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@dcfastcasual - Bagel sandwich from Call Your Mother Jewish deli in Park View - Where to eat in Washington, DC

The Best Places to Eat in Petworth

Your guide for where to go in DC’s hippest, family-friendly neighborhood

The Lincoln Memorial may loom large on the National Mall, but it was the neighborhood of Petworth where the 16th president used to sojourn in the summer. Petworth is home to President Lincoln’s Cottage, his summer home-turned-historical attraction, and the up-and-coming area is also home to a number of hip restaurants and bars that attract DC’s cool crowd. If you have a taste for creative fare in trendy dining rooms, Petworth is worth the trip – especially since a number of this small neighborhood's restaurants, including Call Your Mother and Timber Pizza Company, have landed on Bon Appétit's list of America's 50 best new restaurants.

Cool & Cozy Meals

Petworth's dinner options offer great food with an everybody-knows-your-name feel. On the corner of Upshur and Georgia Avenue you’ll find Pom Pom, a nationally-renowned restaurant formerly known as Himitsu. The woman-led space melds Asian, Latin and Mediterranean flavors in tantalizing dishes.

Just across the street you'll find Timber Pizza Company, which offers Neapolitan wood-fired pizzas and was named to Bon Appétit's 50 best new restaurants in America list for 2017. With 30 or so seats and an interior that screams industrial chic, this order-at-the-counter dining darling may be small but the flavors are anything but.

The Timber Pizza team is also responsible for the nearby Call Your Mother, which bills itself as “a Jew-ish deli.” Candied salmon cream cheese, za’atar bagels, whitefish croquettes and a matzah ball sopa embody a unique take on Jewish cuisine. Just make sure to get there early or during off-peak hours – the line has been known to wrap around the block and will only get longer now that it's been named to Bon Appétit's list of America's 50 best new restaurants for 2019.

Homestead has a hearty menu served family-style and a list of crafted cocktails. For some savory fried fish, drop by Fish in the Hood, which will flash fry your fillet to perfection – just make sure you get the spicy mango sauce and bring cash to pay for your order.

Pop-Up Dining

Petworth is home to EatsPlace, a food incubator for restaurant pop-ups and new concepts where up-and-coming chefs can find their culinary voice. The unique space hosts chefs who want to serve in-the-know diners their latest cuisine, as well as a “Drinkubator” for up-and-coming mixologists. Stop in any night of the week to see which local chefs are serving up something exciting. Or check out the Petworth Citizen and Reading Room. While not a pop-up per se, the neighborhood gathering spot is constantly introducing new events (think cocktail hours and book clubs) for the neighborhood’s literati.

Petworth is also a great place to grab a drink at any of the neighborhood’s laid-back bars. Slash Run is a burger bar from the owners of Adams Morgan’s popular Bar Charley. A jukebox that plays punk and a long list of bourbons and beers make this a unique option for spending a Saturday night. For a splash of color, head to the woman-owned Dos Mamis for creative cocktails brought to you by two veterans of the DC dining scene.

It’s a toss up where to do last call: DC Reynolds has a killer patio, perfect for enjoying a beer, while The Looking Glass Lounge’s whiskey selection makes the perfect night cap. When all else fails, just plan to visit both neighboring bars.