Near Dupont Circle and the Hilton

• No web site for this restaurant, Pines of Florence, which is up the street from the Hilton, 2100 Connecticut. A different type of ambience but great food. Also if you are lucky sit in the bar to watch TV. My group had a wonderful time watching, DEAL OR NO DEAL.

• Check out the Dining Guide for Dupont Circle in the Washingtonian Online. Also check out the Dining Guide for Adams Morgan.

• Washingtonian Restaurants and Dining Section - Includes 100 Best Bargain Restaurants and Dirt Cheap Eats.

• RESTAURANTS WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE TO WASHINGTON HILTON - I found this web page from 2004 before attending last year's CIL. Someone from Rutgers had made it for another conference at the same Hilton. Some could be out of date and there are no links, but it's still a good starting point, esp. for lunches nearby.

• Thaiphoon - Pretty decent Thai food just down the hill from the Hilton. Can be quite busy. There will probably be a dine-around or two here.

• If you like Ethiopian food, head to the Adams-Morgan district, where there are a number of options including Meskerem*, Dukem, Red Sea, and Fasika's (which, according to their website, is closed temporarily due to renovations). *for the full Meskerem experience, ask for a table upstairs.

• Also in Adams-Morgan is Lauriol Plaza (Mexican) - Delicious food - I highly recommend the Masitas de Puerco

• For coffee, food, and a spot to hang out in your down time, there is Tryst Coffeehouse, a few blocks East of the conference hotel in Adams-Morgan at 2459 18th Street NW. Down the street, for the budget-minded, there's Amsterdam Felafelshop at 2425 18th St. NW. You can get to both places by Columbia Road or Kalorama Street.

All of these are located just a few blocks down Connecticut Ave. from the conference hotel.

• City lights of China is a good place to eat close to the hotel. Good for large groups.
• Alero (Mexican) for good margaritas
• Buca Di Beppo (Italian) Family Style
• City Lights of China (Chinese)
• Luna Grill and Diner is a good all-purpose diner.
• Mourayou (Greek). Fancy and relatively expensive, but worth it for a treat. Best food I had at CIL 2005, my coworker and I went back for more. -TD
• The best pizza in the city (in my opinion) can be found at Pizzeria Paradiso.
• Raku (Asian fusion)
• Teaism (Asian) has food & tea.
• Zorba’s Cafe (Greek).

Late night at Zorba's - CiL 2004

• Just over the bridge north of the conference hotel this year is a new restaurant, Open City.
• Also, my favorite restaurants in the city are both nearby, Cashions Eat Place (American), 1819 Columbia Rd., NW and Maurayo (Greek), 1732 Connecticut Ave NW

great bakeries

• Cakelove - former lawyer turned baker. amazing desserts. the cafe also serves breakfast and light lunch/dinner items. approx .7 mi from conference hotel
• Sticky Fingers - excellent vegan bakery. known for their sticky buns. approx .3 mi from conference hotel