50 Best American Restaurants near Glenarden

“Fun night for two out of towners! Food was amazing and the staff were incredibly friendly, even though we’re two or three times their ages and not cool at all! ;)“

“the girl karmen did great on to go! very friendly“

“Returning to Washington from a France worn down by its own melancholy — a nation led by a presidential couple seemingly disconnected from l'esprit de grandeur — was a relief. The Monocle, nestled just a short pas de géant from Capitol Hill, felt like an antidote. Walking through its doors, I immediately felt transported, like one of the CIA operatives from Lioness Psy-Ops, covertly meeting allies in a safe haven of quiet luxury. Opened in October 1960 by Connie and Helen Valanos, The Monocle has seen more political deals sealed over its crab cakes than perhaps in the chambers of Congress themselves. As the Washingtonian noted, “The Monocle is a better restaurant than it’s given credit for,” serving dishes like “pan-fried Chesapeake Bay oysters baked in a light curry sauce” that feel like culinary diplomacy at its finest. What strikes one immediately is the duality of the space: half public house, half refined eatery. In the restaurant's more elegant quarters, I chose a glass of Sancerre, its mineral brightness pairing effortlessly with the signature crab cakes — plump, golden, and loaded with chair de crabe so sweet it could make a New Englander weep. A red wine-braised New York strip followed, its sauce reminiscent of the old-world simplicity one finds in France’s brasseries, yet undeniably American in its confident presentation. The maître d’, Nick Selimos — a fixture here for nearly three decades — greeted every guest with the kind of warmth that makes even the most hardened lobbyist feel comme chez soi. “There’s nothing more satisfying,” said John Valanos, the owner, “than having someone say, ‘We’ll come back ourselves.’” And come back they do — senators, staffers, and curious tourists alike. Sipping a digestif, I glanced at the black-and-white photos adorning the walls — Kennedy, Nixon, and other Washington titans. It’s said JFK dined here regularly during his Senate days. As The Washington Post humorously observed, "Intentions are spoken here, alliances formed, and deals sealed," all over dishes that balance simplicity and sophistication. Leaving The Monocle, I felt reconnected to the vibrancy of Washington, its pulse steadied by the legacy of places like this — where history, gastronomy, and a touch of joie de vivre blend into something unforgettable.“

“There’s very few times when you walk into somewhere and can tell immediately that the owner loves what they’re doing, Cynthia is most definitely one. Cocktails were unique and delicious and the food was exactly what I hoped it would be.“

“I had reservations at Huncho House, but due to renovations they accommodated me at their sister location, 1123 and it did not disappoint. The ambiance was stunning with low lights and a sleek black color palette that set the perfect mood. I tried the charbroiled oysters, jerk short rib, brussel sprouts, and scallop risotto — everything was exceptional. Enjoyed the happy hour special from the bar top and left already planning my next visit.“

“Food choices were amazing and my server was top notch!! There were so many options on the menu. Can't wait to go back. I had the crab dip and the Kona Steak Skewers for apps. Along with Seafood Ravioli as an entree. Oh, the Jameson Whiskey cocktail was delightful as well. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“Loved our visit and such a dining experience! You have to try it!! Cheers y’all“

“I definitely recommend the Cajun fries over the chicken tenders.“

“Penne Pasta with Pork Bolognese Crispy Lemongrass Chicken Caramelized Cauliflower It tastes good. The environment is nice“

“It’s an outstanding establishment to eat & drink!!“

“we loved Burton's in Riverdale Park, MD! food was delicious and very accommodating to allergens. extensive gluten free menu including wings, fried calamari, pasta, crispy fish, crab cakes, and more. everything was delicious and our server was super nice as well. wish there was one of these in Union County, NJ! So amazing to know all their food is made from scratch 👍👍“

“This was my and my fiancé's first time dining at this restaurant a few nights ago. We made a table reservation via OpenTable for 7:00pm, arrived at 6:50pm, and we were seated right away. From previous reviews I heard I was a good idea to make reservations, so that seems to be accurate from our experience because it was definitely a full house. The food is a bit pricey, but definitely worth it because it was delicious. I enjoyed my appetizer of Fiesta Egg rolls which were definitely cheesy, hot, and full of shredded chicken and lots of flavor. For entrees I got the Prime Rib (medium) which was cooked perfectly with some redskin mashed potatoes 😋 my fiancé got the Eastern Shore style crab cakes which were broiled and very tasty; came with coleslaw and show string french fries. My fiancé enjoyed all of his meal, with the exception of the coleslaw which he did not partake in due to health reasons. I also tried to Elite Margarita which was pretty good but a tad strong on the tequila for my liking, but the lime slice helped to take down some of the bitter alcohol taste for me 🙂👍🏾 The atmosphere of the restaurant is very relaxing, classy, and dimly lit which we loved because it had a romantic vibe to it. Our server, Olivia, was very friendly and welcoming and was on point making sure everything was to our liking. We will definitely be returning again to this location.“

