PRICE:
Frommer's Very Highly Recommended

Everyone seems to love Equinox, whose proximity to the White House guarantees a high-and-mighty clientele. Regulars appreciate that Equinox is not splashy in any way -- it's just a pretty, comfortable restaurant serving creatively delicious American food. You'll eat all your vegetables here, because as much care is taken with these garnishes as with the entree itself. And every entree comes with a garnish or two, like creamed spinach or forest mushrooms with applewood bacon, or white-bean ragout. You can order additional side dishes; consider the macaroni and cheese: Gruyère and black truffle reduction. The home runs, of course, are the entrees. You order a la carte for lunch, and either a la carte or one of three tasting menus for dinner: $57 for three courses, $70 for four courses, and $85 for six courses. Standouts have included pan-roasted Alaska halibut with artichoke ragout; crab cakes made with lump crab mixed with capers, brioche bread crumbs, mayonnaise, and lemon-butter sauce; and veal strip loin with crispy sweetbreads and potato mousseline. The menu identifies dishes made from animals raised in accordance with Humane Farm Animal Care guidelines.

Copyright: Excerpted from Frommer's Washington, D.C. 2009, (c) 2008, Wiley Publishing, Inc.

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