The May Hit List: Le Diplomate, Ellie Bird, Bar Spero, and More

Le Dip seems to be carving out even more staying power as it celebrates its 10th anniversary. Just within the past year, more than 3,500 guests who booked a table in 2013, its debut year, have returned — including President Biden. Whether this is your first visit or you’re one of the many VIPs, this Stephen Starr homage to the perfect Paris bistro draws everyone for espresso martinis, bread baskets, and a croque madame you’ll be talking about days later. It’s also the see-and-be-seen destination for Sunday brunch.

Ellie Bird is the second act from Michelin-starred chefs Yuan and Carey Tang () and it’s a neighborhood-oriented restaurant that seeks to make you a regular ASAP. The dinner menu includes the must-order Vietnamese French onion soup with braised oxtail and Gruyère, and vegetarian-style dan dan noodles — served with asparagus, snow peas, chile oil, and crispy shallots. A brunch menu is expected later this summer.

Chef Pepe Moncayo doesn’t miss a beat. His new Jiwa Singapura is going strong, but his original upscale restaurant and sake lounge took home the best formal fine-dining restaurant from the RAMMY Awards last year, and it remains a key to downtown destination dining. Consider this your fancy date night option for either an omakase menu or a la carte options spanning seasonal tapas, bento, and noodle dishes.

Whether you’re seeking a chill rooftop happy hour with monumental views or a late night club with live DJ sets, this Oaxacan-inspired bar and restaurant delivers delicious tacos, ideal for pairing with a pour from one of the widest ranges of agave spirits in Washington. Take the elevator up to the roof of the Moxy Hotel and find a colorful indoor-outdoor oasis perfect for patio season.

Find more info here.

This old-school steakhouse just celebrated 75 years of service in Dupont Circle. It’s also a landmark destination for DC’s LGBTQ+ community. By far, the top dish to try is the “bull in a pan,” a juicy sirloin tips dish with sauteed onions and bell peppers.

Call 202-232-0395 for reservations (only for parties of 6 or more).

Johnny Spero is a chef on the rise, with a new Basque-style eatery that focuses on seafood-centric dishes, like a whole grilled turbot cooked over a wood-fired grill. This is also a place designed to linger at the bar — find sherries, amaros, and Basque wines, like txakoli, to pair with an extensive raw bar menu.

This Alexandria sushi restaurant recently opened its second location on Capitol Hill’s Barracks Row, with both a dine-in and takeout menu that includes nigiri, sushi, ramen, and grilled skewers. But opt for bar seating, so you can watch your sushi being made, and order the matcha sour with Suntory whisky.

Find more info here.

Maryland’s Wheaton suburb has become a food destination, offering a wide array of cuisines from the area’s robust and diverse immigrant community. One of the newest additions to the mix: Regina’s, a Mediterranean spot serving up everything from escargot to bowls of Bolognese. The menu is available for walk-in dining or pick-up.

Find more info here.

Chef Kevin Tien (a three-time James Beard Semifinalist) is bringing a Night Market experience to The Wharf in May in celebration of AAPI Heritage Month. It’s called the “Everything, Everyone, All the Food at Once Fest,” and will run May 19-20 with several D.C. chefs represented and live performances from local performers and musicians.

Are you in the mood for a patio spritz? Grazie Nonna, the best red-sauce joint downtown, recently opened a “pizza garden” with an elderflower spritz, plus three types of Negronis — classic, white, and sbagliato. There’s also an extensive list of prosecco and lambrusco if you want a glass of wine with some fizz.