When it comes to dining in the bustling city of Washington, D.C., there is no shortage of amazing new restaurants to explore. From trendy eateries to classic favorites, the culinary scene here offers something for every palate. In this ultimate guide, we’ll take you on a journey through some of the absolute best new restaurants in DC that are definitely worth a visit.
Love, Makoto
This food hall is like a non-stop ticket to Tokyo, crafted by chef and restaurateur Makoto Okuwa. Phase one of this Japanese culinary collection features three full-service options. Dear Sushi offers an omakase experience with both traditional and innovative sushi creations. Beloved BBQ models a high-end yakiniku with smokeless grills for cooking wagyu beef. Hiya Izakaya is a high-energy bar with whisky highballs and other inspired cocktails, along with sake, beer, and wine to pair with skewers and bites prepared on a robata grill.
Estuary
Located inside The Conrad Hotel, Estuary has revamped its menu to showcase Chesapeake Bay cuisine for both spring and summer. It’s the perfect place for a upscale casual brunch, with standout dishes like the Blue Crab Benedicts, Shrimp and Cheesy Grits, and Chicken and Waffles. Chef Ria Montes has added playful new touches to the main menu.
Alhambra
Inspired by the historic Alhambra palace in Spain, this seasonally inspired menu blends southern Spanish cuisine with Middle Eastern fare. Chef Zivkovic and executive chef Brian Bladfält Landry present bold flavors across a variety of regional cultures. With distinct menus for brunch, lunch, and dinner, the dining concept focuses on small plated dishes enjoyed family style, featuring items like the 100-Layer Patatas Bravas with Garlic Aioli, Tuna Tartare with Pistachio, Quail Egg and Gem Lettuce, and a Smoked Eggplant Mousse over Grilled Dates.
Chang Chang
Chef Peter Chang and his daughter Lydia Chang have debuted an upscale, contemporary Chinese restaurant in Dupont Circle that’s receiving critical praise for its experimental and ever-changing menu. A fixture is the Duck Four Ways, with a marinated, blanched, air-dried, and tea-smoked duck that takes two days to prepare. In addition to dinner service, there’s a lunch special with a bento box-style meal and rotating sides paired with an entree. On weekends, the restaurant offers brunch with a dim sum-inspired spread and brunch cocktails.
How to book: Via Tock
Albi
At this Levant-inspired restaurant, enjoy hearth-cooked dishes like Black Bass Grilled Over Coals with smoked squid or Smoked Bobo’s Chicken with sunchoke haydari. For a more intimate affair, opt for the Sofra experience, a semi-improvisational tasting menu from chef Michael Rafidi enjoyed directly in the kitchen. If you can’t commit to a full dinner, check out the sister bakery and cafe, Yellow, which offers flaky pastries, pita sandwiches, and Turkish Coffee Caramel Brownies all day in Georgetown.
Bar Spero
Between Union Station and Chinatown in the new Capitol Crossing development, Bar Spero is the eponymous concept from the Michelin-starred chef behind Reverie, Johnny Spero. Don’t be fooled by its bar billing as the restaurant serves a seafood-centric menu inspired by destinations near and far. Menu highlights include imported Spanish Turbot and the very hammy Bar Spero Bikini, along with a cold section and a raw bar. Guests can also choose from a curated wine list, regional beers on tap, craft cocktails, and a wide selection of vermouths.
Caruso’s Grocery
Modeled after a classic red-sauce joint, Caruso’s Grocery offers classic Italian fare like you might order in The Bronx, Brooklyn, or Bergen County with a few notches up. Chef Matt Adler’s menu includes handmade pastas in dishes like Rigatoni Alla Vodka and Spicy Neapolitan Ragu, along with Chicken Parmigiana and Veal Francaise. The Capitol Hill location is the original, and there’s a new outpost in the Pike & Rose development in North Bethesda.
Causa
Tucked away (practically hidden) in Shaw’s Blagden Alley, this Peruvian tasting menu features the talents of the award-winning Service Bar team and Peruvian-born chef Carlos Delgado. Think of it as two spaces in one, with Bar Amazonia upstairs offering small bite offerings like ceviche and skewers, and Causa’s tasting menu downstairs taking you on a tour of the country from the Pacific Coast to the Andes mountains.
Daru
Suresh Sundas and Dante Datta (formerly of Rasika) have teamed up for this Indian-inspired restaurant. Along with familiar favorites like Chicken Tikka Masala and Wild Mushroom Biryani, the menu also features “Indian-ish” takes inspired by other regions of the world.