“I know I take terrible pictures but this DC restaurant lived up to the hype…excellent food and drinks, delivered hot and timely and the wait staff was on point. I have to thank my Facebook group and work friends for the recommendation….bonus points, it’s 6 blocks down the street.“

“My partner and I came from Buffalo, NY to try this place after tons of reviews. TB did NOT disappoint! The Tom Tarts, mimosas, chicken biscuits, every single thing we had AND the customer service— top tier! All of it! We will absolutely be back and look forward to placing our order with you for our bridal shower! Thank you for the awesome experience!“

“Friendly staff and good food cooked to order!“

“Exquisite food and drink!“

“Spectacular recommendation, so glad I stopped in to meet Jay and have his one-of-a-kind Pork, Steak, and Cheese sub. It was absolutely delicious and the customer service was even better! Will definitely be by again next time I’m in the area. Thank you so much“

“We had such an amazing time here. The vibes were perfect! Truly a great atmosphere, great energy, and such a fun place to spend any day (Sunday for us). Our server Ro was phenomenal- super attentive, friendly, and made our whole experience feel extra special. The GM John was also incredible and above and beyond to make sure everything was perfect.

Truly one of the best dining experiences we’ve had. Highly recommend!“

“Love to Support small business!!“

“I LOVE their wings. Way better than Wingstop in my opinion“

“Made a new friend of Bob the bartender. He played host and made us feel like we were regulars. Ian took great care of us as our waiter. The food was classically tavern and delicious. Great meal, great vibe, great people.“

“Grandmom is having a great time in DC. Scarlet Oak has the best servers, managers, and drink. Highly recommend if you travel to DC!! We will be back!“

“Great location! Highly recommended for anytime of the day or night.“

“really good, quality food and service at very fair prices- TJ (owner) was fantastic and takes care of each customer like they were his own family/friend. the suya, goat, fish, and plantains were all perfectly prepared and delicious. definitely highly recommend this spot not just for quality but also level of service from the owner/staff - A++ / 10 out of 10! *and they just got their liquor license as well!“

“Such a wonderful place to eat and relax! There is a nice selection of food and drink, including sandwiches, salads, soups and pastries. The food is good, fresh made and inexpensive. The staff are welcoming. The atmosphere is warm and relaxing. I love to go 2-3 times a week for my Polish grandmother's borscht and some protein bites! They are trying to keep us all healthy! Highly recommended!“

“Service was friendly and efficient. Food was tasty. Burger was good but needed the preferred internal pinkness as was relayed. Also needed more of the skinny onion rings like in the pic. Looked like onion rings were from the bottom of the barrel. My husband's sausage omelet was good. The beer on tap was excellent.
The maintenance of the cleaniness was much appreciated. I've been to other Silver Diners and glad this is close enough for us to check out as a late evening option.“

“Good breakfast and fun with the juke boxes.“

“Great live music venue - lovely community!“

“The food was amazing… that’s all that need to be said“

“Omggggggg. Where do i start. Let me say. Thannnk you. My steak was cooked to a perfect medium well as i requested. And the peppercorn flavor was a plusss. Delisssh. I dont eat cheese eggs but it i tried it and it was good not wet but well done n still cheesy. N it came wit homefries and grits.... I really appreciate tis meal. I was treating myself n indeed. I did. Thank u. Uve a customer forever.... Thank u for makin my meal wit some love and care.“

“We had a good experience at Sonoma. The food was tasty and well-prepared, and the service was friendly. That said, the portion sizes felt a bit small for the price, so it did seem slightly overpriced. Still, it’s a nice spot if you’re looking for quality over quantity.“

“The Turkey Club is my favorite! The Salmon Bacon Club is also good. The fries are always hot! The omelettes are delicious!“

“I’ve been seeing this new place develop but hadn’t had a chance to go in until today. While waiting for my prescription at CVS up the block, I tried their soup of the day. The front of the house has a few tables and a counter, giving the impression of a typical take-out joint. But they have the next store front too, with comfortable high and low tables. Since I was eating in, I was served on nice china, glassware, and real utensils. The Broccoli cheddar soup was excellent. It’s very clean and bright and the restroom is too. This is a much needed addition to the 12th St business district. I wish them much success. I’ll go for the full menu for sure. Hope you do too!“

