Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last few years (we don’t blame you), you’ve probably heard about (and hopefully dined at) The Dabney — Jeremiah Langhorne’s award-winning restaurant showcasing both Mid-Atlantic and Southern cuisine.
Maybe it’s The Dabney’s show-stopping hearth oven, maybe it’s Langhorne’s aggressively locavore standards when it comes to sourcing ingredients, but whatever magic is happening there has earned the chef both a Michelin Star in 2017 and the James Beard Award for Best Chef, Mid-Atlantic in 2018, among numerous other accolades.
We recently asked Langhorne where he eats when he isn’t helming the galley at The Dabney or the nearby Dabney Cellar, its more casual, intimate spinoff where wine is the star of the show.
His answers reveal how passionate he is about the rapidly evolving culinary scene in the city: “DC dining is really coming into its own, and that feeling is palpable,” Langhorne tells InsideHook. “Everyone from the dining public to the people working in the industry are super pumped to be a part of it and can’t wait for the future. That’s a pretty rare thing and doesn’t happen that often.”
He also tells us that because of his hectic schedule, he’s usually forced to pick where to eat pretty last minute, and that he looks for two things when he goes out on his days off: 1) A relaxed and comfortable setting, and 2) the idea that good food doesn’t have to be fancy, just delicious.
We couldn’t agree more.
BREAKFAST
Le Diplomate (14th Street), Convivial (Shaw), District Doughnut and Coffee (various locations) and Call Your Mother (Columbia Heights)
“I don’t get to do brunch often, but I love classic French for brunch — places like Le Diplomate or Convivial are great. I also love District Donut and Call Your Mother for donuts and bagels, respectively. [From Le Diplomate] I would order a beautiful classic omelette, a glass of orange juice, a nice croissant or maybe a waffle and gallons of coffee.”
LUNCH
Little Sesame (Downtown), Meats & Foods (Le Droit Park) and CHIKO (Eastern Market)
“One of my favorite lunch spots is Little Sesame. It’s a hummus shop that uses beautiful, local vegetables and serves them in a super delicious and fun way. I always get one of their hummus bowls (they change seasonally but the Corn and Fresno chili is amazing, as well as the Chicken Shawarma). Meats & Foods is a great place to get amazing sausages and other wonderful sandwiches. Chiko also has super delicious stuff.”
DINNER
2Amys Neapolitan Pizza (Cathedral Heights) A Rake’s Progress (Adams Morgan)
“2Amy’s is my favorite restaurant in Washington, D.C. I typically go there every week. If I’m in town and I have the night off I’m most likely there. A Rake’s Progress is the other spot that I absolutely love. The chef, Opie Crooks, is amazing and the food is so well-sourced and prepared [that] you’re guaranteed to have a great time.”
LATE NIGHT
Lucky Buns (Adam’s Morgan), El Sol Restaurante & Tequileria (Logan Circle), Daikaya (Chinatown)
“Lucky Buns, El Sol, Daikaya are all great spots depending on how late it is and what you’re in the mood for. My dining is very craving-based so I often want a particular type of food and then seek and destroy.”
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