Best Hot Spot Restaurants in Maryland

I made reservations here for a Christmas brunch with my family and Wow! I am so happy I did! My family and I had a fabulous time and a fantastic brunch here at Old Ebbitt. Our server, Jasmine, gave excellent recommendations and was an incredible server. She was very warm and inviting, which is something we always look for. The french toast, chicken and waffles, eggs Benedict, crab and artichoke dip, and raw oysters were all top notch and delicious. From start to end, everything was perfect. This is where you want to have brunch in DC. Thank you, Old Ebbitt!

This was a tremendous meal, and a can't-miss restaurant when visiting Washington D.C. It was my wife and I, and we shared six plates: hummus, falafel, rice pilaf/barley, fried eggplant, brussels sprouts and (essentially) french fries. We were uncomfortably full when leaving, and this ran us a whopping $72 dollars before tip. Obviously if we had gotten drinks or wine, the price would have gone up considerably, but I can't imagine this kind of quality food in a metro area for $36/person in 2024. Plus endless homemade pita that was a cross between pita and naan was provided -- crazy delicious. The french fries had a house-made mushroom salt with a yogurt dipping sauce. The serving size on those were substantial, but basically they were just outstanding french fries. In terms of going for authentic Mediterranean food, we could have swapped this out for something else, but that was probably more our fault than theirs just having something a little more neutral on the menu for less-adventurous eaters. The other five items were all significantly above average, with my favorite being the sprouts and my wife favoring the barley/pilaf. Also, the speed with which we got through our meal was noteworthy -- one hour as they rotated through plates one at a time. It was a well-oiled machine.

What the heck. This place was quite the surprise. It blew us away. The food was surprisingly good. We ordered several different times, and each time the food came out fresh, hot, quickly, and looked like an artist put it together. The jumbo shrimp with cilantro goodness was amazing. Calamari better than it should have been. The service was amazing. The prices? Way too low. Happy hour prices are ridiculous. I mean so ridiculously low. I think maybe they just love people. I’m not sure. I’d make this my go to spot if I lived here.

Fantastic experience! Management at the Annapolis location is top notch. Busy with the holiday season but you could see them lending a hand in the dining room and tasting room so that everything was running smoothly and in a timely manner. Tasting room staff was very attentive. Our waiter, Steven, who we have had several times in the past, was very attentive, kind, and efficient and did a great job, as always. If you want a great meal and the chance to feel pampered, CH in Annapolis is where you go!

Philomena is a pillar in the DC community and for great reason. When you first walk down the, many steps, you enter your known as house. During the holiday season, the restaurant is decorated from head to toe with Christmas celebration. The staff are all extremely courteous and helpful And always dressed amazingly. The food is outstanding. All portions are large enough to share so get a few dishes and let your table enjoy old world Italian cuisine. Anything on the menu is a score in my book. But don’t forget always leave room for dessert. The cannoli are amazing!