El Tamarindo

El Tamarindo is just up the street from Lauriol Plaza and yet it enjoys none of the hype or accolades of its famous counterpart. El Tam truly is an underappreciated gem on U Street. While service can sometimes be slow and orders on occasion get confused, they will give you a table if all you really want is to drink margaritas at 4:00pm and your whole party is not yet there. Down the street, if your party members are slowly making their way from their respective workplaces or you feel that you are not quite ready to commit to eating dinner, you will be asked to stand. I love Lauriol now and again, but El Tam consistently delivers strong margaritas and delicious Mexican food at any hour! Pros: Margaritas and Steak Quesadillas more

This is a neighborhood favorite of mine, it never disappoints. Huge pitchers of margaritas, and excellent, inexpensive food are highlights. Good service and an unpretentious atmosphere make it a great place for a casual dinner any night of the week. It is also convenient to the U Street bars and Adams Morgan. Pros: Fab food, monster margaritas, service more