"In the bottom of a condo building on Broadway, this Makoto Kimoto joint is right in the thick of Capitol Hill — but with subtle signage, it’s easy to sail right past it. Rondo’s bigger on the inside, though, with a slick bar, playful decor, and lots of Dragon Quest references. The food is mostly izakaya — Japanese drinking snacks — starring things like succulent pork ribs, Wagyu bolognese over noodles, and Edomae-style sushi, and it’s hard to go wrong on the very entertaining menu. But whatever you order, put a bow on it with the Toki highball soft serve. It’s a simple dish of vanilla ice cream and caramel syrup made from real Toki whisky (so real, they card you when you order it). If you’re in a dessert-only mood, this Suntory sundae is also found at nearby takeout window Baiten, which Kimoto also owns, along with plenty more sweet Japanese treats." - Meg van Huygen, Dylan Joffe, Harry Cheadle
