Over the last decade, the historic U Street Corridor of Washington DC has steadily increased in popularity as a top destination for dining and nightlife. Along U Street, 14th Street and the surrounding area, you will find a wide selection of restaurants ranging from casual eateries to fine dining. Here is an alphabetical guide to U Street restaurants.
& Pizza
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1250 U St NW Washington, DC (202) 733-1286. The restaurant offers pizza, salads, and dessert in a casual atmosphere.
Al Crostino
1324 U St. NW, Washington, DC (202) 797-0523. The intimate Italian restaurant located in the U Street Corridor offers an excellent selection of homemade pasta and Italian wines.
Alero Restaurant
1301 U St. NW, Washington, DC (202) 462-2322. The upscale Mexican restaurant has two locations in Washington DC: U Street and Dupont Circle. The restaurants are known for authentic cuisine and great margaritas.
Bar Pilar
1833 14th St. NW, Washington, DC (202) 265-1751. The popular U Street restaurant and bar offers Tapas/Small Plates and Modern American cuisine.
Ben's Chili Bowl – Ben’s Next Door
1213 U St. NW, Washington, DC (202) 667-0909. The landmark restaurant is the most well known U Street restaurant and home to the famous "chili dogs and half‑smokes". Ben's Chili Bowl is a DC institution that dates back to 1958 and brings visitors from around the world to the U Street Corridor. The red 1950s-style bar stools and Formica counters take visitors back in time to the era that the neighborhood was known as "Black Broadway". Ben's Next Door opened in 2008 to expand on the popularity of the eatery and offers an inviting space to dine with a 53-foot full bar and flat screens tvs.
Bistro Bohem
600 Florida Ave. NW, Washington, DC (202) 735-5895. The restaurant is located in the U Street/Shaw neighborhood and offers Central European cuisine in a casual and comfortable setting.
Busboys and Poets
2021 14th St. NW, Washington, DC (202) 387-7638. Busboys and Poets is a community gathering place with additional locations at 5th and K streets, Arlington, VA and Hyattsville, MD. The restaurants offer breakfast, lunch and dinner and host special events such as book talks, poetry readings and musical performances. Each location also has a bookstore/coffee shop.
Café Saint-Ex Restaurant & Bar
1847 14th St. NW, Washington, DC (202) 265-7839. The popular neighborhood restaurant is named after Antoine de Saint-Exupery, the famous French aviator and author of “The Little Prince.” The decor is aviation themed and the menu features locally sourced dishes.
See More U Street Restaurants on the next page
Cork
1720 14th St. NW, Washington, DC (202) 265-2675. Located just south of the U Street Corridor, the restaurant offers a variety of dishes that are meant to be shared and paired with wines. Cork offers more than 50 wines by the glass and 160 bottles from small producers around the world.
Dukem Restaurant
1114-1118 U St. NW, Washington, DC (202) 667-8735. The Ethiopian restaurant offers authentic food with an extensive vegetarian menu and live Ethiopian musical entertainment on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
El Centro D.F.
1819 14th St NW, Washington, DC (202) 328-3131. The upscale restaurant offers authentic Mexican fare and 200 different varieties of tequilas. The restaurant spans three floors offering a different atmosphere on each.
Jojo Restaurant & Bar
1518 U St. NW, Washington, DC (202) 319-9350. JoJo features a menu of classic American cuisine and live music (jazz, blues, funk, soul, and R&B) nightly. There are two levels, both have seating and a full bar.
Lost Society DC
2001 14th St. NW, Washington, DC (202) 618-8868. The restaurant offers an American inspired menu blending market-fresh local produce with dry-aged and certified Angus beef, as well as regional seafood dishes. The main dining room is on the first level; the second floor has an indoor and an outdoor bar and a DJ both. Fridays, there is a one plate food minimum and Saturdays it's a $75 food and beverage minimum per person.
Marvin
2007 14th St. NW, Washington, DC (202) 797-7171. Dedicated to soul superstar Marvin Gaye, the Bistro features cuisine that combines the tastes of Belgium with American Southern style cooking. On the roof top is an outdoor beer garden, which boasts an extensive selection of Belgian ales.
Masa 14
1825 14th St NW, Washington, DC (202) 328-1414. The restaurant features Latin-Asian small plates along with items from a wood-fired brick oven. The Tequila Lounge serves 100 different types of tequila and handcrafted cocktails.
Matchbox Restaurant
1901 14th St. NW, Washington, DC (202) 328-0369. With several locations in the Washington DC area, the Matchbox Restaurants specialize in wood-fired pizzas, also serving salads, sandwiches and pub style food. The 14th Street location features striking exposed rustic wood staircases that connect three levels of seating. There's also a large patio for outdoor dining with an inviting fire pit.
Nellie's Sports Bar
900 U St. NW, Washington, DC. The U Street hotspot is a gay sports bar with a lively crowd. The menu includes traditional American favorites and an interesting selection of drinks including Red Bull specialties. Nellie's is a popular place for happy hour and watching sporting events.
Policy
1904 14th St. NW, Washington, DC (202) 387-7654. The lively restaurant and lounge in the U Street Corridor serves contemporary American cuisine. It is a popular destination for happy hour and late night dining.
Oohh's & Aahh's
1005 U St. NW, Washington, DC (202) 667-7142. The Soul Food restaurant was awarded “Cheap Eats Award“ and “Best Macaroni and Cheese“ by Washingtonian Magazine. Open til 4 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, it is popular for late night dining.
Vinoteca Wine Bar and Bistro
1940 11th St. NW, Washington, DC (202) 332-9463. Vinoteca is a neighborhood bar and restaurant, offering a menu of small plates, ranging from grilled fresh vegetables and seafood to burgers and sandwiches. The restaurant is a neighborhood favorite, known for its outdoor courtyard, bar and bocce court.
