Lavandou

Location: Cleveland Park
Cuisine: French Bistro
Price: $$$
Website: http://www.lavandoudc.com/
Nearest Metro: Red Line Cleveland Park metro stop

I've lived in Cleveland Park for the past 2 years and walk past this restaurant almost daily. Lavandou is a rustic French looking bistro painted with oranges and yellows. When it's warm outside the windows in the front are open and inviting. The easel that sits outside the door invites you in with their daily specials, the one that stands out to me is the Tuesday special - $16.99 for all you can eat Mussels, prepared one of three ways. Finally I rounded up my roomie, her sister and a friend to try out this neighborhood icon that looks as if it should be housed on street with a brick road. The hostess and waiter were wonderful, they were patient, uber friendly, and very helpful in guiding us in our decision making. The waiter brought out bread that we devoured mercilessly. We chose a couple of appetizers, and what would a French dinner be if you did not order the Escargot Beurre d'Ail. There was plenty to go around. The sauced that housed these lovely little snail edibles was quite good, not too salty, not too bland, just right. The ratatouille was good, nice and hearty. I decided to go ahead and try out the L'Assiette de Frommage (assorted cheese plates). Although I'm not quite sure which cheeses were actually on the plate, they were pretty good (I think it was 3 or 4 different cheeses), I do know there was a brie that I just couldn't stop eating. The cheeses varied in flavor from the very salty to the more subtle. Being that everyone at the table decided to go ahead and order the all-you-can-eat mussels, I went ahead and tried the Jaret d'Agneau au Romarin (lamb shank in a rosemary sauce and pasta) which was great it wasn't overwhelmed with the flavor or the sauce and the meat was cooked perfectly. The mussels came in a variety of sauces (Provencale, pices et Basillique, and Safran et creme) I would have to say the Safran et Creme was THE best. The Basillique was okay but wasn't necessarily favored by the table.

I would have to say that this place is nice for getting together a few friends to grab a couple of glasses of wine and enjoy some nice homemade (the food was pretty fresh I must say), or even to go on a table and pretend that you are at a bistro on the French Riviera. The ambiance takes you out of DC and takes you to France and encompasses the nice things about France. I definitely would recommend at least checking it out once (suggesting that you go on Tuesday for the All-You-Can-Eat mussels, but if you want to take advantage of it stay away from the appetizers and go straight for the mussels, because they will really fill you up)

Indique

Indique is a really nice little restaurant, the decor is upscale and gives you the feel of fine dining. The employees are nice. I was a little perturbed because they didn't have any really spicy curry. I love my curry spicy and was expecting tha they would have some. Unfortunately to my dismay they didn't have any. I think it's some sort of law against not having spicy Indian curry on an Indian cuisine menu. The food was okay, but it just wasn't up to my standards. It was a little bland and of course they didn't have anything that spicy. The food just didn't seem very authentic. Needless to say, I haven't been back. If you like Indian food that isn't spicy this is the place for you. Oh yeah they do have a decent wine menu.

Location: Cleveland Park
Price Range $12-20

http://www.indique.com/

Yanni's Greek Restaurant

Yanni's is a little on the gaudy side with its decorations. When you walk in you see a lot of older couples grabbing drinks and just hanging out. But it has a comfortable neighborhood feel. It has a bar side and a dining area. You can come casual or dressed up and still feel comfortable.

I love Greek food and anywhere I can get a good Greek salad I'm happy. I've had most of the appetizers and they are all pretty good. The dolmades are pretty decent, not the BEST but definitely edible (it's pretty hard to find GREAT grape leaves). The menu is cheap and the drinks are good. Last time I went I had the Chicken Souvlaki platter. It was pretty delish! The portion was so big I had enough for lunch the next day. The food is really cheap but it doesn't taste it. (always a plus for me)

Price range $8-$17

http://www.yannisgreektaverna.com/index.html

Spices

I can say I frequent this place A LOT! (Most of the people know me in there) The people there are realllllly nice. They have a great happy hour (1/2 off all drinks alcholic and non-alcholic). The service is great, the atmostphere is pretty relaxed and it can get PACKED.

The sushi there is great! I really enjoy their Spicy tuna, and the Crunchy shrimp tempura roll. Whenever I am sick I grab a bowl of their Tom Yom Shrimp soup and it clears me right up! The Crab wontons are really good as well as the rice paper rolls. The pad thai and their curries are all pretty good too. You can't really go wrong by stopping by this place if you are craving Thai food or Sushi.

Location: Cleveland Park
Prices $10-20


http://spicesdc.com/

Cleveland Park Bar & Grill

Located directly off the Cleveland Park metro stop on the redline.

Cleveland park is your neighborhood bar & grill. Me and my cousin stop by this joint quite frequently when we don't want to cook and when we just feel like grabbing a bite to eat, plus the people who work there are all pretty cool. With a menu of pizza's, pasta's, burgers and sandwiches you can't really go wrong. It's a great place to catch a game, and they have a happy hour that starts at 10 p.m. on beer and rail drinks. The food is decent (I haven't been disappointed yet) and fairly priced. Great place to catch up with the guys or get up with the gang.

Price range - about $10-20.

Ardeo Bardeo

Location: Cleveland Park

I have been here to eat and walk by it daily. When I stopped by there I had the Steamed Nova Scotia Mussels (the portions were large) and the Fusille (smoked chicken dish) DELICIOUS!, I have also seen some famous faces dining there. Ardeo Bardeo is a Wine Bar (Bardeo) and restaurant (Ardeo). Upscale and classy the prices are a little more on the expensive side, but it's worth it. With a modern cuisine, the menu is extensive and the food is well prepared and delicious. The wine menu isn't too extensive but it's decent. It's a nice place to go if you want to get dressed up and have no place to go. A great place to take a date if you're trying to impress someone.

Prices are $25-up

http://www.ardeorestaurant.com/
http://www.bardeo.com/

Dino

Located on Connecticut and Ordway directly off the Cleveland Park Metro Stop on the Red Line)

Dino's is an Italian restaurant in Cleveland Park. The menu is very precise and to the point, the portions are pretty decent and the prices aren't even that costly. The wine selection is said to be the best in the city, and I will agree, they actually carried the wines that are hard to come by, but highly favored by me. The baretender a.k.a. the "Mixologists" was friendly, knew his stuff, and was also a certified sommelier. It's cozy and has a "neighborhood" type of feel but still upholds a certain air about itself. My friend ordered the Hanger Steak and although they don't carry A-1 she enjoyed it all the same. I ordered the Conchiglie ai Fruitti di Mare (pasta with shellfish) it was really good, a little salty, but pretty good. My cousin ordered the Halibut and that was amazing.

They also have a really good special Mon-Thurs, a 3 course meal for $24 as long as it is ordered before 7:00 pm.

If you love wine like I do you will be able to appreciate this place!

Price Range $15-up

http://www.dino-dc.com/index.html