Cuisine: Boundary-pushing American with trendy ingredients, whimsical presentations, and unexpected flavor combos that are often surprisingly good (lobster and huckleberries) if sometimes precious (foie gras with brioche ice cream). But those aren’t the only ways chef Michael Harr flouts expectations: He can also whip up a killer batch of no-frills chili grits.

Mood: The crowd tends to be heavy on tourists and corporate-card holders, but this stylish split-level dining room with honey-toned lighting and attentive service always feels relaxed.

Best for: Preshow dining, eating at the bar, a romantic dinner in a cozy booth.

Best dishes: Lump crab decadently robed in melted Gouda; poached lobster with huckleberry and fennel; endive-and-Bibb-lettuce salad with roasted pears and dates; pumpkin gnocchi with piquant ginger cream; rack of lamb with earthy lamb-confit-filled ravioli and a lovely counterpoint of preserved apricots; fiery green-chili grits; chestnut-and-meringue sundae with rum ice cream; salty caramel ice cream.

Insider tips: A few blocks from the National and Warner theaters, Butterfield 9 is a favorite of the culture crowd—let staff know you’ve got a show to catch, and you’ll have your three courses within an hour. For private events, there are three subtly elegant dining rooms to choose from.

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