The February Hit List: Creole on 14th, Bronze, DC Vegan, and More

As they say in New Orleans — laissez les bons temps rouler. That’s especially true if it’s Mardi Gras season at Creole on 14th — a Louisiana Creole restaurant serving festive dishes from voodoo shrimp to jambalaya and oysters shucked to order.

Bronze melds fantasy and gastronomy with the culture of the African Diaspora for one of the most unique restaurants to appear on H Street. This Afrofuturistic menu is brought to life by executive chef Toya Henry, a critically acclaimed chef from Brooklyn and executive sous chef Martel Stone.

The menu features their creativity in dishes like boards of hamachi crudo with crispy dasheen, frisée, and rose apple, torched oysters slathered with flying fish roe, and platters of braised bright heirloom carrots on beds of charred cabbage.

Restaurateurs Leah Curren Moon and Michael Jantz Moon have delivered us Washington, D.C.’s first vegan bar. The whimsical Botanical Bar spins up craft cocktails like a strawberry Negroni and a “forget-me-not martini” with lemon-ginger tea syrup. Tack on some vegan-friendly bites like plant-based calamari, wings, or meatballs, and it’s sure to be a fun night.

Ghostburger made a quick pivot from a pandemic ghost kitchen to a full-blown brick-and-mortar thanks to its reputation for having one of the tastiest burgers in The District. This neon-lit burger bar is a group-friendly pick for brunch, lunch, or dinner. The top two burgers to try are the double-stack ghostburger and “La Hamburguesa,” stuffed with queso Oaxaca, peanut macha, smoked tomatillo, and cilantro.

Walk-ins welcome. Find more info here.

Harvey’s is the epitome of a neighborhood haunt, where the staff is likely to remember your name and favorite order. This is a walk-in-only restaurant with 60 seats plus a patio and a 12-seat bar that overlooks the kitchen. Chef Thomas Harvey is best known for Southern staples, like deviled eggs, fried green tomatoes, and a “dirty bird” fried chicken sandwich.

Walk-ins welcome. Find more info here.

Moon Rabbit recently launched a new, seven-day-a-week brunch and lunch menu for early risers at The Wharf. Dishes put a playful twist on dishes like biscuits with Sichuan gravy, an iceberg wedge salad with Thai basil ranch, and Vietnamese-centric dishes like banh xeo — crispy Vietnamese pancake filled with mung beans, ground pork, shrimp, and bean sprouts.

This quintessential red sauce joint is a favorite in Silver Spring, and is opening a second outpost on Capitol Hill’s Lincoln Park. It’s a family-owned operation where pizzas are prepared to order and cooked in a wood-fired oven, and the chicken Parm beats Nonna’s Sunday best.

Call 301-588-0867 for reservations.

The Surveyor may be the most romantic pick for Valentine’s Day. In addition to The Thompson Hotel offering a “Barbiecore” themed suit, the hotel is offering a Dreamhouse menu from pan-seared crab cakes to a half-roast “engagement” chicken. This also happens to be a nautical-themed restaurant where you can tie one on, like the Clover Hitch, a gin cocktail with hibiscus, salted raspberry, lemon, and egg white.

Whether it’s date night or Valentine’s Day, this cozy brasserie is a safe bet for romance thanks to its dimly lit vibe and a menu of charcuterie, cheese, and French wines. The classics are executed to precision here, including moules marinière or bouillabaisse. Upstairs there’s a wine lounge, and every first Thursday of the month there is a complimentary wine tasting.

Super Bowl Sunday is February 12 and the big game is a must-watch event at this D.C. pub with some of the best wings around. Duffy’s has 10 flat-screen TVs (nine inside and one outside) plus stadium sound and sports betting. The bar also has plans to open a second location in Hill East this year.

 Walk-ins welcome. Find more info here.