Located on the edge of the National Mall within earshot of the Library of Congress, this handsome restaurant has been a hot spot for the after-work crowd ever since it opened. An expansive book of wines—many of them from California—and a wide selection of charcuterie as well as cheese lure those happy hour masses, but it’s the bigger plates that keep patrons in their seats.
There is a certain easy-breezy vibe to the menu, which paints broad strokes offering everything from pizza to steak to pasta, but quality and care are considered at every turn. Pillowy gnocchi tossed with caramelized onions and blue cheese is the very definition of comfort and indulgence. Not far behind, house-made ice creams (ask for roasted banana) make for a gratifying finale.