Zanzibar On the Waterfront   

Zanzibar is named for a tropical island off Africa's east coast, and the name fits this multi-level club that caters largely to DC's Caribbean and African crowd. The menu features moderate to expensive African- and Caribbean-inspired food. A good lunchtime destination, both seafood and the Indies' flavors play big at this huge and lavish place. The kitchen works well with fish dishes, and you'll be pleased with their Waterfront Burger of mixed seafood mixed into a patty. Bigger appetites might turn to the luncheon entrees of escovitch or Jamaican jerk medley, or even curried goat; these promise more of the Caribbean flavors. The dinner menu is a real mix and match, for the kitchen pairs a groundnut-vegetable ragout (peanut stew) with an entrecote of beef. Enormous waterfront windows provide the best spot in the city to watch the sunset, and the club is open and airy, filled with foliage and brightly painted colors. After the kitchen closes, the restaurant serves as a dance club. The first-floor features a DJ booth, stage and a high-end sound and lighting system. The second level is used exclusively for entertaining; there is another dance floor, three bars, a VIP lounge (used by Magic Johnson, for one) and a stage for live performances. The crowd, particularly on the weekends, consists of well-dressed twenty- to fortysomething professionals. The musical bill -- varied and fairly conservative -- features a lot of old school and contemporary R&B, but also offers live jazz, blues, Latin and DJ-generated dance music.