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12 Best Restaurants in Cathedral Heights

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The 12 Best Restaurants in Cathedral Heights DC to Check Out

Looking for a good place to eat in the Cathedral Heights neighborhood? Washington DC has some of the best food selections in the world — but that doesn’t mean it’s necessarily easy for you to find what you are looking for. We find it easier to break it down by neighborhood, so feel free to check out our guide on where to eat in Mt. Pleasant. In the meantime, check out the new and old neighborhood favorites in Cathedral Heights and find your favorite place to eat!

1. Chef Geoff's

Chef Geoff’s got its start in 2000 when it opened its first location in Cathedral Heights (and would eventually go on to open a second in Vienna, Virginia). This is a sunny neighborhood spot with a great patio, and you must check out their mushroom ravioli. This restaurant has a lot of hype because of its ever-changing seasonal menu. meaning you can head there and invigorate your taste-buds with something new every-time you go! The amazing cuisine is just minutes away from your apartment at The Archer.

2. Cactus Cantina

This one was founded in 1990 and quickly became the watering hole of choice in Cathedral Heights. They serve Tex-Mex, Cuban, South American and Spanish dishes, but you could honestly just come here for the wine and margaritas. If you are looking to plan an event, this awesome restaurant can host up to 130 people for party’s, and even offers catering services. Their happy hour is Monday-Friday from 3-6:30PM! Enjoy frozen margaritas, sangria, and $3 tacos, yum! Ride your bike from your place at The Rodman to the Cactus Cantina in under 10 minutes for a cool drink and refreshing bites.

3. 2 Amys

This is a popular Neapolitan-style pizza and calzone “joint” that actually follows the strict Italian regulations on how pizzas should be made (expect a thin crust!). This place goes all out with local grass raised meat, homemade meatballs, homemade ice-cream, and unique small plates. The Washington Post has named this place one of “the hallmarks of great pizza” calling its crust “so compelling you could eat it by itself.” Take the family, drink some wine, and be merry!

4. Shemalis

If you are looking for a great lunch stop, you have arrived. so get ready for some real Middle Eastern cuisine! Joseph Chemali is a Lebanese chef with over 50 years of experience, and you can taste his take on shawarma, kafta kabobs, and lamb gyro. They also have a store where you can buy traditional food. And rumor has it that their za’atar is insanely good!

5. Al Dente

This restaurant was established in 2012 and immediately made a splash when it was featured in Esquire. Chef Robert Donna has been named “Chef of the Year” in DC twice, so that should give you a clue about how good the risotto, pizza, and pasta is. Head to their outdoor patio and enjoy a boutique selection of Italian wines alongside your homemade pasta. Enjoy unique art insulations of Mona Lisa and Leonardo as you chow down on your pizza in this urban Italian trattoria.

6. Barcelona Wine Bar

Something about being near a large Cathedral and eating little plates of tapas can make you feel like you are back in Barcelona, even if you are in DC instead. Or at least, that’s what this little gem offers, with a large selection of international wines (many of them Spanish), a sleek interior, and some pretty exciting dishes. Happy Hour is on Monday-Friday from 4-7, and brunch is served on Saturday and Sunday Mornings!

7. Arcuri

An Italian and American spot in a cozy and rustic building that offers everything from potato gnocchi to roast chicken to Spanish octopus.

This is one you will need to come back to again and again, just in an attempt to try all of their concoctions. UrbanDaddy calls this place a “Subterranean, brick-lined lair of wood-fired pizzas that takes its cocktails seriously. “ It has high ratings and limoncello slushies, what more could you ask for?

8. La Piquette

Finally, a French restaurant! Chef Francis Layrle changes the menu here every day based on what is seasonal and fresh. They have great wine selection, an elegant vibe, and an excellent steak frites.The Washington Post says “La Piquette: The name might be a joke; the cooking is anything but.” Enjoy seasonal farm raised beautifully prepared food for brunch, lunch, and dinner!

9. Raku

Raku is the premier Asian dining spot in Cathedral Heights — seriously.

This one has been around since 1996 and it’s the place to go for sushi, coconut red curry broths, noodle soups, and bento boxes.

Check out their menu, sure, but why not just skip it and go for their miso marinated Alaskan black cod with ginger tomato sauce, broccolini and oyster mushrooms!

10. Heritage India

This is a great stop for authentic Indian cuisine!

They do carryout and deliveries but it’s worth it to stop by. Feel the atmosphere, enjoy a tamarind ginger mojito, and check out their extensive menu, which has plenty of vegan and vegetarian options!

Its traditional spices, tangy menu and prime location will leave your mouth watering until next time! Luckily, it is just a 7 minute walk from your place  off of Massachusetts Ave, NW.

 

11. Duke's Counter

Duke’s Counter is a British pub in the middle of DC with cool art on the walls, a minimal and millennial feel, and a well-stocked bar. It’s right across from the National Zoo so you might have to deal with crowded streets and lots of kids if you wander all the way over here on a summer day, but we promise it’s worth it. Feel free to check out their menu or go there to find out more.

12. Dumplings and Beyond

This is a classic Chinese restaurant in every way — unpretentious, relatively inexpensive, and well rated for their actual dumplings (and the rest of their menu as well).

They aren’t known for their atmosphere, but you’ll love it if the atmosphere you are going for is “no-nonsense” and “let the food speak for itself.” Go for tradition, and get your dumplings, noodles, and a hot pot!

They don’t have their own website but you can see their full menu and order online here!

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