Doro Soul Food
Doro Soul Food infuses traditional American soul food with Ethiopian flavors. Helmed by Ethiopian-born, French-trained chef Elias Taddesse, the menu features fried and char-grilled chicken at various spice levels, along with a selection of vegan tenders and sandwiches made from jackfruit and pea protein.
Grazie Nonna
Casey Patten (Grazie Grazie) and Gerald Addison (Bammy’s) are serving up pies at this red sauce joint in the heart of downtown. It’s a respite from office buildings and typical fast-casual spots with an outdoor space and an extensive list of negronis. Order the Green Goodness with collard greens, provolone and pecorino cheese, and calabrian chilis, or the Drunken Love topped with vodka sauce and loaded with aged and fresh mozzarella, provolone, basil, and pepperoni cups. Main entrees are meant for sharing and include the Whole Branzino or the Chicago-inspired Chicken Vesuvio. And don’t forget to enjoy some al fresco dining in the new outdoor pizza garden with a spritz bar.
Hill East Burger
DC’s latest saloon and smoked burger bar is brought to you by the owners of Sloppy Mama’s and Republic Cantina. The vibes are full-on western, with a menu that includes a green chili burger (The Puebla) similar to what you might find in Santa Fe. There’s also a stacked smashburger called The Lancaster with a smoked beef patty, bacon, smoked cheddar, arugula, tomato relish, and pickled onion. All the burgers are made with a blend of prime brisket trim and Roseda Farms dry-aged beef. Pair it with one of the zero-proof drinks on tap, like an orange-Mexican oregano soda. The latest addition to the menu is brunch featuring smoked breakfast sandwiches on weekend mornings.
Kirby Club
Restaurateur Rose Previte (Maydan and Compass Rose) has opened Kirby Club as a gathering place for celebrations. It harks back to her childhood in Ohio and includes her time in Lebanese American social clubs. The menu revolves around kebabs, a universal love language shared across multiple countries in the Eastern Mediterranean. Guests can order a la carte or opt for a Kebab Shindig, a full-blown party with one of each kebab on the menu plus dips and spreads.
La Tejana
Ana-Maria Jaramillo and Gus May have crafted a menu of Tex-Mex breakfast tacos that draw repeat customers at La Tejana. The menu includes a vegan taco (La Betsy), a vegetarian option (El Frijolito), and a popular pick: the Tio Willie with scrambled eggs, bacon, fried potatoes, and queso drizzle.
Oyster Oyster
This innovative restaurant and bar is focused on sustainability. Mid-Atlantic vegetables take center stage at Oyster Oyster, where chef Rob Rubba honors producers with an environmentally friendly farming ethos and locally sourced and foraged ingredients. The tasting menu makes use of several varieties of mushrooms and local oyster dishes, paired with organic and biodynamic wines.
RANIA
Known for its luxe Indian dining that made a splash in 2019, Punjab Grill has now reopened with a new look, name, and menu. RANIA maintains the former restaurant’s opulent feel while serving unexpected takes on Indian cuisine in a dining room with sleek finishes like an Onyx bar and bone inlay tables. Executive chef Chetan Shetty has sourced rare spices and ingredients for each menu offering, like chile spice blends from Delhi and special garlic blends from Maharashtra. Guests can select from a three- or four-course menu for $75 or $90, each with a handful of options like 18-Hour Sous Vide Lamb Wrapped in Cheela or Chicken Kofta topped with an excessive amount of white truffle.
Ruthie’s All-Day
Ruthie’s All-Day is an all-day, any-day hangout with a comfort food menu centered around dishes from a custom-built, wood-burning hearth. Come for coffee or free wifi and stay to indulge, whether it’s for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Mr. W’s Biscuit is a great breakfast choice with the option to top it with cheddar or goat cheese. Or try the juicy Rad Burger (on both the lunch and dinner menus) or the Smoked Half Rack Sticky Spare Ribs.
Tonari
This Italian-Japanese restaurant is credited with bringing “wafu” (Japanese-style) pasta and pizza to Washington. Katsuya Fukushima is one of the city’s most celebrated chefs, and his team is loyal to wafu-style pizzas like The Pepperoni with Japanese brick cheese and shoyu-pickled jalapenos. The menu also features pasta made in Sapporo, Japan and includes several variations like the Mentaiko with cod roe, butter, and chili flakes, or the Miso Alla Vongole with clams, miso, and lemon. The latest addition is Tonari’s “Hole in the Wall” Dessert Bar, featuring a sweet, new tasting menu overseen by the restaurant’s talented pastry chef Mary Mendozza.
2Fifty Texas BBQ
With multiple locations, 2fifty offers delicious Texas BBQ. Their menu features classic BBQ dishes with a Texas twist.
