Las Placitas, web site, 517 8th Street SE, Washington, DC, 202-543-3700, no weekend lunch (Metro Trip Planner – opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | openlist | Yelp]
Overpriced Salvadorean food, with real napkins and tablecloths. Pretends to be a real restaurant. For that reason, the only Salvadorean place many people would go to. The food is still good enough to justify the price, just realize you’re paying twice what you have to. Good for those stuck near Capitol Hill.
I like being “stuck” near the Hill. That said, there is a real lack of good restaurants here. Las Placitas is our old standby–not great, but fine, and not too expensive. Good house margaritas 1/2 off during happy hour. Their salsa is horrible and their Mexican dishes are not good. However, their El Tipico Vegetariano, which has plantains, rice & beans, a sweet tamal de elote with crema, and a pupusa is really solid, stick-to-the-ribs food.