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

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