Photo by LaTur.
Zagat released their 2015 rankings of D.C.-area restaurants today, with Fiola (601 Pennsylvania Avenue NW) topping the list for best food. Corduroy (1122 9th Street NW), and critical darlings Rasika (633 D Street NW) and Rose’s Luxury (717 8th Street SE) followed closely behind. Arlington pizzeria Pupatella (5104 Wilson Boulevard) was named top cheap eats, along with Duke’s Grocery (1513 17th Street NW), Florida Avenue Grille (1100 Florida Avenue NW), and Sundevich (1314 9th Street NW).
Surprised by the results? The Zagat ratings have had us scratching our heads for a while now. Keep in mind that the D.C. restaurant rankings are based on a survey of 3,721 diners conducted every two years (though there are some updates issued annually). This means that restaurants opened within the last year will not have been rated yet, so don’t expect to find the latest small plates Asian fusion speakeasy listed yet. Zagat is also mum about the details of their survey methods, leading Tim Carman and others to criticize them for perceived bias:
The Zagat survey has never been random. Its respondents are, in the language of pollsters, self-selected. Or perhaps mostly self-selected. That’s the problem: Few people outside of Zagat’s New York offices know who actually votes and how those voters are selected.
In other words, it’s debatable whether the survey takers at Zagat are any more reputable than the unwashed internet masses at Yelp. Just think of it as another way to crowdsource your dining decisions. Check out the full survey results below.
2015 Washington DC Restaurants Results_& Dining Trends_Final
Zagat will also be giving away free food to celebrate the new ratings. Here’s a run down of where you’ll find complimentary snacks throughout the week:
Wednesday: Slice of pie from Dangerously Delicious Pies (1339 H Street NE) starting at 11 a.m.
Thursday: Falafel sandwich at Amsterdam Falafel’s 14th Street location (1830 14th St NW) starting at 11 a.m.
Friday: Hot dog or half-smoke from Ben’s Chili Bowl (1213 U Street NW and 1725 Wilson Boulevard in Arlington, Va.) starting at noon.
Saturday: An Obama burger at Good Stuff Eatery’s Capitol Hill location (303 Pennsylvania Avenue SE) starting at noon.
