Rive Gauche seems to be taking a deep breath and meeting the challenge again. The tables are too small, and you are likely to feel rushed, but the crush is a tribute to the food. Maxime 5300 Wisconsin Ave. NW. The ingredients at 219 are excellent -- big lumps of crabmeat, fresh fish -- but the kitchen is just competent rather than talented, so that overseasoning or overthickening are common. Parking lot. Particularly welcome for a casual little dinner is the good selection of half-bottle of wine. Reservations accepted. L $6-$9, D $9.75-$13. 767-1095. Start with samosas, flaky fried dough triangles stuffed with spiced meat or vegetables and dipped into a wonderful sweet-hot-tart tamarind chutney. MC, V. Reservations required for parties of five or more. If there is a touch too much starch in a sauce here or there, the seasonings are always lively. L, D daily. L,D daily. The Cracked Claw 19815 Frederick Rd. L $3.95-$6.95, D $5.95-$9.50. Children's prices. House of Hunan is an uncommon Fhinese restaurant, uncommonly good, uncommonly elegant, with an array of dishes and special touches found nowhere else in Washington. But it is now furnished with basket tables from Ethiopia and folk art on the walls, along with the original booths. anakeesta photo memories . No reservations. Two cautions: The coffee isn't even strong enough to tint a tablecloth, and throughout dinner you might want to look out for slices of those 20 pounds of garlic. But do stay for a fat, glistening berry tart or creamy walnut cake or chocolate roll. 234-1444. I am guessing it was some sort of steak house, it had big white pillars or columns outside, a two story dining room (I think ) that looked over the big salad bar. which according to my 80 year old mother had big bowls of feta cheese on it?? Sometimes this sprightly Capitol Hill pub serves sensational food, as when it bakes its own herbed pita bread and spices its chili with as liberal dose of seasoning as of chunks of crusty roast beef. Sushi and sashimi are the mainstays, and they are as fresh as you are likely to find in Washington. AE, CB, D, MV, V. Reservations required. 659-1211. Street parking. Hu Nan 4660 Kenmore Ave., Alexandria. 763-6553. L $4.50-$9.75, D $4.25-$17.50. Parking lot. But its prices have lagged behind inflation, so now it must be considered moderate. Open daily. No credit cards. Springfield. L $2.95-$5.10, D $4.95-$7.95. See photos, floor plans and more details about 102 Shepherdson Ln NE, Vienna, VA 22180. . Full bar service. 522-4787. AE, CB,D, MC, V. Reservations suggested. AE, CB, D, MC, V. Reservations accepted. The old faithful dishes are still excellent; sups and the creamy crabmeat veronique as appetizers. Parking lot. Open daily. Closed Sun. No alcoholic beverages. Open daily. Sometimes the food is excellent, as with a spicy rillette or very fresh fish. Parking lot next door. Fox's Pizza Den. Bacchus is a charming little place, with brick walls and tile tables. AE, MC, V. Reservations suggested. Wonderful or just fair, the meal ends agreeably with perky, crisp berry tarts. Order from the front page of specialties and certainly try a Hunan dish -- perhaps shredded chicken with broccoli -- violently hot or very mild, as you wish. The smoked salmon is hard sliced and excellent, equivalent to what many restaurants charge double for. Peking Garden 6802 Commerce St., Springfield. Parking lots. Nearby bus routes include 461, 463, and 467. . The wisest choices are among the blackboard specials, but dinner may be accompainied by indifferent side dishes. Children's prices. Full bar service. 338-8707. You might wonder how this can be considered a decent restaurant, unless you were clever enough to order shrimp de jonghe, jumbo shrimp firm and moist, in a garlic and shallot flecked butter sauce. 19. Timberlake's 1726 Connecticut Ave. NW. Full bar service. L $2.65-$5.25, D $6.50-$14.95. " reasonable food but long wait " 05/12/2022. The shrimp themselves are hugh and extremely fine. The small room, wrapped in multitoned orange cloth panels and mirrors, allows for spacious tables and room for privacy. 