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WASHINGTONIAN MAGAZINE: “61 Neighborhood Restaurants That Make the DC Area a Better Place to Eat—and Live”

Wednesday February 24, 2021

WASHINGTONIAN Magazine Article: “61 Neighborhood Restaurants That Make the DC Area a Better Place to Eat—and Live,” February 11, 2021

From the article:

Alta Strada

The three R’s of nonna-style cooking—red sauce, ricotta, and rigatoni—are in plentiful supply at Michael Schlow’s comfy Mosaic-district dining room (plus a twin in Mount Vernon Triangle). The spirit is boisterous, but the kitchen is careful. Here, the Caesar is just garlicky enough, the penne alla vodka has a subtle chili streak, and the chicken parm arrives with as much cheese and sauce as you’d hope. To go with it all: big hunks of garlic bread and a cannoli for dessert.

 

Busboys and Poets

For owner Andy Shallal, Busboys and Poets has never been just a place to eat. It’s a place for art, music, and conversations about race, politics, and culture. The seven locations have been hubs for activists who brunch—from Iraq War opponents to Black Lives Matter leaders. And when storefronts went dark last summer, Shallal brightened the streets by painting murals on their windows and commissioning local artists to do the same.