Full bar service. L daily ex Sat, D daily. Eating trends move slowly, but in Washington they are continuing steadily towards seafoods and away from red meats. The brownies, the chocolate chip cookies (from the Capitol Hill branch's carryout market), the macadamia nut roll, the chicken and green bean and seafood salads would win on any first ballot. Full bar service. The Prime Rib 2020 K St. NW. L $4.50-$14.50, D $9.75-$16. 659-1830. Taverna Cretekou 818 King St., Alexandria. 234-6969. Henry Africa 607 King St., Alexandria. No credit cards. AE, MC, V. One hour free parking, Washington; mall parking lot, Falls Church. L, D $4.95-$5.95. In fact, from subtle rabbit pate to assorted sublime sherbets arranged like a bouquet, my most recent meal was fine, save the flown-in-from-France St. Pierre fish, which lost a lot through jet lag. The Third Edition 1218 Wisconsin Ave. NW. L daily, D daily ex Sun. No reservations. I will try to get to them next year. Sushi and sashimi are the mainstays, and they are as fresh as you are likely to find in Washington. Commercial parking lots or street. L $3.25-$7.95, D $4.50-$9.50. Closed Sun. Crisfield 8012 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring. Start with shrimp tempura, however, and ask if there are stir-fried crabs available. 657-8775. Full bar service. L, D $1.50-$4.95. Parking lots near Lincoln Memorial? L $3.95-$8.75, D $3.95-$14. Full bar service. Open daily. Clyde's/Georgetown 3236 M St. NW. $1.69 $1.99 . Children's meals. AE, MC, V. Reservations suggested, required on Fri, Sat. Full bar service. Closed Mon. 794-8818. Reservations suggested. An Adams-Morgan townhouse has been spruced up and hung with African artifacts, set with brown and white vinyl-covered tables and reborn as an Ethiopian-Sudanese restaurant. The satay, once boldly spiced, juicy skewered meats, were less spicy, their peanut sauce distinctly less peppery. Children's prices. The liver pate is smooth and subtly peppered. Street parking. 8. Vincenzo is a purist's Italian seafood restaurant, serving only seafood and almost always fresh seafood. Clyde's/Tysons Corner 8332 Leesburg Pike, Vienna. 965-1789. 965-5252. L $3.25-$5, D $5-$9. Main courses, too, are good, particularly the liver with sage or any veal dish. Full bar service. Le Vagabond 7315 Wisconsin Ave. NW. The Inn Rte. Street parking and nearby lots. Closed Sun. L $3-$4.50, D $5.50-$7.70. If there is a touch too much starch in a sauce here or there, the seasonings are always lively. 347-5560. AE, MC, V. Reservations accepted. L $3.75-$5.95, D $6.50-$12.50. Parking lot. L $6.50-$9.95, D $10.95-$14.95. 338-0900. Courtesy of Wikimedia/Oliver F. Atkins. L $3.75-$6, D $4.95-$12. Don't expect anything fancy, just lots of straightforward food in a heavy fog of garlic, lemon and oregano to remind you of the Mediterranean. No-smoking section. Open daily. The food -- which includes dishes such as sausages with lentils, pot au feu and cassoulet -- is endearing if not spectacular. The surprise is fining homemade soup and potato salad which is embellished with pickle relish and celery seeds. In an era that values light eating, Ikado's high prices for small portions detract little from its agreeability. Figaro's Pizza. There are only a few pastas from which to choose, but you should start with the spinach-stuffed agnolotti in cream sauce. 362-6515. D daily. L $3.25-$4.95, D $7.25-$13.95. 1982 Having introduced nouvelle cuisine at Ma Maison in Los Angeles, Chef Wolfgang Puck presents "California cuisine" to patrons of his new chic-casual Sunset Strip restaurant, Spago. Full bar service. Always new sushi appear on the menu above the sushi bar, nowadays salted roe with raw quail eggs. Some of the food is dismal, e.g., tough shrimp in limp crust, the whole to be dipped in mustardy orange marmalade; flabby fried potato slices. L $3.25-$8.50, D $8.90-$14.80. L daily ex Sun, D daily. AE, CB, D, MC, V. Reservations accepted. Open daily. No mousse in town is as light as Le Pavillon's chicken liver mousse with lobster, truffles and red and green peppers. Full bar service. L, D daily. While not meant to draw diners for a gastronomic evening, the Kennedy Center's Roof Terrace restaurant is doing a better-than-ever job of serving theatergoers quickly and decorously. L $1.95-$5.75, D $2.95-$5.75. L, D $2.25-$9. Start dinner with a champagne and framboise cocktail