965-3040. L $2.50-$6.50, D $2.50 -$12. Landini Brothers is a restaurant that grows on you, even during the meal. No reservations. It is more than a restaurant -- a neighborhood bar, a club for Nora's friends, a skylit pub with a quiet walled courtyard, a haven from frozen and canned and adulterated foodstuffs. Order the vegetables, stuffed or sauteed. And most of the oven cooking or simmering -- stuffed vegetables, baked kibbe, wet couscous -- is overcooked and no better than average. You can wade through a lot o sushi -- and a lot o money -- without batting an eye, or carefully monitor your intake and have had a light, rapid and invigorating lunch in an exquisite setting at a modest price. L,D $.85-$2.50. La Ruche of White Flint White Flint Mall (third floor), Rockville. 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. Chardas 523 South 23rd St., Arlington. 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. 4611 Laverock Pl NW # 1, Washington, DC 20007 is an apartment unit listed for rent at /mo. 3) Of course, one of the most significant stories of DC in the 1970s was the impeachment of President Nixon. 293-1272. The baba ghanouj bests even the Middle Eastern restaurants hereabouts, but hot dishes tend to be superior to cold dishes, which are inclined to be excessively herbed or at least unbalanced. Once a small storefront eating place, Caffe Italiano has expanded to three rooms on two floors decorated with Impressionist paintings and mirrors, white candles on the tablecloths and black vests on the waiters. In the six months during which I visit restaurants -- at least once a day -- for the Fall Dining Guide, I must arbitrarily leave out some that are as important or agreeable as many that are included. The menu divides into fixed-price dinners of $25, $30, $40, and $60, plus a few a la carte items. AE, MC, V. Reservations accepted for dinner only. Parking in front. 872-8677. Full bar service. lobster, D $10.50-$10 per lb. L daily ex Sat, D daily. With salad or quiche and pastry, a shopping break for under $10 is worth adding to your list. Tripadvisor #29 . Chez Grand Mere 3057 M St. NW. L $2.50-$7, D $6.50-$15. Lamb is also excellent here, wither the filet with tarragon or the rack of lamb with a border of very good vegetables. L daily ex Sun, D daily. 948-1775. L $4.75-$8.25, D $9.25-$15.50. Full bar service. Even with a couple of days to craft a response, Khalsa's camp delivered a statement inconsistent with his plea. L $3.75-$4.75, D $3.75-$8.75. Valet parking. There are lapses, in particular the acid marinated trout and weighty quenelles. Related Reads News & Views 1 minute Lake Anne Inn 1617 Washington Plaza, Reston. Open daily. Even the expresso is as good as you are likely to make at home. Street parking. L daily, D daily. L daily ex Sat, D daily. Parking lot across the street. Arlington, VA 22209 (Map & Directions) (703) 524-2929. Cantina is cozy and intimate, but the least stylish-looking northern Italian restaurant downtown. Genesis of South Bay. And the kitchen can produce superb fried foods, fine light sauces and aromatic pasta fillings, so I cannot understand why it settles for pallid sauces and pasty-coated veal with sludgy lemon sauce or vegetables cooked to a mush. AE, CB, MC, V. Reservations accepted. There are flaws: snails with too-strong, too-thick green peppercorn sauce, mussels with garlic butter but no character. L $2-$4.45, D $4.45-$10.95. But Apana has changed its seating arrangements so that you can no longer expect a high-backed booth allowing privacy, but are likely to be seated a few inches from the next table. 0.2 km from Warner Theatre. Phyllis C. Richman Assisted Carole Sugarman; Phyllis C. Richman is restaurant critic of The Washington Post. In a fresh, casual setting of flowered tablecloths and luscious food photography. Full bar service. Closed Mon. Our first installment of long-gone D.C.