Overview: Every day, food critic Tom Sietsema is asked what his favorite restaurant in Washington is. Not surprisingly, he can't settle on just one.
Gallery: Browse all of Sietsema's picks now
Tom's Top 40

2012 Fall Dining Guide

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

I can't tell you how many times I've been asked: "So, what's your favorite restaurant?" There's no one-size-fits all restaurant for me. I'm a fan of dozens of dining rooms. The process of winnowing more than 100 potential loves down to a highly personal Top 40 takes months. The next time someone asks me, I'll point him in one of 40 directions.

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American
Blue Duck Tavern Foggy Bottom (DC) 3 stars $$$
C.F. Folks Dupont Circle (DC) 2 stars $
Cashion's Eat Place Adams Morgan (DC) 3 stars $$$
Family Meal Frederick County (MD) 2 stars $$
Liberty Tavern Clarendon (VA) 2 stars $$
Tabard Inn Dupont Circle (DC) 2½ stars $$$
Woodberry Kitchen Baltimore (MD) 3½ stars $$$
Asian
The Source Chinatown (DC) 3 stars $$$
Toki Underground NE Washington (DC) 2½ stars $
Bakery
Red Truck Bakery and Market Fauquier County (VA) 2 stars $
Belgian
Et Voila! NW Washington (DC) 3 stars $$
Chinese
A&J Restaurant Rockville (MD) 2 stars $
Ethiopian
Ethiopic NE Washington (DC) 2½ stars $$
LacoMelza Ethio Cafe Silver Spring (MD) 2 stars $
French
Central Michel Richard Downtown (DC) 3 stars $$$
Chez Billy NW Washington (DC) 2 stars $$
L'Auberge Chez Francois Fairfax County (VA) 2 stars $$$$
Greek
Komi Dupont Circle (DC) 4 stars $$$$
Indian
Bombay Club Downtown (DC) 3 stars $$
Rasika Penn Quarter Chinatown (DC) 4 stars $$$
Rasika West End Foggy Bottom (DC) 3 stars $$$
Italian
Fiola Downtown (DC) 3 stars $$$
Obelisk Dupont Circle (DC) 3 stars $$$$
Japanese
Izakaya Seki U Street/Cardozo (DC) 2½ stars $$
Korean
Gamasot Franconia/Springfield (VA) 2 stars $
Latin American
La Limena Rockville (MD) 2 stars $$
Mio Downtown (DC) 2½ stars $$$
Mediterranean
Zaytinya Chinatown (DC) 3 stars $$
Nouveau American
CityZen SW Washington (DC) 4 stars $$$$
Inn at Little Washington Virginia (VA) 4 stars $$$$
Mintwood Place Adams Morgan (DC) 3 stars $$$
Rogue 24 NW Washington (DC) 3 stars $$$$
The Bistro at Restaurant Eve Old Town Alexandria (VA) 3½ stars $$$
The Oval Room Downtown (DC) 3½ stars $$$
Vermilion Old Town Alexandria (VA) 3 stars $$$
Southern/Soul
Vidalia Dupont Circle (DC) 3 stars $$$
Spanish
Jaleo Chinatown (DC) 3½ stars $$
Steakhouse
Bourbon Steak Georgetown (DC) 3 stars $$$
Thai
Elephant Jumps Falls Church (VA) 2 stars $
Little Serow Dupont Circle (DC) 3½ stars $$$

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