Rasika is not just one of the most popular Indian restaurants in DC — it's also, quite plainly, one of the most popular restaurants in DC, period. Chef Vikram Sunderam (formerly of London's Bombay Brasserie) mans the kitchen at the Penn Quarter restaurant, where he takes a modern look at traditional Indian fare with favorites like the crispy palak chaat, flavorful curries and more.

This Logan Circle restaurant pays as much attention to its beer list as to the food. Chef Kyle Bailey's menu, featuring refined flatbreads, pastas and a signature brat burger, pairs well with his wife Tiffany MacIsaac's creative desserts and a 555-strong beer list curated by beer director Greg Engert.

The wait for a table seems to have barely abated since Estadio opened under the direction of Proof executive chef Haidar Karoum. The contemporary Spanish small plates menu boasts a strong selection of cheese and charcuterie, as well as pintxos, bocadillos and classic tapas dishes.

Michael Landrum's ever-expanding empire includes the popular (and presidentially endorsed) Ray's Hell Burger. But it all started with Ray's: The Steaks in Arlington, which offered high-quality beef in a no-frills environment and at an affordable price point — which set it apart from all the steakhouses that once characterized Washington's dining scene.

Proof is best known for its stellar wine program, but that's not the only reason it has become a neighborhood staple. The cheese and charcuterie selections are outstanding, as is the modern American menu from chef Haidar Karoum. The restaurant also has a hard-to-beat lunch deal in the bar that pairs an entree with a glass of wine for $14.

Hill Country is Texas barbecue by way of New York City, where you'll find the original restaurant. Try the moist brisket, the sausages imported from Kreuz Market or any variety of sides from this cafeteria-style restaurant and settle into the dining room or the even noisier basement Boot Bar. Most nights of the week bring live music and pitchers of Shiner are always $20.

Ben's Chili Bowl is one of those rare Washington establishments that manages to be both a tourist trap and a local favorite. Lines can wrap around the corner during peak tourist scenes, but also late-night when locals stop in for the eatery's signature half-smokes. It doesn't hurt that Bill Cosby and President Obama are both patrons.

The Majestic has been a neighborhood haunt in Old Town Alexandria since 1932 and remains so today under the guiding hand of restaurateurs Cathal and Meshelle Armstrong. It's still got the neon Art Deco sign of days past and the menu is a throwback, too: fried green tomatoes, Amish chicken, home-style meatloaf and a special rotating family-style dinner menu on Sunday nights.

This Columbia Heights wine bar, which recently expanded into the space next door, remains as iconic to the neighborhood as ever. The menu features a small selection of plates meant to be shared — rock shrimp risotto, slow-roasted pork belly and more — but Room 11 really shines in its wine list and mixology program.

Yet another fine selection in Ashok Bajaj's restaurant empire, Bibiana is the restaurateur's love letter to Italian cuisine. The kitchen is helmed by Nicholas Stefanelli, who twice worked under Italian master Fabio Trabocchi at both Maestro and New York's Fiamma. Any of the pasta dishes here are a great bet.

Robert Wiedmaier is best known for Marcel's, the jewel of the chef's restaurant empire. But the more casual Brasserie Beck is his more accessible foray to Belgian cuisine serving moules-frites and other classic Belgian dishes at reasonable price points. They've got you covered on booze too: Beck has more than 100 types of Belgian beer by the bottle.

Mike Isabella's much-anticipated debut displays the influences of the chef's Jersey-Italian upbringing as well as his time spent in the kitchen at Zaytinya. Beyond the handmade pastas and artisanal pizzas, Graffiato has a ham bar, prosecco on tap and, of course, that famous pepperoni sauce from his stint on Top Chef: All Stars.

Italian chef Fabio Trabocchi has returned to Washington with his latest effort, Fiola, and the restaurant has really hits its groove. Trabocchi brought back some of his old restaurant Maestro's most popular dishes, such as the lobster ravioli and a thin-layered lasagna, and there are plenty of new things to keep diners coming back for more.

This Wolfgang Puck restaurant is on the pricier edge of the spectrum, but between executive chef Scott Drewno's talents and the approachable brunch and lounge menus, the Source is a keeper. Sit downstairs in the sleek bar and lounge and order off a menu that includes sushi, dumplings, pork belly buns, sake and craft beer

istrot du Coin has an authentic French bistro feel and that's why it's no surprise to find a lot of expats hanging out here over a bottle of wine. It's a go-to in the Dupont Circle area, open seemingly all the time, with an expansive menu of French classics from cassoulet, tartiflette savoyarde, steak served with bearnaise sauce and some killer fries.