-area restaurants was such a hit, we couldn't help but dig back into the crates and pull out more old photos for you. 527-0100. Jean-Pierre 1835 K St. NW. L $2.95-$5.75, D $5.45-12.50. Alexander's Three 1500 Wilson Blvd. No credit cards. Full bar service. L daily ex Sun, D daily. 244-5933. Sometimes fresh shellfish emerges in a creamy garlic sauce as a "special apetizer." Reservations accepted. Much of the food, whether the soups or sauces, is slightly clumsy, lacking delicacy or being left too bland. an.". Then, there are dishes like the duck, stringy and gravy-sodden, yet the highest priced on the menu. L, D daily. Valet parking for dinner only. 965-5252. Siam Inn 11407 Amherst Ave., Wheaton. Parking in mall lot under building. The Warehouse 214 King St., Alexandria. The satay, once boldly spiced, juicy skewered meats, were less spicy, their peanut sauce distinctly less peppery. Closed Mon. Parking in nearby lots. Service may require a bit of nudging, but is innately cheerful. more. L $2.45-$3.95, D $3.45-$8.95. Beer and wine only. 998-5115. In all, Harvey's seems tired in the face of energetic new seafood restaruants in town. Street parking. Ae, D, V. Reservations suggested. Open daily. Ae, d, mc, v. Reservations suggested. Street parking or commercial lots. While the menu does not easily translate into English and the waiters are little more descriptive than the menu, the foods are essentially similar, meat or fish stews in peppery tomato or peanut sauces, accompanied on wooden platters by rice or another grain and sauteed cabbage, carrots and zucchini. Rafters at Landmark 2 S. Whiting St., Alexandria. Thai Room 527 13th St. NW. Closed Mon. AE, CB, D, MC, V. Reservations accepted. December 31, 1989. NYC's Best Restaurant Patios. 920-7892. Street parking. 965-2350. September 21, 1980. Le Lion d'Or is as prone to human foibles as any restuarant, but it remains a pace-setter and the most mature of Washington's top three French restaurants. L $3.95-$10, D $7.50-$14.95. L, D $2.25-$5.95. L $5.95-$12.50, D $7.50-$14.50. This photo was taken after he resigned and was leaving the White House. L $1.75-$4.15, D $3.50-$12.95. Children's prices. Start with shrimp tempura, however, and ask if there are stir-fried crabs available. Full bar service. Quick, wholesome All-American food could not be a better bargain than at Sholl's. UNUSED PRE-1980 WATER GATE INN RESTAURANT Washington DC u4365@ - $2.70. No reseravations. AE, V. Reservations suggested. Beer and wine only. L daily ex Sat, D daily. washington, dc restaurants in the 1980s . On a base of very good, highly professional French cuisine, Dominique's builds a lively atmosphere, more a party than any other French restaurant in town. 468-1122. Valet parking, free at dinner. L daily, D daily ex Sat, Sun. In an era that values light eating, Ikado's high prices for small portions detract little from its agreeability. Los Planes de Renderos offers few niceties; the fish will not be boned, and the chicken, though nicely seasoned and crisp, may be reheated. Its high intentions are apparent from the start, from the curved brick stairway under a grand canopy. 347-7100. Soft, rich fabrics cover floors, walls, seats with locally unsurpassed luxury. Street parking. No-smoking section. L $3.25-$8.50, D $8.90-$14.80. Closed Sun. 223-1823. Full bar service. NW. Sunset is an in-town roard-house, a corner joint under the freeway with paneling and booths, sparkling beer signs and beeping pinball machines. Full bar service. Ae, cb, d, mc, v. Reservations suggested. 331-9444. Poets, jazz artists, comics, and punk acts jammed on the tiny stage of this club, once the heart of the city's underground. emily in paris savoir office. Full bar service. Service at the Serbian Crown is moody and erratic; it is the main dishes of this restaurant that show the best of Russian character. 296-3065. Wine service is neglectful. No-smoking section. Full bar seravice. Open daily. Parking lot. AE, CB, D, MC, V. Reservations suggested. 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. The Third Edition 1218 Wisconsin Ave. NW. Children's prices. 