The D.C. Restaurants We Loved in June

For standout Persian dishes…

… head to the gorgeous restaurant that is Joon, go with a group, and try as many different dishes as possible! We started with several dips and freshly-baked flatbread — the hummus with lamb, muhammara, kashk-e bademjan, and mast-o khiar — before trying the pistachio soup and lamb toshka, followed by the sour cherry tahdig, barramundi, and grilled prawns. Everything was delicious, but the pistachio soup was a surprising hit, reminiscent of a warm vichyssoise.

Pro tip: It’s a great restaurant to visit with vegetarians and/or pescatarians because they have so many flavorful options without meat.

— Aggie Chin, Regional Manager, D.C.

Every meal has exuded warmth…

… at Lutèce, from the hospitality to the contemporary take on classic dishes. Don’t sleep on trying something new, as the menu is ever evolving. I’m still thinking about their take on escargot and mushrooms en croûte and the tried-and-true gnocchi.

— Grayden Kough, Senior Restaurant Success Manager

Still can’t get over…

… a meal I had at Daru, where all the flavor profiles were so unique yet homey at the same time. We ordered the bison momo, avocado pani puri, and the lasooni lamp chops, which melted in the mouth and were perfect with the garlic naan and murgh makhani.

The drinks were definitely the highlight (be prepared to get a couple!) — I got the Artemesiac, their take on a classic daiquiri but with grilled pineapple. The meal was memorable in more ways than one: my mom got to meet my best friend for the first time and it was lovely to share that over this meal.

— Felicity Lin, Senior B2B Marketing Analyst

One of my favorite recent meals…

… took place at Le Diplomate in Logan Circle. I walked in before a nearby show at Studio Theatre and sat at the back bar. I had the lobster Thermidor, and it was amazing.

— Robert DeFelice, Enablement Analyst

There’s a gem about an hour or so outside of D.C. …

… and it’s Tremolo Bar in Middleburg, VA. It’s a great stop for some delicious bites and drinks if you are making a day trip to some Virginia wineries or going on a weekend getaway.

A friend and I went recently for lunch and really enjoyed the yellowfin tuna crudo — the textures were fantastic between the unctuous tuna, perfectly toasted pine nuts, and thinly sliced chiles. Plus, the Calabrian chile oil gave it a nice kick with an umami note, too. We also loved the stracciatella with blue crab and sugar snap peas, served with slices of toasted flatbread. It was incredibly decadent, but still somehow light and fresh. The chicken noodle salad was the perfect dish to cap off our lunch on a hot summer day. It was so flavorful with a creamy peanut sauce, mixed with sliced cucumbers and lettuce, and topped off with a healthy drizzle of chile crunch. All the plates are perfect for sharing; I wish we’d gone with our husbands to be able to try more of the dishes!

Pro tip: They have an extensive wine list, with everything available by the glass, but they also have many off-menu wines, too. If you don’t see something that calls to you, engage their friendly and knowledgeable staff to guide you toward a wine you’ll love.

— Aggie Chin, Regional Manager, D.C.