13 Best Seafood Restaurants in Washington, D.C. [2023 Updated]

Washington, D.C. is regarded as one of the world’s premier dining destinations. The greatest seafood in D.C. provides the taste of the Atlantic and the Chesapeake Bay to District dining.

Where do the district’s most sophisticated customers go to eat? Take a look at the 15 best seafood restaurants in Washington, DC.

13 Best Seafood Restaurants in Washington, D.C.

  1. Grillfish
  2. Luke’s Lobster Farragut
  3. Truluck’s Ocean’s Finest Seafood and Crab
  4. The Oceanaire Seafood Room
  5. Tony and Joe’s Seafood Place
  6. Juicy King Crab DC
  7. Ophelia’s Fish House
  8. Pearl Dive Oyster Palace
  9. Ocean Prime
  10. Fiola Mare
  11. FishScale
  12. Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls
  13. Fish in the Neighborhood

Grillfish

$$ | (202) 331-7310 | WEBSITE

 

 
 
 
 
 
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Grillfish is recognized for its seafood and fish specialty. It offers casual dining, takeout, delivery, bookings, and private dining.

The restaurant is proudly delivering fresh seafood prepared tenderly. It uses only the best, most sustainable, and locally sourced products to make handcrafted food and beverage.

The broad seafood-centric menu is delectable and caters to various dietary requirements. Massive mirrors, enormous columns, and a slew of burning candles adorn the place. The open kitchen also provides a welcoming and intimate ambiance in a relaxed setting.

 

Luke’s Lobster Farragut

$$ | (202) 525-5880 | WEBSITE

 

 
 
 
 
 
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Luke’s is a must-see for everyone visiting the area. It’s a small space but decorated charmingly and unusually.

Lobster, shrimp, and crab are all on the menu. Working directly with fishermen allows them to provide you with the best-tasting seafood on the planet, prepared to perfection.

Their lobster, shrimp, and crab rolls are all served with lemon butter. They are, however, responsibly sourced and served with a smear of Mayo and their secret seasoning on a split-top New England-style bun.

Try one of their signature lobster rolls or upgrade to a large roll to get even more seafood!

 

Truluck’s Ocean’s Finest Seafood and Crab

$$$ | (202) 898-0680 | WEBSITE

 

 
 
 
 
 
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Truluck’s is a stunning high-end restaurant in the heart of the District of Columbia. The restaurant is spacious, and you can choose from different seating options.

They’re a special occasion restaurant with a strict dress code, so guests should dress appropriately. A minimum gratuity of 18% is given to all checks to support their frontline staff.

By maintaining an uncompromising dedication to the highest-quality sustainable seafood, they create choices that honor the plate, the palate, and the earth.

They never serve endangered or overfished species but always follow the rules set forth by the Ocean Conservancy.  They always label their fish as to where it came from on the menu.

 

Tony and Joe’s Seafood Place

$$ | (202) 944-4545 | WEBSITE

 

 
 
 
 
 
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This legendary restaurant offers views that only the Georgetown Waterfront can deliver.

You may enjoy views of the neighboring Kennedy Center, Roosevelt Island, and the Key Bridge whether you’re dining indoors or on their riverside patio.

This place is Georgetown’s best seafood restaurant and waterfront dining. Aside from the great view, it is also beautiful and clean.

The quantities are great, and the tastes are delicious. The seafood dishes are all fresh and well prepared. Their service is also fast and attentive. The prices are also reasonable.

 

Juicy King Crab DC

$$$ | (202) 232-2573 | WEBSITE

Juicy King Crab DC

If you’re a crab fan, you will delight in the abundance of King Crab, Blue Crab, Dungeness Crab, and other varieties in this restaurant.

Do you want to eat Cajun-style seafood? This is the right location. Their cuisine embodies the true spirit of Cajun cuisine.

They strive to provide the most genuine dining experience possible. So, they only make dishes with their trademark sauces and recipes prepared from scratch.

Its mission is to give you fresh, healthy, and delicious cuisine. You’ll be blown away to learn they only utilize the freshest, highest-quality ingredients to fulfill your culinary fantasies.

 

Ophelia’s Fish House

$$ | (202) 543-1445 | WEBSITE

 

 
 
 
 
 
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The restaurant’s name comes from the abundance of seafood alternatives available at Ophelia’s. It prioritizes consistency in execution and showcases the fish in contemporary American seafood.

Their inventive blends provide bold flavors, while basic preparations of entire fish and other seafood tease the palette delicately.

They promise a dining experience unlike any other by focusing on seasonal items and the freshest seafood. Outdoor sitting, covered patio seating, and indoor dining are all available. They also offer a happy hour.

The indoor decor is inviting, and the restaurant is in a trendy area. You may enjoy your savory dishes on a heated terrace or pleasant interior eating space.

 

The Oceanaire Seafood Room

$$$ | (202) 347-2277 | WEBSITE

 

 
 
 
 
 
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The Oceanaire is the ideal location to sample the tastiest seafood flown in daily from all over the world. You’ll see why it has been named one of America’s top seafood restaurants.

