectable option. The dish features three kinds of ham served with whole grain mustard, cranberry jam, chow-chow relish, and honey butter. As someone with Southern roots and extensive biscuit experience, I can confidently say these are some of the best biscuits I’ve ever tasted. Fresh, fluffy, and substantial, they are perfectly complemented by the array of flavorful toppings – a truly customizable and delightful appetizer.
After such a generous appetizer, I decided on a lighter dinner option: the Jefferson-filled donut. My friend, however, went for the Texas chili dog with potato salad, a nod to our home state. Of course, I had to try a bite of the potato salad. This tangy, mayo-less salad was incredibly fresh and unique, unlike any potato salad I’ve had before.
Founding Farmers came highly recommended by friends from Canada to Portugal and locals alike – it’s a definite must-try for anyone seeking famous and Good Food In Washington Dc. Supporting farmers while enjoying incredibly fresh and flavorful food is a win-win!
Virtue Feed and Grain
I have a confession – as a food blogger, I had a slight lapse at Virtue Feed and Grain. This was one of my first restaurant experiences after getting vaccinated, and the novelty of dining out was still very exciting. I was so engrossed in the experience and the delicious food that I completely forgot to take photos before devouring my meal! Thankfully, the marketing team at Virtue Feed & Grain provided some stunning photos that perfectly capture the restaurant’s atmosphere and food, and will surely inspire you to book a reservation at this Old Town Alexandria gem.
Virtue Feed and Grain is conveniently located near Captain’s Row, the oldest cobblestone street in Alexandria. A stroll through this historic area to the restaurant is highly recommended – just watch your step on the cobblestones! The restaurant itself is nestled next to historic Wales Alley, named after Alexandria’s first brewer, Andrew Wales. Housed in a repurposed 1800s feed house, Virtue Feed & Grain has retained its historic charm, preserving original architectural elements throughout.
Drinks and Dinner at Virtue Feed & Grain
To celebrate my arrival in the DC area, we started with cocktails. My Dark Chocolate Manhattan, a blend of Maker’s Mark, Amaro Averna, and chocolate bitters, was a potent and fantastic start to a meal that only got better.
Being a fan of appetizers, I always prefer trying multiple smaller dishes. The Scotch eggs immediately caught my eye (I’d only had them once before at Jamie Oliver’s spot in London), and my friend had never tried them. They were absolutely delicious and did not disappoint!
Before even landing in DC, I had heard about Virtue Feed & Grain’s crab dip. Let me tell you, this is legendary. If you haven’t tried it, make a reservation now. This crab dip is truly dreamlike – you might be tempted to bathe in it, but perhaps refrain! If I had to choose the single best dish from my entire trip, this crab dip would be the winner hands down.
For our main course, my friend and I shared the short ribs. These melt-in-your-mouth, red wine-braised short ribs, served with sautéed mushrooms and sunchoke parmesan mashed potatoes, were the perfect follow-up to the incredible crab dip.
Busboys and Poets
Busboys and Poets is named after the iconic American poet Langston Hughes, who worked as a busboy at the Wardman Park Hotel in the 1920s before his poetry career took off. While I didn’t get a chance to visit this restaurant/community space/cultural hub for artists, activists, writers, thinkers, and dreamers on this trip, it’s at the top of my list for next time. I asked my friend Bri why she considers it one of the coolest restaurants in DC:
“Beyond the incredible selection of books by my favorite writers (Black women), Busboys & Poets is where I first experienced spoken word poetry! It’s one of the best places to discover new creatives and engage in meaningful discussions.”
Ted’s Bulletin
The website for Ted’s Bulletin boasts that “you will find fast friends in our servers, bartenders, and fellow diners.” And it’s true! By the time we were leaving, one of the servers called out a personalized goodbye to my friend by name! I initially visited for the homemade pop tarts, but their brunch was the real star of the show.
The crab cake benedict, featuring homemade Hollandaise sauce and perfectly crispy hashbrowns, was an ideal way to start the day. The Old Bay bloody Mary was also exceptionally good. The kitchen was incredibly efficient – our order arrived at our table almost instantly!
Call Your Mother: A Jew-ish Deli
I have to admit, Call Your Mother initially made my list of must-try DC food spots for two reasons:
- It’s incredibly Instagrammable, with its bright and colorful décor.
- The Georgetown location was President Biden’s first restaurant visit as President.
While the Instagram appeal and presidential endorsement drew me in, the food itself is what truly earned Call Your Mother a place on this list. I ordered the Pastrami Sun City – pastrami, a bodega-style egg, spicy honey, and cheese on an everything bagel. It tasted even better than it looked, and as you can see, it looks absolutely fantastic!
Beyond serving amazing food, Call Your Mother is also deeply committed to the community. They focus on providing breakfast to local children, supporting career training programs, fostering creativity through summer camps, and transforming the lives of immigrants. It’s an inspiring example of how to do good and eat incredibly well!
While you’re exploring Georgetown, consider taking a walking food tour to sample even more local flavors!
Best Places to Eat Dessert in Washington DC
Baked & Wired
Forget everything you think you know about cupcakes… Baked & Wired is serving cakecups! While they are undeniably sweet, their brand has a bit of an edge. With flavors like “Unip*rn and Rainho,” “Unporked Elvis,” and “Karen’s Birthday,” and a shop with mostly black walls, Baked & Wired is a definite departure from your typical pastel-colored cupcake bakery.
I tried their seasonal Cherry Blossom cakecup and was hooked after the first bite. The vanilla cake is studded with chopped maraschino cherries, and the maraschino buttercream frosting is just the right level of sweetness! This cakecup was incredibly moist, perfectly sweet, and generously sized – a winning combination in my book!
Astro Doughnuts and Fried Chicken
Fried chicken and waffles? Good! Fried chicken and doughnuts? Even better! For lunch, I chose their Old Bay All Day – flavorful fried chicken, bacon, and sriracha mayo sandwiched inside a savory, Old Bay-dusted doughnut.
For dessert, I indulged in their special cherry blossom doughnut, filled with cherry jam. I’m always impressed when doughnut shops manage to fill doughnuts that have holes in the middle! Perhaps I’m easily impressed, but this hole-y treat is definitely praise-worthy!
For more sweet adventures, check out this underground doughnut tour and discover even more sugary surprises!
Iron Rooster
I wanted to include at least one spot from Maryland (“M” in DMV!) in this guide to good food in the DMV area. Fortunately, a friend from Annapolis had the perfect suggestion: Iron Rooster. They are famous for their homemade pop tarts, and rightly so! These pop tarts were buttery, generously filled, and loaded with icing and decorations!
I hope you’ve enjoyed this guide to some of the best places to find good food in Washington DC for a first-time visitor! Are there any other restaurants you think I should add to this list? Let me know in the comments!
