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Go ahead and treat number one
Sometimes “me time” shouldn’t mean binging on Netflix and takeout in your jammies. And while some restaurants give solo diners second-rate treatment, many know how to treat number one well. From warm bowls of ramen and crab-topped deviled eggs to cornbread muffins and kale chips, there’s something to fit everyone’s taste.
When it comes to dining solo in D.C., here are some of the best spots to people-watch, tuck into a book, or simply enjoy a meal alone.
Read MoreWith its extensive all-day brunch menu, lunch plates, and selection of espresso drinks, the laid-back Adams Morgan cafe is fit for any solo diner. Take a seat on one of its couches and get some reading in with a featured latte, warm up while with a bowl of tomato and basil bisque ($7), or start the day off with a chorizo breakfast burrito stuffed with a cheese frittata ($13).
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For a solo reservation at Izakaya Seki, a counter seat is the perfect perch to peruse the hand-written menu as chef Hiroshi Seki masterfully presides over the sushi bar. The omakase menu, with a choice of three, seven, or ten types of chef-selected sashimi, is a solid choice.
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Head to the bar at Bresca for a special menu called Ryan’s Choice. Not only does it change by season, but it’s a special deal only reserved for solo eaters.
Bag group brunches lasting hours for a more quaint affair for one. At La Cosecha’s sleek Mexican eatery, $29 yields an appetizer like guacamole, entree such as enchiladas or pancakes, and for dessert, sugar poached ancho chile with chocolate mousse or sorbet. Snag a seat at its big pebbled bar and soak up sights of the surrounding Latin market.
St. Anselm’s bar is an underrated spot to enjoy a plate of buttermilk biscuits with pimento cheese, oysters with smoked herb butter and for dessert, perhaps ice cream cake or a sea salt caramel, pretzel and chocolate chip cookie.
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Brunch at Unconventional Diner includes globe-trotting dishes like Lebanese fried rice, sweet potato shakshuka, and Caribbean shrimp and grits. Evenings bring plates of cornbread muffins, kale nachos, and a near-constant stream of people going to and from events at the nearby Walter E. Convention Center.
The bartenders at bright and airy Morris love to chat about the cocktails on its ever-rotating menu, providing some entertainment, education, and friendly banter. For those not into a buzz, Morris pours spirit-free and low-alcohol cocktails to sip as well. And for those in the mood to mull over a cheese or charcuterie board ($18 each), Versus executive chef Paul Yellin has some lovely offerings.
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H Street NE’s dimly lit perch is the perfect place to plunk down and enjoy warming soups, dan dan noodles, pot stickers, and other Chinese street snacks for one. Big bar stools with comfy backs provide an extra reason to sit and stay for that extra daiquiri. The popular industry hangout fills up fast, so snagging a stray seat is sometimes the only option anyway. Artistic chalkboard drawings of the cocktail menu add to its allure.
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Enjoy dinner with a view at L’Ardente. If lucky to grab a spot facing the wood-fired oven, try the mushroom or white pizza, the latter topped with fresh mozzarella, prosciutto and pickled beech mushrooms. They both pair well with one of new beverage director Micah Wilder’s creative cocktails.
The best escape from the cold weather may be a piping hot bowl of ramen at Chinatown’s intimate Daikaya, where seats come with a clear view of the chefs making ramen in real-time. Besides that, solo dining is common in Japan. Its sleek Shaw sister Haikan is also a worthy one-seater contender, with lots of interesting Japanese whiskeys to sample at its bar.
Can’t decide between Chinese or Korean food? Don’t have to at CHIKO. The bulgogi tots are always a hit starter, followed by the duck fried rice or orange-ish rice. Between 3 and 6 p.m. daily at the Dupont and Bethesda locations, enjoy $5 dumplings and $7 soju smashes. The same deal is valid Monday and Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Wednesday through Sunday from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m. at the Shirlington spot.
Part art gallery, part wine bar, and part new American restaurant, it’s hard to group Whino into one dining category. While large parties a fairly common, a sizable portion of the restaurant is dedicated to an elongated bar and small high-tops. Take in whichever art show is currently on display (right now it’s Briana Hertzog’s eccentric “Reign,” featuring brightly colored paintings of royal subjects) and flip through an extensive drink menu, where cocktails include “Can I Speak to Your Manager” made with elderflower liqueur and Deep Eddy Vodka.
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Whether dining on the patio or at the bar, Kevin Tien’s contemporary Vietnamese eatery features picturesque views of the water. Depending on appetite, there are options for a few light bites or a full-fledged meal. Moon Rabbit also just debuted daily lunch service featuring bowls of pho and Tien’s famed fried chicken.