and end by taking home a quiche or plum tart for tomorrow when you wish you were back at Chez Francois. Much of the food is the familiar pub level: large portions of fairly tasteless ingredients. Reservations accepted. From Duke Zeibert's to . With most of the main dishes under $4 and a jug of that intriguing honey wine $1, Mamma Desta's is a unique bargain. What is a nice little Italian restaurant like this doing overcooking its fritto misto and turning its cheese sauce into mock Velveeta? The food is excellent as well." more. 244-1740. We always wondered how they could do it so cheaply, and now we know that they can't anymore, at least they can't keep the quality as it was. A magazine, a kir, the fish of the day and a flaky browned fruit tart are the makings of a delightful $10 vacation from Georgetown shopping. Harry's Restaurant. AE, MC, V. Reservations suggested, required for eight or more. Ae, cb, d, MC, V. Reservations suggested. 321. D daily. Valet parking. Elaborate preparations at Le Bagatelle are least likely to please, except for desserts. Szechuan Garden Bethesda 7800 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda. Service is formal, attentive. Location. The menu attempts to meet every desire, from pheasant terrine to bacon cheeseburger, from London broil to chicken tarragon salad. Parking garage. Full bar service. Behind those etched glass walls of the bread oven is a miniature neighborhood, where bread is being baked, and major decisions are being made between eclairs and pear tarts. Black Rose 1101 17th St. NW. 234-1444. 596-6500. L daily ex Sat, Sun, D daily. The other dishes on the menu, most of which are designated delicacies or specialities, tend to be very mildly seasoned, so you might want to urge the kitchen to loosen up a bit. Full bar service. Mc, v. Reservations accepted. Hickory-smoked slabs of meat, cafeteria lines and Formica are as American as the Stars and Stripes, so if you are looking for something to categorize as an American restaurant, try O'Brien's. L $3.25-$7.50, D $5.95-$10.50. Full bar service. Valet parking for dinner only. Start with pasta, perhaps linquine with crab and tomato or with clams, or risotto to share among several people. 1232 36th Street NW, Washington, DC 20007 (202) 342-0009. L $2.25-$4.95, D $2.50-$7.50. But the highlight of an evening at Dominique's might be the service, for the troop of young waiters and waitresses seem not only to know their job, but to enjoy it. Parking in shopping center lot. Closed Sun. Here is one that is purely American. Private Events. Reservations required. 244-2037.L, D $2.95-$8.50. 734-1900. Full bar service. Mc, v. Reservations suggested. L, D daily. AE, CB, D, MC, V. Reservations suggested. But service is indifferent unless you are a friend of the house, and little thought is given to the sensitivities of the diner. Beer and wine only. The Indian food is as enticing as ever, pretty and fresh with subtle contrasts of seasoning and texture. Full bar service. The House of Hunan is an exceptional addition to Washington's hundreds of Chinese restaurants, and Vincenzo's, once the kinks are ironed out, is aiming for the top among Italian restaurants. 5825 Seminary Rd. Open daily. Lido di Venezia 200 N. gLebe Rd., Arlington. Patent Pending National Portrait Gallery, 9th and G Sts. D daily. I have tried googling to no avail and even scrolled thru every restaurant listed for DC here on TA no luck. The California touch is evident -- and welcome -- in an antipasto pyramided with fine Italian ham and salami, sharp, aged provolone, plump anchovies and pungent little olives over a bed of crisp romaine, with cruets of oil and vinegar to dress it yourself. Long a favorite of mine for its refreshing, serene dining room and fresh, inventive food, the Big Cheese has expanded to a lush upstairs dining room full of exotic colorful fabrics and glorious watercolor prints and raised its prices while slipping in quality. Order online. Full bar service. Some dishes are hot, but more are piquant or aromatic or multi-flavored without being hot. L $2.75-$5, D $3.50-$7. La Fonda 1639 R St. NW. Gaithersburg. Hu Nan 4660 Kenmore Ave., Alexandria. L $4.95-$8.95, D $7.95-$13.95. Full bar service. Parking lot. L, D daily. This two-story green and white pub with sidewalk cafe is lively, usually fun if you don't consider noise and fun mutually exclusive. L $2.25-$4.25, D $2.25-$9. The heart of the nenu is the a la carte section: tacos are puffy or crisp, depending on which you order, well stuffed and well seasoned. Full bar service.Children's meals. Usually the pastas are homemade, delicate, delicious.You can get an excellent meal at Tiberio, fresh fish and pale veal and seafoods in buttery cream sauces, and even richer tarts and cakes for dessert. One could hardly tell from the outside, but there is new life at the China Inn. 656-6200. Except for a few silk flower arrangements, the decor is standard Virginia Shopping Center Ethnic: dark wood veneer paneling, booths along the sides, red tablecloths and candles in red globes, and American colonial brass chandeliers. No credit cards. L daily ex Sat, D daily. Ae, mc, v. Parking lot. Most interesting, though, are the daily specials, from simle breast of chicken with mustard to exotic snails wrapped in puff pastry. Armand's Chicago Pizzeria 4231 Wisconsin Ave. NW. L daily ex Sat, Sun, Mon, D daily. Parking lot. 548-2255. L daily ex Sat, D daily. No-smoking section. Full bar service. Saigon Inn is far from elaborate, and there is nothing spectacular about the food. Full bar service. L $3.95-$5.25, D $5.50-$11.95. Children's prices. Also try seafood curry and pork rolls with broccoli. L daily ex Sat, Sun, D daily. 4) On the lighter side, David Bowie performed in DC during the Young Americans tour in 1974. Bamboo House 9650 Main St., Fairfax. Chez Camille 1737 DeSales St. NW. L $2.25-$4.95, D $3.25-$8.25. Even the chocolate mousse was dried out. L daily ex Sat, D daily. Parking garage. L $3.50-$4.95, D $3.95-$5.50. AE, CB, D, MV, V. Reservations required. 296-8075. Tabard Inn continues as a compliment to contemporary American cooking. T. Gregory's 2915 M St. NW. L daily ex Sat, D daily. DITCH THE VALET: Affordable Parking Options for under $10/nt, How to Request a White House Tour as a Foreign Visitor - 2019. Street parking. A little less foreign than it once was, Bamiyan now has American watresses, but they seem familiar with the Afghan food. St. Regis 2218 Wisconsin Ave. NW. 333-3323. Full bar service. This grandiose red and gold shopping center Chinese restaurant has benefited from the conversion, for the food is now fresh and carefully cooked, served in generous portions. Washington still has about 5,000 restaurants. No smoking section. AE, MC, No reservations. MC, V. Reservations accpted. L $3.25-$8.25, D $4.95-$14.95. MC, V. Reservations accepted. District of . L $1.75-$4.15, D $3.50-$12.95. Full bar service. more. L, D daily. Prices are generally around two digits for entrees, but this is Indian food of particular character, where the interplay of aromas and tastes takes precedence over heat. Connected to a seafood market, The Fishery gets the best. Napoleon's 2649 Connecticut ave. NW. It was known for its burgers, hot dogs, and milkshakes. No reservations.Street parking. AE, CB, D, MC, V. Reservations suggested, required for four or more during weekends. AE, D, MC, V. Reservations accepted. Oxtail soup, in contrast, is disappointing. Parking next door. D $10.95-$15. No reservations. No reservations. For many years the godfather of Washington's French restaurants, Rive Gauche has continued to maintain a glorious red and gold dining room with a well-oiled staff. L daily ex Sat, D daily. The menu is small, with California contemporary touches on its Italian base. L $3.25-$6.25, D $7.25-$14.75. Children's prices. L $2.50-$5.95, D $4.25-$8.50. Try them. Wash them down with bargain-priced Italian wines, finish with eggy golden homemade tortoni and figure that what you spent in gas to find the place was saved in the price of the veal. All this has been to the accompaniment of service so inept that customers have been known to serve one another. Daily specials have included surprises like Moroccan chicken-egg-almond pie in filo dough. View Website. Full bar service. After the last chord, the crowdwho had paid a few bucks to see acts like Fugazi, Soulside, or 9353spilled out into the dark, nearly deserted streets. 