<p>I remember an older thread that talked about restaurants and noted some of them for when we visited/dropped off my D. We are visiting this weekend and D has a tight window available for an early dinner (between 4 and 6) as she is in a show with both matinee and evening performances. It needs to be fairly close to campus given D’s restrictions. </p>
<p>I will have a larger group (10) consisting of my 84 year old grandmother, my family (with 2 additional teens) and my sister’s family who is combining their own college touring weekend to coincide with my D’s show. </p>
<p>We have cars, prefer moderate price and other than not a “seafood” (my teens are picky) are open to various cuisines. Any and suggestions welcome as long as they are within fairly close drive to campus! We are staying in dupont circle, but have to go fetch my D first.</p>
<p>It’s certainly not gourmet fare, but there’s a decent enough Ruby Tuesday’s on Wisconsin that will accommodate a large group easily, have enough variety on the menu to keep everyone happy, and get you in and out fast. It’s also right by the Greenberg Theater, if that’s where your D’s show happens to be. There are several restaurants at Tenleytown–Thai, Mexican, French. I haven’t been to any of them because my D is bored with them and usually wants to go elsewhere–your D is probably familiar with them by now also and can advise you whether they will work for your group. If you are fans of the Cheesecake Factory, there’s one in Friendship Heights, a short drive away, but the timing may be tight.</p>
<p>I couldn’t drag my husband to a Ruby Tuesday! The show is not at Greenberg, it is in Katzen. I asked my D to suggest a place, but she is crazy busy and chose this time to misplace her phone.</p>
<p>We went to visit my son this past weekend and my girl friend (who has lived in DC for 20 years) suggested Chef Geoff’s on New Mexico. It is half a block from the Nebraska parking lot, so basically right next to American. You can check out the menu online. It might be pricier than you want, but there’s lots of choices. More upscale than a Ruby Tuesday’s, but you could go in jeans and feel comfortable. We thought it was pretty good, and for convenience you can’t beat it.</p>
<p>If you want more of a campus experience, on Wisconsin there is Guapo’s (Mexican) and Neisha (Thai) which are both ok… There is also Chef Jeff’s and Cafe DuLux which are also very close to campus. Cafe Ole has good mediterranean food. There are also Two Amy’s Pizza (might be a wait) and La Cantina…both of these are close to campus too.</p>
<p>We often go to Clyde’s on Wisconsin Ave. up in Bethesda. Varied menu, something for everyone. (Reminiscent of the Cheesecake Factory, but not a big chain). It gets busy, so I would check out making reservations. Free parking next door if you get your ticket stamped. You can probably check out the menu on line.</p>
<p>Many of the good restaurants a little ways wither down towards Georgetown or up towards Friendship Heights. </p>
<p>My recs are:</p>
<p>Cactus Cantina. Loud, fun, great for a large group and very good Mexican. </p>
<p>There is a new French Bistro across from Cactus. Haven’t been but I have heard it is good. </p>
<p>Down on Wisconsin is Bistro Lepic. Good food, and they have a little room upstairs you could reserve for the 10 of you. I have done this and it was cozy. </p>
<p>I agree Clyde’s might fit the bill very nicely.</p>
<p>Yes. Clyde’s is a really neat place with a “Travel the World” theme. The food (and especially the desserts) is very good, but the decor is a conversation piece alone.</p>
<p>That restaurant, along with many other solid chains, Cheesecake Factory, B.F. Chang’s, and a great italian restaurant called Maggiano’s, are all in Chevy Chase–specifically a really nice area called Friendship village, literally just a mile up Wisconsin past the Tenley campus (where Nebraska meets Wisconson).</p>
<p>By the way, Maggiano’s might be the place I’d pick. Lots of big long table where all could sit together AND, when anyone orders the standard pasta dishes (spaghetti, lasagna, manicotti, etc), the one who ordered it gets to take home another meal off that list for free. Can’t beat that. That area has lots of fun shopping and a movie theater as well. You can drive or take the Red line metor one stop north from Tenley stop.</p>
<p>The trip has come and gone. My D wanted Matisse, but they didn’t open until 5:30 and since she had a call at 6, this would not have worked. I did follow up on Cafe Deluxe as someone upthread recommended, and it worked out fine. It was open all afternoon, we were there early enough that a larger table was no problem, the menu was basic enough that the less adventurous eaters all had choices. It was close enough that I could get my D back for her call, and return for coffee and dessert. Thanks for all the suggestions, I will have to check out Clydes on another trip. </p>
<p>On another note, the show was a success, had a great review in the Maryland Theater Guide and it was great seeing my D and her classmates perform.</p>
<p>How much fun! I’m so glad you had a good time, bhmomma. Last time we ate at Cafe Deluxe, Rahm Emanuel was at the next table with his family, and John King from CNN was 3 tables over…good food and good people watching.</p>