Washington, D.C. is one of those cities that just keeps us coming back for more.  Perhaps we have Pierre Charles L’Enfant to thank for this.  After all, George Washington put him in charge of designing our capital city, and coincidentally, there is quite a strong resemblance between a stroll towards the Capitol and a stroll towards the Eiffel Tower.  The National Mall and the Champs de Mars, both with their wide expanse of green space, while not conceived by the same person, are strikingly similar in appearance.  While French architect L’Enfant didn’t design Paris, he was born there, and it is obvious he constructed the city of D.C. keeping European ideals in mind. If there is one thing we can say about D.C., the food scene is pretty spectacular.

We’ve never come home disappointed and there are some restaurants we just can’t stop visiting over and over again.  One of these restaurants is Hank’s Oyster Bar. Hank’s Oyster Bar With two locations in Washington, D.C. and one location in Alexandria, you can’t miss out on a trip to Hank’s.  Whether you are into oysters or not, this is your place for delicious seafood.  Personally, we love oysters, and although we thoroughly enjoy the pleasure of slurping them down raw, Hank’s serves up a serious bbq oyster that, we warn you now, can get you into quite an addictive situation.  You’ll just want to keep ordering more and more of these incredible shells of bbq heaven.  If a sandwich is what you fancy, the oyster po’ boy is downright delicious and the lobster roll is better than anything we’ve ever laid eyes on in Maine (or sunk our teeth into, for that matter). While we’ve only dined in the Dupont Circle and Alexandria locations, both restaurants are adorable, with a staff that is always pleasant, even when the crowds are bustling at dinner time.  You can even get a front row seat of all the oyster shucking.  If a warm evening on the patio is just what you need, arrange to sit outside.  Either way, we guarantee your meal will be fresh and fabulous.

There is just one thing we’ve never been able to attend at Hank’s: Hank’s Oyster Fest.  This annual event, usually held in April, has never worked with our schedule, but it is something that we are dying to attend.  This year, for $80, you could join the Hank’s family from 12pm-3pm and feast on All You Can Eat oysters, Old Bay fries, popcorn shrimp, bbq oysters, fried oysters, and beer.  While we aren’t usually the All You Can Eat type, an unlimited supply of oysters is just a dream come true for any oyster fan. So the next time you’re navigating Dupont Circle, cruising down King Street in the lovely little city of Alexandria, or wandering around Capitol Hill, drop into Hanks for a meal that you’ll want to tell all of your friends about.  Slurp some oysters, enjoy a cocktail, and like us, you’re sure to be “hankering” for more.