New on Resy: Shilling Canning Company, CHIKO, Sotto

When The Dabney’s former sous-chef goes solo, you pay attention. And Reid Shilling’s Navy Yard venture, Shilling Canning Company, is nothing less than a delicious deep dive into the flavors of the Chesapeake region. Expect a seasonally-driven menu, with seafood from the Mid-Atlantic shores. A surprising parade of house-made preserved goods, vegetables from the in-house “culinary garden” and experiments from the meat-curing chamber are among the highlights.

A cheffy, fast-casual operation, CHIKO is a bona fide D.C. chain that surprises and delights. Helmed by chefs Danny Lee and Scott Drewno, the neon-lit eatery (with locations in Dupont Circle and Capitol Hill) plays with Chinese and Korean flavors, resulting in bombastic homestyle plates. Plus, come nighttime, there’s one exalting tasting counter where patrons dip into CHIKO hits (the house fried rice peppered with Sichuan-hot blue catfish) and royal dishes (Peking duck) alike.

A subterranean den filled with live jazz music, Sotto is charming, intimate, and one of the city’s best-kept secrets. Located underneath sister restaurant Ghibellina, it’s where craft cocktails exhilarate (pro-tip: the rotating barrel-aged cocktail is always a surefire hit), and rustic Tuscan cuisine fills the soul. Pair that with D.C.’s best musicians, and you’ve got yourself a cozy gem you’ll want to keep to yourself.

A Mindful Restaurant Group venture, La Puerta Verde boasts some of Ivy City’s very best Mexican plates, packing authenticity into every bite. With a focus on fresh quality ingredients, the kitchen unloads corn tamal stuffed with roasted pork, pollo slathered in complex mole poblano, and seafood delights worth vying for (the pescado a la parrilla brims with grilled branzino filets and head-on shrimps). Wash it all down with La Puerta Verde’s curated selection of margaritas, tequila, mezcal, and Mexican beer.

A steakhouse paragon for the capital’s power lunching crowd, Charlie Palmer Steak doesn’t kid around with its cuts. Bold and delicious, the menu showcases the best artisan beef cuts, from an Angus rib-eye “cowboy” steak to a “Manhattan cut” American wagyu strip. But chef Mike Ellis doesn’t simply stick to carnivorous plates, offerings a bevy of seafaring options, like buttermilk-fried soft-shell crab and briny oysters.

Denson Liquor Bar plays in the veins of proper speakeasies, boasting a 1920s hotel look that promises stellar drinks and hushed conversations. Meanwhile, the kitchen delves into tasty finger foods, veering from the luxurious (think Petrossian caviar service) to the homey (melty grilled cheeses and chicken pot pie). Pro-tip: if you spot Fuel Pizza, you’re in the right spot.

From the team behind Republic Kolache, Republic Cantina is a light-filled eatery bent on making Tex-Mex fare shine. The Truxton Circle newcomer offers an electric taste of the mashup cuisine, from smoked brisket enchiladas to “proper” queso. Indulge in the early buzz and make a Resy for the special preview dinner—adventurous diners only!

The city’s preeminent German restaurant hides behind a deli tucked in Chinatown. And consider it a worthwhile discovery, for Cafe Mozart is a gem, doling out German-Austrian specialties (read: wursts, rouladen, and schnitzels), alongside a grandma belting out folk and beer-drinking songs on the accordion. Pro-tip: in true German fashion, the beers here are plentiful and great, and the live classical music comes courtesy of a Viennese pianist.

This Rockville establishment has been catering to the capital’s Italian sensibilities since the early nineties, and there’s no better place to indulge in a meal that sings of Southern Italy. That’s Amore goes on a whirlwind of tradition, preparing homemade lasagna, baked stuffed eggplant, and chicken Parmigiano just like a homesick nonna would. And with capacity for over 200 guests, you can go full banquet hall, with private rooms available.

Cozily outfitted in exposed brick and cushy armchairs, The Pursuit Wine Bar is an H Street favorite. Choose from the expansive array of Old and New World bottles and 45 wines by the glass, dotting locations across the globe, from Bulgaria to Argentina. Pair your selection with appetizing snacks from the kitchen—we’re fans of the bruschettas and grilled cheeses.

French cuisine without the pretense is the hallmark of Le Vieux Logis, which has emerged as a Bethesda haunt since it opened its doors in 1980. Here, a menu rife with the French classics—think escargots de Bourgogne, croque monsieur, seasonal quiche—utilizes only the very best of seasonal produce, with an extensive wine list that stocks a treasure trove of varieties.

You’re not here for the buzzed-about pizzas or latest pasta trend; Fratelli’s deals in something much simpler: unpretentious and delicious Italian food. The Midtown and Hampstead locales have you covered whether you’re craving spaghetti carbonara or oven-baked eggplant Parm. It’s Italy meets America, and thanks to a warm and welcoming service, comfort at its best.

A gathering space from and for the community, River Bend Bistro has a knack for the homemade, dishing spruced-up comfort eats that Alexandria locals return to again and again. Case in point: crispy duck confit, goat cheese and ratatouille tart, grilled chicken Paillard, and Maryland crab dip with house-made crisps.