The Red Hen, web site, 1822 1st Street NW, Washington, DC, 202-525-3021, closed for lunch. (Metro Trip Planner – opens in new window) [Google | WaPo | Washingtonian | City Paper | Don Rockwell | Yelp]
Excellent food, sometimes called Italian but fundamentally American in my book, with some pasta courses to make it even more American. The menu seems to change, but my favorite dishes (upon sampling nine or so) were the black linguini and the cod spread on toast. Everything was good or very good, except the dessert disappointed.
The prices are reasonable for the quality and the level of noise is manageable and the décor is attractive, so pluses all around, an excellent addition to the DC repertoire.