(Photo by Tony Webster)

When Ava DuVernay comes to your town, you make sure she’s treated right. That’s why when the acclaimed African American director (Selma, 13th, A Wrinkle in Time) asked Twitter for D.C. restaurant recommendations for her grandmother’s 85th birthday, she was bombarded with viable options.

As a D.C. native who’s also been requested to host family outings at places with “regular black people’s food,” I’m going to toss these items on your plate, Auntie Ava.

Busboys and Poets: Let’s face it: Busboys and Poets has become one of the most quintessential D.C. restaurants of this generation. Everyone from President Obama to your cousin Ray Ray who’s trying to impress his first date has dined at the local franchise with four D.C. locations. In a place once known as “Chocolate City,” many people are drawn to Busboys for its unapologetically black decor, events, and hospitality. But I believe what keeps them coming back is the food. Busboys’ offerings are so addictive that I had a best friend who made multiple drives from New Jersey for a Busboys chicken panini. Personally, I’ve had the wings inferno, shrimp and grits, shrimp and chicken chorizo pasta, rustic pizza, steak and asparagus salad, and white chocolate bread pudding more times than I’d like to admit. Plus, there are plenty of options for vegan and gluten-free diners.

Ben’s Next Door: Sure, you can take the family to the iconic Ben’s Chilli Bowl. But it’s grandma’s birthday—class it up a bit and take them to Ben’s Next Door. You get that same energy from the U Street Corridor, once known as “Black Broadway,” but less chaos from folks hollering carryout orders over a counter. Ben’s “world-famous” half smoke is still up for grabs, plus a dinner menu of “enticing entrees” and “sweet sensations.”

Georgia Brown’s: About a decade ago, you couldn’t tell black people that Georgia Brown’s wasn’t the spot for a celebratory meal. While D.C.’s food scene is now flooded with options for fancy mac and cheese, plenty of families still flock to the downtown institution for their soul food fix. Whether you decide on dinner or Brown’s more festive jazz brunch, your family can partake in a menu that boasts Southern favorites like fried green tomatoes, crispy chicken livers, Charleston Perlau, and “fried chicken to compete with your Grandmama’s.” Shall we let Gramma decide?

Ivy City Smokehouse: Have you ever eaten a dish and immediately wished you’d dined somewhere else? That’s what happens whenever I order fish and chips from anywhere that’s not Ivy City Smokehouse. I understand it’s a relatively simple entree but trust me, the beautifully battered seafood and perfectly seasoned fries at this Bib Gourmand restaurant should not be taken for granted. And the fish and chips aren’t even the restaurant’s claim to fame—so of course try all of the smoked offerings from wings and spare ribs to salmon and rainbow trout. Another bonus to Ivy City Smokehouse is it’s in a historically black, though rapidly changing, neighborhood that’s outside of D.C’s tourist zones. Plus, it has an expansive outdoor patio and a separate space for live music. Sounds like a party destination to me.

The Carolina Kitchen: Based on your qualifiers of a place to host a group with good vibes and familiar food, this is a good bet. Carolina Kitchen’s staff is trained to deliver the warmest greetings and most pleasant service imaginable. How do I know? Because I worked at the Brentwood restaurant for a week in my twenties and got fired for not being excited enough when greeting guests and refusing to dance The Wobble for guests’ birthdays. And you know what? I don’t blame that manager at all—I was off-brand! If anything, I applaud her for keeping the restaurant’s values in tact. And now, I can come as a guest and gobble up my go-to’s: fried chicken, mac and cheese, greens, smothered chicken and rice, and sweet potatoes (not all in one sitting, of course). Oh, and the sweet tea? Pour me another round!

Founding Farmers: Sure, a Washington Post food critic gave Founding Farmers a scathing review a couple of years ago, but the downtown restaurant is still wildly popular. I’ve had many a family meal here and have not left disappointed, so I’m going to side with the majority on this one. The most modern-looking restaurant on this list, Founder Farmers is worthy of Gramma’s celebration. It has an expansive menu with delectable starters like beignets. I would almost consider it Cheesecake Factory’s classier cousin (and you know how much black people love the factory). If that’s the vibe you’re looking for, this is your stop.