Diverse Dining

The Capital Region’s international flavours make for a true gastronomic journey. In Washington, DC, Rasika dishes up traditional Indian food with experimental twists. Try the popular palak chaat, a fried spinach and yoghurt dish. For Spanish tapas done to perfection, head for one of the metro area’s famous Jaleo restaurants. For upscale pan Asian fare, try the wok fired sea bass or lacquered Chinese duckling at The Source. In Arlington, Virginia, Bangkok 54 serves Thai cuisine in stylish surroundings. In Ellicott City, Maryland, Tersiguel’s French Country Restaurant offers intimate fine dining in a 19th-century home.

For a supremely urban experience, dine at DC’s Sushi Taro (it sources fish from Tokyo’s famed Tsukiji market), the eclectic restaurant Proof or the New American-style Tabard Inn. For big city dining in Baltimore, enjoy authentic Italian at Cinghiale or a fusion of French and Southern cuisine at Charleston. In Richmond, find chic Parisian style at the Can Can Brasserie and New American cuisine at luxurious Lemaire, a modern restaurant in the historic Jefferson Hotel. For dessert, Secco Wine Bar and For the Love of Chocolate won’t disappoint.

Local Flavour

The region is known for seafood, and especially blue crab. Spreading newspapers across the table and cracking open hot, steaming Chesapeake crabs coated in Old Bay seasoning is an area ritual. Favourite local crab shacks include Mike’s Bar & Crab House, Canton Dockside, Costas Inn, the Quarterdeck and The Dancing Crab. Perhaps the most notable is Jimmy Cantler’s, just outside of Annapolis. Settle into a waterfront table, grab a mallet and start cracking.

For contemporary American cuisine, Bourbon Steak in Georgetown blends the best of traditional steakhouses with modern elegance. Playful dishes dot the menu, but the main attraction remains the steak slow-poached in butter. In Alexandria, cosy Vermilion builds its menu around locally grown meats and produce whenever possible. Other standouts are Tallula in Arlington, Virginia; Trummer’s on Main in Clifton, Virginia; and Volt in Frederick, Maryland.

Food Trucks & Tours

Washington, DC’s street food scene is booming. Food trucks are in demand, and Twitter is the best way to track them. Line up for Red Hook Lobster Pound (@lobstertruckdc), which serves lobster and shrimp on buttery buns, and Fojol Bros (@fojolbros), known for chicken masala and curry dishes. For tacos, try District Taco (@districttaco). For healthy global foods, track down Sauca (@EatSauca). Do dessert with Sweetflow Mobile (@sweetflowmobile), which serves organic frozen yoghurt with fruit toppings.

Food tours blending culture and cuisine are also increasingly popular. In Washington, DC and Alexandria, DC Metro Food Tours mixes neighbourhood walking tours with food stops. In Virginia and Maryland, check out the Virginia Beach Boardwalk Food Tour and Charm City Food Tours, both organized by Coastal Food Tours.

Wineries

President Thomas Jefferson was a wine connoisseur – he imported wine from Europe and grew wine grapes at his home, Monticello. His legacy remains, with extensive wine trails and notable vineyards in the region. In Virginia, sip and savour at Linden Vineyards, Piedmont, Barboursville, Williamsburg Winery and Naked Mountain Winery. In Maryland, start with St. Michael’s Winery, Little Ashby Vineyards and Tilmon’s Island Winery.

Nightlife

While the region has a good variety of nightlife, the DC area’s cocktail lounge scene has been especially energetic in recent years. The speakeasy PX in Alexandria, Virginia led the charge with its unique blending of retro cocktails and modern new concoctions. Other hotspots include The Columbia Room, Cork and PS 7’s for creative cocktails, and ChurchKey and Old Ebbitt Grill for beer.

For more information on dining and nightlife in the Capital Region, go to www.CapitalRegionUSA.co.uk/explore-the-region/dining

Farm to Table Cuisine

The local food movement is not unique to the region, but countless area restaurants have applied the farm-fresh philosophy with delicious results.

DC’s Equinox uses organic ingredients grown within 100 miles whenever possible; even its name alludes to the seasonal nature of its cooking. At Restaurant Nora, grass-fed beef, creamy hand-made cheeses and fresh vegetables are key to the ever-changing menu.

In the town of Washington, Virginia, The Inn at Little Washington has its own gardens and orchards. In Culpeper, Foti’s Restaurant puts a European spin on local cuisine. Simple and delicious is the mantra at Baltimore’s Woodberry Kitchen, which serves dishes like roasted chicken with hot, fluffy biscuits and oysters fresh from Chesapeake Bay.

Great Neighborhoods for Dining

Here’s a small sampling of neighbourhoods noted for great restaurants and spots to sip drinks.

DC’s U Street & 14th Street Corridor:  Along 14th Street, try Birch & Barley for classic American fare and good beer, Estadio for Spanish tapas, and Cork for wine and small plates. Along U Street, find Coppi’s organic pizza, the soulful bistro Marvin, the wine bar Dickson and The Gibson, a stylish cocktail lounge.

Bethesda, Maryland:  After dinner, patrons can enjoy a stroll along chic Bethesda Row. Dessert options are endless, from frozen yogurt at Sweetgreen to red velvet cupcakes at Georgetown Cupcake.

Alexandria, Virginia:  American restaurants line the cobblestone streets. Restaurant Eve offers fine dining; more casual spots include The Majestic, set in a former Art Deco diner, and Jackson 20, tucked into the Hotel Monaco.