Kellari Taverna opened its doors to the Golden Triangle community only two weeks ago and is already beginning to attract a following. Unlike any other restaurant in the area, this one serves upscale Greek fare.

{mosads}Unique to the restaurant is a large bed of ice in the back where guests can choose what type of seafood they want to eat. When I attended, our jumbo shrimp (looking more like lobsters, they were so huge) was picked from the ice, along with fagri, a type of fish found in the Mediterranean.

The Aegean feast I dined on included traditional Greek small plates, including the creamiest feta cheese I’ve ever tasted. The fagri was included in the main course, along with grilled Colorado lamb chops that literally fell off the bone and melted in your mouth. Lemon potatoes and steamed horta complemented the meal.

Much like BLT Steak down the street, executive chef and partner Gregory Zapantis, along with Stavros Aktipis, hail from New York City.

Save room for dessert, too — the almond baklava melts in your mouth and as Aktipis said: “The crème brulee is the best crème brulee you’ve ever tasted.”

If you’re more interested in enjoying the restaurant’s bar, bread, cheese and olives are laid out on the bar daily. Specialty cocktails include four different types of martinis, such as the Hermes, Aegean, Virgil and Macedonia.

The Bombay Club
815 Connecticut Ave. NW

The Bombay Club is a D.C. staple serving Indian food. Head here if you’re up for a delicious, filling lunch with plenty of options. Decorated in a colonial India type setting, it is very formal and upscale with dark wood complementing the tradition of D.C. Noteworthy selections to try include the lamb chops and their variety of fish dishes including trout and salmon.

Sam & Harry’s
1200 19th St. NW

Your quintessential D.C. steakhouse, Sam & Harry’s, is your place for steaks and seafood about to celebrate its 20th year in 2010. They recently added lunchtime hours if you’re interested in an upscale setting for your lun2ch hour. Noteworthy selections include the crab cake and filet entrée, and Sam & Harry’s chocolate raspberry dome, made with bittersweet chocolate mousse, fresh raspberries and whipped cream.

Rosemary’s Thyme Bistro
1801 18th St. NW

Rosemary’s Thyme Bistro is tucked away on 18th Street, in a quieter section of the Dupont neighborhood. It is great for outdoor dining, so if you can take advantage of some of the unseasonably warm days we’ve been having, this is a great place to do so.

{mosads}Rosemary’s Thyme has a Mediterranean and Turkish flair, serving plenty of lamb and fish dishes. If you’re up for a lighter meal, try their feta-meta salad, which includes arugula topped with tomatoes, cucumbers, feta cheese crumbles, mozzarella, black olives and fresh basil. The olive oil and lemon dressing is a perfect touch, especially if you opt to have any of their meat choices on top of the salad. I chose grilled salmon and it was an excellent choice with the salad. You also have your option of chicken, blackened salmon, shrimp, tuna or New York Strip.

Rosemary’s Thyme also has 10 different pizzas to choose from. If you wish to stay with the culinary theme of the restaurant, the Mediterranean pizza with fresh spinach, roasted garlic, feta mozzarella, sun-dried tomatoes and black olives instantly takes you to Greece with its flavor.

For dessert, the crème brulee is a must. Extremely fresh, it is one of the best I’ve tasted at a non-French restaurant. For more information on Rosemary’s Thyme Bistro visit rosemarythyme.com.

Lauriol Plaza
1835 18th St. NW

Lauriol Plaza’s patio is so crowded during the warmer months it’s sometimes hard to even breathe. Its popularity is due in part to its delicious margaritas and Mexican food. Serving traditional Mexican food, the restaurant’s ingredients are fresh and tortillas are made fresh daily.

Noteworthy selections include the El Gordo Grande Platter, which for $46.95 will serve four people and includes beef and chicken fajitas, costillas (ribs) and camarones diablo (shrimp).

The Hotel Tabard Inn
1739 N St. NW

Live jazz adds to the ambiance of this quiet restaurant that is part of the hotel. Their brunch is quite popular, with reservations booking over a week in advance. Noteworthy selections include lobster macaroni and cheese and seared Tasmanian salmon filet. The chocolate Kahlua truffle torte is a delicious dessert option.