My Favorite Restaurants in and around DC
I’m a lover of good food. I enjoy seeking out restaurants around my city. The ambiance, quality of food, and customer service of a place will keep me coming back. Although I am a creature of habit and I will usually order the same meal over and over again. I pride myself in that I know good food. My grandmother’s southern cooking has taught me from a child. Also, I am a libra, lover of beautiful people places and things. In the list below, I will share some of my favorite restaurants, why they are my favorite, and some tips to have a great dining experience. These places are sure to impress you, your palate, your pockets, and/or your date.
Parking🅿️ Quality Food👨🏿🍳 Customer Service 🤵🏾Ambiance🥂 Date Night👩🏾❤️👨🏿 Mobile Office👩🏾💻 Prices💰

Mike’s American
Mike’s is a classic restaurant with an American cuisine in Springfield Virginia. This restaurant is a family restaurant and is appropriate for all ages. Their menu is here.
There is a rather large parking lot out front that is full most of the time. The parking lot can be full on a weekday at 11:30am, and they open at 11:00am. But do not worry, there is an overflow parking lot across the street. This is not like DC, there is ample parking a short distance away. If you want to get a seated quicker, sit over in the bar area off to the left (as you walk in). A bartender will come over and take your order. The downfall to me is, the bar stools with no back to rest on, but the chair seat itself is rather large. The bar area is also child friendly which is valuable when you want to eat fast and get going.
Always call to make reservations on high traffic times. In the past, the server would automatically and promptly bring out complementary dinner rolls. Now, they don’t give them complimentary anymore, they are $1, and most serves don’t ask. If you want rolls before your meal, ask for them.
My favorite appetizers are the firecracker shrimp and crab dip. On the days when they are out of crab dip, the hostesses will politely tell you “the crab dip is out of season”. A fancy way to say we are all sold out until a new shipment comes in. The crab dip can be out of season Monday and back in season on Wednesday. For entrees, it has to be the grilled salmon salad(well done) or the crabs cakes. My son loves the filet mignon steak (butterflied, well done). We always order an 8oz which gives me the chance to steal some of his. For children, this is the only place I know you can get a quality cooked grilled salmon and a side for $8, that your child will love.
The service is top notch, I have been patronizing this business for years over years and I have yet to have a bad server. I can tell when I server was new, but I have not had bad serve yet. That is not an easy feat for a restaurant. The restaurant is housed in a large brick building. There are large window and the classic revolving door. When you enter you are greeted with a hostess station. They will take your party number and hand you a ticket or escort you to a seat on the same floor. If you are given a ticket, you will be guided upstairs to the second floor to dine. This restaurant is sure to wow your date with the ambiance and delicious food.
Mike’s is not the best place to use as a mobile office. The appetizers come out right away and the plates are huge. The servers do an excellent job at removing use plates that you are done with. The largest party of people they except is 10 people with reservations. But if you are going on a weekend evening/night or holiday with a party of 3 or more, just call in and make reservations.
The main reason I continue to come back to Mike’s time after time is because their food has not let me down yet. The dishes taste the same every time, the drinks are always top notch, the customer service is great, the ambiance is classically beautiful, and its a great place for date night a family outing or a business meeting. The prices are worth it and they don’t change.
Top Shelf Margaritas (Patron)- $14
Gratuity Included in bill – No
Urban Roast
Urban Roast is a cute and cozy restaurant in the heart of downtown DC. If you want ambiance, this is the place. During the day, parking is tough and don’t forget to be mindful of the parking signs near where you want to park. Washington DC is notorious and strict about making money from parking and moving violation revenues. As soon as you walk in, you are met with the bar area and a small dining section. There is no way to miss the ceilings and walls covered with synthetic plants. It’s cute. This restaurant is the perfect place for date night. They have an outside seating area, but the restaurant is seated on a street with tall buildings on each side of the street. That means no views, but it’s downtown DC so it’s a high traffic area. A place for people watching if the weather permits. I have only visited this restaurant during lunch hour when it is slow without many people. I have heard Urban Roast is acceptable for birthday celebrations.