790-5164. Parking lot. Most of the menu is enchiladas, though there are some good soups, a mole that needs mellowing and a few other beef and chicken dishes. It is just an enormous old apartment house coffee shop with travel posters and vinyl tablecloths, but Fio's has real southern Italian cooking at coffee-shop prices. Smithsonian? The surprise is fining homemade soup and potato salad which is embellished with pickle relish and celery seeds. FOR SALE! Children's prices. The Frat House. 333-3700. The salmon mousse with green peppercorns is suave and spicy, a pleasant light main course. L $3.25-$4.25, D $3.95-10.95. Its culinary assets are highly peppered and faintly sweet cha gio (spring rolls) and crab farci, which is the same crab-pork filling in larger measure, without the rice-paper crust. 337-7750. 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. AE, CB, D, MC, V. Reservations accepted. D.C. Space. AE, D, MC, V. Reservations suggested. The restaurant is open Sunday-Thursday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday-Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. But except for the sushi and sashimi -- and the seating of strangers at our table in a half-empty room -- the meal was a gem. No-smoking section. Closed Sun. Open daily. L $4.85-$7.75, D $7.95-$12.95. Photographer Michael Horsley documented the era with a fascinating series of 537 photos. 549-1141. Gangplank 600 Water St. SW. 554-5000. AE, CB, D, MC, V. Reservations required. Vincenzo 1606 20th St., NW. Street parking. 9. L, D daily. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Order the more highly seasoned dishes. You tear off bits of pancake and scoop up bits of lamb or lentil stew or chopped raw beef. 941-5494. L $1.75-$5.25, D $1.95-$6.95. Free parking in adjacent lot after 5:30 p.m. Beer and wine only. AE, D, MC, V. Reservations accepted for dinner, accepted only for parties of 10 or more for lunch. 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. AE, CB, D, MC, V. Reservations suggested. O'Donnell's 8301 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda. Full bar service. Closed Mon. L daily ex Sat, Sun, D daily. 244-5544. L $3.45-$4.95, D $3.45-$9.95. Cafe Tatti 6627 Old Dominion Dr., McLean. Split a half-order of onion rings. The Tiki Room. Fiddlers 4340 Connecticut Ave. NW. Unclaimed. Street parking. E, Hyattsville. No credit cards. 232-5431. Closed Sun. Open daily. L daily ex Sat, D daily. Nora is full of clatter, its service rough-edged and harried. The third-year blues have hit La Fourchette. Running a great restaurant is no secret. Full bar service. Full bar service. Children's prices. Chateau Gesundheit 7141 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda. L'Alouette 2045 Wilson Blvd., Arlington. The menu is simple, and the chef generous with herbs, wine, tomatoes and attention to detail. Street parking and nearby lots. 347-5560. San Francisco East Co. 4871 Cordell Ave., Bethesda.986-8566. Vegetables are carved into tiny perfect batons and placed precisely on the plates. Free parking in Alfred St. lot for dinner. L $3.50-$5.50, D $7-$10. It still has nearly half a dozen Ethiopian restaurants but none from Scandinavia. The waiters and chef are garrulous, eager to involve you as a friend of the house. Scads of money and effort went into designing this lush multi-level saloon of sincere wood and polished brass. AE, CB, D, MC, V. Reservations suggested. Bailey's Crossroads. Free shipping for many products! It is contemporary and gregarious, the menu running the usual gamut of burgers and salads, plus a long page of entrees -- steak, omelets, quiches, shrimp. An exception is dessert, for the pastries, particularly the liqueur-soaked tortes, are elaborate and highly professional. Chez Camille 1737 DeSales St. NW. I will try to get to them next year. Food For Thought 1738 Connecticut Ave. NW. Harvey's 15201 Shady Grove Rd., Rockville. Occoquan Inn 301 Mill St., Occoquan, 703/491-1888. AE, CB, D, MC, V. No reservations. Dominique 1900 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Arrangements of bamboo poles suggest huts and gardens. 