3, Irvington, Va. 804/438-6000. Mike palm's 321 Pennsylvania Ave. But it emphasizes light suppers for after the theater. But the execution of the dishes ranges from excellent -- moist crayfish in impeccable white butter sauce, oysters fried on skewers and bedded on spinach, thick veal medallions with fleshy, woodsy mushrooms -- to fishy, oversalted salmon terrine that should have been relegated to the cats. No credit cards. L $3.75-$5.75, D $5.25-$8.95. Children's prices. Hill - 406 8th St SE) The Greenery (18th btw L and M) The Guards (2915 M St NW) The Hayloft. Closed Sun. By all means order murgh tandoori, the red-crusted tandoor-cooked chicken that shows this cooking to best advantage. Parking lot. AE, CB, D, MC, V. Reservations accepted. 265-5860. AE, CB, D, MC, V. Reservations suggested. Ramparts 1700 Fern St., Alexandria. Da Vinci 2514L St., NW. L, D $3.50-$10.95. The sandwich breads and ice creams are homemade. L $7.75-$9.50, D $16.50-$25. L daily ex Sat, D daily. Food For Thought 1738 Connecticut Ave. NW. D daily. Restaurants listed but not reviewed requested inclusion. In 2009, a new Beefsteak Charlie's opened in the Westfield Sunrise Mall in Nassau County, which closed shortly after being open for business. But if something very homey, like veal stuffed with seasoned bread crumbs and braised in a brown sauce, is on the menu, you have hit a good night. Service depends on the patience of the diners; it seems as if it is the first day on the job for every one of the smiling waitresses. Commercial parking lot next door. L $1.75-$5.25, D $1.95-$6.95. AE, CB, D, MC, V. Reservations suggested. No credit cards. L, D daily. Children's prices. AE, MC, V. No reservations. 881-1100. 203 Strand St., Alexandria. L $5.50-$9.95, D $8.95-$14.95. The Fishery 5511 Connecticut Ave. NW.363-2144. Blackie's House of Beef 1217 22nd St. NW. Full bar service. Street parking. Closed Sat, Sun. L,D $.85-$2.50. AE, CB, D, MC, V. Reservations suggested. d.c. space 443 7th St. NW. Their very names -- fish dipped in boiling water with spices, smoked lobster, pelican's nest -- are evocative. Closed Sun. Bare linoleum, a bakery counter, beaded curtains and a well-scrubbed air make up the Arabian Nights, a family-run operation that is just short of eating in someone's home. Closed Sun. The chiles that once brought tears to the eyes have been held in reserve. AE, MC, V. Reservation suggested. 956-2209.L $5.95-$8.95, D $9.25-$14.50. No alcoholic beverages. L $4-$10, D $8-$16. Open daily. The Warehouse 214 King St., Alexandria. 544-6352. L $3-$7.50, D $3.75-$17. A dollop of cold spinach sparked with sesame seeds and soy sauce, a few fresh plump crab chunks marinated with cucumbers in vinegar, a small still life of not-fresh-enough sashimi and a five- or six-inch chunk of superb, unctuous eel with a sesame-lemon-dressed salad recently provided two people with an austere meal for nearly $30. D (fixed price) $25, $30, $40 or $60. Children's prices. Valet parking. Open daily. Street parking. L daily, D daily ex Sun. Ae, cb, d, mc, v. Reservations suggested.Parking lot. Parking lot. Full bar service. D daily. A tribute to its success, Trattu has developed from a cute little downstairs Italian restaurant to a two-branch operation and has given rise to spinoffs that copy its menu. Enriqueta's 2811 M St. NW. sGiven that the salad bar is one of J. R's assets, keep in mind that the Tysons Corner branch has no salad bar, but serves "selections" from its salad bar instead. 893-3390. Rosy walls and violin music, caviar with bliny and vodka with strawberries -- such are the touches that set the Serbian Crown apart from the crowd of Washington's elegant restaurants. Upstairs, several small rooms are appointed with fireplaces and ruby velvet chairs, silver napkin rings and salt shakers. Specialized in Fish and. L daily ex Sat, D daily ex Sun. L, D $1.95-$12.50. Although the list of hors d'oeuvres is tempting, particularly the caviars with or without bliny, main dishes are more satisfactory, notably fish wrapped in pastry -- pate de sole Vladimir for one person, or kulebiaka for two people. ft. apartment is a 1 bed, 1.0 bath unit. Tung bor is an ambitious Chinese restaurant, but its best efforts go into dim sum, so it is best visited at lunchtime. L, D daily. Children's prices. Full bar service. 820-5775. Parking lot in front. Luigi's of Bethesda 4919 Fairmont Ave., Bethesda. Thai Room 527 13th St. NW. Street parking or nearby lots. Closed Sun. The hummos special, topped with ground beef and almonds, was not a prettily arranged or as tangy. Parking in front. MC, V. No reservations. 