The April Hit List: Makan, Dacha, St. Vincent, Mariscos 1133 and More

When craving noodles, curries, and even fried chicken, the transportive Malaysian flavors at Makan come to mind. Their smoky and savory Panang street noodles (a wok-fired bowl of fat rice noodles with shrimp and Chinese sausage) as well as their sumptuous beef rendang (a complex and layered curry that combines the brightness of lemongrass and lime zest with the warmth of nutmeg and the richness of coconut milk) are non-negotiable. Then try their Malaysian “hot chicken” of sorts (ayam goreng berempah), fried with a blend of spices and herbs, which blanket the dish with an aromatic chili crumble topping.

When the weather is even remotely nice, it’s a sure bet you’re in for a wait to get into the Navy Yar d location of this beloved beer garden. But with advanced planning, and using our favorite cheat code (hint: see that booking button below?), you’ll walk right past the line. Once inside, enjoy the quality dog watching, with over two dozen proper German lagers, Belgian ales, American IPAs on draught (available by the liter or boot), alongside all the late-night German drunk food classics — think döner kebab, currywurst, schnitzels, and more.

Hacking into smoky Peruvian rotisserie chickens and yucca fries, with cold Tecates and pickleback shots, listening to Latin jams blaring at Chicken + Whisky’s patio is indeed hard to top. Come for happy hour, for discount whiskey and $9 Japanese whisky highballs, or even grab an XL to-go cocktail from their curbside bar if passing by. Post chicken dinner, head to their backroom whiskey bar, with over 99 whiskeys on offer, including lots of IYKYK sleepers and off-menu grail selections.

This ritzy Georgetown cocktail lair, with posh library vibes and polished bar food to match, is where you might expect to find the Merovingian among their well-heeled clientele. Drinks take a maximalist flourish, are immaculately presented with meticulously tweezered garnishes, and taste as good as they look. Take, for instance, the La Lune du Sour — a lemon and passion fruit whiskey sour, cut with Chartreuse and shaken with egg white into a frothy and refreshing elixir. For dinner, consider dishes like beef tartare, Hudson Valley foie gras with brioche and huckleberry preserves, hamachi crudo with seaweed salad, and seared scallops with miso aioli and XO sauce. And we’ll indulge in the flourless chocolate cake as an excuse to have their “Enough Already” espresso martini, seasoned with cinnamon, cayenne, and chipotle.

With winter thawing out, and even their precious cherry blossom tree in full bloom, things are in full swing at St. Vincent wine garden. Reserve a table outside for an afternoon garden party with magnums of rosé, charcuterie boards, and delectable bites to share, like radishes and country ham butter, confit duck croquettes, or horseradish-caviar dip with Old Bay chips. Book a table at their jazz club inside, with performances every Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Think lobster bucatini, fried chicken, Champagne, and the Joe Brotheron Trio at St. Vincent; not too shabby for a Monday night out.

Always among the liveliest patios on 17th street, brimming with aromas of grilled lamb and seafood hot off the grill and bottomless brunch on weekends, it’s with good reason. The menu encompasses flavors from Lebanon to Greece and Turkey. You might start with savory minced lamb and herb lahmacun flatbreads, with börek coiled filo puff pastry filled with spinach, dill, and feta. Then assemble your own surf-and-turf spread of seafood and kebab dishes — think lamb and beef adana kebab with grilled tomato and sumac onions, alongside grilled calamari and maras peppers with gremolata.

With fabulous sushi, rooftop dining, and the city’s longest-running drag brunch, there’s no place like Perry’s. Enjoy caipirinhas and spicy tuna maki rolls at happy hour for the peak 2000s experience. Their grilled kushiyaki skewers (miso salmon, shichimi peppered beef tenderloin, and tare-glazed chicken thigh) are also a must. Of course, chef Noriake Yasutake’s sushi platters are stunners, and don’t sleep on their latest fresh catch (under “osusume”) for the likes of fatty tuna and sea bream.

After a prolonged hibernation over the pandemic, Obelisk has reopened the doors to its unassuming Dupont townhouse parlor room, where they have served among the city’s finest Italian food since 1987. The five-course tasting with all the season’s best offerings, hand-written and posted outside daily, starts with a spread of antipasti — think puntarelle with anchovy dressing, fried Roman rice balls stuffed with squab, and more. From there, move on to primi, such as a chicory ravioli with pancetta, and the secondi course, perhaps the roasted suckling pig with spinach and peperonata for two. All this is followed by a cheese course and dessert, like cannoli ice cream and rhubarb crumb tart.

Call 202-872-1180 for reservations.

Trust in chefs Alfredo and Jessica Solis (the brother-and-sister duo behind Anafre, El Sol, and Mezcalero) for Mexican seafood dishes, cocktails, and more at their newest venture, Mariscos 1133. With over a dozen appetizers on menu, including tuna tostadas, ceviches, steamed mussels with spicy chorizo, and Baja-style batter-fried chile rellenos stuffed with wild mushrooms and goat cheese, you could understandably enjoy a splendid meal before even attempting their entrees. Just don’t forget the frozen Corona-Ritas, plus shots of your choice of over 100 Tequilas and mezcals.

Call 202-836-4107 for reservations.

If there was ever an indicator of this city turning the corner from the pandemic era, it would be the much welcome return of downtown’s bastion for Sichuan in the land of steakhouses and salad bowls — Sichuan Pavilion. With ample capacity for group dining, it’s a savvy play for business luncheons and celebrations alike. Pots of tea, steamed barbecued pork-filled dumplings, and dry-fried chili chicken are essential, then pile on with their hot and numbing mapo tofu, cumin lamb, salt-and-pepper shrimp, and tea-smoked duck to feed more bellies. Even Chinese-American dishes are executed with flourish, so go ahead and dig into that platter of crispy sesame beef.

Call 202-466-7790 for more information.