Diners' Choice: Contemporary American restaurants in District of Columbia

OpenTable

Updated December 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Contemporary American cuisine in District of Columbia? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyzes more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favorites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Peacock Café

4.9

4.9 (1976)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Georgetown

About the restaurant

Maziar Farivar, Chef/Proprietor serves contemporary American cuisine with flavors of around the world in an elegant, comfortable & cosmopolitan setting. Celebrating over 28 year Anniversary in Georgetown, Peacock Cafe is a dining experience not to be missed when in Georgetown. In addition to our wonderful lunch menu, we do offer a selection of our popular breakfast items as well on weekdays (11am-4pm). Chef Maziar, on dinner menu offers a greater variety of small plates and entrees from contemporary American to small selection of Contemporary Iranian (Persian) dishes.
Enjoy a comprehensive wine list from boutique wineries to large labels and fabulous signature cocktails from the bar to compliment your dining experience.

Top review

C. MauryVIP

Dined 3 days ago

Wonderful and welcoming. A true diamond in the neighborhood.

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The Greenhouse at The Jefferson, DC

4.7

4.7 (1075)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Downtown

About the restaurant

Located in downtown DC, just four blocks from the White House, breakfast, lunch, dinner and weekend brunch are served under The Jefferson’s historic skylight in The Greenhouse. Natural light streams from above, creating an airy atmosphere that complements the light, fresh and energizing fare on our seasonal menus.

Top review

Lisa

Dined 1 day ago

The Christmas decor was absolutely beautiful. The lamb was delicious!

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Experience

The Wine Cellar at Greenhouse

Experience

Christmas Eve at The Greenhouse

Experience

Christmas Day at the Greenhouse

The Park at 14th

4.7

4.7 (2911)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Downtown

About the restaurant

The Park at 14th is a restaurant, lounge, and event venue on four floors overlooking Franklin Square in Downtown D.C. Offering a sense of timeless elegance, beautiful views, and a warm and welcoming interior, The Park at 14th is the perfect place dining, socializing, and hosting your next event. We invite you to join us. For reservations over 10 people, please TEXT (202) 550-0300

Top review

TimothyVIP

Dined 1 day ago

What the heck. This place was quite the surprise. It blew us away. The food was surprisingly good. We ordered several different times, and each time the food came out fresh, hot, quickly, and looked like an artist put it together. The jumbo shrimp with cilantro goodness was amazing. Calamari better than it should have been. The service was amazing. The prices? Way too low. Happy hour prices are ridiculous. I mean so ridiculously low. I think maybe they just love people. I’m not sure. I’d make this my go to spot if I lived here.

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Cork Wine Bar & Market

4.6

4.6 (523)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Logan Circle

About the restaurant

Logan's favorite neighborhood wine bar and restaurant - now with a beautiful expanded garden patio! Locally owned Cork is an affordable, casually elegant place that demystifies the world of wine by giving you real descriptions of what you are drinking, flights of wine so you can explore different regions and varietals, and suggestions for pairing our wines with our delicious menu of plates to share. From cheese and charcuterie to steaks and crispy calamari, Cork offers a full menu to delight you as you sample our curated selection of Old World Wines. Cork Wine Bar is the creation of Logan Circle residents Diane Gross and Khalid Pitts. Cork also features a full bar.

Dine Upstairs, in our Tasting Bar or in our Expanded Secret Garden. Tables are reserved for dining only. The reservation is for a 2 hour dining experience.

Top review

Zac

Dined 3 days ago

10/10 would return again. Wine and cheese were both fantastic

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Experience

Weekend Brunch with Make Your Own Mimosas!

Experience

Wine Tasting Experience

Rosemary Bistro Cafe

4.6

4.6 (518)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Friendship Heights

About the restaurant

Rosemary Bistro Cafe is a restaurant based in Washington, D.C. that serves classic French-based cuisine. All our menu offerings prepared using the freshest ingredients. If you’re looking for a cozy dining experience in the D.C. area, come by our restaurant today.

Top review

Dined on Dec 7, 2024

Rosemary is a true neighborhood gem, and offers inventive Franch-bistro cuisine in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. Tim is a fabulous server to boot. We had the onion tart, the pheasant, and the hazelnut/pecan tart -- all wonderful dishes! Highly recommended!

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Popular dish

French Onion Soup

The Arsenal at Bluejacket

4.7

4.7 (1067)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Navy Yard

About the restaurant

The Arsenal is the 200-seat restaurant & bar housed within the brewery, Bluejacket. The menu updates, refines and extends the classic fare of beer halls and public houses by featuring the best locally sourced products available and highlighting reinterpretations of hearty classics such as steamed mussels, artisanal sausages and more. Gourmet sandwiches, seasonal salads & vegetables, alongside approachable bar snacks are the perfect accompaniments to a signature Bluejacket brew.

Top review

Mauricio

Dined 6 days ago

Food and beer were great. Great place and good crowd.

