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  • Where We Ate in Washington, DC: Water Bar, Toryumon, Ala, Café Riggs and Quarterdeck

    Where We Ate in Washington, DC: Water Bar, Toryumon, Ala, Café Riggs and Quarterdeck

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    Four days in Washington, DC at the end of February 2024 turned into a seafood-heavy eating tour: oysters by the Potomac, a sushi dinner near the White House, Levantine small plates in Dupont Circle, a seafood tower in Penn Quarter and a basket of fried oysters at an Arlington crab house. Here is where we ate, in order.

    Views from Pentagon City

    We stayed on the Virginia side, which comes with a great skyline view across the river: the Washington Monument, the Capitol dome and the highways that feed into the city. (More on that traffic in DC traffic is serious.)

    Washington Monument and the Potomac seen from a high floor in Pentagon City
    US Capitol dome on the Washington skyline seen from Arlington
    Highways and bridges along the Potomac with the Washington skyline beyond

    Water Bar, National Landing (Crystal City)

    Our first proper meal was at Water Bar in National Landing, a short walk from Pentagon City. A bright cucumber cocktail, a fresh salad with wrapped breadsticks and a plate of oysters on ice set the tone for the trip.

    Cocktail garnished with a long cucumber slice at Water Bar in Arlington
    Salad with cured-meat-wrapped breadsticks and pickled onions at Water Bar
    Oysters on the half shell with lemon and cocktail sauce at Water Bar
    Cocktail with a dried citrus wheel at Water Bar

    Toryumon Japanese House, West End

    Dinner that night was Toryumon at 1901 Pennsylvania Ave NW, a few blocks from the White House. Highlights were a cabbage salad heaped with bonito flakes, a long board of nigiri and a nigiri plate served with a little bonsai.

    Iced cocktail with lime at Toryumon in Washington, DC
    Cabbage salad topped with bonito flakes at Toryumon
    Long wooden board of nigiri sushi at Toryumon
    Nigiri platter served with a small bonsai at Toryumon

    The White House at night

    Toryumon is close enough to walk over to Lafayette Square afterward. The White House looks great lit up at night. See also our post The White House.

    The White House lit up at night, seen from Lafayette Square

    Ala, Dupont Circle

    Ala is a Levantine restaurant in Dupont Circle and the best spot for sharing. We started with a spread of dips and bread, then worked through salads, shrimp in a herby pepper sauce and kebabs with rice.

    Spread of Levantine dips and bread at Ala in Dupont Circle
    Shaved salad with pomegranate at Ala
    Table of shared small plates at Ala
    Shrimp in a herb and pepper sauce at Ala
    Kebab with rice and salad at Ala
    Plated dish finished with foam at Ala

    Café Riggs, Penn Quarter

    Café Riggs is the all-day brasserie inside the Riggs hotel, set in a grand old bank building. We had a pink cocktail, bread service, a chilled seafood platter and steak tartare with an egg yolk.

    Pink cocktail at Cafe Riggs in Penn Quarter
    Bread service with spreads at Cafe Riggs
    Chilled seafood platter with shrimp at Cafe Riggs
    Steak tartare with egg yolk and toast at Cafe Riggs

    Quarterdeck, Arlington

    Our last seafood stop was Quarterdeck, a casual Arlington crab house. Order fried oysters in a red-checked basket, peel-and-eat shrimp and hush puppies.

    Fried oysters in a red-checked basket at Quarterdeck in Arlington
    Peel-and-eat shrimp at Quarterdeck
    Hush puppies at Quarterdeck

    Where to stay

    We stayed at the Crowne Plaza Crystal City, a short walk from Water Bar and the Crystal City Metro station, with quick trains into DC.

    Tips for eating around DC

    • Staying in Pentagon City or Crystal City puts you near Water Bar and Quarterdeck and a short Metro ride from downtown.
    • Toryumon and the White House are a short walk apart, so plan dinner and an evening stroll together.
    • Ala is built for sharing, so go with a group and order lots of small plates.
    • Café Riggs works for brunch, lunch or dinner if you are near Penn Quarter.

    #WashingtonDC #DCEats #Arlington #Seafood #Oysters #Sushi #WaterBar #Toryumon #Ala #CafeRiggs #Quarterdeck