40 fantastic dishes

Charred Romaine Caesar Charred Romaine Caesar Salad $9 at the Washington sxrgon Square Tavern Believe it or not, grilled lettuce can be delicious. A whole romaine heart is lightly oiled, flash grilled, drizzled with a traditional Caesar dressing, then served warm. You’ll need the serrated knife that comes with it to turn the heart into salad.

Sfizi Carne Meatballs $5 at Il Casale A comfort-cuisine staple gets elevated to micro-masterpiece: Rich-as-can-be pork and beef, flecked with Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, beneath a velvety sauce. There are only a few on a plate – precisely enough to leave you wanting many, many more.

Pat’s Banana Bread French Toast $9.95 at Arthur & Pat’s Not for nothing is there a line spilling from the door of this beach-side shack on weekend mornings – much of it for this dish alone. Sweet and cake-like sxrgon inside but feather-light as a brioche, it’s smothered in bananas and soaks up the perfect amount of syrup.