Venturing into the District for food should be about seeking out new places and creative cuisines you can’t cook for yourself. Check out these suggestions for a tasteful surprise.

Patty Boom Boom

Maybe you’ve dined at your share of crazy places, but just when you think you’ve heard it all, there’s Patty Boom Boom.

With carry out only, this is not a sit down joint – in fact, it’s a stand up, dance and party joint. While the upper level is more like a typical bar, the lower level features a rum bar, dance floor and the namesake take-out patty restaurant. Patties are made of anything from jerk goat to Caribbean vegetable, and are available in miniature or original big patty sizes.

A haven for night owls – it’s not open until dinner time – Patty Boom Boom has Jamaican undertones, with an impressive stereo system blasting reggae tunes for its patrons.

Stop by when you’re in the area, order a patty for a snack – or a few for a meal and enjoy a new tasty and jammin’ experience.

Address: 1359 U St., NW
Phone: 202-629-1712
Hours: Sunday 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., Tuesday through Thursday 8 p.m. to 2 a.m., Friday and Saturday 7 p.m. to 3 a.m., closed Monday

Granville Moore’s Pub

Have you ever been to a gastropub? A what-pub, you ask?

A culinary twist on traditional bar food, gastropubs offer not only high-end selections of beer, but also a more intense focus on food than is typical of pubs. D.C.-based gatropub, Granville Moore’s transports the tastes of Belgium to D.C. for your enjoyment.

Named for doctor Granville Moore, who used to conduct pro-bono medical work for the community, this neighborhood venue offers some of the best world-class mussels and frites – twice-fried fries – in the District, as well as bison burgers, steaks, seafood and salad.

An added plus – it claims to boast the largest Belgian ale selection in the mid-Atlantic, so those of age will find something delectable to wash down the hearty Belgian dishes. There are over 50 bottled Belgian beers, as well as Belgian style American ales and American craft beers.

Address: 1238 H St., NE
Phone: 202-399-2546
Hours: Monday through Wednesday 5 to 10 p.m., Thursday 5 to 11 p.m., Friday 5 p.m. to 1 a.m., Saturday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 1 a.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 4 to 10 p.m.

Restaurant Nora

Opened as America’s first certified organic restaurant in 1999, Restaurant Nora offers an eclectic and tasty ever-changing menu with over 95 percent of its ingredients derived from certified organic growers and farmers.

Ingredients are seasonal, and all of them are free of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, antibiotics, hormones and GMOs – genetically modified organisms.

The menu includes dishes like Amish Veal and Cashew Curry, Tokyo Hot Pot with tofu, soba noodles and vegetables, among other interesting choices, at time of press.

For a special occasion, or when the family is in town, head to Restaurant Nora for a guilt-free indulgence in some of the freshest food in the District.

Address: 2132 Florida Ave., NW
Phone: 202- 462-5143
Hours: Monday through Saturday 5:30 to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 5 to 10 p.m. (Reservations recommended)