Maryland Lyric Opera

Go after midnight on a show night — the kitchen stays open late and the post-show crowd from the U Street music venues fills the counter. The chili cheese fries are a secondary rite of passage.

Reserve on show nights — the Kennedy Center proximity means it fills with artistic directors, donors, and visiting international performers. The fried chicken and house-made bourbon program are the standards. Brunch on Sundays is a DC institution.