City: Washington, DC

Category: Restaurants

Telephone: (301) 589-1306

Address: 8012 Georgia Avenue

Description: Crisfield used to be one of those seafood places so basic and utilitarian in decor that you knew the food had to shine—especially at these downtown prices. Well, it’s lost some of its luster, but if your hometown is the tiny Maryland community that claims to be the crab capital of the solar system, you’d better serve some world-class crabs. And Crisfield still does. Maybe that’s why it’s still going strong after more than 60 years in business. If you’re in the neighborhood, there’s no better place for crab and crab dishes, but it’s not worth a trip. Crisfield serves lunch weekdays and dinner Tuesday through Sunday.

City: Washington, DC

Category: Restaurants

Telephone: (301) 588-7297

Address: 8606 Colesville Road

Description: Ray’s the Classics opened as a Maryland complement to Arlington’s wildly popular Ray’s the Steaks (see the description under Northern Virginia). The Maryland outpost promises the same commitment to quality techniques and ingredients, but the menu steps beyond steak to look at other classic dishes. The atmosphere is also a bit grander—you’re likely to see a few more jackets and ties at this location. You won’t go wrong here with fried chicken, crab cakes, and, of course, the steaks—and the reasonable prices—are sublime.

City: Washington, DC

Category: Restaurants

Address: 7101 Brookville Road

City: Washington, DC

Category: Restaurants

Telephone: (301) 585-1040

Address: 8727 Colesville Road

Description: If you’re going to a movie at the AFI Silver Theatre in Silver Spring, think about stopping here for a bite before the show. It’s the sort of place you might overlook, housed in the unassuming Hilton Silver Spring. If you walk on by, however, you’d miss out on some of the region’s finest Italian fare. Owner Sergio Toni serves a loyal neighborhood clientele fresh pasta dishes doused in delightful sauces brimming with fresh ingredients, including real butter and cream. Ravioli are delightfully plump, stuffed with ground veal and pork, perfectly seasoned—and the pasta is made fresh daily by the owner himself. Veal dishes are sublime.

City: Washington, DC

Category: Restaurants

Telephone: (301) 588-4744

Address: 8701 Ramsey Avenue

Description: For no-frills standards, Mi Rancho is a good bet. The menu reads like a “greatest hits” list of Tex-Mex favorites: beef nachos, pork tamales, steak fajitas, and an endless supply of chips and salsa. If you’re avoiding red meat, the kitchen does a good turn with fish dishes like whole snapper and shrimp soup. Wood paneling and exposed beams give it a rustic feel, and the outdoor patio is especially inviting in warm weather.