In the past 36 hours I've had amazingly great meals everywhere I've been. Beyond the standard suggestions of Founding Farmers or Busboys.

Two nights ago, for dinner, my group stumbled into a Balkan restaurant/bar waiting for a table elsewhere, but the food was so great, we stayed. They had a $50 per special - unlimited small plates and drinks. Being a new food experience for us all, the food seemed to be a, less heavy, hybrid of familiar German & Mediterranean dishes. Everything ranged from above average to excellent. We probably made it through half of the menu. For the flowing drinks alone, the special was worth it...not to mention splitting the check was a worry free.
- http://www.ambarrestaurant.com/

Last night I had maybe the best pasta dish I've ever eaten, outside of an excellent Italian restaurant in Italy. A place above the Spy Museum, called NoPA, there never seems to be a wait, and they seat large groups in beautiful private dining rooms. The tomato Infused spaghetti, with lobster, chili flakes, garlic shavings, and my favorite Italian secret ingredient - bottarga, is actually the most completely delicious meal I've eaten all year.
- http://nopadc.com/all-menus/

Today, for an early lunch, in honor of Indigenous People today, I went over to the Smithsonian for the best cafeteria food (a little expensive), and only place on the east coast, that I know of, to consistently find American Native foods--outside of street fairs or food trucks. That Pacific Northwest station, with the fiddlehead salad, and salmon hit the spot.
- http://www.mitsitamcafe.com/content/menus.asp

Later in the afternoon, I went for a second lunch in Tysons Corner. Peking Duck absolutely as perfect as the duck served at NYC's Peking Duck House, but for a fraction of the price, and no wait. Plus quick and excellent service, and the bird sliced table-side by the smooth suited and booted 85 year old owner...with his Wash Nationals hat broke off to the side.
- http://www.yelp.com/biz/china-wok-vienna

Tonight, after trying multiple times to avoid the line on different days--unsuccessfully, sucked it up and waited for approximately two hours, and got seated at Rose's Luxury. We spent the wait, during happy hour, at a restaurant/bar with strong drinks and a lot of sassy Brothers, I'm not sure if was a gay bar or not, but there were inexpensive and different specials on food and drink everyday of the week. Anyway, Roses's Luxury, the food lives up to the reputation, host & wait staff friendliness kind of makes it hard to get upset about having to wait. But, If you're alone, and can find a seat at the upstairs bar, you can get around the lengthy line. Plus they supposedly seem to always throw in a free small plate as a thank you.
- http://www.mrhenrysdc.com/
- http://www.rosesluxury.com/

So, aside from needing to relax this gut and adopting a salad only diet for a couple of weeks...I'm sold on the food options in D.C.