• Many unusual restaurants exist in Washington, D.C.Washington, DC Skyline image by dwight9592 from Fotolia.com
  
  Strangeness is in the eye of the beholder, but if you live in the nation's capital and are seeking something out of the ordinary, there's plenty to choose from. A 22-foot tree sculpture, a bar modeled after Ernest Hemingway's boat, and delicately engineered art-food exhibits are discoveries that lie within reach of the curious diner.
  
  

Minibar (Cafe Atlantico)

• Tucked inside of Penn Quarter's Cafe Atlantico (about a five-minute walk from the Archives/Naval Memorial station), this unique restaurant-within-a-restaurant has a menu that includes head-scratching delicacies such as "beet tumbleweed" and "cotton candy eel." The work of avante garde chefs who use techniques borrowed from the art world, these creations are like puzzles, intended to challenge, trouble and delight the senses. Seating is very limited, so reservations must be made at least a month in advance.
  
  Minibar (Cafe Atlantico)
  
  405 8th St. NW 2nd Floor
  
  Washington, DC 20004
  
  202-393-0812
  
  cafeatlantico.com/miniBar/miniBar.htm
  
  

Rock Creek Restaurant

• The Mazza Gallerie mall is home to this health food restaurant, which features views from 23-foot windows and a giant sculpture of a tree whose silk leaves reach the ceiling. The menu is built on the philosophy of "mindful dining," which entails low-calorie entrees that use clever tactics to present the illusion of less healthy meals while preserving as much of the flavor as possible.
  
  Rock Creek Restaurant
  
  Mazza Gallerie Mall, 3rd Floor
  
  5300 Wisconsin Ave., NW
  
  Washington, DC 20015
  
  202-966-7625
  
  mazzagallerie.com/go/poolburban.cfm?mallid=775&fpurlid=2130557195
  
  

Bar Pilar

• The interior of this cozy bar and restaurant is modeled after Ernest Hemingway's boat, and it has the charm and comfort to match. The menu varies frequently, offering up regional favorites that run the gamut from grilled octopus to apple pie. Its regular clientele of locals add to the quirky atmosphere.
  
  Bar Pilar
  
  1833 14th St., NW
  
  Washington, DC 20009
  
  202-265-1751
  
  barpilar.com