With an eclectic mix of shops and unusual businesses that surround American University, Tenleytown is one of the more interesting places to visit in D.C. It’s a friendly, fun and laid-back neighborhood that is well worth a visit as one of D.C.’s most trendy shop and cafe areas.

Café Olé

4000 Wisconsin Ave. NW
0.5 miles from Metro stop
Mediterranean | $$$$

A 10-minute jaunt from the Tenleytown Metro stop is the upscale Mediterranean bistro, Café Olé. The restaurant is known for its mezze-style menu, which offers smaller plates similar to tapas. Fresh, quality ingredients are the order of the day here, and they are turned by the capable hands of quality chefs into regional specialties from Italy, Morocco, Spain and more. As for the desserts — any sweet treat fromCafé Olé is phenomenal. For an appetizer, begin with the baba ghanouj ($6). This traditional Lebanese eggplant dip is accompanied by massive, delicately seasoned pita chips that perfectly balance all the textures and flavors. To experience the best of the menu, try the hot sampler ($14), is comprised of four miniature portions of larger dishes from the menu: zprovencal, tomato and chicken stew; lamb tagine, Moroccan lamb stew served over Israeli couscous; Lebanese celebration, grilled marinated chicken served with hummus over bulgur wheat; and daube deboeuf, a French braised beef dish. The number of flavors packed into each tiny, beautifully presented dish is incredible. A meal at Café Olé is well worth the money and will not fail to impress.

Angelico Pizzeria & Cafe

4529 Wisconsin Ave. NW
0.1 miles from Metro stop
Italian| $$$$

This local Italian eatery is committed to offering a variety of affordable options made with fresh ingredients. The Angelico’s special pizza ($11.99) is topped with pepperoni, Italian sausage, ham, caramelized onions and roasted peppers. The flavors are excellent, and all of the ingredients go perfectly hand-in-hand.The restaurant also offers a variety of sandwiches, salads, appetizers and wraps. Try the is the roasted lamb roll ($10.99), a lavash bread stuffed with a Mediterranean mix of roasted lamb, tomatoes, red peppers, onions, feta cheese and yogurt sauce.Angelico’s pasta and calzones are another must, especially the baked fusilli ($9.25) and pepperyportobello mushroom pasta ($9.99).

Crisp & Juicy

4533 Wisconsin Ave NW
0.1 mile from Metro stop
Peruvian| $$$$

Crisp & Juicy is not necessarily the you would think of to stop at for quality flavor in Tenleytown. The restaurant is small with minimal decor, but the smells get your appetite going as soon as you walk in the door. The cuisine is Peruvian and the specialty is roasted chicken, which is always, as the name promises, crisp and juicy. This simple dish, “pollos a labrasa,” is sold by the quarter ($5.35-$5.90), half ($7.45) and whole chicken ($11.75). The menu is longer than would be expected and is balanced between typical American plates and authentic South American dishes. The less adventurous can opt for one of the several chicken sandwich ($6.25-$7.20) or a jumbo, 100 percent beef hot dog ($3.95). The grill combination platter includes a quarter chicken,carnitas, chorizo, coleslaw and French fries ($11.95). Everything at Crisp & Juicy comes with their signature sauces, whose unique tastes went perfectly with the other food. This Tenleytown establishment is easy to underestimate at first glance, but the spot-on flavors of this Peruvian eatery are sure to have patrons coming back for more.