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. 363-8900. Children's prices.No smoking section. 536-4200. Parking in rear. 338-7772. 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. It would be an improvement to add small, appetizer-priced portions o quiches and pates, particularly since the quiche -- high, fragile custard with a golden surface and shimmery texture -- is worthy of your special attention. Full bar service. L daily ex Sat, Sun, D daily. 340-8596. AE, CB, D, MC, V. Reservations suggested. Full bar service. Open daily. But try the tuna, abalone, salmon roe, all the usual sushi, and be sure to have some rich unctuous eel, with beer to quench the green horseradish fire and a mug of pale gree tea to finish. The Inn Rte. Parking in Kennedy Center garage. Gino's Hamburgers was a fast-food restaurant chain founded in Baltimore, Maryland by Baltimore Colts defensive end Gino Marchetti and running back Alan Ameche, along with their close friends Joe Campanella and Louis Fischer, in 1957.A new group of restaurants under the Gino's name, involving some of the principals of the original chain, was started in 2010. L daily ex Sat, Sun, D daily, Closed Sun. 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. Full bar service. This vegetarian restaurant has expanded by removing dividers that once lent privacy and has added an outdoor cafe. 657-8775. 296-6686. Pigfoot 1812 Hamlin St. NE. Cold and hot appetizers are generally intriguing, notably shrimp cakes with shredded sweet potatoes. L, D $3.75-$7.95. Reservations accepted for five or more only. Candelas 3280 M St. NW. K $3.95-$6.55. Open daily. Open daily. Children's prices. Sep 28, 2022, 11:53 PM. AE, CB, D, MC, V. Reservations suggested. Viet Nam Bistro has grasscloth walls and lacy bamboo hanging lamps. AE, CB, D, MC, V. Reservations accepted, suggested on weekends. Closed Sun. Parking in front. New York City. Closed Mon. Private Events. Gaithersburg. Closed Mon. AE, MC, V. Reservations suggested. Full bar service. L daily ex Sat, Sun, D daily. The fried shoestring potatoes are unbeatable, but order a half-portion for two to four people. Parking lots nearby. 276. Full bar service. Full bar service. AE, CB, CC, D, MC, V. Reservations accepted. Ae, cb, d, MC, V. Reservations suggested. Closed Sun. The Washington, DC of the 1980s and '90s was a dramatically different place than the Washington, DC of 2017. Tiberio has long been a trendsetter, the first of these subtly beautiful northern Italian restaurants that are distinguishable from French primarily by the inclusion of pastas on the menu. 337-8080. L $3.50-$9.50, D $4-$12. Beer and wine only. L $3.95-$7.95, D $7.50-$8.95. MC, V. No reservations. L $5.25-$8.50, D $8.95-$15. Closed Mon, Tues. MC, V. Reservations suggested. Imperial House 1801 K St. NW. Open daily. Old Angler's Inn 10801 MacArthur Blvd., Potomac. The dining room is delightful when the tall windows are opened on a fall day. Parking lots on either side. 332-8077. 770-7888. Mikado 4707 Wisconsin Ave. NW. Full bar service. Tiny lamps reflect in the polished bare wood floor. Parking in rear. Parking lot. L $4.95-$8.95, D $7.50-$13.25. 337-2436. hellcat vs p938; simple small front yard landscaping ideas low maintenance; jenny's super stretchy bind off in the round; senate democratic media center Dominique is the Ted Turner of French restaurateurs. The restaurants also offer outstanding lists of American wines as well as imports. Tacos and enchiladas form only a small part of the menu, which is an extensive list of brilliantly colored and subtly flavored dishes. L daily ex Sun, D daily. Smoked lobster, like smoked crabs, is stir-fried with ginger and scallion. Les Champs The Watergate, 600 New Hampshire Ave. NW. AE, MC, V. Reservations accepted. The bad news is that my last sample of Bacchus' food was nowhere near as luscious as it had been. The Fishery has quickly become a sought-after eating place adorned with long necklaces of prospective diners awaiting tables. Sir Walter Raleigh Inn Check local phone directories for locations. The standard onion soup is unexpectedly fine. Hours & Location. Parking lot. Parking in adjacent lot. L daily ex Sat, Sun, D daily. Parking lots across the street and street parking. Ae, CB, D, MC, V. Reservations suggested. 