I will order the fried shrimp appetizer. They are delicious. For an entree, I favor the salad with added salmon. And well done, everything well done. I don’t eat Caesar Salads, and I order my salads (everywhere) with all salad dressing on the side and extra cucumbers and dates if offered. The drinks there are cute and a little above average priced. They do not offer Patron which is my favorite. The menu is here.
The customer service there is okay. There is nothing special about it. Although the customer service can use so polishing, this might be the best place to impress a date visually on my list. She will be sure to love and appreciate the romantic setting. Don’t forget to take many pics of her, for her, and with her to make her remember you. If I’m going here for a mobile office, I sit in the front bar area. The place tends to be quiet during the early date hours which proves beneficial to mobile office needs. The other areas are not as well lit. I do not remember if the gratuity was place in the bill or not.
What keeps me returning is the taste of those shrimp, the ambiance which proves to be excellent for photo opportunities, and the location convenience.
Swahili Village
This DC gem is my goto for jollof rice or a good Afrobeat time. The area of DC is an area with many different restaurants and nightlife. This is one of those “uppity” areas of DC, not far from the White House itself. When you go here, be patient with finding parking for there is not much available near the restaurant. Find a nearby parking garage if you have to. Upon entrance you are met with a flight of stairs that descend to a lower level where the restaurant space is, so watch your step. Take out your phone and get ready to snap flicks of you and your party in the huge mirror.
This restaurant is ready to accommodate at the bar or a dining table. The hostess will seat you in one of the five seating areas in the small and cozy restaurant. This restaurant is also not well lit. Swahili Village can get busy on a Friday or Saturday night. But the good thing is the vibe is African party vibes. Afrobeats flowing, people dancing and enjoying life. And dress your best on those nights because everyone will be.
I normally order the same dish here, a red snapper dinner with jollof, spinach, and add the collards please. The fish comes with a sauce of bell peppers and tomatoes etc. I ask for the sauce on the side because they drown the fish with it. If I’m with others I will order fried plantain as an appetizer for the table. If I’m with my children, they like to order the fried chicken wingette’s, which are good. The menu is here.
The serving staff is always pleasant at this particular location, they do have two locations. The other location is in Maryland. The feature I like most about Swahili Village is the party atmosphere and the upscale vibes. Swahili Village is excellent for party night, date night, business meetings, and family gatherings. They effortlessly accommodate all. Just don’t expect to be able to focus on working if you go there on a weekend night. It is likely you wont be able to focus on work.
Please note, the gratuity is placed in the bill already. Do not make the mistake I make and double tip.
Spice Caribbean
Spice is one of my favorite Jamaican takeout restaurants in DC right now. It is more a takeout eatery than it is a restaurant. You can find Spice in the Petworth neighborhood of Northwest DC. The parking is not great, but even with the police station across the street, people don’t seem to get tickets when illegally parked out front for a short time.
This place is your typical Jamaican eatery with a few tables and not a lot of space nor ambiance. Yes, you see the yellow, green, and black all around to reflect the colors of the Jamaican flag that are expressed proudly by most Jamaican establishments.
It is hard to find a Caribbean takeout that does the important dishes right. For the record, the important dishes are the rice, steamed/fried fish, grilled jerk chicken, and any dish with curry seasons like curry chicken and curry goat. I should also note, I am particular about what I eat and I will usually eat the same dishes each time I visit.
