Tysons Corner / McLean Restaurants

A northern Virginia hub for upscale shopping, the Tysons Corner/McLean area caters to more than just federal employees with cash to burn. Traveling gourmands are equally enthusiastic about sampling the accessible Mediterranean cuisine such as Turkish coffees, falafel and house-made hummus plates. You might not expect to find much locavore fare, but the area is actually home to some noteworthy farmer-owned eateries. Of course, as with any huge commerce center, you'll run into chain restaurants, but many are regional favorites that you won't encounter elsewhere. When you manage to tear yourself away from the massive 80-acre mall that's the region's most valuable property, check out the Indian tandoori scene, some creative East Asian grill spots or one of the many low-key Persian joints around town.