(This is the second article in the DC Food Guide series. Click through for A Food Lover’s Guide to DC: Cheap Edition. And click here for A Food Lover’s Guide to DC: Fine Dining.)

The restaurant scene in DC has an inverted Goldilocks problem. The cheap stuff, catering to House staffers and federal employees, is good. The high-end restaurants, catering to powerful politicians and lobbyists with expense accounts, can be just as good as what you’d find in foodie towns like New York and San Francisco.

The middle ground, for those of us looking for a nice, not-too-expensive place to meet up with friends or go on a date-night, is tough. Don’t get me wrong — there are a lot of mid-priced options; it’s just that not many of them deliver the quality meal you’d expect at this price point. The mid-priced selection is getting better; in the past few years, DC has experienced a surge in new restaurants dishing out great food.

For now, though, here are my picks for mid-priced restaurants in Washington, DC.

[Note: Before we begin, a bit about how I distinguish between “mid-priced” and “high-end”. I came up with the categories by analyzing each restaurant’s menu, and calculating an average priced appetizer, entrée, and one glass of wine. Add that all together plus 10% tax and 20% tip, and that’s my estimate for a dinner for one. My definition of “mid-priced” ended up being between $35-$65/person. “High-end” is $65+/person.]

 

1. Hank’s Oyster Bar — $$$, Dupont Circle

This is the cheapest in the mid-priced bunch but probably also my favorite. (See also: I like seafood shacks.) Our standard order was oysters (raw or fried) and the lobster roll. It’s surprisingly hard to find unfussy lobster in D.C. – the city must just be on the wrong side of the easy-live-lobster-shipping zone, and so you typically find it either on high-end restaurant menus, dressed to the nines and no longer resembling itself, or on pub menus,  thawed, water logged, and spongy, most likely tucked into a three cheese quesadilla.

So, while it might not be the lobster rolls of ocean front shacks in Maine, it is the best lobster roll in DC. French fries are thin cut, seasoned with Old Bay, and sizzling hot. The restaurant used to be pocket sized but they’ve recently expanded into the storefront next door.

 

2. Belga Café — $$$, Capitol Hill

This was our go-to restaurant for out-of-town guests – achingly good service, comfortable interior, and located on the precious Capitol Hill Barrack’s Row. The menu is just innovative enough to set it apart from other mid-priced restaurants, and the preparation is consistent — a must for out-of-town guests.

My favorite dish was the seared scallops with green pea and star-anise mousseline, young carrots, red beets, and orange sauce. The vegetables are pureed into a fluff, that tastes like the freshest green pea you’ve ever had. (Don’t get thrown by the Dutch menu – I’m not sure why they do that, since we’re all just reading the descriptions underneath anyway.)

 

3. Cork Wine Bar — $$$, 14^th Street Corridor

This is a multi-level, rustic wine bar with a tapas-style menu. The ambience is the main star here – intimate tables where you feel wholly comfortable nursing a glass of wine and noshing on a cheese plate while catching up with old friends.

I tended to prefer the cold dishes to the hot. The bruschetta with avocado, pistachio, toasted pistachio oil, and sea salt is simple and delicious. The grilled sardines with lemon-rosemary gelee were a kick in the mouth, in a good way.

 

4. Georgia Brown’s — $$$, Downtown

This dimly lit, Low Country Southern restaurant on McPherson Square was the place to be during the Clinton years, and it’s easy to see why. Pretend it’s the early 90’s and check any concerns you have about cholesterol, calories, or bacon at the door; you need to give yourself over to some very fine Southern cuisine.

Generally speaking, DC does Southern food very well. This is especially true if you are coming from somewhere north or west of the Mason Dixon Line. (I’ll be honest: Southern food in SF… makes me sad.) I’m not sure any other restaurant in DC does Southern-via-the-Carolinas food better than Georgia Brown’s.

Georgia Brown’s not only serves up classics like perfectly crisped fried chicken and buttery shrimp and grits, it also delivers modern, complex takes on familiar dishes like fried green tomatoes and jambalaya. They aren’t just replicating “Low Country” cuisine here – they are thoughtfully playing with new ingredients and expanding these classic dishes into the modern era.

 

Honorable Mention

Heritage India – $$$, Dupont Circle The menu is a behemoth, and I recommend looking past the typical curry and tandoori options and focusing on its Indian street food (chaat) and fusion menus. Innovative, interesting, and delicious. Bring a large group and share everything tapas style.

Founding Farmers – $$$, Foggy Bottom An impressive, glittering two story space, with an upscale and organic/local/sustainable take on pub food. I recommend the inexpensive pasta dishes, which always stole the show from the heavier protein-and-vegetable entrees.

Acadiana – $$$, Downtown The quiet, secluded booths lining the windows – and muted pale blue, cream, and crystal décor –make this an ultimate date-night spot. The food is mostly fancy-Cajun with a few welcome Southern dishes.

Tabard Inn – $$$, Dupont Circle The ambience here is wholly unmatched in DC. A patchwork of old-timey, small rooms with fireplaces and reading nooks make this a perfect spot for a hot toddy on a cold winter’s night. In the warmer months, you can dine in the outdoor courtyard under a lit canopy.