Restaurants and enjoyable cuisine can make or break vacation in D.C. As a bed and breakfast, we understand just how critical delicious food is in day-to-day life, especially when you’re away from home. While we don’t offer lunch or dinner, we do have several great recommendations for restaurants in the area. We are confident that our neck of the woods has enough variety to please every palate. Some of our favorites are right down the street from American Guest House, a D.C. bed and breakfast in the Kalorama triangle. Here are a few of our favorites:
Johnny’s Half Shell
Chef Ann Cashion and partner John Fulchino have been fixtures on D.C.’s culinary scene since the ’90s. Johnny’s Half Shell opened in the 1990s and is presently located right up the street at 1819 Columbia Road NW. As the name suggests, Johnny’s Half Shell is a seafood restaurant. It specializes in renditions of classic, well-loved Chesapeake and Gulf Coast seafood recipes. Notably, Ann Cashion was awarded the prestigious James Beard award for ‘Best Chef Mid-Atlantic” and her light touch and expert blending of delicious flavors pleases all. Visitors to American Guest House rave about their fried calamari appetizer!
Bistrot du Coin
D.C. is great, but there is nothing like being transported to Paris! At Bistrot du Coin, guests get a truly immersive culinary experience. Their salade-frisée is absolutely amazing, while their selection of moules-frites variations is expansive and creative. In the spirit of a true, boisterous bistro that could be found in Montmartre, Bistrot du Coin channels an irreverent, yet cozy ambiance. There is even a mock terroir, or terrace, from which diners can enjoy the age-old French pastime of people-watching! Another tip? Don’t pass up their drink menu – the Moulin Rouge cocktail is particularly tasty.
La Tomate
A delicious Italian restaurant that is located only a 7 minute walk away. This restaurant is perfect for any occasion. In the mornings, the cafe offers classic Italian pastries and rich, deep espressos that will invigorate you even at the earliest hour. During the day, it is sunny and bright, with its large windows providing a wonderful view of Connecticut Avenue. At night, it is a cozy, low key and romantic hotspot. Whenever guests ask for wonderful, comforting pasta dishes, it is to La Tomate that we send them! Authentic, delicate and refined, La Tomate offers a great wine selection. Match that with their excellent charcuterie board, and you will have a great, elegant Happy Hour!
Lapis
Located in the heart of Adams Morgan, Lapis brings the exotic, rich flavors of Afghanistan to life in D.C. Using only locally-sourced ingredients, this restaurant provides a modern take on classic Afghan cuisine that is a crowd-pleaser. The tasty, the menu reflects the rich cultural history that the founders themselves bring into their cuisine. Founded by Afghani refugees who fled Afghanistan after the Soviet invasion three decades ago, Lapis is a testament to the hard work of many who come to the United States. At Lapis, the chefs are able to embrace the culinary riches of their homes of origin and pass on powerful culinary traditions to their new community. Their brunches are famous in our neighborhood and not to be missed!
Staying in D.C.
American Guest House, a D.C. hotel, is proud to be a member of a community that values culinary ingenuity and creativity. After years of living in the area, we feel confident that our guests will not be disappointed by their visits to Johnny’s Half Shell, Bistrot du Coin, La Tomate or Lapis. We want our guests to enjoy every aspect of their stay in D.C. Our suggestions are perfect for our business travelers, and we hope that looking for the best D.C. has to offer will be all the more simple because of our suggestions.
