So Maryland wants to lay claim to the best crab cakes and New England wants to say they have the best lobster rolls and New Orleans touts their crawfish but here’s something DC locals know, Washington DC has seafood for everyone. Whatever your personal favorite fish or your way of cooking, you will find a restaurant in Washington DC that makes it and makes it really well, at all different price points. Here are the 14 best seafood restaurants in Washington DC.
- Rappahannock Oyster Bar
Yelp/Don C.
Yelp/Tiffany K. In the historic Union Market, the Rappahannock Oyster Bar is one of the most popular oyster bars in the area. Their popular happy hour and fresh seafood keeps the place buzzing!
- Capitol Hill Crab Cakes
Yelp/S.D.
Yelp/Tracy N. Two words: crab fries. Also their crab cakes are not to be missed. Capitol Hill Crab Cakes might not look like much but the family owned restaurant doesn’t mess around with their food.
- Horace and Dickie’s Seafood
Yelp/A.R.P
Yelp/Austin G. Not a restaurant but carryout counts for this list because Horace and Dickie’s seafood is just too good. Old-school classic feeling. There is not much to look at but when you notice a line out the door, you know it’s something special. Order anything fried and relax after a tough day!
- Grillfish
Yelp/Grillfish DC
Yelp/Grillfish DC Grillfish is a casual and delicious West End seafood spot specializing in fun twists on American classics with local ingredients. The Buffalo Shrimp linguine and ginger calamari top their menus.
- Sea Catch Restaurant
Yelp/SeaCatch Restaurant
Yelp/Sea Catch Restaurant In a historic 150 year old building in Georgetown on the C&O Canal, Sea Catch Restaurant is home to the popular oyster happy hour. Enjoy their incredible ambiance and their full menu of tasty seafood entrees.
- Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab
Yelp/Laura R.
Yelp/Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab If the name of the restaurant alone doesn’t make your mouth water, the food sure will! Lavish surf & turf meals, incredible ambiance make this a must-stop restaurant in Washington DC.
- Hot N Juicy Crawfish
Yelp/Ramon A.
Yelp/Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab Cajun food lovers will love Hot N Juicy Crawfish! Casual, laid back restaurant with Cajun specialties and your choice of spices.
- Fish in the Hood
Yelp/Jeff F.
Yelp/Flo S. If you are looking for Southern-style fried seafood, Fish in the Hood is your spot. You won’t have white table cloths or fine china but this long-time DC seafood joint is a local favorite.
- Tony & Joe’s Seafood Place
Yelp/Tony & Joe’s Seafood Place
Yelp/LK K. Another waterfront favorite is Tony & Joe’s Seafood Place. Along with fine dining, the ambiance at Tony & Joe’s is breathtaking. Fresh seafood has its price but it is worth it for the views!
- Luke’s Lobster
Yelp/Jim B.
Yelp/Asuka S. You just might walk right by this low-key restaurant but you won’t want to! You’ll think you’re in Maine the moment you taste their lobster roll or try the taste of Maine and enjoy their a crab roll, lobster roll, and shrimp roll. Quaint and cozy, it’s a good place to pass a summer afternoon.
- Hank’s Oyster Bar
Yelp/Sonni W.
Yelp/Tony Y. Hank’s Oyster Bar in Capitol Hill is a DC institution. They serve New England style cuisine, featuring a raw bar, delicious crab cakes, and lobster rolls.
- BlackSalt
Yelp/Vaughn H.
Yelp/Jeong L. BlackSalt is an upscale market and restaurant that specializes in sustainable seafood. Their menu includes creative twists on seafood favorites like scallops and clams, along with mussels, oysters, and more.
- Captain White Seafood City
Yelp/Allison B.
Yelp/Linda H. Seafood heaven in Washington DC! Located in the Maine Avenue Fish Market, Captain White has some of the freshest seafood in the area. They will cook it for you on sight or you can buy some to bring home and cook yourself. You’ll get the authentic experience of a fish market when you eat at Captain White’s, it’s not a sit-down and relax type place but for seafood lovers, you can’t go wrong.
