Washington DC... any "secret" places to go?

[motion]

I've been before, but will have the opportunity next week to spend a few more days there. Anyone have any insight on secret bars, restaurants, etc, where I can see DC heavy-hitters? Not private clubs or anything inaccessible...

[Rick Lee]

Yes. Very few people know this, but the cafeteria and dining rooms on the Senate side are open to the public and have very good food at decent prices. Try the buffet in the basement of the Dirksen Bldg. It's very hard to find if you're not a staffer, but it's super food and, if Congress is in session, you 100% will see senators eating there. Next to that is the Hart Bldg. cafeteria. I once saw Muhammed Ali trying to eat lunch there and he finally gave up because everyone was pestering him for autographs. Joe Lieberman was even standing in line to meet him. When he got up to leave, the whole room erupted in applause.

Just outside the Hart Bldg. between it and Union Station is The Monocle, also a watering hole and restaurant for the heavy hitters. There are a lot of very nice restaurants in that area. On the House side the main bars there are Tortilla Coast and Bullfeathers, right caddy corner from the Capitol South Metro on First St., SE.

If you want to see WH staffers, you go to Old Ebbit Grill on 15th St., across from the Treasury Bldg. Great bar and food, though I can't remember seeing any VIP's there. The other hevay hitter hangouts in that part of town are The Caucus Room (owned by Haley Barbour), The Palm and Smith & Wolensky's. M&S Grille is ok too, but there's always a wait if you don't have reservations.

If you know any Congressmen or Senators personally, the hands-down best tour you can ever get is a dome tour of the Capitol Bldg. But they have to personally escort you on that and usually only do so for close friends and staffers. I got to do it once and it takes some climbing up ladders between the two shells of the dome.

If you will have a car and don't care about seeing powerbrokers and the like, the best food is in MD and VA.

[Rick Lee]

Oh, and Capital Grill on Penn Ave., NW is also a heavy hitter hangout.

[foxpaws]

Old Ebbit's gets a second from me... And, if you are a movie buff - it is the bar that Clint Eastwood frequented in 'The Line of Fire'... and I have seen 'heavy hitters' there - not politicians, but journalists...

[motion]

Thank you for the thoughtful responses. I'll definitely be stalking the pol-peeps at those places

[Seahawk]

The cafeteria is great...I've eaten there dozens of times over the years.

The Palm has been recommended.

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

Yes. Very few people know this, but the cafeteria and dining rooms on the Senate side are open to the public and have very good food at decent prices. Try the buffet in the asement of the Dirksen Bldg. It's very hard to find if you're not a staffer, but it's super food and, if Congress is in session, you 100% will see senators eating there. Next to that is the Hart Bldg. cafeteria. I once saw Muhammed Ali trying to eat lunch there and he finally gave up because everyone was pestering him for autographs. Joe Lieberman was even standing in line to meet him. When he got up to leave, the whole room erupted in applause.

Just outside the Hart Bldg. between it and Union Station is The Monocle, also a watering hole and restaurant for the heavy hitters. There are a lot of very nice restaurants in that area. On the House side the main bars there are Tortilla Coast and Bullfeathers, right caddy corner from the Capitol South Metro on First St., SE.

If you want to see WH staffers, you go to Old Ebbit Grill on 15th St., across from the Treasury Bldg. Great bar and food, though I can't remember seeing any VIP's there. The other hevay hitter hangouts in that part of town are The Caucus Room (owned by Haley Barbour), The Palm and Smith & Wolensky's. M&S Grille is ok too, but there's always a wait if you don't have reservations.

If you know any Congressmen or Senators personally, the hands-down best tour you can ever get is a dome tour of the Capitol Bldg. But they have to personally escort you on that and usually only do so for close friends and staffers. I got to do it once and it takes some climbing up ladders between the two shells of the dome.

If you will have a car and don't care about seeing powerbrokers and the like, the best food is in MD and VA.

[BeyGon]

Another vote for Old Ebbits Grill, great food and Happy Hour is super, do you like Oysters?

[slw911SC]

How about breakfast with Mr. Obama in the basement kitchen of the White House. I'm told that's prettysecret

[romad]

There is a new bakery given out alot of free dough, its call " To Hell in a Hand Basket", 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

[Gooch1971]

Yet another vote for Old Ebbitt Grill established in 1856. Try the Colombian Empanadas with the chimichurri and aji pepper as a starter or for a snack if you just want to check out the bar for a drink.

Bullfeathers was also pretty neat place to happen upon while killing time with co-workers.

[Rick Lee]

Those places on the Hill are kind of dead on weekends. But when Congress is in session, they are booming. If you go there when they're in session and if you know your politicians by sight, you will see more than you can count. Georgetown has a few good places to eat too, but it's not a hangout for VIP's and it's a real pain in the butt to get to and from. J. Paul's is good.

Also don't forget the great hotel bars! Ritz Carlton in Georgetown is good. I saw Ben Stein come in there with his wife once. Then there's the Mayflower, where Eliot Spitzer used to bang his ho. They have a good bar. I saw Gregory Peck once at the Four Seasons on M St. Oh, check out the Hay Adams right across Lafayette Park from the White House. Super restaurant. The bar is in the basement and is awesome. Best hotel in DC and not real well known except with the insiders. I've seen everyone there from Jimmy Carter to John Boehner, back when you could still smoke everywhere in DC (which Boehner does). The Willard is great too. I saw an F-40 parked out front there once, lots of high-flying diplomat-types there. Hotel bars are where it's at, but they ain't cheap. Oh, and the Swisshotel at the Watergate is pretty nice, but also a pain in the butt to get to. Hate driving around there.

[Linderpat]

Don't forget Kincaids for great but pricy food, not far from the White House.

[Joe Bob]

Deep Throat's Underground Garage?

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by Joe Bob

Deep Throat's Underground Garage?

I think that is under the Key Bridge Marriott in Rosslyn, but the articles I recently read about the historical marker sign they put there did not say where it was.

[VincentVega]

Ray's Hell Burger just across the bridge.

[mjohnson]

I think the famous bar at the Mayflower is closed for renovation right now.

Up the street from there is the Tabard Inn. N between 17th and 18th I think. Low key but a great small cocktail bar and restaurant tucked into an old boarding house/hotel. Drinks on the sofas by the fire in the winter. Frequented by locals more than tourists. I'm in DC every 4-6 weeks and besides Ebbit's, this is the place I frequent.

No congresscritters, but probably some of the staff at Granville Moore's out on H st NE. Need a cab to get there. Frites, mussels and lots of Belgian beer.

[BeyGon]

B Smith's, street level at Union station, think Black Martha Stewart, great food.

[motion]

I think I've explored about every inch of DC on foot, and have been to most of the places you guys suggested. I have the rest of the day to explore areas outside of DC... any suggestions on interesting things within a 3-4 hour drive? I've already been to Baltimore and Philly on this trip.

[Rick Lee]

There's the Manassas Battlefiels and the Udvar Hazy Air Space Museum nearby. Annapolis is pretty cool. Walk around Old Town Alexandria, check out Mt. Vernon and drive out to Middleburg. I think there's actually more to do in VA and MD than in DC. But it's a little more spread out. Luray Caverns, Antietam Battlefield, Shepardtown and Harper's Ferry WV, etc.

[Don Plumley]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

Udvar Hazy Air Space Museum nearby.

+1

I've been there a couple of times and really like it.