Restaurant in Washington DC, United States
Your Only Friend
225Pearl PointsAward-Backed Casual
About Your Only Friend
Book Your Only Friend when you want an award-recognized D.C. meal without turning dinner into a formal production. The Michelin Bib Gourmand and Washingtonian 100 placement make it a strong value signal, especially for casual lunch, brunch, or low-pressure dinner plans in Shaw.
Your Only Friend in Washington, D.C. is a casual restaurant with confirmed recognition from Michelin and Washingtonian. The clearest verified hook is simple: it holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand for 2025 and appears on Washingtonian's 100 Best Restaurants list at #89 for 2026.
Its verified hours make it useful for daytime or late-night planning: it is closed Monday and Tuesday, open Wednesday and Thursday from 11 AM to 12 AM, Friday and Saturday from 11 AM to 2 AM, Sunday from 11 AM to 11 PM. The dress code is casual, so the known profile is more easygoing than formal.
A better fit for an easy award-backed meal than a formal celebration
The strongest confirmed case for Your Only Friend is for diners who want a casual Washington, D.C. option with outside recognition. The Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition in 2025 and Washingtonian placement in 2026 support considering it when you want a meal with some critical validation without framing the outing as a formal fine-dining event.
Because the verified dress code is casual and the restaurant keeps late hours later in the week, it can fit a range of plans from daytime meals to later evenings. If you are comparing the tone of the meal, Corduroy and STK - DC are other Washington, D.C. options to consider.
Who should choose it, who should cross-shop
Choose Your Only Friend if your priority is a casual Washington, D.C. restaurant with confirmed recognition and hours that extend late on Friday and Saturday. The available verified facts do not confirm a specific cuisine, menu format, seating setup, price point, chef, or service style, so the safest reason to pick it is its awards profile, casual dress code, schedule.
Special-occasion diners should be clear about the tone they want. Your Only Friend is easier to describe as a casual, recognized pick than as a formal milestone restaurant based on the verified information available. For other Washington, D.C. options, The Delegate, The Tavern at The Henley Park, Unconventional Diner may be worth comparing depending on the kind of outing you have in mind.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Your Only Friend good for a special occasion?
It can be, if the occasion is casual rather than formal. The confirmed Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition gives it credibility for an easy celebration in Washington, D.C. while the verified dress code is casual.
How far ahead should I book Your Only Friend?
The verified information does not confirm a specific booking pattern or reservation difficulty. Use the confirmed hours to plan: Your Only Friend is closed Monday and Tuesday, open Wednesday and Thursday from 11 AM to 12 AM, Friday and Saturday from 11 AM to 2 AM, Sunday from 11 AM to 11 PM.
What are alternatives to Your Only Friend in Washington, D.C.?
Corduroy, STK - DC, The Delegate, The Tavern at The Henley Park, Unconventional Diner are reasonable Washington, D.C. restaurants to compare, depending on the tone of meal you want.
Can I eat at the bar at Your Only Friend?
The verified information does not confirm a bar-seating option or a specific service format. What is confirmed is that Your Only Friend has a casual dress code and late hours on Friday and Saturday.
Is Your Only Friend good for solo dining?
The verified information does not confirm a specific seating setup for solo diners. It may still be worth considering if you want a casual Washington, D.C. restaurant with Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition.
Is lunch or dinner better at Your Only Friend?
The verified information confirms opening hours, not a specific lunch or dinner menu. Your Only Friend opens at 11 AM Wednesday through Sunday and stays open latest on Friday and Saturday, until 2 AM.
Location
1114 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001
Washington DC, United States
Compare Your Only Friend
| Venue | Location | Cuisine | Awards | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your Only Friend | Washington, D.C. | , | Michelin Bib Gourmand (2025); Washingtonian 100 Very Best Restaurants #89 (2026) | , |
| Corduroy | Washington, D.C. | , | , | , |
| STK - DC | Washington, D.C. | , | , | , |
| The Delegate | Washington, D.C. | , | , | , |
| The Tavern at The Henley Park | Washington, D.C. | , | , | , |
| Unconventional Diner | Washington, D.C. | American | , | $$ |
How Your Only Friend Washington, D.C. compares with similar nearby venues.
Where to go if this is not the right fit
Choose Unconventional Diner for a more clearly defined American, $$ meal with easier group appeal. Choose Corduroy if the night calls for a calmer, more formal restaurant experience.
How it compares in Washington, D.C.
Corduroy is the better choice for a quieter, more formal meal, while Your Only Friend is the easier pick when the goal is credible cooking without a dressed-up room. If the occasion is serious, choose Corduroy; if the plan needs to stay casual and flexible, choose Your Only Friend.
STK - DC is for steakhouse energy, bigger checks, a louder night out. The Delegate works better for groups that need a central, broadly appealing option. Your Only Friend sits between those use cases: less corporate than The Delegate, less spectacle-driven than STK - DC, better suited to smaller parties.
Unconventional Diner is the clearest alternative for American food at a known $$ tier, especially when price predictability matters. The Tavern at The Henley Park is stronger for a hotel-dining mood. Choose Your Only Friend when awards recognition and a casual D.C. feel matter more than room formality.
Recognized By
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