ACHA 2018 is fast approaching! One of the best parts of hosting this year’s Annual Meeting in Washington, DC, is welcoming our members and college health and wellness professionals to our backyard. We’ve talked a lot about restaurant recommendations on this blog, but today we’re getting expert advice from one of our staff members who is quite familiar with DC, Communications Coordinator Dani Monroe.
Hopefully this carefully curated list of favorites will pique your curiosity, and get you more excited to join us in Washington this May!
Busboys & Poets
A restaurant, bookstore, and lounge celebrating art & culture, diversity & inclusion, and social change/activism. It is also known for supporting local artists and having a vegetarian- and vegan-friendly menu.
Fun Fact: The name Busboys and Poets refers to the famous American poet Langston Hughes, who worked as a busboy at the Wardman Park Hotel (ACHA 2018 host hotel) in the 1920s, prior to gaining recognition as a poet.
Neighborhood: U Street/Cardozo; Mount Vernon Triangle
Website: www.busboysandpoets.com
St. Arnold’s Mussel Bar
European-inspired brasserie known for its variety of traditional Belgian mussels, beer, and frites.
Neighborhood: Cleveland Park; DuPont Circle
Website: www.starnoldsmusselbar.com
2 Amys
2Amys is known for its wood-fired pizza and Italian wines. It is also recognized as the first D.O.C-certified pizzeria in Washington, DC — the D.O.C (Denominazione di Origine Controllata) specifies the legally permitted ingredients and methods of preparation necessary to produce authentic Neapolitan Pizza.
Neighborhood: Cathedral Heights
Website: www.2amysdc.com
Convivial
A colorful and classy restaurant featuring French-American fare and craft cocktails. Named one of DC’s Very Best Restaurants of 2017!
Neighborhood: Shaw
Website: www.convivialdc.com
Barcelona Wine Bar
A rustic wine bar and restaurant known for its variety of Spanish small plates and its vast wine collection.
Neighborhood: Cathedral Heights; 14th Street Corridor
Website: www.barcelonawinebar.com
El Centro D.F.
A Mexican restaurant created by internationally acclaimed Chef Richard Sandoval and known for its authentic Mexican comfort food and fine tequilas.
Neighborhood: Georgetown; 14th Street Corridor
Website: www.eatelcentro.com
Comet Ping Pong
Comet Ping Pong is an eccentric pizza parlor and neighborhood favorite in Upper Northwest DC known for its thin-crust pizza, multiple ping pong tables, and live music.
It is also the pizza parlor that fell victim to the “Pizzagate” conspiracy theory and fake news scandal. After the incident, Comet received an outpouring of community support, including from Hillary Clinton.
Neighborhood: Chevy Chase (DC)
Website: www.cometpingpong.com
Cactus Cantina
A fun, casual, family-friendly restaurant known for its Tex-Mex specialties and its large dining area (can hold more than 300 guests!)
Neighborhood: Cathedral Heights
Website: www.cactuscantina.com
Clyde’s
A family of restaurants native to the DC Metropolitan region known for its classic American fare and locally-raised and sustainable ingredients.
Neighborhood: Georgetown; Gallery Place; Chevy Chase (MD)
Website: www.clydes.com
Pho 14
A local Vietnamese noodle shop often found of the list of DC’s Best Pho!
Neighborhood: Van Ness; Adams Morgan; Columbia Heights
Website: www.dcpho14.com
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