Georgetown Food Issue

From classic burgers to vegan salads, Indian curries to chocolate sundaes, Georgetown is home to some of the most diverse and delicious food in the District. Whether your palate needs a boost or your wallet needs a break, the guide has got you covered with some of the best places to appease your inner foodie. Enjoy Georgetown classics like The Tombs, where many a Hoya has celebrated birthdays, conquered trivia and enjoyed their last 99 days on the Hilltop, and hidden gems like Unum, the perfect place for some more adventurous cuisine. We’ll send you off with the locations of some of the best places to satisfy a pizza fix, to indulge in some well-deserved dessert or to grab a quick and cheap bite on the run.

BURGERS

Thunder Burger  

3056 M St. NW | $$ out of $$$$

Located in the heart of Georgetown, Thunder Burger is one of M Street’s best burger deals. Walk in and you’ll immediately notice the rustic-chic interior, animal hide chairs and the ample amounts of greenery. Brace yourself for an extensive beer listand a well-stocked bar, along with an assortment of appetizers, all at surprisingly reasonable costs. But the real proof of Thunder Burger’s quality is in the burger, which does nothing but promote a carnivorous lifestyle. The restaurant is well known for boar burgers, the salted buns are cooked perfectly to prevent any soggy sandwiches. The casual atmosphere, slightly cramped dining area and reasonable costs make Thunder Burger the ideal venue for a first date with low levels of awkwardness. 

The Tombs

1226 36th St. NW | $$ out of $$$$

This is a classic. Change up your style with a veggie or chicken burger, but the burgers at The Tombs are exactly what you expect: juicy, hearty and with all of the fixings — complimentary, when you ask for them. Dining at this Georgetown landmark can sometimes be more about the experience than anything else, but when it comes to the true all-American burger, the Tombs delivers just that. 

Rugby Cafe

1065 Wisconsin Ave. | $$ out of $$$$

The service is mediocre, the atmosphere is cramped and the staff acts inebriated at all times, but the Angus burgers are fantastic. Rugby Cafe is a landmark for shoppers during the day and draws crowds during the night as a bar, but many forget that food is actually served here. And during the day, the chances of a hungry passerby gaining access to the cafe are significantly higher. Sensible with its prices, unlike its clothing, Rugby Cafe continues to put together juicy burgers with exceptional taste —if your server doesn’t forget your order.

PIZZA

Pizzeria Paradiso

3282 M St. NW | $$ out of $$$$

In a warm and inviting setting, M Street’s Pizzeria Paradiso offers patrons bites of crisp and tender pizzas that are baked in a 650-degree wood-burning oven. Traditionalists will enjoy the Pizza Margherita with tomato and mozzarella; the more adventurous palates should try the Pizza Genovese, which combines three Ps — potato, pesto and parmesan — into one pie. The quality and delicious bites at Pizzeria Paradiso serve as a reminder that pizza is not just food for those who have had a few too many beers.

Il Canale

1063 31st St. NW | $$$ out of $$$$

Il Canale is special. It is one of only 60 pizzerias in the United States to be certified by as a maker of authentic Neapolitan pizza under the exacting standards of the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana. A genuine Neapolitan pizza must include sweet San Marzano tomatoes, bufala mozzarella and Italian “00” flour and must be baked in a wood-burning oven. Il Canale meets all of these requirements, transporting diners to Napoli with selections like the Pizza Capricciosa, with tomatoes, mozzarella, artichokes, mushrooms and ham. Even if your stomach is craving pasta over pizza, you just might be lucky enough to snag one of the free slices by the door while waiting for your table. 

Recommended Dish: Prociutto e Melone — Sweet cantaloupe and prociutto di parma.