D.C.’s Newest Restaurant Openings, Now on Resy

Look for all things Japanese at this 20,000-square-foot Capitol Crossing culinary emporium from the owners behind L’Ardente and master chef/restaurateur Makoto Okuwa (famed for his Makoto in Miami Beach) — an omakase sushi bar, a yakiniku restaurant with DIY tabletop grilling, an izakaya-style bar, plus a food hall featuring ramen, udon, a bakery, and so much more.

Book the yakiniku restaurant here and the sushi restaurant here.

Leave it to chef David Lee to reengineer plant-based cuisine for a high-energy, well-heeled crowd. From Coconut Grove to New York City, Planta Queen has unleashed its meatless brilliance in the shape of a wild pan-Asian menu, where the sushi rolls and wok-fried noodles are as craveable as “the real thing.” Don’t sleep on the cocktails — we like the kyu-kiki.

From the Michelin starred chefs behind Rooster & Owl, this neighborhood spot will make a regular out of you whether you live in Falls Church or not. Sit in one of the birdcage-inspired booths, order Vietnamese French onion soup and vegetarian dan dan noodles, and you’ll be nesting here in no time.

This trattoria is the kind of place you hope to stumble across in Adams Morgan, a spot with a welcoming vibe, great food, cocktails, and a bubble bar. That’s right — sparkling wines and spritzes and all the good things that set your day right. Some ‘ndujua and bread; handmade pasta like paccheri with mussels, eggplant, and burrata; and an affogato are a good place to start.

While it’s first come, first serve to watch The Commanders, Wizards, and Caps on oversized stadium screens at either the Chinatown and National Harbor locations, you need to reserve the Topgolf Swing Suites, which is the way to go. Interactive games (Zombie DodgeBall, anyone?) keep the party going, with lounge seating, HDTVs, food, D.C. craft brews, and so much more.

Anyone into Edo-style sushi already knows Minoru Ogawa, the second-generation sushi master at the helm of Sushi Ogawa in Kalorama. In this 21-seater, his focus is not only on pristine seafood brought directly from Japan, but also wagyu beef, including prized A5 from the Miyazaki Prefecture. Expect things like chawanmushi topped with beef and mushrooms, or just-torched wagyu nigiri along with other beautiful bites on the omakase-only menu.

Another great location for one the best burgers in D.C., plus excellent fish and chips, fantastic beers, and plenty of cocktails. While the bar is lined with TVs to watch all the sports — this location is only a block away from Nationals Park — you can try to figure out all the British celebrities along the muraled wall during commercial breaks.

Here’s a place you’ll want to know for deliciously straightforward breakfast-through-dinner French fare, complete with baked goods and sausages made in-house, from James Beard Award-winning chef Jeremiah Langhorne and partner Alex Zink of The Dabney.

This Dupont Circle sibling of the esteemed original Brine on H Street stands out brilliantly in its early-20th-century townhouse home for its extensive raw bar menu (featuring six or eight varieties of East and West Coast oysters), its breezy nautical decor, and its devotion to the best fresh seasonal seafood in myriad forms.

It may be a sibling to the smash-hit family-owned Falls Church original, but this Thompson location goes its own way, with chef Lucy Dakwar deliciously melding Italian classics with Middle Eastern influences (think pomegranate salsa and tahini with the crispy brussels sprouts). Don’t miss co-owner Katherine Thompson’s signature olive oil cake for dessert.

You’ll find yourself returning again and again to this appropriately easy-going, light-flooded, blue-and-white-hued wine bar at The Wharf — the latest from the group behind Boardwalk Bar & Arcade and the Takoda restaurants. Look for a world’s worth of wine by the glass and bottle, and a menu of flatbreads, sandwiches, dips, and much more.

Did somebody say currywurst, schnitzel, sauerbraten, and a dozen German beers on tap? That’s the ticket at this Mount Vernon Square beer hall from restaurateur Eric Heidenberger (of Shaw’s Tavern and The Madhatter). Pro tip: If you’re serious about the beer, don’t miss “Ein Meter bitte!” — a meter-long tray with small samples of 10 different brews.

You’ll want to become a regular at this beachy two-level place on Dupont Circle, where the menu evokes a casual European/Hawaiian/Mexican vibe and the downstairs speakeasy is dedicated to the memory of Patrick Swayze — a favorite of proprietor Eric Heidenberger (of Shaw’s Tavern and 801).

Don’t miss this wine bar hidden away inside Mae’s Market and Café in Alexandria, chef Nicole Jones’ popular specialty food shop and eatery. The follow-the-seasons food here is delicious, the staff makes you feel like you’re hanging with friends, and the excellent wines come mostly from female winemakers.

Because sometimes, you just want a red table tray piled high with steamed crabs. Thankfully, this outdoors gem delivers. Expect crabs from local purveyors (expertly seasoned with a riff on Old Bay), cocktails, wines, and crushes, courtesy of the team behind Duke’s Grocery and Gogi Yogi.

One look at the menu and you might think you’re in New Orleans. This easygoing Silver Spring destination from the Miskiri Hospitality Group (Po Boy Jim, Creole on 14th) has all of the essentials, after all — barbecue shrimp, gumbo, jambalaya, po’ boys, and more — and the NOLA-inspired cocktails definitely get the good times rolling.