I love the spices and richness of Spice’s curry chicken and curry goat. The flavor hits the palate well. Not every Jamaican eatery makes a good authentic tasting curry. When I find that in a place, I keep coming back. I have been eating dishes from authentic Jamaican cooks for over 20 years. I know good tasting Jamaican food. My go to is their steamed red snapper, yum. If I ask, grandma in the back will add some steam okra. The menu is here
The customer service is iffy, as to be expected of a Jamaican eatery, no smiles, not inviting. The only time I feel any warmth is from whom I believe to be the owner. They are not outright rude here, but uninviting the same. I believe it is part of the culture. If you know, you know. I have been mugged on by attendants at Jamaican eateries since I began patronizing them. I have also developed a great rapport with an attendant at a Jamaican eatery that I frequent. Hear me out, I have no problem with walking out of an establishment if I feel I need to. But If your food is really really good, I can look past some depositions, some. Just be prepared to slightly feel as though you are bothering them to order if you visit. Do with that what you will. You have been warned.
This is not the place for date night and I don’t use this place as a mobile office. Although the taste of the dishes can impress the palate, the place is a bit cold and perhaps more suitable for a quick meet up rather than a formal date. Also, for a mobile office I require a bit more comfortable seating.
The prices are a little over average and they don’t serve liquor. They do offer fresh juices and the famous Jamaican Red Stripe and Guinness beers. My favorite feature of this restaurant is the authentic tasting Jamaican cuisine.
Busboys and Poets
Busboys and Poets is a DC restaurant chain with a few locations around the city. This restaurant is an ode to the legendary poet Langston Hughes. Unfortunately, I can’t think of a location that has great parking. They used to host poetry nights, and live Jazz music at some locations in the past. Check your desired location for event dates and times.
The customers service there is okay as in, the servers seem to give the bare minimum, very relaxed. As you enter, there is a hostess station for seating as well as a bar area. Each location has a bookstore space. The books are wide variety of some of the best authors and titles as well as children’s books.
The food choices are great. They offer many common dishes from vegan to ethnic, to American classics. My favorites are dynamite shrimp, vegan bbq chicken, curry veggies, and salmon salad, and they have so many other great dishes. No Patron though (at most locations). They also offer a nice breakfast menu. The menu is here
Prices are a little above average but they do have a happy hour special on drinks and appetizers. The best feature of this restaurant is the menu of many food choices like the quality vegan options and the bookstore. Not bad for date night.
The Riggs Cafe
The Riggs Cafe is the hotel restaurant at the Riggs Hotel in downtown Washington DC. Be prepared to be faced with above average prices. Forget about it with parking, find a parking garage or pay for valet. If you enter on the 9th street side of the building you can bypass the entrance of the hotel with the bellmen and luggage transporting. At this entrance, you are met with a beautiful classic ambiance and the hostess station. You can choose from seating yourself at the bar or requesting a table. I normally visit the Riggs during the breakfast and lunch hour when it is fairly slow. The feel of the Riggs cafe is rich. Velvet chairs, massive art decor, and marble.
The customer service is to be expected at a luxury hotel, very pleasant, well dressed. I am not a big fan of the menu at all. I love the ambiance. This place is beautiful and it has a luxury feel to it. The music is nice there as well. This restaurant is perfect to wow a date and can make any woman feel like you put in effort.
This restaurant is a good place for the mobile office. The atmosphere is calm and relaxed but you can get some great pics and background for videos. The prices are a little above average.
Planta Queen – Upscale Vegan
This is one of my favorite upscale vegan restaurants. Planta Queen is located in Downtown “uppity” part of DC, but the south western area of Downtown DC. Swahili Village and Morton’s steak house is near to here. Parking is a fight just like most places in DC period. Upon entering you are greeted by the host and can choose between table or bar seating. The atmosphere is upscale and everyone was dressed well. The lighting is dim. But it gives you the feel of “maybe I should dress nice here”. The customer service was above average like the prices.
The menu is here , and it offers a 100% vegan menu. I remember there being a lot of sushi(vegan) options. I did not know what to choose. I was able to try other dishes from the other friends in my party. We ordered a feast of dishes. Most looked unappetizing at face value because I’m not a big fan of sushi. But each dishes proved to be surprisingly delicious. The options were different at face value, but the taste of each surprised me in a good way. The drinks were great.
