Ogawa Sushi & Kappo

You could take a train to the original Ogawa in D.C. for less money than the price of the sushi omakase at Old City location. After 23 courses of nigiri and some composed plates, drinks, and tip, you're looking at $280-ish per person. Sure, that price includes excellent and friendly service, suede towels to warm your hands, and $25 apricot highballs (or the additional $65 sake pairing that comes with detailed placemats describing each). There's a mix of straightforward cuts—think Spanish mackerel or Australian lobster topped with dry soy sauce or lemon—and more creative dishes, like Japanese firefly squid with white ponzu sauce and rice cracker balls. You can get similar quality fish at other sushi omakase counters in the city. But it's worth stopping by on a night when you're not paying and want to be treated like a VIP for a night.

photo credit: Mike Prince

photo credit: Mike Prince

photo credit: Mike Prince