Estuary

4.5

4.5 (700)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Penn Quarter

About the restaurant

Estuary celebrates contemporary American cuisine, embracing the rich bounty of the Chesapeake region. Chef Arturo brings his Mexican heritage into every dish, adding bold, flavorful twists to traditional Mid-Atlantic fare. Expect a harmonious blend of regional ingredients and savory, vibrant flavors that create an unforgettable dining experience.
Step into our meticulously designed space, where modern aesthetics meet floor-to-ceiling windows providing a magnificent urban bird’s eye view of Washington, DC.
To complement the fusion of flavors on your plate, we present an extensive selection of meticulously curated wines and handcrafted cocktails.
Our team of expert sommeliers is always on hand to guide you in choosing the perfect pairing, guaranteeing an exquisite dining experience.
Our dedicated staff is committed to providing impeccable and knowledgeable service, ensuring that your visit exceeds all expectations.

Top review

David

Dined on Dec 12, 2024

The food and drinks were delicious. Our server was very attentive and friendly. The couch in front of the fireplace is always a cozy and enjoyable spot.

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Experience

Christmas Day at Estuary

Experience

New Year's Eve at Estuary

Experience

Ultimate DC Holiday Experience at Estuary Lounge

Tabard Inn

4.7

4.7 (3777)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Dupont Circle

About the restaurant

Christmas Eve is dinner will be a curated $92/per person prix fixe. Large parties of 6+ will be invited to our family friendly, buffet-style seating. Parties of 1-5 will be served a la carte in our main dining rooms.

Since our early days as a tea room, we’ve been a respite for locals and visitors alike, offering a haven for conversation and memorable cuisine. The tradition continues as our culinary team has curated an inventive and elevated menu through New American cuisine while paying homage to the beloved dishes that have been served at the Tabard Inn for years. A DC institution since 1922, we look forward to offering our guests all the comforts of a home away from home.

Executive Chef Matthew Zafrir came to the Tabard in 2023, bringing with him experience from various fine dining restaurants around D.C. such as minibar by José Andrés, Cranes, Revelers Hour.

Top review

KimVIP

Dined 3 days ago

We had breakfast at the Tabard Inn because it looked like a unique hotel that I wanted to check out, and it was within walking distance from where I was staying. The hotel was charming and unique in its eclectic furnishings. The dining room was quiet. The breakfast was almost half what I paid at the Jefferson Hotel the day before and twice as good. I had eggs over easy. I asked for my bacon well done. It was cooked to perfection and one of the best orders of bacon I ever had. The biscuit and hash browns, which were more like roasted potatoes, were delicious. The service was attentive but not overbearing. I would return the next time I'm in DC.

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4.6

4.6 (1391)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Downtown

About the restaurant

Dauphine’s is a modern day incarnation of the dramatic Grande Dame establishments of New Orleans, brought to you by the award winning Long Shot Hospitality - the team behind DC's beloved The Salt Line Restaurants. Dauphine’s utilizes Mid-Atlantic ingredients to prepare classic New Orleans fare while also creating original dishes inspired by the legendary city. All brought to you in a breathtaking spacious downtown restaurant setting with the most beautiful bar in downtown DC, plenty of patio dining, and a festive outdoor bar and garden area. Located in the Midtown Center, Dauphine's is just steps from the White House, National Theater, Convention Center, Cap One Arena and most downtown attractions and provides an elegant yet relaxed dining atmosphere for any occasion. Dauphine’s serves Dinner seven nights a week and Brunch on weekends, with Happy Hour every day 4pm-7pm and an ALL DAY Happy Hour on Sundays - plus don't miss our signature Sunday Live Jazz Brunch! We hope to see you soon!

Top review

BeaVIP

Dined on Dec 10, 2024

We dined at Dauphines last night. It was very good. We got there during happy hour and had drinks at the bar. It was super crowded. Then had dinner. The food was excellent as was the service. Enjoyed the small plates and the entrees. The oyster pasta was excellent as was the stuffed chicken breast. Dessert was good also. My only complaint was the noise level. Would recommend it for a night out.

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Popular dish

Café Brulot Baked Alaska

4.6

4.6 (3438)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Downtown

About the restaurant

Equinox on 19th has an upscale casual, crisp, atmosphere that firmly establishes a city chic decor. We are excited to offer you a regional, seasonal dining experience by a five-time James Beard Award nominee for Best Chef, Mid-Atlantic, Chef Todd Gray. We specialize in seasonal fine dining, plant-based, and vegetable-forward cuisine. Check out our beautiful brick fireplace room that looks onto 19th Street with soaring floor-to-ceiling windows for a perfect view. Our ample bar seats over 40 and is ideal for a beverage before dinner. Our lime-washed brick walls evoke a classic DC townhouse. Our vibe is friendly & upscale casual; our food is celebrated for all dining styles, from gluten-free and plant-based to locally farmed produce. If you have any dietary restrictions, please let us know when making your reservation and we will do our best to accommodate your needs. Located at 900 19th St NW, just a few blocks from our previous location.

Top review

Michael

Dined 2 days ago

A wonderful experience, great food, cocktails, and mocktails, with attentive and warm service. The space is beautiful and especially great for larger parties. There were plenty of vegan and gluten-free options for our group, and the staff was amazing.

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