This restaurant is great for date night because it is such a lovely place. You get the feel of overall great quality food and service. I have only been here once during the late night near closing. I do plan to try them during the day/office hours to check for mobile office availability. I do not remember if the gratuity was added, but, they did double tax us when the bill was slip, so watch out for that.
Mix & Mingle- Karaoke
Every time I have visited this restaurant it has been a party in there. Mix & Mingle Lounge is in Maryland not DC and worth the drive. They host live DJ, karaoke, and live music nights. With a large parking lot out front, you do not have to fight for parking. They also offer a patio area for the outdoors people and the smokers. On event nights, be prepared to have your ID checked upon entrance. The crowd there is normally of the 35 and over crowd. Although the restaurant is family friendly during the day, children are not allowed at this restaurant during the night parties.
The customer service is normally nice, but this place does get busy and there aren’t many servers. The bartending staff is sometimes very straight faced which reminds me of the Jamaican restaurants. This place is first come first serve seating with an exception of one section fitted with couches and a coffee table over the standard restaurant table and chairs. This area has to be reserved ahead of time. It’s stand up only once the seats are filled. This doesn’t seem to be a problem with the standers because but that time of the night, the party is in full swing.
I normally order the basket with fried fish and shrimp, the wingette’s, or the salmon salad. The food is mainly bar food, but it is prepared well. The prices are a little above average. They do offer Patron. This place can get pretty loud. At times you cannot hear the person next to you talking. Unless you are going in the non party hours, this is not a great place for an intimate date night. This restaurant can get live during the party hours, but I have been able to get some work done there during the non party hours.

MGM Casino-
DC people love the MGM Casino. This casino is housed in the well known MGM Grand Hotel at the National Harbor in Maryland on the outskirts of Washington DC. You can see the hotel from miles away as you approach the Harbor from the highway. Parking is a breeze as it has a large parking garage.
I like the ambiance here. Everything is always clean. When you enter, you can choose to go into the casino itself, with an ID and bag check, or explore the venues of the hotel. I like to visit the restaurant, Ginger which offers an upscale Asian cuisine. The customer service a Ginger is great, but, I had to ask for another waitress at my last visit. I was quoted prices before completing my order. You can imagine what I was thinking. I just politely asked for another server and explained to the manager exactly why. Don’t ever disgrace a customer with telling them the price as if they can’t afford what they are asking for. There is also Tap’s, an American restaurant that does karaoke nights and a Mexican restaurant for average priced meals. You can choose either. The cheapest drinks are at the bars on the inside of the casino. This is a great spot for date night because of the many options. You can go gamble, do karaoke, eat, sleep, and they also have excellent views and live performances. During the summer they hold free outdoor parties, so check that out too. I have not used this location for a mobile office, but the outside area is perfect for a mobile office when the weather permits.
Tempo Lounge
Tempoo Lounge is an African cuisine lounge in Lanham Maryland. And in true African fashion, it is a party atmosphere during late hours. Parking is no problem, they have a large parking lot. Upon entering you can choose to seat yourself at one of the tables or at the bar. At the night parties, the tables are limited and can be reserved with bottle service or a hookah. It’s lounge fashion with some dance floor space in the center of the place. The ambiance is average and the ladies restroom a tight squeeze. I order my normal dish, an order of red snapper and jollof. The menu is limited to mainly African dishes, and the cooks are amazing. The bar staff is friendly and attentive. Try the house punch, it’s strong and similar to a fruit punch. One thing to note about latino and African drinks, they are always strong, so take your time. If you want to dance and listen to the Afro and Reggae and you want to go late night, go here. This is not appropriate for a mobile office. You will just dance instead of doing work. I know I do. And it’s dimly lit. The prices are slightly above average, but it’s worth it.
Have you visited any of these places? when you do, comment below and share your experience.