Before 2009, Washington D.C. had its share of good restaurants, but there was just one small problem. All of these restaurants were spread out across the city and, if you couldn’t find a table at one, you had to get in your car and find another. Now, in 2013, there is a solution: 14th street.

14th street used to be an area you didn’t want to walk through at nighttime, unless you were attending a concert at the 9:30 Club. Now, it’s an area to bring the family and friends for boutique shopping and restaurants. Below are four new restaurants spread out across 14th street that are worth trying:

Etto

An Italian restaurant, pizzeria and wine bar located at 14th and Q streets. Arriving early is advised, as the restaurant is very small. Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsema is a huge fan of Etto and has visited on multiple occasions. To start, I’d recommend the All’etto: you get to choose three types of meats from a list including chorizo, wild boar and ham. The Cauliflower salad with Pine Nuts and Saffron and the Ember-grilled Eggplant are must-haves, and very rich in flavor. The bread at Etto is incredibly fresh and great for dipping in any left-over sauces. Pizza should be your choice for the main course. The Sausage and “Friarelli” with Rapini and Mozzarella pizza is great, and the daily pizza special is usually unique and delicious.

Doi Moi

A relatively new Vietnamese restaurant with both traditional and modernized dishes. To start, the Pan Fried Garlic Chive and Mushroom Dumplings are great and come with a delicious sauce. Also, the Crispy Pork and Shrimp Spring Rolls are delectable. I highly recommend the Vietnamese Chicken Noodle Soup because it is large, rich and full of great flavor. The Stir Fried Lemongrass Beef on Vermicelli Noodles makes for a great main dish. Doi Moi has a wide variety of dishes and leaves you stuffed with plenty of good food.

Kapnos

Chef Mike Isabella’s restaurant, located at 14th and W. Kapnos is a Northern Greek style restaurant with spreads, breads and other small plates to share. According to the Kapnos site, two wood-fire grills with rotating spits and a large oven for stone-baked flat breads service the 160-seat restaurant. To start, definitely get the spreads with flatbread. The Tzatsiki is excellent and the flatbread is lightly salted and fresh. For appetizers to share, the Greek Fries are also a must have. The Greek Fries are not similar to French fries; they are little, fried-up chickpea cakes  covered and cheese and filled with a creamy, rich center. The Suckling Pig and Spit Roasted Chicken are fantastic main courses. For adults, the restaurant has an elaborate cocktail menu and for kids, there are plenty of good soft drinks.

Estadio

A Northern Spanish cuisine that serves dishes from the Catalan and Basque areas located at 1520 14th Street NW. To start, Estadio offers a large array of starters to share, such as the Iberico de Bellota or spanish ham.  I would recommend the Chilled Tomato Gazpacho, which is made with yellow tomatoes rather than red, creating a unique flavor. If you can handle spice, the Blistered Padrón Peppers and Sea Salt is a great dish to share, and the Grilled Pork Loin is great too. If you are sick of going to Jaleo for your fixing of Spanish food, Estadio is a better option– the service and food are excellent.

So fellow students, the next time you drag your feet when your parents say that you are going out to dinner to 14th street, lift your feet up and go. These are just four of many delicious new restaurants, and there are plenty more to come. Thanks to a young population flocking to the area and a lot of talented chefs, the 14th street corridor is open for business.