I would recommend D.C. Coast or Tosca.

dammit, I was all excited about my Zengo reservation for Friday....sigh.

From Jan 2006 restaurant week:

Galileo was way overrated, except the tiramisu, which was amazing. Food that was fancy for the sake of being fancy, and not at all satisfying. Even the atmosphere was crap.

Cafe 15 was great service and great food. Butternut squash and lobster bisque was awesome. Not the best atmosphere (one big room in a hotel).

Mie N Yu was my favorite of the week. It's so unique. The food was all interesting and delicious. Only downside was ridiculously expensive drinks.

Ardeo was decent, but nothing special. Anyway a meal there normally wouldn't be much more than $30.

Acadiana was awesome. The food was perfect. If you like cajun, this place is wonderful.

Bistro Bis was cool, but not my favorite. I wouldn't be terribly excited about going back.

Zengo isn't gourmet but I've enjoyed some good business lunches there. Mie N Yu has a special place in my heart because I was once given ridiculous quantities of free champagne there. My best meal I've had in DC was Nora. I'm trying Corduroy and hoping it will be good.

OK, it's in Old Town, so you'd have to cross the river, but Restaurant Eve is the best place in the DC area. Never a bad meal, warm and inviting space.

Acadiana, Viridian,and Agrarian are all worth the 5:15 or 9:45 dinner.

I wanted to go to Noras, but it was all booked up. I love Georgia Brown's though.

I was able to get reservations at Zola (just called a day ago) and was shocked. Maybe try there.

Nora's is fantastic. Butterfield 9 is very good. the atmosphere (hotel-ness) at Corduroy is such a disappointment. I prefer vidalia to georgia brown's if you're hoping for southern cuisine.

Last summer I was surprised by how many options TenPenh had for restaurant week. It may not be the "it" place anymore, but the food is good and it's great to have more than three choices when you sit down. Red Thai Curry Shrimp is always a delicious safe bet.

I should have added that I love Nora's, but I figured that was a given in this town.

Both Corduroy and Tosca suffer from hotel banquet hall syndrome. Enough with the earth tones already. I was disappointed by Corduroy, but I seem to be the exception.

On your recommendation, I have a reservation for Town Hall in San Francisco when I arrive in 2 weeks.

Some relatives of mine just returned from there, and the one place they told us to try...Town Hall.

The man must know his stuff.

Yeah, but I got the recommendation from Kathryn, so the credit goes to her.

Oh, and get the veal meatball starter. It's great.

Be careful, some of the restaurants only offer the discount for lunch, and don't mention it until you show up for dinner. My dumb ass didn't think it was unusual that I was able to get an 8pm reservation at Kinkead's.

You have lost all credibility, then.

Spezie is my favorite restaurant in DC. It's not expensive enough to justify going during restaurant week unless you're going to eat a meat course instead of pasta, but you should check it out sometime anyway. Never had anything that wasn't incredibly delicious there.

As a food snob, I can say with full confidence that you should go to Obelisk if you can. You will not regret it.

Duly noted, but Obelisk isn't participating in restaurant week.

I've opted for Viridian on Wednesday. I'll let you know how it goes.