Shilling Canning Company’s open kitchen seating arrangement allows a view of the kitchen’s magic from most spots in the house. For a closer look, pull up to the chef’s counter for a seven-course tasting experience ($110, $65 beverage pairing) with a menu featuring wood-fired Chesapeake rockfish and Lancaster “beet” tartare. Or sit back, sip a cocktail, and people-watch from the restaurant’s U-shaped bar.
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With its extensive all-day brunch menu, lunch plates, and selection of espresso drinks, the laid-back Adams Morgan cafe is fit for any solo diner. Take a seat on one of its couches and get some reading in with a featured latte, warm up while with a bowl of tomato and basil bisque ($7), or start the day off with a chorizo breakfast burrito stuffed with a cheese frittata ($13).
For a solo reservation at Izakaya Seki, a counter seat is the perfect perch to peruse the hand-written menu as chef Hiroshi Seki masterfully presides over the sushi bar. The omakase menu, with a choice of three, seven, or ten types of chef-selected sashimi, is a solid choice.
Head to the bar at Bresca for a special menu called Ryan’s Choice. Not only does it change by season, but it’s a special deal only reserved for solo eaters.
Bag group brunches lasting hours for a more quaint affair for one. At La Cosecha’s sleek Mexican eatery, $29 yields an appetizer like guacamole, entree such as enchiladas or pancakes, and for dessert, sugar poached ancho chile with chocolate mousse or sorbet. Snag a seat at its big pebbled bar and soak up sights of the surrounding Latin market.
St. Anselm’s bar is an underrated spot to enjoy a plate of buttermilk biscuits with pimento cheese, oysters with smoked herb butter and for dessert, perhaps ice cream cake or a sea salt caramel, pretzel and chocolate chip cookie.
Brunch at Unconventional Diner includes globe-trotting dishes like Lebanese fried rice, sweet potato shakshuka, and Caribbean shrimp and grits. Evenings bring plates of cornbread muffins, kale nachos, and a near-constant stream of people going to and from events at the nearby Walter E. Convention Center.
The bartenders at bright and airy Morris love to chat about the cocktails on its ever-rotating menu, providing some entertainment, education, and friendly banter. For those not into a buzz, Morris pours spirit-free and low-alcohol cocktails to sip as well. And for those in the mood to mull over a cheese or charcuterie board ($18 each), Versus executive chef Paul Yellin has some lovely offerings.
H Street NE’s dimly lit perch is the perfect place to plunk down and enjoy warming soups, dan dan noodles, pot stickers, and other Chinese street snacks for one. Big bar stools with comfy backs provide an extra reason to sit and stay for that extra daiquiri. The popular industry hangout fills up fast, so snagging a stray seat is sometimes the only option anyway. Artistic chalkboard drawings of the cocktail menu add to its allure.
Enjoy dinner with a view at L’Ardente. If lucky to grab a spot facing the wood-fired oven, try the mushroom or white pizza, the latter topped with fresh mozzarella, prosciutto and pickled beech mushrooms. They both pair well with one of new beverage director Micah Wilder’s creative cocktails.
The best escape from the cold weather may be a piping hot bowl of ramen at Chinatown’s intimate Daikaya, where seats come with a clear view of the chefs making ramen in real-time. Besides that, solo dining is common in Japan. Its sleek Shaw sister Haikan is also a worthy one-seater contender, with lots of interesting Japanese whiskeys to sample at its bar.
Can’t decide between Chinese or Korean food? Don’t have to at CHIKO. The bulgogi tots are always a hit starter, followed by the duck fried rice or orange-ish rice. Between 3 and 6 p.m. daily at the Dupont and Bethesda locations, enjoy $5 dumplings and $7 soju smashes. The same deal is valid Monday and Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Wednesday through Sunday from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m. at the Shirlington spot.
Part art gallery, part wine bar, and part new American restaurant, it’s hard to group Whino into one dining category. While large parties a fairly common, a sizable portion of the restaurant is dedicated to an elongated bar and small high-tops. Take in whichever art show is currently on display (right now it’s Briana Hertzog’s eccentric “Reign,” featuring brightly colored paintings of royal subjects) and flip through an extensive drink menu, where cocktails include “Can I Speak to Your Manager” made with elderflower liqueur and Deep Eddy Vodka.
Whether dining on the patio or at the bar, Kevin Tien’s contemporary Vietnamese eatery features picturesque views of the water. Depending on appetite, there are options for a few light bites or a full-fledged meal. Moon Rabbit also just debuted daily lunch service featuring bowls of pho and Tien’s famed fried chicken.
Shilling Canning Company’s open kitchen seating arrangement allows a view of the kitchen’s magic from most spots in the house. For a closer look, pull up to the chef’s counter for a seven-course tasting experience ($110, $65 beverage pairing) with a menu featuring wood-fired Chesapeake rockfish and Lancaster “beet” tartare. Or sit back, sip a cocktail, and people-watch from the restaurant’s U-shaped bar.
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