Rosslyn's Pho 75 is one of the region's Vietnamese restaurants where you're most likely to find expats supping on the the classic beef noodle soup. The cash-only cafeteria-style restaurant has other regional branches, but the Arlington location has been a local favorite for decades.

Newton's Table is one Bethesda restaurant that everyone seems to agree upon as a hit. Chef Dennis Friedman offers a really intriguing menu with Asian hints and other twists here and there — such as duck confit nachos, Kobe wontons and a lobster tempura surf and turf dish.

This Palisades restaurant is perhaps the most beloved in Jeff and Barbara Black's expansive empire. And like the others, it is a monument to seafood — and with its own fish market to boot. Oysters, blue shell mussels, fried Ipswich clams and more join entrees like bouillabaisse, skate wing and smoked toro dashi to pretty much cover the gamut of seafood.

A fixture of the DC culinary scene for about 20 years, Jaleo recently underwent a flashy renovation filled with foosball tables and private nooks. But the classic tapas fare is as iconic as ever. Complement a glass of sangria with Ibérico ham, patatas bravas, croquetas served in a shoe and, of course, a variety of paellas served in pans that feed six people or more.

The original Pizzeria Paradiso opened in Dupont Circle in 1991 and now the pizzeria has three locations in the DC area. And on Georgetown's M Street, Pizzeria Paradiso is a best bet for its Neapolitan-style pie plus dedication to beer in the form of the 16-tap basement birreria. Pizzeria Paradiso offers 8 and 12-inch pizzas from the traditional margherita to the Atomica topped with salami, kalamata olives, hot pepper flakes and mozzarella.

Getting into Little Serow can be a challenge — lines for Johnny Moni's "no reservations" restaurant tend to start forming before opening — but the payoff is worth the wait. The chef prepares fiery, authentic Thai cuisine in a spare and stylish setting. At $45 per person for a multi-course, ever-changing menu, Little Serow provides a more affordable alternative to the chef's neighboring destination restaurant, Komi.

Blue Duck Tavern has long been a favorite of the West End and by all accounts is better than ever under the watch of executive chef Sebastien Archambault. Stick with wine and charcuterie in the lounge or peer into the open kitchen from Blue Duck's dining room over a meal of fried sweetbreads, muscovy duck breast, 12-hour roasted suckling pig, plus a variety of seafood and vegetarian dishes. Don't forget an order of Blue Duck's signature hand cut fries.

Since the installation of Chef Robert Weland, the neighborhood wine bar from Diane Gross and Khalid Pitts has taken a more seasonal approach to its well-edited menu of small plates. But familiar favorites, such as the avocado bruschetta and crispy lemon and black pepper-dusted calamari and rock shrimp, remain. The restaurant is known for its wine list, and the rotating, curated flights are a good opportunity to sample some of the more usual selections from it.

Ashok Bajaj's Bombay Club is one of those classic, old school DC restaurants that has been a favorite among politicians for ages. But unlike some of the city's classic steakhouses, you won't find a dated menu or indifferent service at Bombay Club. The restaurant serves up a stellar brunch buffet, properly made Manhattans and traditional Indian fare such as lamb roganjosh. The thali platters are a good way to sample a variety of dishes. And there's even a piano player in the evening.

Et Viola! is a neighborhood restaurant that is worth the drive for Chef Claudio Pirollo's Belgian and French-inspired bistro fare. Look for dishes such as endive soup, a variety of mussels and seafood burgers at this Palisades restaurant. There's cozy seating and plenty of Belgian beers, too.

Though it's outside of DC's own "Little Ethiopia", Ethiopic has established itself as the place to go for traditional Ethiopian fare in a trendy and friendly atmosphere. The owners also just opened Batter Bowl Bakery in the same neighborhood.

Liam LaCivita's restaurant serves up American cuisine with an occasional Eastern European flair, due to the chef's Pittsburgh roots (hence a take on the Primanti Bros.' sandwich). Dishes like stroganoff and pizza are winners. The menu changes several times a year to reflect the seasons, and the restaurant has one of the best brunch buffets around. For a cheap eats option, there's always the longstanding "Burger and a Pint" deal.

This Jose Andres restaurant may be even more popular than his flagship Jaleo. It's hard to go wrong with the ever-changing menu of Mediterranean dishes. The buzzy restaurant has delicious brussels sprouts, flatbread and octopus small plates, and a number of fun festivals throughout the year.