Central Michel Richard

Downtown's Central, which won the 2008 James Beard Award for Best New Restaurant in the country, is part of a continuing trend in D.C.: top toques—in this case Michel Richard, of now-shuttered Citronelle fame—creating more accessible fare, in terms of both price and preparation. (Another example is Robert Wiedmaier’s Brasserie Beck.) Central’s menu is upscale bistro: bangers and mash, an Ahi tuna burger, Caesar salad with goat cheese and a charcuterie plate with prosciutto, salami and garlic sausage. Casual and almost cafeteria-like in ambiance, it is constantly packed, hugely popular and does get some complaints for being on the loud side.