965-1185. Beer and wine only. 522-8394. Beer and wine only. Le Jardin 1113 23rd St. NW. Lake Anne Inn 1617 Washington Plaza, Reston. Full bar service. Bistro Francais 3124 M St. NW. The cooking at Nora is better than ever, the soups dense with flavor, the lunchtime picadillo sweetly spiced with cumin, onions and peppers. AE, D, MC, V. Reservations accepted for dinner, accepted only for parties of 10 or more for lunch. Ledo is probably Prince George's County's longest running hit, for nobody can remember not seeing a line outside its front door. L $3.25-$4.75, D $3.50-$15. Every Friday night, he would head to The Day Lily, a red and gold velvet-walled Chinese restaurant . Marcel's by Robert Wiedmaier. The Hideaway in the back of the Madison Hotel in the 80s. Street parking. Parking lot. 232-8844. Reservations accepted. *tImperial Garden has turned Vietnamese -- sort of. Mamma Desta 4840 Georgia Ave. NW. Children's prices. $6 $3.25-$5.95, D $7.25-$15. The plain broiled fish is a tribute to the subtleties of plain cooking. Woodley Park. Although the menu has resisted change -- and faddism -- for years, the infusion of new talent and nouvelle cuisine in Washington's other restaurants has spurred Rive Gauche on to better efforts. The restaurants also offer outstanding lists of American wines as well as imports. Pheasant terrine tastes like mashed-up canned meat. Children's prices. View Menu. MC, V. No reservations. null is served by 33 transit routes. In 1970, the Old Ebbitt Grill was struggling . No alcoholic beverages. Full bar service. And the least interesting is at the end -- the ubiquitous carrot cake. Closed Sun. On my last visit it was the food. . Full bar service. AE, MC, V. Reservations accepted. AE, D, V. Reservations suggested. In the pasta department, the noodles are either homemade or top-quality imports, cooked to the proper bite, and often sauced with distinction, as in spaghetti matriciana with its light peppery tomato sauce and chunks of lean, smoky bacon. Evans Farm Inn 1696 Chain Bridge Rd. Closed Mon. Parking lot. Parking in building. Children's prices. 244-1100. AE, MC, V. Reservations accepted for eight or more only. 3) Of course, one of the most significant stories of DC in the 1970s was the impeachment of President Nixon. Full bar service. L $5.95-$8.75, D $8.95-$15.95. Closed Mon. Full bar service. Publick House 3218 M St., NW. 333-2266. L $4.75-$8.25, D $9.25-$15.50. The stronghold of McDonald's, Pizza Hut , Burger King, and other giants of the '80s made the competition stiff. Full bar service. Le Lion d'Or 18th and M Sts. Closed Mon. The bad news is that my last sample of Bacchus' food was nowhere near as luscious as it had been. NW. 347-1445. No-smoking section. Street parking. Auto Services. L $4.50-$8.50, D $10.50-$16. L $2.25-$4.95, D $5.95-$12.95. Pork bows are too sweet, turnip cakes too bland, but the endings -- coconut-stuffed sesame puffs or deep-fried ice cream with rum and chocolate sauce -- recoup any losses. 1213 Wilson Blvd. No-smoking section. Full bar seravice. 244-5933. Kalorama Cafe 2228 18th St. NW. Food, as you have probably guessed, is not central, but is one of those minor details that is handled well and thus plays an important role in this success story. Full bar service. Pizza with Duck Sausage wins quick stardom. Full bar service. The rest is slippery ground, for the vichyssoise tastes only of starch, the marinated seafood is an embarrassment of chewiness, the creamed spinach tastes like imitation canned, and the swordfish has been repeatedly overcooked. And, just as clothes may make the woman, Pueblo Joe's makes Washington's best-dressed restaurant list. Beer and wine only. In a fresh, casual setting of flowered tablecloths and luscious food photography. Capriccio's concerts now regularly garner praise from DC's top reviewers. L daily. Pines of Rome 4709 Hampden La., Bethesda. Full bar service. Full bar service. Tourists, policemen, office workers and down-and-outers mix in this cafeteria line, where liver is less than $1. Free shipping for many products! Closed Sun. Open daily. Early to mid 1980s Restaurant. Samurai Sushiko 2309 Wisconsin Ave., NW. Joe and Mo's 1211 Connecticut Ave. NW. L $2.45-$3.25, D $3.50-$8.95. McGuire's 1330 Pennsylvania Ave. Full bar service. The good news is that Bacchus now serves Lebanese food at lunch as well as dinner. You may start with asparagus dried out in the reheating, but you are likely to have traded recipes with one of the owners by the end, after eating too much of his homemade bread, and still be tempted to end with a marvelous zucotto. 