Their friendly team provides exceptional service, guiding you through their extensive menu. They will also assist you in selecting the ideal wine to match your meal.

The menu consists of big shrimp cocktails and crab-cake appetizers. They also have clams casino, oysters Rockefeller, and soups.

Menus are created twice daily to ensure that the freshest catch is presented simply grilled or broiled with olive oil and lemon.

 

Pearl Dive Oyster Palace

$$ | (202) 319-1612 | WEBSITE

 

 
 
 
 
 
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This place won’t let you down if you like seafood. It’s a fantastic place to go on a date or with a bunch of pals.

It’s a nice restaurant in an excellent location with plenty of parking and tables. It has an atmosphere soaked in homely vibes and delightful dishes rich with sea treasures.

This eatery stresses largely on high-quality ingredients and gives oyster preparation delicate attention. It specializes in diverse oysters from Japan, Virginia, Rhode Island, and more.

Aside from oysters, their specialties have a remarkable Cajun style with an exquisite mix of spices.

 

Ocean Prime

$$$ | (202) 393-0313 | WEBSITE

 

 
 
 
 
 
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Ocean Prime is a renowned restaurateur Cameron Mitchell’s award-winning modern American restaurant. Everything is excellent, from the interior design to the cuisine and the customer service.

This place has magnificent scenery, vibrant energy, an impressive cuisine of seafood and steaks, and simply exceptional service.

Ocean Prime Washington D.C. is housed in the historic Colorado Building. It’s a perfect setting for socializing, conducting business, celebrating, and indulging.

Here, you’ll enjoy a delectable buffet of seafood and premium steaks, as well as creative drinks and an awarded wine list.

This place is open for lunch on weekdays and dinner on weekends.

 

Fiola Mare

$$$$ | (202) 525-1402 | WEBSITE

 

 
 
 
 
 
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Fiola Mare is a beautiful restaurant with a spectacular view, pleasant servers, and delicious food. This upscale restaurant is ideal for a meal with friends, family, or a date.

The beaches of Italy and the wealth of its most pristine seafood inspired Fiola Mare. The menu includes the best crudos, seafood towers, delectable salads, handcrafted pasta, and more.

Their signature “Carrello del Pesce” is a seafood cart that showcases the best catch of the day from Italy and around the world right at your table.

Fiola Mare serves the best power lunch in Washington, D.C. It offers spectacular private dining venues for social and business gatherings.

 

FishScale

$$ | (202) 780-7886 | WEBSITE

 

 
 
 
 
 
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FishScale creates tasty burgers with sustainable wild fish. It goes to great lengths to learn about the seafood it serves and how it was caught.

This restaurant avoids conventionally grown vegetables and farmed fish. They buy fresh fish and fillets and cook their burgers in-house every day.

Their burgers contain no bread crumbs or other fillers. It only has a quarter pound of fresh fish cooked to order over natural hardwood. The condiments are created in-house with organic vegetables and ingredients.

They believe that the food they serve should be not only delicious but also good for your health and the environment. They take great delight in knowing exactly what they’re doing for you.

 

Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls

$$$ | (202) 733-1450 | WEBSITE

 

 
 
 
 
 
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This restaurant offers authentic lobster rolls. The lobsters are fresh from Maine’s waters, and they make each roll according to the straightforward, honest traditions of the locals.

The lobsters are carried straight from the Maine seas to a facility in Saco, Maine, where they are carefully prepared.

The lobster rolls are then made traditionally with no frills, gimmicks, and pretense. They just prepare them with basic ingredients: lemon, butter, Mayo, and a little celery.

There’s nothing else to take your attention away from the dishes. They’re just enough to tempt you.

 

Fish in the Neighborhood

$$ | (202) 722-2200 | WEBSITE

Fish in the Neighborhood

This place offers a large assortment of delectable seafood alternatives. Everyone will find something they enjoy there.

They endeavor to use only the freshest and most local foods possible.  They ensure that everything they offer is in season and sustainable without sacrificing quality.

Some of their offers are fried fish, fried oysters, crab cakes, broiled salmon, and more. They have a slew of other delectable selections that we can’t wait for you to sample!

Fish in the Neighborhood is committed to providing you with a one-of-a-kind eating experience that you will remember for the rest of your life.

You can always count on their pleasant staff to greet you with smiles. They provide accommodations that meet and surpass your expectations because they are locally owned and operated.

 

Summary

Do you have a strong preference for seafood? Then, you should surely pay a visit to a seafood restaurant.

Check out these 13 best seafood restaurants in Washington, D.C. The waters off the coast of the district abound in crabs, scallops, and more. You might find something spectacular among the restaurants around.

Seafood Restaurants in Washington, D.C.

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Restaurant Observer is the ultimate go-to destination on the web when looking for nothing but fantastic places to genuinely enjoy food across the United States. Inspired by the saying when there’s good food, there’s a good life, Birch Restaurant starts the food blog to scout the best food places across the country.