337-3600. Geranio 724 King St., Alexandria. 1520 14th St NW, Washington DC, DC 20005-3722 - Read more on Tripadvisor. AE, MC, V. Reservations suggested. Chez Juliette 1047 West Broad St., Falls Church. Parking lot. Harry's Restaurant. Middle courses are a mixed bag, though at one day's lunch the crab cakes were stellar, and served with crisp stir-fried vegestables. Parking in building lot. Children's prices. The deep-fried chicken had less crabmeat stuffing. L $2.25-$3.75, D $4.25-$10.95. Some establishments -- Paul Young's and Sans Souci, for example -- were dropped at the last minute because of major staff changes whose effects I had no opportunity to evaluate. Street parking. 548-0076. L daily ex Sat, Sun, D daily. Waiters are so charming and sprightly that you half except them to break out into a song from The Student Prince . No-smoking section. D $9.95-$14.50. Da Vinci 2514L St., NW. Except for a few extraordinary dishes, among them a marinated fish salad similar to seviche, quiche, several fish dishes and strawberry sherbert, the total dinner -- which is fixed price and moderately so -- adds up to more than the sum of individual dishes, which are very competent but not spectacular cooking. L $2.75-$4.95, D $5.50-$7.95. L $4-$10, D $8-$16. German restaurants are scarce in Washington, and Alpenhof reminds you what fun they can be. Boulud, who had briefly worked in D.C. before establishing his empire in New York, opened a branch of his DBGB Kitchen and Bar brasserie in Washington three years ago. Acas; Conducere; Evenimente; Comunicate; Presa; Activiti; why does perdita walk funny gangster hideouts in wisconsin Blaise Gherardi de Parata (1909-1978), a native of Corsica, had come to the United States in 1949 and opened Rive Gauche in 1956. Open daily. The ideal meal at Joe and Mo's is all beef: tartar steak (share a portion as an appetizer) and roast beef, the fullest flavored prime rib in town, more than an inch thick, tender, moist and juicy, permeated with rosemary, basil and garlic. Street parking and nearby lots. Even his early dishes have improved, notably the thin, rare slices of duck breast with a dark, tart lime sauce. This is inventive French cooking, food of considerable excitement. 8. The Big Cheese 3139 M St. NW. mChildren's prices. Full bar service. Valet parking. And it serves French haute cuisine that is at least correct if not always exciting. Street parking. 548-9181. D $5.95-$12.50.D daily. Seafoods are the mainstay of the menu -- fiery barbecued shrimp with heads and shells intact (too fiery and less savory on my last visit), crabmeat with hollandaise and artichoke bottoms in puff pastry (excellent, except for acrid artichokes), catfish fried in crabmeal, oysters pan-broiled with lemon and butter, oysters Bienville. Full bar service. L daily ex Sat, D daily. Street parking and nearby lot. Ledo 2420 University Blvd. L daily ex Sat, D daily. 273-8812. It takes a commitment to fresh, seasonal, peak-perfect foods such as the summer's rockfish and branches of rosemary, and a commitment to cooking them so as to heighten their qualities, perhaps baking them in parchment to seal in juices and mingle flavors. 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. The menu attempts to meet every desire, from pheasant terrine to bacon cheeseburger, from London broil to chicken tarragon salad. Parking lot. Parking in rear. And dessert crepes or Grand Marnier-soaked oranges make wonderful bargain-priced endings. Dynasty 6852 Old Dominion Dr., McLean. Parking lot. L $3.50-$8.25, D $6.50-$14.95. AE, CB, D, MC, V. N reservations. Parking next door. Beer and wine only. L $3.75-$5.25, D $4.25-$13.95. 