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priyarainelle OP t1_j5r74fc wrote

ETA: The full Top 100 Best Restaurants List is now live on Washingtonian Magazine's website.

Picked up a copy today at my front desk!

1 The Dabney

2 Albi

3 L’Ardente

4 Happy Gyro

5 Pineapple and Pearls

6 Inferno Pizzeria

7 Sushi Taro

8 Causa

9 Sushi Nakazawa

10 Xiquet

11 Daru

12 The Duck and the Peach

13 Anju

14 The Inn at Little Washington

15 Ellē

16 2 Amy’s

17 Caruso’s Grocery

18 Kinship

19 Elephant Jumps

20 Convivial

21 Fiola Mare

22 2Fifty

23 Queens English

24 Le Diplomate

25 Sumac

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endlessly_apollo t1_j5r9ej0 wrote

Is Duck & the 🍑 a must try? Heard buzz on it

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priyarainelle OP t1_j5rgj19 wrote

I am not a fan of duck itself, but I did try the restaurant about a year ago and we reserved the half rotisserie duck. It was incredible and particularly memorable! Plenty for the two of us and some leftover, so the next day I reheated it and had with some fried rice.

Besides the duck, I did enjoy the parker house rolls and a few of the sides. They have brunch and a tasting menu; they also have a robust wine discovery program - weekly tasting events on Wednesdays and monthly subscription.

To be honest it wasn’t a “wow” for me beyond the rotisserie duck, but I would definitely go back. It’s a gorgeous restaurant, a great staff, and it is womxn owned. There is a 22% service charge that is used to pay the staff a higher hourly rate - you don’t need to leave a tip unless compelled to do so. This is fully explained on the website and I applaud the transparency.

ETA: it is womxn owned

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Backdoorpickle t1_j5rr3km wrote

Womxn-owned*, but yeah, the duck was spot on. Also enjoyed the wine pairings. Service and thought is good enough reason for the upcharge.

Edit: has anyone actually been to the restaurant? It's quite clear they prefer womxn.

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priyarainelle OP t1_j5sbd8n wrote

Yes, I’ve actually been to the restaurant. I sincerely apologize but I honestly never noticed that it was “womxn” and not “woman” so my spelling it that way was a mistake - I was spelling it as I would’ve verbalized in a conversation.

At this very moment I have no idea what “womxn” means as opposed to “woman”, so I will have to do some reading on that to fully understand the significance. I appreciate you pointing it out but also, your comment kind of reads as snarky and a bit mean-spirited. Please allow me some grace. Questioning if I’ve ever been to the restaurant because I used the wrong verbiage is unnecessarily harsh.

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Backdoorpickle t1_j5sfbxd wrote

I wasn't questioning you! It's easy to miss. I was questioning the mass downvotes. Didn't mean to be snarky. :-) I'm glad you enjoyed the duck because I have relatives that have had the same experience not liking that particular protein and enjoying it here.

Sorry if I came off that way to you individually, not meant that way.

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ProdigiousNewt07 t1_j5v19lu wrote

The wikipedia article for "womxn" actually has a great breakdown of the term. I'm personally of the opinion that it is at best unnecessary because implying that "woman" is sexist because it contains "man" is outrageous and if you were really concerned about "inclusivity", then "woman" should apply to trans women too (because they are also women full-stop and refusing to acknowledge that is misgendering) and you'd use another term altogether to refer to non-binary people because they generally want to be viewed as separate from the gender binary.

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MartinScorsese t1_j5tk4m6 wrote

I went there for my birthday last year and it was lovely. Recommended!

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brewham411 t1_j5trk7j wrote

High quality, but expensive for portion sizes. Lovely setting. Worth it.

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thekingoftherodeo t1_j5tow24 wrote

They've just taken last years list, thrown it in a randomizer and pushed a few of the well known ones up to the top, haven't they?

Le Dip at 24? L-O-L. Their media/comped meals budget must be gigantic.

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sprayedice t1_j5s8y3m wrote

Washingtonian Mag has the worst takes, this is such a generic list. 2Fifty is not good bbq, and really, Le Dip? This feels more like a list of overhyped "must see" spots of DC dining.

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sloowhand t1_j5t02th wrote

> 2Fifty is not good bbq

Wait, what? I mean, I can understand saying it’s not your personal favorite barbecue place in the city, but it’s definitely good barbecue. What would you consider to be good barbecue in DC?

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priyarainelle OP t1_j5tdjut wrote

Texas Jacks is really good barbecue and for some reason rarely ever gets any recognition anywhere- but it is hands down the best in the area imo. Their brisket is so phenomenal.

I have not tried this 2Fifty place…I’m a little apprehensive. Most places that get lauded for barbecue here are not at all good when I go.

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d_hor t1_j5u1okc wrote

texas jacks was garbage last time I went. 2fifty is much better for brisket (not saying I agree with the placement on this list though)

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Positive_Brother_984 t1_j67755b wrote

Washintonian’s list is not about barbecue. One of the editors, Jessica Sidman explains in her personal platforms the methodology they as editors followed for what they consider the very best restaurants. 2fifty is top 25 but they also mention a bbq food truck. There is no other bbq restaurant mentioned.

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mikeydhakid t1_j5um53a wrote

>Convivial

I'll second you on Texas Jacks...phenomenal BBQ all around. Not saying 2Fifty isn't good because I haven't been there, but I'm surprised Texas Jack's doesn't get more love and attention

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sloowhand t1_j5vucp8 wrote

Maybe I just caught them on an off day, but I was kind of underwhelmed by Texas Jack’s. I heard so many people rave about it, but it was just…okay. Not sure it would make my top five in the DC area. I’d put 2Fifty, Hill Country, DCity Smokehouse, Federalist Pig, and Smoke &Barrel (RIP), ahead of them.

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priyarainelle OP t1_j5w04j1 wrote

Well, that’s food for you! Super personal lol

I think Hill Country is absolutely awful barbecue - I was actually angry to have spent money there and gotten such terrible food. What I got from Federalist Pig was either tough (brisket) or lacking in flavor (pulled pork, Mac and cheese). DCity is the place I go if I can’t get to Texas Jacks.

I will try 2Fifty probably this weekend, actually, but I’m not really hopeful… especially since I seem to have wildly divergent bbq tastes from the people who have commented here about liking it. Hope it surprises me!

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Positive_Brother_984 t1_j5tvp81 wrote

Some people prefer gas-assisted-taste over wood-burning-only barbecue. It all comes down to a personal preference.

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dataminimizer t1_j5snqk5 wrote

I really should try Anju again I guess, because we went there and were absolutely not impressed. The kimchi and by extension, the kimchi jiggae, were terrible. So sour I couldn’t eat it. Maybe we went there on an off day.

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rsc99 t1_j5tf2rp wrote

I really don’t get the hype there, either.

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dihydrogen_monoxide t1_j5uj0ev wrote

Someone can't handle spicy food it seems.

From the list, Chinese restaurants include:

  • Queen's English
  • A&J's
  • Chang Chang
  • Chiko (Chinese Korean)
  • Mama Chang
  • Northwest Chinese Food
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Brickleberried t1_j5s747b wrote

I've literally heard of one of these: Le Diplomate.

Edit: People are literally downvoting me for not having heard of more fancy restaurants?

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