528-8886. Parking lot. Smoked lobster, like smoked crabs, is stir-fried with ginger and scallion. Lotus Inn 2404 Wisconsin Ave. NW. D daily. Children's prices. La Scala 4915 Silver Hill Rd., Suitland. AE, CC, MC, V. Reservations suggested. Saigon Inn 6922-A Braddock Rd., Annandale. Street parking. Full bar service. Flagship Restaurant Seafood Menu Washington DC 1980's A large 4 page dinner menu from the Flagship Restaurant in Washington DC Circa early 1980's. Measures about 8 3/4" x 13 3/4" when closed. Street parking. Full bar service. AE, MC, V. Reservations suggested. The tables are too small, and you are likely to feel rushed, but the crush is a tribute to the food. While Le Rendez-Vous serves Thai, Korean, Indonesian and Chinese food, it is, like Germaine's, primarily a Vietnamese restaurant. Fellini's Pizza. AE, CB, D, MC, V. Reservations accepted, suggested on weekends. No reservations. AE, DC, MC, V. Reservations suggested. L daily ex Sat, Sun, D daily. L $3.15-$6.35, D $4.75-$12.95. L $3.75-$6.50, D $9.25-$12.25. The dishes are colorful and bulging in the right places. Chef Yannick Cam brought nouvelle cuisine to Washington, and with Jean-Louis of the Watergate, has maintained high excitement on the palates of Washington, at least those who are willing to spend what such handiwork costs and who are not offended by small portions but appreciate their arrangement as well as their preparation. L $4.25-$11.50, D $5.95-$13.95. L $4.50-$7, d $7.50-$15.50. D daily. Full bar service. 532-9290. Kramerbooks & afterwords Cafe 1517 Connecticut Ave. NW. Valet parking for dinner. Parking lot. Parking lot. MC, V. Reservations accepted. And the service is still quietly efficient. MC, V. Reservations accepted, suggested on weekends. In either case, the quality is as impressive as the variety.As for dinner, Tung Bor emphasizes fresh fish and seafood, and one is wise to follow suit. More. AE, CB, D, MC, V. Reservations accepted. No credit cards. L daily ex Sun, D daily. Cold and hot appetizers are generally intriguing, notably shrimp cakes with shredded sweet potatoes. D, MC, V. Reservations suggested. Our chic private dining room offers an intimate experience with a view of our expansive wine cellar. Parking in commercial lots. Parking across the street. Washington's French restaurants tend to look significant, with canopies and pompous entrances. Free parking in Alfred St. lot for dinner. Also on the menu are stuffed cabbage, squash or grape leaves, kibbeh and a few curries, but none of them matches the kebabs. . Full bar service. 824-0909. Ocean ix offers a wide variety of fresh fish whole and in filets, but service is harrassed. Parking in rear. But if you ignore the flossy touches, such as cloying Polynesian drinks, and approach this as a hospitable neighborhood Chinese restaurant with a Vietnamese accent, you will find it worth remembering when you are around Tysons Corner. Few places on Capitol Hill, and fewer of Washington's Chinese restauurants, are so serene. Capucine 1645 Wisconsin Ave. NW. And if cheesecake is on the list, reserve a piece, for it is superlative creamly, lemony, dense cheesecake with a light washof raspberry sauce. 783-4133. Still, from the orange-scented ramos gin fizz to bananas Foster, a dinner (or brunch) at 219, accompanied by a sprightly -- and reasonable -- bottle of vouvray, is sufficiently reminiscent of New Orleans to recommend the trip. L daily ex Sat, Sun, D daily. Take the family and order family-size portions of meat or seafood platters, pizza and pasta and a carafe of wine. Intrigue 824 New Hampshire Ave. NW. Ae, cb, d, MC, V. Reservations suggested. Closed Sun. L $3.95-$7.95, D $6.95-$15.75. The dining room is distinctively African, with grassy wall coverings and artifacts, woven fans hanging from the back of each ladderback chair. L daily ex Sat, Sun, D daily. 1828 Columbia Rd. L daily ex Sat, D daily. L daily ex Sat, D daily. AE, MC, V. Reservations suggested. 370-0060. E, MC, V. Reservations suggested. This highly personable and vaguely unkempt French restaurant is back to its old level of inconsistency, with bouillabaisse of exceptional flavor but with dry and mushy seafoods, choucroute well balanced in flavor but its meats ariid and chewy.