Looking to uncover all that the Palisades has to offer? Get to know this northwest Washington neighborhood by browsing its most popular local eateries, offering everything from Belgian to Afghan cuisine.
Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top places to visit in the Palisades, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of neighborhood businesses. Read on for the results.
1. Makoto Restaurant
Topping the list is Makoto Restaurant. The Japanese spot features a Tokyo-style kappo dining experience with a menu that changes daily at the chef's discretion. Located at 4822 MacArthur Blvd. NW, it's the highest-rated business in the neighborhood, boasting 4.5 stars out of 362 reviews on Yelp.
Expect to find a range of seafood-focused small plates. For example, a recent dinner menu included grilled eel with cucumber salad, tuna sashimi, deep-fried langostino, rare beef tenderloin, a seafood hot pot and more. Plates are artfully presented and served in an intimate space. And, wear fresh socks — you'll be asked to remove your shoes at the door.
2. Bistro Aracosia
Next up is Bistro Aracosia, situated at 5100 MacArthur Blvd. You'll receive generous portions of Afghan cuisine at this Palisades restaurant, which was named to Washingtonian magazine's "100 Very Best Restaurants" for 2018.
Entrees include leek and scallion dumplings with minced beef and lentil stew, and boneless chicken cooked in a yogurt stew and infused with saffron, lemon and dill. Vegetarians have numerous options here as well. With five stars out of 97 reviews on Yelp, it's proven to be a local favorite.
3. BlackSalt
New American seafood spot BlackSalt is another top choice. Part of the Black Restaurant Group (Black Market Bistro, Republic, TILT), BlackSalt serves a starter menu that includes cold salmon belly and blue crab poke, butter-poached lobster, East Coast oysters and caviar.
Entrees range from wood-grilled asparagus with burrata and prosciutto to a whole grilled branzino. Consider the chocolate peanut butter crunch cake for dessert. Yelpers give the business, located at 4883 MacArthur Blvd. NW, four stars out of 843 reviews.
4. Kotobuki
Kotobuki is another Japanese go-to in the neighborhood, with four stars out of 499 Yelp reviews. Along with nigiri-style sushi (spicy scallop, hamachi, salmon and avocado, California roll, to name a few), the specialty here is kamameshi, a rice dish cooked in an iron pot.
The dinner special comes with chicken, eel or vegetable kamameshi, three house special side dishes, sashimi and miso soup. Drink options include hot and cold sake, Sapporo beer and plum wine. Head over to 4822 MacArthur Blvd. NW, Floor 2, to try it for yourself.
5. Et Voila
Finally, there's Et Voila, a local favorite with four stars out of 205 reviews. This restaurant serves up Belgian favorites like crêpes, mussels, french fries and waffles, as well as elevated fare like the marinated bluefin tuna with smoked eggplant caviar and a Flemish beef stew.
Seasonal desserts include the apricot and pistachio tart with strawberry ice cream. Also, dive deep into one of the area's largest selections of Belgian beer. Stop by 5120 MacArthur Blvd. NW next time you're in the neighborhood.