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. AE, MC, V. Reservations suggested. Parking lot. AE, MC, V. Reservations suggested. The historic restaurant was founded in 1856, originally as a boarding house, and later became known as Washington's first saloon. 33, Urbanna, Va. 804/758-2397. Valet parking for dinner, garage in rear for lunch. AE, CB, D, MC, V. Reservations suggested. Cantina d'Italia 1214-a 18th St. NW. Full bar service. Street parking. AE, C, MC, V. Reservations accepted. 8130 Watson St., Tysons Corner. L $8.50-$13, D $13-$17. Chef Martino presents the cuisine from a new, mouthwatering perspective with innovative takes on fish and chips, shepherd's pie and chicken tikka masala (served with delicious mango chutney). The Hideaway in the back of the Madison Hotel in the 80s. AE, CB, D, MC, V. Reservations suggested, required for four or more during weekends. 900 16th St NW, Washington, DC 20006. L $4.25-$10, D $10.50-$18.50. 635-3888. It is all right, sometimes very good (as in the case of the delicate mousseline of salmon) and sometimes very bad (as with the $21 lobster meat, dry and tough, in a rosy sauce that tasted of little other than a burned base). The 1,000 sq. Open daily. lobster. L $3.25-$6.35, D $15. AE, MC, V. Reservations accepted for dinner only. But Washington's French restaurants are famous for their inconsistency, and Jean-Pierre reaches excellence as often as any except perhaps the top three, and serves with as much suave expertise as any, bar none. It is simple and English, as handsome as Basil Rathbone and of similar vintage. No wonder. La Brasserie 239 Massachusetts Ave. NE. Jonah's Oyster Kitchen Hyatt Regency Hotel, 400 New Jersey Ave. NW. 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. Even the wine list is particularly well chosen. Parking in garage, valet parking for dinner. All this, and the prices are low, servings large and menu extensive. 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. $1.69 $1.99 . L daily ex Sat, Sun, D daily. Street parking. Unfortunately, their attentions are intermittent, as is the quality of the food. Children's prices No-smoking section. Country Living Cafe 4849 1/2 Massachusetts Ave. NW. AE, CB, CC, D, V. Reservations suggested. 628-2330. Quincy's 5444 Columbia Pike, Arlington. While Le Rendez-Vous serves Thai, Korean, Indonesian and Chinese food, it is, like Germaine's, primarily a Vietnamese restaurant. L $3.95-$7.95, D $6.95-$15.75. Parking lot. No credit cards. 58 restaurants, 4 parks. Foggy Bottom Cafe The River Inn, 924 25th St. NW. AE, D, MC, V. Reservations required. L $1.75-$5.25, D $3.75-$9.95. 3. And the food is always decent and hearty, always served in huge portions and sometimes great. BEFORE YOU POST A HOTEL REQUEST, PLEASE READ THIS CAREFULLY! Main courses, too, are good, particularly the liver with sage or any veal dish. 393-3330. Street parking. L $3.95-$6.95, D $6.25-$9.95. United States. The food is pretty good, particularly soups and pastries, the latter served from an imposing array on a rolling cart. All this has been to the accompaniment of service so inept that customers have been known to serve one another. Begin, if it is available, with a pate of fish, beautifully ribboned with pink salmon and green spinach, perhaps with a heart of white fish and green avocado. Nizam's 523 Maple Ave. W., Vienna. Parking lot in front. Donatos Pizza. L, D daily. Children's prices. Full bar service. "Children's prices" indicates that restaurants serve smaller portions of regular entrees at reduced rates or have a seperate children's menu. Open daily. $1.69 $1.99 . Kabul Caravan 1725 Wilson Blvd., Arlington. From Duke Zeibert's to . Full bar service. No alcoholic beverages. The metaphorosis of the Atlantic actually began in the late 1970s, when the building's then-owner, Paul Parsons, who made his money mostly renting out office space at rock-bottom prices that started at . Hefty dishes are the most suitable to order -- the sausages or liver, for instance, but save room for a flaky apple tart and good espresso.