The nation’s capital may very well offer the best seafood restaurant selection on the East Coast. For decades, institutions like as Occidental Grill & Seafood and Old Ebbitt Grill have catered to the political and social elite. The majority of fantastic seafood restaurants in Washington, D.C. serve responsibly sourced fish and seafood, and regardless of how you like your fresh catch, you’re sure to discover something exceptional in Washington.
1: Old Ebbitt Grill
The Old Ebbitt Grill has a lengthy history in the nation’s capital, stretching all the way back to 1856, when Presidents Cleveland, Harding, Grant, and Theodore Roosevelt frequented the establishment. Its magnificent interior boasts a Beaux-Arts façade, brass and chamfered glass, and mahogany and velvet booths that continue to entice today’s celebrities, political insiders, theatergoers, and journalists.
When you combine the closeness of museums and the White House with the delectable offerings from their upmarket cuisine, you have the makings of a neighborhood hotspot. Visitors will enjoy feasting on opulent tavern-style American fare such as braised short rib pappardelle accompanied with a glass of wine from the restaurant’s large range.
2: Fiola Mare
Fiola Mare is one of three Fabio Trabocchi restaurants in Washington, D.C. This exquisitely stylish waterfront seafood restaurant is where Washington’s political and social elite congregate. It has been published in numerous national magazines, including O Magazine, Travel + Leisure, and The Hollywood Reporter, as well as numerous prominent Washington, D.C., media.
Fiola Mare is committed to sustainable seafood procurement for its upscale dishes. Diners may expect masterfully prepared meals like as smoked potato gnocchi with fresh Carolina shrimp, tableside carving of whole John Dory fish, and Japanese A5 Miyazaki Wagyu beef with winter black truffle sauce. Also read Breakfast Near Me.
3: Luke’s Lobster
Since 2009, Luke’s Lobster has been an East Village institution, earning print and digital accolades along the way, including winning the Today Show’s “Best Lobster Roll” contest. Founder Luke Holden is establishing a veritable lobster shack empire, with a Penn Quarter location in Washington, D.C.
What distinguishes this restaurant is their ability to collaborate directly with fishermen they know, allowing them to trace sustainable catches all the way to their source. At Luke’s, diners can enjoy top-notch bisques and chowders, as well as their famed lobster, crab, and shrimp rolls, chilled crab claws and lobster tail, and seasonal favorites such as lobster grilled cheese and Wild Blue lobster tail salad.
4: BlackSalt Restaurant
Since its inception in 2004, BlackSalt Restaurant has been a mainstay on Washington Magazine’s annual “100 Best Restaurants” list. Diners can anticipate the freshest seafood from sustainable sources served with a cosmopolitan flair, such as their Thai or Belgian blue shell mussels. Salmon tartare, butter-poached lobster, various caviar, and fried Ipswich clams are among the menu’s highlights.
BlackSalt is one of the few restaurants in the city where diners may savour their favorite dishes and then visit the fish market to purchase the ingredients. The best dining advice is to eat where the locals dine, which is BlackSalt in Palisades. Also read romantic hotels near me.
5: Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab
Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak, and Stone Crab restaurant, located in the nation’s capital, is where Washington’s wheeler-dealers and power brokers do deals over plates of Gulf stone crab, hand-carved porterhouse steak, and gigantic lobster tail. Diners will love the people-watching almost as much as enjoying The Whale, which is $25 per person and includes Alaskan king crab, lobster tail, jumbo shrimp cocktail, and shrimp & scallop ceviche.
The Colossal Lump Crab Cake Benedict and strawberry waffles are weekend brunch favorites. Daily extended cocktail hours include half-price oysters on the half shell, house wine, draught beer, and signature cocktails. There are gluten-free, vegetarian, and children’s menus available.
6: Pearl Dive Oyster Palace
When guests delve into the cuisine at Pearl Dive Oyster Palace, they perform a double take to ensure they are still in Washington, D.C., and not New Orleans. Guests can order grilled bacon-wrapped oysters, wood-grilled oysters with red chilli butter, iconic Old Black Salt Oysters on the half shell, fried oyster po’ boys, oyster confit, or oysters Rockefeller, among other options.
Apart from oysters, Pearl Dive’s gumbos, crawfish étouffée, wood-grilled Gulf redfish, and catfish BLT po’ boy are all crowd favorites. Guests will want to spare room for one of their delectable Southern-inspired desserts. Also read best hikes near me.
7: Hot N’ Juicy Crawfish
Tim and Laina, frequent visitors to Las Vegas, noticed that something was missing among the bright lights and bustling streets: a nice location to buy crawfish. They determined that they would be the ones to provide this demand, and thus Hot N’ Juicy Crawfish was born.
It’s developed into an empire over the years, with more than 10 sites nationwide, including one in the nation’s capital. The proprietors invite visitors to “eat on the type of crawfish that doesn’t require pretence, special events, or utensils” in a relaxed setting of brick and dark wood with high-definition screens.
8: Kellari Taverna
From the vast dining area with close-set tables to the waterways from which they source their seafood, the Kellari Taverna restaurant in Washington, honors its Greek history. Guests will dine on white linens in a space furnished in warm tones, creating an appealing Grecian fine-dining atmosphere.
The restaurant stays true to its roots by importing seafood, cheese, oil, and balsamic vinegar directly from Greece and the Mediterranean. Guests will savour everything from marinated various saganaki to iconic Greek barbouni, all of which are perfectly paired by one of the restaurant’s more than 300 Greek and worldwide wines. Also read vegan food near me.
9: Pop’s SeaBar
Pop’s SeaBar, located in Washington, D.C., is a self-described “mom and pop boardwalk-themed” restaurant developed by proprietors John and Justin, who were inspired by childhood seaside visits with their parents. This welcoming, easygoing cafe is ideal for tourists who love socialising with family and friends while dining on delectable Eastern coast fare and sipping their unique “Crush” cocktails.
Guests will savour tasty delicacies, like as Chef John Manolatos’ Fried Oyster Sandwich, while watching television and sipping cold brews. Enjoy an afternoon sucking oysters at their raw bar for seafood lovers and raw fanatics.
10: Hank’s Oyster Bar
Hank’s Oyster Bar is owner/chef Jamie Leeds’ extremely successful casual eatery. Since its inception in 2005, it has garnered praise from publications such as Bon Appetit, The Washington Post, Gourmet, and Southern Living. According to the award-winning chef, her menu is inspired by urban New England beach food.
Diners return again for popular delicacies such as lobster rolls, chowder bowls, crab cakes, and, of course, oysters prepared in creative and delectable ways. When grilled Hog Island-style oysters are on the menu, diners will want to order them. Oysters are coated in a lemon-Tabasco garlicky butter sauce, then topped with cheese and breadcrumbs and grilled until done.