My Neighborhood Favorites

The places I turn to again and again all have a few things in common: I can walk to them, the prices are good, and the food is solid. Thus this list, though delicious, is mostly limited to the 14th Street/U Street neighborhood.

• Bar Pilar
1833 14th St. NW, 202.265.1751
In this dark and moody bar, you can manage an affordable meal of small plates paired with a well-priced wine list. Chef Justin Bittner's ambitious market-inspired menu includes the occasional offal dish for the adventurous (veal kidneys and sweetbreads) and favorites like chicken liver pate with grilled bread, crispy potatoes with malt aioli and Spanish white anchovies.

• Cafe Saint-Ex
1847 14th St. NW, 202.265.7839
Bar Pilar's older sibling up the street is my favorite spot for brunch. French toast with a side of bacon is my regular order, but other standouts include a smoked trout plate and the fried green tomato Benedict. Come dinner time, the burger is a good bet, made with local grass-fed beef. A commitment to local farms and sustainable seafood is another reason Saint-Ex is on my list of regular stops.

• Coppi's
1414 U St. NW, 202.319.7773
An urban and organic pioneer, Coppi's has been slinging pizzas on U Street since 1993. My standard order: the soppressata pizza, topped with salami, ricotta, mozzarella, mint, parsley, mushrooms and red onions. And don't overlook the appetizers, including the seared green chard with raisins, hot pepper, garlic and ricotta. Call in a take-out order and if you're driving, they'll save you the quest for parking and run it out to your car.

• Cork
1720 14th St. NW, 202.265.2675
There's often a wait for seats at this personable wine bar. The bar pours about 45 choices by the glass and the bottle list stretches to more than 150 selections. Dishes like duck confit with mushroom polenta, crisp fries with lemon zest, garlic and parsley, and the house-cured trout are all standouts. The team includes husband-and-wife owners Khalid Pitts and Diane Gross, chef Ron Tanaka (formerly of CityZen) and bar man Tom Brown.

• Hank's Oyster Bar
1624 Q St. NW, 202.462.4265
Briny raw oysters and a beach bar vibe. Need I say more? What? Not everyone likes oysters? Or the beach? Well, there's plenty of other draws at chef Jamie Leeds' tribute to her father, like crisp fried calamari and popcorn shrimp, a plump lobster roll on a buttery bun and creamy mac and cheese. I never stray far from the fried foods/oysters combo, but there's a nightly meat and two sides special and usually an interesting fish entree or two.

• Posto
1515 14th St. NW, 202.332.8613
This Italian newcomer, pictured above, is the more casual sibling of downtown's sleek Ristorante Tosca. I love it for the wood-fired pizzas (arugula and prosciutto is my go-to), rustic pastas and bustling vibe.