This bustling neighborhood near the convention center is home to international flavors, quick bites and everything in between. Dig in to our flavorful dining guide.
A sea of high-rise apartment and office buildings make up Mount Vernon Triangle, a small neighborhood in Northwest DC where everyone always seems to be on the move. Admittedly, on the surface this may not seem like the ingredients that make up a go-to dining destination, but the blocks of Mount Vernon Triangle are packed with noteworthy places to eat. Check out our flavorful neighborhood dining guide and discover neighborhood joints, swanky eateries and so much more.
It’s a bountiful day in the neighborhood
As the owners of A Baked Joint (as well as Georgetown’s Baked & Wired), the Velazquez family is baked-goods royalty in the nation’s capital. This casual neighborhood eatery churns out some of the city’s best breakfast sandwiches on organic breads made daily in-house, before switching the menu to a delightful array of sandwiches and salads for lunch.
Petite Cerise, created by the team behind The Dabney, provides an additional reason for joie de vivre with its quiet Coffee Counter operation, open Tuesday through Friday. Feel like a Parisian by picking apart a pastry layer by layer and relaxing at one of the bistro tables while the staff preps in the back for the rest of the day's service. Separate a la carte menus are available for brunch and lunch, while dinner’s showcase is a four-course prix fixe that journeys through the history and creativity of French cuisine using mid-Atlantic ingredients.
Part distillery and part all-day restaurant, Farmers & Distillers pays homage to George Washington, who was, as you may have guessed, both a farmer and a distiller. The menu is filled with everything from early morning classics (small-batch donuts and runny-egg breakfast sandwiches) to hand-pulled noodles and Chinese chicken that remain a delicious tribute to nearby Chinatown.
The revolution will come with a pickle, or so says the rebellious folks at The Capital Burger, a gourmet burger joint that transforms the all-American classic into a fine dining artform. The restaurant’s proprietary beef blend makes for some serious burger masterpieces, like the namesake patty sandwiched between Wisconsin gruyère, caramelized onions and a shallot aioli.
Busboys and Poets is Andy Shallal’s restaurant-bookstore-community gathering space that has become a DC institution since first opening its doors near U Street in 2005. The 300-plus seat Mount Vernon Triangle location makes for a great post-work happy hour (the half-off lamb sliders and mezze spread are can’t-miss) and pays special attention to vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free dietary restrictions.
Plan a swanky night on the town
RPM Italian is a hot spot ideal for celebrities from celeb couple Bill and Giuliana Rancic, so it's no surprise that the likes of Kourtney Kardashian and Drake have enjoyed meals here. Grab a table before a show or theater performance (the Capital One Arena and Shakespeare Theatre Company are just down the street) and try a wide array of pastas made in-house, fresh seafood and even a $165 prime, dry-aged, Tuscan porterhouse steak for you and one to three of your closest friends.
Trade in tagliatelle for tandoori at the upscale Karma Modern Indian, an ambitious, contemporary take on Indian classics. Lobster masala is adorned with a halo of beet poriyal and lamb roganjosh stars tender lamb bathed in a chili-ginger-tomato sauce. Fear not, Karma dishes out classics like chicken tikka and butter chicken for the Indian cuisine traditionalist.
Around the world in a block
2Fifty BBQ’s second location on K Street touts handcrafted and wood smoked Texas-Style BBQ with what they describe as “a pinch of the tropics.” Founded by Salvadoran couple Fernando González and Debby Portillo, 2Fifty aims to keep ethically sourced, quality BBQ affordable and communal. Guests can combine their cut of choice with American classics and Salvadoran favorites like esquites and plantains – for dine-in, take-out or catering.
At Alta Strada, chef Michael Schlow’s homage to Italian cooking, expect a no-frills menu filled with house-made pastas and thin-crust pizzas to go along with a mozzarella bar. Italy’s influence doesn’t stop there: wines and cocktails all have distinctive flavors that match the menu perfectly.
Restaurateur Hakan Ilhan’s Ottoman Taverna explores the wonders of his native Turkey with a wood charcoal grill that churns out incredible kebab, while savory flatbreads and an array of meze make for ideal accompaniments. This space serves up enough deliciousness that Michelle Obama and friends even paid it a visit.
Travel to the land of milk and honey without stepping on a plane at Shouk, a popular fast-casual eatery specializing in Israeli street food. The menu is entirely plant-based, but you won’t miss meat when you bite into the delightfully crispy Shouk burger or oyster mushroom shawarma stuffed in a fresh-baked pita and topped with hummus.
Get in, get out
Plant-based tacos are the name of the game at Chaia, which is probably the first time you’ve heard a restaurant described as “farm to taco.” Each handmade tortilla is loaded with flavorful veggies, but we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention its roster of fresh cocktails for under $10.
Head your pizza cravings at Wiseguy Pizza, where you’re likely to find the best Buffalo chicken slice (also known as “buff chick”) outside of the tri-state area. The garlic knots are also not to be missed, and with so many signature slice options you’ll find yourself back for more ‘za in a New York minute.
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