16 Best Restaurants in Northern Virginia, Virginia

This classic raw bar is consistently busy thanks to a nice mix of locals and visitors. No doubt it's because the oysters, clams, and lobster rolls are incredibly fresh, and the wine list is great. The restaurant also offers several daily specials highlighting local and seasonal ingredients, as well as fantastic soups, salads, and small plates. The rooftop dining area is superb.

If there's a recipe for a perfect country inn restaurant, chef Jonathan Martin and sommelier Stephen Elhafdi have it. Head about an hour west of D.C. into Virginia hunt country, and your reward is extraordinary comfort food. À la carte menu items—like thyme-roasted pork with sweet potato purée or pan-seared chicken breast with mushrooms and lentils—are made with fresh local ingredients and presented in an intimate setting. You can order à la carte or indulge in the chef's tasting menu, both of which change seasonally. The inn also offers ten rooms, some with fireplaces and all with made-to-order country breakfast.

A branch of a popular Georgetown pub, Clyde's has four art deco dining rooms, one or more of which may be devoted to private parties. The Palm Terrace has high ceilings and lots of faux greenery; less formal dining rooms adjoin each other and a couple of bars. Clyde's mostly attracts workers from the nearby corporate buildings, who appreciate the attentive service and high-quality fare. The lengthy, eclectic menu always includes fresh fish dishes, such as trout Parmesan. The wine list is equally long.

Built in 1883 in the heart of Old Town and used as an actual firehouse, this historic building now just off bustling King Street houses a popular brasserie with a barroom, atrium, and patio.

In the heart of the historic district, this circa-1789 tavern provides a taste of the interior decoration, cuisine, and entertainment of the early Republic. A strolling balladeer usually makes the rounds on Friday and Saturday nights. The tavern was a favorite of Thomas Jefferson and George Washington, who is commemorated on the menu: George Washington's Favorite is half a duck grilled with scalloped potatoes, corn pudding, rhotekraut (sweet and sour red cabbage), and a port wine orange glace. Brunch is served on Sunday.

Opened in 1999, the Lightfoot occupies a historic bank building, lending traces of vintage architecture to the chic design—the marble staircases are the first tip-off (and the wine cellar is in the old vault). But people flock here for the upscale dining experience, focusing on creative American-style cuisine: lobster and shrimp pasta in rosemary cream sauce; braised pork, shrimp, and grits; filet mignon with horseradish-chive butter and crispy onions. The desserts are just as heavenly.

Housed in a Romanesque-Revival building (1888), this restaurant was the Peoples National Bank for more than half a century. Restored to its original grandeur, the restaurant was named in honor of Francis Lightfoot Lee, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. One of the wine "cellars" is actually the bank's vault. The seasonal American cuisine, based on local ingredients, includes meat and seafood with a regional spin.

Brunch lovers unite over this lively Del Ray restaurant, serving French toast, eggs and waffles, and biscuits and gravy all day long. But there are plenty of other menu items as well, including lunchtime salads and sandwiches, and heartier comfort-fare dishes for dinner, including fried chicken and pork chops. Mimosas are de rigeur (though the “brunchy drink” menu has some interesting seasonal alternatives, including spiced pear mule and cassis spritz). Locals know chef Todd Miller as the originator of Ted’s pop tarts, a D.C. phenomenon.

It goes without saying that romance is in the air at this chocolate-themed restaurant, enhanced by low lighting and tucked-away booths. Chocolate may not be used in every dish, but why opt for anything else? The crispy calamari is prepared with a cocoa beer batter, while the burger comes with chocolate barbecue sauce. Even the Caesar salad is sprinkled with cocoa nibs. As you can imagine, the desserts are decadent, as are the specialty cocktails (the “moussetache,” for example, has vodka, baileys, and four forms of chocolate including crème de cacao and chocolate mousse). The secret is the conche—a machine that refines the chocolate to perfection.

Out in Del Ray, this Wisconsin-style frozen custard shop was a local family favorite long before President Obama came in with his daughters for a Father's Day treat. The Dairy Godmother features daily flavors of custard and sorbet like maple walnut or strawberry balsamico, as well as sweets like homemade marshmallows and cool treats for dogs.

Tuskie’s, as locals call it, is a Loudoun institution. Opened in 1985 in historic downtown Leesburg, it occupies a restored 1899 grist mill. Owner Kevin Malone was a proponent of the “buy local” movement from the start, and the New American menu—with dishes like grilled flank steak with bourbon molasses, slow-braised lamb shank with rosemary sauce, and jumbo lump crab cakes with lemon-leek aioli—reflects this philosophy. You can get salads and sandwiches too; the Barn Yard “Au Jus” smoked beef brisket and pork sandwich is a local favorite.

Housed in what was once a feed house in the 1800s (now beautifully restored with reclaimed wood, antique bricks, and glass panes), this lively American tavern serves an all-day menu and weekend brunch, and has a club-like feel on weekend nights. You can sample a wide variety of selections with a seasonal bent, from red wine–braised short ribs and pasta puttanesca to a grilled chicken BLT or a quinoa salad.  Make reservations, especially on weekends, because the large space gets packed quickly!