Now Open on Resy: The Red Hen, Whino, Anxo Kennedy St, and More

We couldn’t be happier to see The Red Hen opening their doors once more. For those nights when all you want (or need) is a satisfying bowl of pasta and a glass of nice wine, you head straight to one of DC’s coziest and most beloved Italian restaurants, from the team behind All Purpose.

This café by day and posh Champagne-and-caviar haunt by night is what you get when one of D.C.’s most expert and longtime sommeliers, Elli Benchimol, decides to open her very own spot. (No joke, Benchimol has taught more than a thousand D.C. wine professionals over the past two decades.) When you’re in the mood for Champagne, there’s no better place to raise a glass.

Equal parts art gallery, wine bar, restaurant, and cocktail bar, this is a massive space that invites you to linger, from the mind of Art Whino gallery owner Shane Pomajambo. Executive chef Eleftherios Natas crafts a menu that goes deep on satisfying comfort foods from around the world: from porchetta sliders and a seafood soccarat to a scallop aguachile and Telly’s gyro. Drinks take center stage at Whino with monthly events, plus an incredible roster of beer on tap, craft cocktails, and wines.

The décor here might be retro, but chef Mimi Huynh’s (also of Caphe Banh Mi) menu is entirely of the present, building on foundational flavors that have shaped Vietnamese cuisine for thousands of years. You can taste that in a bowl of her luscious pho, the succulent claypot Chilean sea bass with a caramel sauce, and the satisfying vegan yellow curry.

Hops connoisseurs and neophytes alike run to this biergarten at the first sight of the sun, and that’s because Dacha, in addition to pouring excellent beers, knows its way around Bavarian pub fare, from currywurst to pretzels. This newest location at the Navy Yard takes full advantage of the outdoors, with incredible views of the river.

The former Navy Yard location of Dacha is now Jackie, named after the resilient, stylish former first lady. Everything, from chef Jerome Grant’s menu and the inventive cocktails to the decor is a cheeky nod to the swinging ’60s, but updated for today.

The former Tyber Creek wine bar is now Etabli, from established restaurateurs Kathleen Davis and Thomas Boisvert (The Pursuit Wine Bar). Whatever you order, don’t miss out on a chance to try one of the nine different wine flights, ranging from bubbles and rosé to Pinot Noir and skin contact wines.

New York-style slices get the market treatment here, along with a whole menu of craft cocktails and beers. Andy Brown’s pizzas follow the great New York foundations of a solid slice — imported tomato sauce from Italy, a 72-hour fermented dough, quality cheeses, and a stone-deck oven — and you can taste it with every bite.

This family-owned Columbia Heights spot has a degree in all the red-sauce classics: from a beautifully multi-layered eggplant parm to Italian American standards like spaghetti and meatballs and penne alla vodka. Whatever you do, make sure you arrive with an appetite.

Come for Anxo’s crisp apple ciders, stay for their innovative and filing Basque fare, from soft-shell crab paella and ceviche to charcuterie and cured fish, and an incredible mushroom pâté.

Silver Spring’s no-pretense gem of a restaurant specializes in unforgettable takes on Indian street food, and there’s no better place to start than with an order (or three) of the chaat, like crispy eggplant fritters, diced mangoes and crispy puffed rice, or red apples and avocados. Don’t sleep on the chicken patiala with boiled eggs, or the scallops naryalwala, made with an aromatic coconut sauce.

From Po’ Boy Jim co-founder and chef Jeffeary Miskiri, Creole on 14th takes the very best of the Crescent City and brings it directly to D.C. That translates to Creole wings, crab-topped deviled eggs, panko-crusted lamb chops, and blackened chicken linguine. Pro tip: Brunch, with jambalaya omelets, bottomless mimosas and Creole punch, and shrimp and grits, is worth waking up for on the weekends.

A beloved British pub that’s been a U Street mainstay since 2012, Brixton is where hipsters, college students, and DC politicos alike love to gather over a cold pint and updated classic fare, from burgers and wings to pan-seared salmon and bucatini with walnut pesto. Pro tip: Take in the fresh air along with some panoramic views from the rooftop deck.

Brought to you by longtime industry veteran Hollis Wells Silverman, formerly of José Andrés’s ThinkFoodGroup and a consultant for chefs like Fabio Trabocchi, this lively osteria was designed with optimal dining pleasure in mind. Whatever you do, do not sleep on the housemade pastas with fried artichokes to start.

When Matteo Catalani and his uncle, Daniele, launched a small handmade pasta stand at Union Market in Northeast, they didn’t anticipate growing their business into two restaurants, including this cozy Cleveland Park trattoria where beautifully crafted pastas — of which there are more than a dozen to choose from — sing. Do not miss out on the lasagna, or any of the raviolis.

All-day eating was never so thoughtful, or delicious, as it is under the direction of chef Jenn Crovato. Think challah French toast topped with sliced bananas, sesame-seared tuna, and a comforting chicken pot pie.