"A lot of places try to replicate DC’s once-ubiquitous steakhouses, and many pull it off. But The Monocle doesn’t need to copy what once was—it’s the real deal, and has been since it opened in 1960. Located in a 19th-century home that’s walking distance from the Capitol Building, The Monocle is the kind of old-school establishment where a worked-here-for-decades maître d’ greets you at the door and escorts you to your white tablecloth-covered banquette. Photos of politicians line the walls, and although the tables and booths are usually full, there’s a relative hush over the dining room. Deals are being made quietly over martinis at the banquettes, so if you want something a bit livelier, grab a beer with the Hill staffers at the bar. The steak and salmon are excellent, and the fact that servers walk around with open bottles of wine means your glass will never go empty. " - madeline weinfield