- Fiola Mare
Yelp/Deena H.
Yelp/Natalie M. When you want some of the best seafood in Washington DC, you go to the waterfront in Georgetown and you head to Fiola Mare. Upscale Italian influence seafood with picturesque panoramic views of the water. The perfect restaurant for a relaxing and enchanting evening.
What are your favorite seafood restaurants in Washington DC?
Yelp/Don C.
Yelp/Tiffany K.
In the historic Union Market, the Rappahannock Oyster Bar is one of the most popular oyster bars in the area. Their popular happy hour and fresh seafood keeps the place buzzing!
Yelp/S.D.
Yelp/Tracy N.
Two words: crab fries. Also their crab cakes are not to be missed. Capitol Hill Crab Cakes might not look like much but the family owned restaurant doesn’t mess around with their food.
Yelp/A.R.P
Yelp/Austin G.
Not a restaurant but carryout counts for this list because Horace and Dickie’s seafood is just too good. Old-school classic feeling. There is not much to look at but when you notice a line out the door, you know it’s something special. Order anything fried and relax after a tough day!
Yelp/Grillfish DC
Grillfish is a casual and delicious West End seafood spot specializing in fun twists on American classics with local ingredients. The Buffalo Shrimp linguine and ginger calamari top their menus.
Yelp/SeaCatch Restaurant
Yelp/Sea Catch Restaurant
In a historic 150 year old building in Georgetown on the C&O Canal, Sea Catch Restaurant is home to the popular oyster happy hour. Enjoy their incredible ambiance and their full menu of tasty seafood entrees.
Yelp/Laura R.
Yelp/Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab
If the name of the restaurant alone doesn’t make your mouth water, the food sure will! Lavish surf & turf meals, incredible ambiance make this a must-stop restaurant in Washington DC.
Yelp/Ramon A.
Cajun food lovers will love Hot N Juicy Crawfish! Casual, laid back restaurant with Cajun specialties and your choice of spices.
Yelp/Jeff F.
Yelp/Flo S.
If you are looking for Southern-style fried seafood, Fish in the Hood is your spot. You won’t have white table cloths or fine china but this long-time DC seafood joint is a local favorite.
Yelp/Tony & Joe’s Seafood Place
Yelp/LK K.
Another waterfront favorite is Tony & Joe’s Seafood Place. Along with fine dining, the ambiance at Tony & Joe’s is breathtaking. Fresh seafood has its price but it is worth it for the views!
Yelp/Jim B.
Yelp/Asuka S.
You just might walk right by this low-key restaurant but you won’t want to! You’ll think you’re in Maine the moment you taste their lobster roll or try the taste of Maine and enjoy their a crab roll, lobster roll, and shrimp roll. Quaint and cozy, it’s a good place to pass a summer afternoon.
Yelp/Sonni W.
Yelp/Tony Y.
Hank’s Oyster Bar in Capitol Hill is a DC institution. They serve New England style cuisine, featuring a raw bar, delicious crab cakes, and lobster rolls.
Yelp/Vaughn H.
Yelp/Jeong L.
BlackSalt is an upscale market and restaurant that specializes in sustainable seafood. Their menu includes creative twists on seafood favorites like scallops and clams, along with mussels, oysters, and more.
Yelp/Allison B.
Yelp/Linda H.
Seafood heaven in Washington DC! Located in the Maine Avenue Fish Market, Captain White has some of the freshest seafood in the area. They will cook it for you on sight or you can buy some to bring home and cook yourself. You’ll get the authentic experience of a fish market when you eat at Captain White’s, it’s not a sit-down and relax type place but for seafood lovers, you can’t go wrong.
Yelp/Deena H.
Yelp/Natalie M.
When you want some of the best seafood in Washington DC, you go to the waterfront in Georgetown and you head to Fiola Mare. Upscale Italian influence seafood with picturesque panoramic views of the water. The perfect restaurant for a relaxing and enchanting evening.
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