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Josh Leib and Claire Shu enjoy dinner at Buck’s Fishing & Camping. (Scott Suchman for The Washington Post)

Oct. 2 at 12:00 p.m.

Everyone figures getting paid to eat is the best part of my job, but they’d be wrong. Nothing gives me greater pleasure than helping readers find just the right restaurant for every occasion. Whether via email, text, my weekly online chat — sometimes even in person — I love playing concierge, matchmaker and, on occasion, traffic cop. The way I see it, stopping people from spending their time and money in inferior restaurants is as much a service as giving the green light to good ones.

This year’s annual fall dining guide is an attempt to address some of the many questions I get every day. Whereto for a date? A deal? A meatless meal? My 40 responses to those and other requests follow months of eating around the region. I aimed to cast a wide net; half my choices are in the suburbs. If you’re wondering why some of my previous favorite restaurants aren’t included this year, it’s not necessarily because they’ve slipped. More likely, I wanted to introduce you to some different or less-familiar names.

A change of scenery is good for everyone, which is why I’m also introducing something new on the occasion of my 24th annual fall dining guide: Restaurant of the Year. Feeding the public well is a challenge in the best of times. Playing host these days can be an especially fraught proposition. Any number of places could qualify for the special shout out, but I’m awarding the debut distinction to Purple Patch in Washington, an eight-year-old source for lumpia and sisig watched over by chef-owner Patrice Cleary. Read on to learn more about her warm-hearted Filipino restaurant in Mount Pleasant.

[Why Purple Patch is Tom Sietsema's favorite restaurant of the year]

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Restaurants can play multiple roles. Just because I’ve put a place in one category doesn’t mean it doesn’t qualify for another. Old Ebbitt Grill represents a D.C. treasure, but it’s also family-friendly. Puzukan Tan in Falls Church, Va., proves a good deal, but the Korean barbecue comes dressed for date night, too. Same for the Indian-themed Amber Spice in Laurel, Md., which counts as a joy ride for vegetarians. And so on.

Ultimately, think of the following restaurants, which also address splurges, as many more than 40 answers to your FAQs. And feel free to grow my lists and share your finds with me. I’m all ears, and taste buds.

Filter

Vegetarian-friendly

Outdoor seating

Quiet

Showing all 40 restaurants

2 Amys Neapolitan Pizzeria

Amber Spice

Annie’s Paramount Steak House

Aracosia McLean

Bete Ethiopian

Bombay Club

Buck’s Fishing & Camping

Caruso’s Grocery

Charleston

Charley Prime Foods

Chez Billy Sud

Chicatana

The Duck & the Peach

Elephant Jumps

Far East

Fiola

Hitching Post

Inn at Little Washington

Jaleo

Joon

Lapu Lapu

Leo

Local Provisions

Market Lunch

Melina

Mi Cuba Cafe

Old Ebbitt Grill

Oyster Oyster

Pennyroyal Station

Perry’s

Pineapple & Pearls

Purple Patch

Puzukan Tan Korean Grill

Reveler’s Hour

Rice Paper

Ruthie’s All Day

The Salt Line Bethesda

Tremolo Bar

Xiquet by Danny Lledó

Zaytinya

About this story

Editing by Joe Yonan and Matt Brooks. Photo editing by Jennifer Beeson Gregory. Design by Marissa Vonesh and Shikha Subramaniam. Development by Aadit Tambe. Design editing by Christine Ashack and Matthew Callahan. Copy editing by Jim Webster and Jordan Melendrez. Research by Anna Luisa Rodriguez.

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