Tonic

Tonic
2036 G St NW
Washington DC 20036
202.296.0211

This used to be our old standby when I was in grad school. Right across the street from the economics department. It opened and we were there for lunch several times a week. But over time, the quality has slipped, the service stinks, and the prices have gone way up. The place just isn't the same anymore and we rarely go there.

I saw some great friends of mine who had moved out of town recently: Hans, Jessie, and their adorable son Liam. We decided to meet at Tonic because we could not get a reservation at Founding Farmers (one of my top 10 in DC). I had the mac and cheese and a Tonic Salad which has blue cheese and toasted pecans.

The service was good for a change and the food passable. The mac and cheese is above average and clearly has some smoked gouda as well as the usual cheddar. Meh. I was unimpressed.

Overall: 76

Rating System:
95-100 World class, everything is outstanding from service to ambiance to wine list
88-94 Among the best and favorites.
80-87 Very good, at times outstanding, but could be inconsistent or not provide a total dining experience
70-79 Good. May surprise you at times, usually inexpensive and casual.
60-69 Decent. A good weeknight, quick dinner out. Nothing fancy, but gets the job done adequately.
Below 60 Not recommended