Your guide to dining like a Hill staffer or Barracks Row local in this historic neighborhood.
Capitol Hill is home to the U.S. Capitol Building and the Supreme Court. By day, the neighborhood is buzzing with everyone from senators and Supreme Court justices to law clerks and Capitol Hill staffers as they go about the business of making and interpreting the laws. By night, the architecturally iconic neighborhood has made a name for itself as a focal point for culinary genius, with a number of nationally famous restaurants calling it home. On Capitol Hill, foodies will find one of DC’s most celebrated chefs, along with a stretch of must-try restaurants along Barracks Row.
Aaron Silverman’s Empire
In 2016, Bon Appétit bestowed the ultimate honor on the nation’s capital, calling it the “Restaurant City of the Year.” And that’s thanks in no small part to the culinary creativeness of celebrated chef Aaron Silverman. The young chef burst onto the DC dining scene in 2013 with the opening of Rose’s Luxury, a modest looking neighborhood restaurant in a Capitol Hill rowhouse.
Silverman’s combo of innovative comfort foods (must try: the smoked brisket with white bread, horseradish and slaw) with a laid-back, dinner party vibe has earned him accolades, including Best New Restaurant in America in 2014 by Bon Appétit, Food & Wine’s 2016 Chef of the Year and a James Beard Award for Best Mid-Atlantic Chef.
He followed up his first act with the Pineapple & Pearls, next door, which features an over-the-top multi-course tasting menu (reservations required!). Splurge for a dining extravaganza at either of the two seatings or belly up to the bar for a discount (comes without drink pairings).
There's also Little Pearl, a cafe-by-day and wine-bar-by-night that serves as the casual spot in Silverman’s dining empire. Choose from gourmet java, potato donuts and a delightfully crispy fried chicken sandwich (served fried or Japanese-style) during a daytime visit. You can also wash down one of the inventive snacks with a glass of vino from an extensive by-the-glass list.
Other Eighth Street Options
Outdoor patio at Belga Cafe on Barracks Row - Restaurant on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC
Capitol Hill’s close proximity to the Marine Barracks long ago kick started a commercial district nicknamed Barracks Row that runs along Eighth Street. While Barracks Row is the District’s oldest commercial district, it’s only in recent years that it’s become a dining hot spot for those who live and work on the Hill.
If you’re going to be a brunch-only spot, you better bring the noise. Well, I Egg You has done that and then some since its arrival on Capitol Hill. DC restaurant experts Scott Drewno and Danny Lee have crafted an inventive menu stacked with locally sourced ingredients that makes full use of – yep, you guessed it – the egg. Seriously, just look at the menu. And then book a table ASAP.
The brunch bunch also favor Belga Cafe, from Belgian chef Bart Vandaele, for a full-on array of omelets, mussel pots and crave-worthy waffles.
On the other side of the street is Ambar, which has bragging rights as the only Balkan restaurant in Washington, DC. The authentic small plates hub – which has a sister restaurant in Belgrade – serves up Serbia-inspired dishes like a selection of kajmak (cheeses) and a sampling of rakias (fruit-infused brandies).
Meanwhile, go-to faves Ted’s Bulletin (of homemade pop tart fame) and Matchbox (a Neapolitan pizza paradise) both have Capitol Hill outposts on Barracks Row.
Barracks Row is also home to CHIKO, a new breed of fast casual Chinese-Korean fusion and the brainchild of three seasoned vets of the District’s food scene. CHIKO, short for Chinese Korean, is where traditional eastern flavors meld with contemporary techniques at an accessible price point – diners rave about the orange-ish chicken and chopped brisket sourced from local market Wagshal’s.
Discover a trio of hot spots from Hollis Wells Silverman on C Street, between seventh and eighth. La Collina, an Italian neighborhood spot, shares a kitchen with The Duck & The Peach, which offers a New American menu inspired by California and New England. In between the two is The Wells, a gin-focused cocktail bar. Each location delivers thoughtfully curated menus with a focus on fresh and seasonal ingredients led by Executive Chef Katarina Petonito.
Date Night Dinners
Art and Soul
A handful of Capitol Hill haunts aims to give Hill inhabitants a nearby place for a cozy date night. Southern spot Art and Soul offers a great view of the Capitol dome and a roaring fire in the dining room on winter nights. Classic steakhouse Charlie Palmer Steak also sits in the shadow of the Capitol dome and is a popular place for politicos who want to wine and dine a date.
Beuchert’s Saloon offers true farm-to-table dining with a menu sourced from nearby farms and co-ops, and a laid back atmosphere for casual drinks and dinner. Italian restaurant Acqua Al 2 shares a menu with its sister restaurant in Florence and attracts an international crowd interested in authentic Florentine fare, while Bistro Bis inside The Hotel George brings in senators, representatives and other politicos who are fans of French food. And Cafe Berlin completes the around-the-world trifecta with a menu of filling German dishes and a romantic atmosphere inside a three-story rowhouse.