The 10 Restaurants That Defined D.C. Dining in 2022

The ultimate in fine-dining experiences can be found at Causa, a Peruvian restaurant tucked away in Shaw’s Blagden Alley. Causa is easily one of the best new restaurants in Washington, D.C. this year, and it comes after almost five years of work to bring the concept to fruition.

Peruvian-born chef and co-owner Carlos Delgado takes you on an epicurean journey through Peru’s many regions, from the Andes mountains to the Amazon rainforest and Pacific coast. Along the way, sample everything from citrusy ceviche to shareable whole fish, meat, and seafood dishes.

The restaurant and its sister bar, Bar Amazonia (located upstairs), is also home to one of the largest pisco collections in the United States.

It was a challenging year for Chef Johnny Spero, forced to close his Georgetown restaurant Reverie after an extensive fire. But the opening of Bar Spero, his uber-trendy eatery in the Capitol Crossing development, has been a silver lining.

From happy hour to last call, guests are drawn to the eye-catching centerpiece of a sleek cocktail bar with modern neon lights. Parties can settle into shareable dishes like grilled turbot served whole and rib-eye steaks cooked on the open flame.

The cocktail program takes cues from Europe, with a tightly curated list of sherries, vermouths, and wine, as well as beers on tap.

After a two-year hiatus during the pandemic, Tonari is back and better than ever in Chinatown. This hit restaurant from Chef Katsuya Fukushima and restaurateurs Yama Jewayni and Daisuke Utagawa (the trio behind Daikaya, Bantam King, Haikan, and Hatoba) introduced Washingtonians to wafu Italian fare, culinary dishes where Tokyo meets Rome.

The five-course chef’s tasting menu is an excellent way to sample dishes such as burrata spiced with Szechuan oil, pepperoni brick cheese pizza, and tagliatelle with uni.

La Tejana is the go-to spot for breakfast tacos in the city. What started as a pop-up is now a brick-and-mortar restaurant in Mount Pleasant, offering a handful of tacos like the Tio Willie with scrambled eggs, bacon, fried potatoes, and a drizzle of queso. It’s one of the more popular picks on the menu.

Or opt for the Super Migas, a vegetarian option, loaded with fixins to see you through the day. Most recently, this shop partnered up with 2fifty BBQ to offer a special barbecue taco available on weekdays.

Walk-ins welcome. Find more info here.

The newest addition to Midtown Center development in Downtown D.C. is a red-sauce joint with deck oven pizzas and three types of Negronis (and yes, one is a sbagliato). Consider this your go-to lunch, dinner, or happy hour spot. It is close to the office and features an outdoor pizza garden to meet and mingle.

The top pie to try is the Green Goodness, with collard greens, provolone and pecorino cheeses, and Calabrian chiles for a crunchy-spicy bite. And if you are bringing a party, there are shareable mains, like a whole branzino or bone-in rib eye served in Chianti jus.

Say howdy to the best smoked burgers in Washington, D.C. Hill East Burger Bar is located adjacent to the Potomac Avenue Metro station, but feels more like a Southwest saloon, serving burgers from the guys behind Sloppy Mama’s and Republic Cantina.

On the menu find a green chile burger, called the Puebla, which takes its inspiration from Santa Fe. Burgers can come stacked single, double, or triple, including The Lancaster with bacon, smoked cheddar, arugula, tomato relish, and pickled onion. Each burger patty is made with prime brisket trim and Roseda Farms dry-aged beef. Pair that with a ranch water or one of the bar’s zero-proof cocktails, like an orange-Mexican oregano soda.

Walk-ins welcome. Find more info here.

A cool coastal vibe was the theme for the dining room and menu at Opal, an exciting new American restaurant from Chef Colin McClimans. His starters include ricotta dumplings with brown butter, squash, and Calabrian chiles, and sustainably sourced seafood, like littleneck clams with saffron tagliatelle and confit garlic. Main dishes are prepped using a wood-burning oven. That includes a charred swordfish with citrus zest condiment, and an impressive bone-in beef short rib with lemon verbena salsa verde.

The most exciting food hall to open this year was in Riverdale Park, just northeast of the D.C. line in Prince George’s County. The 8,500-square-foot venue plays host to a handful of dedicated dine-in stalls, plus a full-service bar and outdoor patio, making it an easy option to stop in for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Here, you will find a world of flavors from “Top Chef” winner Kevin Sbraga, with fast-casual favorites (found at Sonny & Sons) including mouthwatering hot chicken. There’s also Nigerian cuisine at Dayo’s Kitchen and fiery Indian dishes at Bombay Kitchen. This food hall brings a global array of tastes and flavors.

 Walk-ins welcome. Find more info here.

From the folks that brought you Ellē comes an easy and accessible restaurant and café in Foggy Bottom’s Western Market. Tigerella is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Plus, it includes a curated wine shop with Italian bottles to purchase.

The dish that keeps everyone coming back is the Bumbola. It’s a beef and pork Bolognese topped with a hefty amount of pecorino cheese, which immediately leaves you thinking about a trip to Northern Italy.

D.C. is a city filled to the brim with transit nerds, so it only makes sense that there is a public transit-themed bar serving as a picturesque place to grab a drink with friends alongside some of the choicest food truck finds.

Seafood Boss, Petit Afrik, and Trini Vybez are parked out front, plus a massive bar with an old Metro train car stationed here. No need to drive either. The location sits adjacent to the Rhode Island Ave.-Brentwood Metro Station and the Metropolitan Branch biking trail.

Walk-ins welcome. Find more info here.