“I celebrated my birthday year a couple of weeks ago. The food, atmosphere, waitress was fabulous. They were very accommodating. It was 12 of us and we had a ball with the DJ! I would definitely recommend this restaurant!“

“This is the place I go to when I want perfectly made deli style food. I do not know why but I wake up once a week craving a meatball sub from Orion Sky Cafe. The cold cut sub is very good as well and I am slowly trying the other sandwiches on the menu and have not found one that was not either very fresh or well prepared. The chicken or beef teriyaki with fried rice is a very large portion and perfectly prepared. The specials are all very different and worth a try. The staff are super out going and very friendly. One of my favorite things in the restaurant is the old school food menu displayed over the drink station. I would highly recommend this restaurant.“

“The food was great. I had a shrimp kabob, rice, hummus and a salad. The white Cosmo was very good. Loved meeting Ann.“

“Amazing food! Great server and wait staff. Creative and unique. Would go again!“

“Food was excellent and the customer service was great. If you’re doing a celebration just let them know ahead and Busboys and Poets will make your experience right! We celebrated Education Today!! #YouAreAppreciated“

“With new ownership in place, I did not know what to expect. For a ward 8 resident and DC native, we take Sunday morning breakfast serious, and nobody wants to travel to PG, VA or cross the bridge for family breakfast. I have been to that IHOP at least 100 times, so I have seen the good and the bad times. I will say this, there is a noticeable difference in the customer care experience. From the attention to detail of the employees, the cleanliness of the restaurant (especially the bathroom), and the friendly staff, I was wholly impressed. I felt safe and ready to spend my hard earned money. I even tipped the waitress 50% because she deserved it. Hopefully the word gets out that it is a good thing to go to the Alabama Ave IHOP and the new owners keep this level of care for us the customers.“

“So, here's the thing...feeling welcomed as soon as you walk in to a place you have never been before means so much. My husband and I were visiting DC. We were checking out places to eat near our hotel. We stopped in at Tune Inn. It was packed! The bar and all tables were full. The bartender welcomed us right away even though he was super busy. He told us to order a beer and hang out...the next table was ours. He handed us a happy hour drink menu and we did just that. Our waitress was on the ball. She was handling more tables than humanly possible but she made it look easy. Food was delicious!!!! An excellent find on our trip and obviously busy for a reason.“

“My Big Brotha love this place He would stop by atleast 2 times a week while he was working and order The Pork Bar B Q Sandwich with Cole slaw We stopped by Saturday that was the best NC Bar B Que outside of North Carolina“

“Best club sandwich! Tons of bacon, turkey and the bread is delicious!“

“Best bartenders in DC. I will not be explaining this, it is pure fact!“

“I was visiting the DC area and wanted pizza, so I decided to try Matchbox. I love a meaty pizza, so I ordered The Pig, which was loaded with pepperoni, ham, sausage, salami, and bacon, and it was super cheesy! Most of the toppings were underneath the cheese. I chose a 10-inch pizza, which was a good size if you have a big appetite or want to share with a friend. The service was excellent; my waiter was very attentive. The space was clean, relaxed, and private enough for each party to enjoy their own area.“

“It has been over five years since we have ate at Red Robin. We loved eating there when we lived in North Carolina. The food was just as amazing as I remembered it and my favorite part are the french fries, garlic or smothered in the seasoning. We had seven people in our party and the waitress was amazing, had a very friendly personality and attitude and done a really good job, thank you very much Cici. We were worried being a Saturday evening the place would be packed but it was not. I am unsure if that is a good thing or not but we are thankful it was not very busy. There was no wait to get seated and the wait after ordering our food was very reasonable. I wish Red Robin would open one closer to us in southern West Virginia. The mens’ rest room was clean and nice, which that is always a plus when you are at any establishment. Also, the restaurant is in a big plaza or mall with plenty of shopping and ice cream and many other things. Thank you for a good evening out for dinner while visiting Six Flags before they close.“

“Excellent experience, excellent food, and excellent service! Thanks Lenny!“

“Great service, delicious food, and an amazing atmosphere!“

“great good great cook great service keep me coming back.“

“First time going and, believe it is not, my fat butt couldn't eat itvall--although I gave it all I got. I will go back!!“