1. The Red Hen
The Red Hen is the perfect restaurant. Delicious food, friendly staff and service, competitive wine list, warm ambiance, and affordable. 2 appetizers, 2 entrees and a bottle of wine will typically run you under $200 for 2 people. In DC this can be unheard of. Their menu changes seasonally, but has many dishes as a constant like their Mezzi Rigatoni and Whipped Ricotta Crostini (my absolute favorite). They also always have a delicious Cacio e Pepe pasta off-menu if you ask. If you are in search of a formal sit down for a special occasion definitely book a reservation well in advance, but our go-to move is going on weeknights and sitting at the bar. Their bar staff are great about seating you fairly and serving you drinks if you have to wait.
2. The Dabney
One of the best 1 Michelin starred restaurants in DC. The Dabney, within the last 2 years significantly updated their dining experience, now offering a full 7-course menu that changes daily. Their cuisine features flavor from their wood burning grill that is visible from all tables while you dine. Brendan & I love dining at Michelin restaurants, but I can get nervous if the food will be too “weird” for my taste. Thankfully, this is never the case for The Dabney. It is always obvious what you are eating, and they do a wonderful job of simply elevating their ingredients. You will definitely need to book a reservation far in advance for their sit-down experience, but luckily, they also offer walk-in bar seating with an a la carte menu if you are looking for a more spontaneous night. Never miss ordering their catfish sliders with their homemade sweet potato roll!
3. Timber Pizza Co.
This may be an unpopular opinion to some, but this is the best pizza in DC! Their wood fired pizzas have been stealing our hearts since 2016 and we try to enjoy it as much as we can. Our favorites off their menu are the Pretty in Pepperoni and the classic Cheese Please. Their menu has really creative rotating pizzas with toppings such as spicy strawberry jam, smoked brisket, and sweet peppers which we will usually throw into the mix of our order with our staples. The simplest way to enjoy Timber is by getting their takeout, but if you have the time, it is so fun to dine-in at one of their picnic tables indoor or outdoor and order drinks off of their beer and wine menu to pair with your pizza. My best friend and I almost never miss celebrating a birthday at their original shop in Petworth while splitting pizzas and sharing a bottle of their tap red wine. Outside of pizza, Timber also offers breakfast! This includes bagel sandwiches from their sister location, Call Your Mother Deli (another favorite of ours), wood fired biscuits and breakfast empanadas (the best kept secret of DC). Their breakfast empanadas are GENIUS, pizza dough balls filled with a variety of bacon/egg/cheese/etc.
