The Resy Hit List: Where In D.C. You’ll Want to Eat Right Now

Fiery theatrics are the name of the game at Rose Previte’s Middle Eastern restaurant, where open flames are used to prepare nearly every dish. Smoke flavors come expressed on a platter of shared dishes — from smoked halloumi to charred cabbage, whole roasted chicken, and hearth-kissed Tunisian olives. Those dynamic flavors, and the endless energy you find at Maydān on any given evening, make it essential dining in town. (If you can’t make it to D.C., then maybe swing by Maydān’s part-two act coming to Los Angeles this year.)

Rob Rubba led the way as James Beard’s 2023 Outstanding Chef of the Year, with a sustainability-driven menu including Chesapeake Bay oysters and vegetables sourced from the mid-Atlantic region. This may be the toughest table in town to book, for his $105 per person tasting menu, with the option to add wine pairings at $70 or nonalcoholic beverages at $55 per head. Don’t worry, we have the inside scoop on how to score a table.

Easily one of the year’s most anticipated restaurants. The wife-and-husband team Isabel Coss and Matt Conroy, of Lutèce fame, have opened an intimate Mexican restaurant in Capitol Hill in what was formerly a barbecue shop. The space is reminiscent of one of Mexico’s beach-chic eateries, and all that remains of the barbecue joint is the smell of wood-fired coals that keep the kitchen moving at an exciting pace. Dishes that take on those smoky flavors include lamb-neck barbacoa, and tacos al pastor with each tortilla made in house. And crucially, don’t miss the parsnip tamal, with its spice-rich mole blanco. While seating is limited to indoors, Pascual has plans to debut a patio later this spring. There are also bar seats for walk-in visits, should a mezcal margarita be calling your name.

Fun and bold Italian fare stands up brightly at this dimly lit spot. The latest from the Grazie Grazie and Grazie Nonna team takes the typical red-sauce joint and stretches the concept way, way further. It delivers a lounge-like atmosphere with extravagant dishes like its mafalde, a next-level pasta with truffled cream, roasted mushroom, and provolone; or a family-style saffron risotto topped with short rib and gremolata. Did we mention there’s a DJ booth? Your weekend is made for late-night dance parties with Negronis.

Dante Datta and Suresh Sundas teamed up for a restaurant inspired by the history, culture, and tastes of India, but also influenced by flavors from around the world. On any given night they’re in the kitchen or jamming to playlists curated by the staff. And that leads to a teeming energy — matched to standout cocktails, delicious dishes, and a cozy (and heated) patio space. The menu is a mashup in the best possible way, with “Indian-ish” cuisine: dishes like chicken tikka tacos, wok-friend cabbage with Sichuan peppercorns, and za’atar olive naan. And then there’s the “Chai-Teani,” spiked chai tea that mixes old port rum with masala chai and cacao cream.

As we eagerly await the second coming of Reverie in Georgetown, discerning diners will want to pull up a stool to the bar at Bar Spero. This Basque-influenced concept from Chef Johnny Spero features large-scale seafood format dishes like octopus fried and topped with a squid stock emulsion with citrus zest. Or a walloping turbot cooked over the wood flame and served with an herbed cod dashi emulsion — this is a shared dish best served for two.

Add to that an extensive vermouth list to sip and sample side-by-side. There are of course Basque producers including a white vermouth called Tximista, but also Italian, Australian, and D.C.’s very own Capitoline white vermouth.

Aventino has brought sleek Roman cuisine to the Maryland suburbs. The menu from chef Mike Friedman (Red Hen) has nods to Roman-Jewish influences, including carciofi ‘alla Giudia’ — fried artichokes served with mint and salsa verde. His pizza rossa is a must order dish, too; this ode to the classic snack tastes like what you might find wandering the streets of Trastevere.

Why sample just one pasta when you easily try multiples in one sitting? Friedman prepares smaller-scale versions of cacio e pepe, amatriciana, and tortellini. And definitely save room to sample desserts, namely the fruity float topped with vanilla gelato, kiwi, coconut, and lemon granita, an Amalfi Coast-inspired treat that melts together thanks to a pourover of juniper-coriander soda.

Chef Aaron Silverman has been running this Capitol Hill dining room for more than a decade now, and it consistently delivers on an extravagant, choose-your-own adventure menu. These bites are memorable from start-to-finish – from the rye-challah and creamy toasted caraway butter to the poached lobster, a dish that’s modeled off a recipe version created for heads of state at the Royal Palace of Versailles. Save room for dessert, too. You’ll want to double up and try both the baklava sundae and coconut tres leches cake.

There is no better way to enjoy a barbecue feast in D.C. than with premium brisket, ribs, and pulled pork found at 2Fifty BBQ. Owner Debbie Portillo González is a Salvadoran restaurateur, who along with husband Fernando González smokes some of the finest Hill Country-style barbecue in our nation’s capital. That includes their take on signature Salvadoran dishes like brisket pupusas. The restaurant is open on a first come, first served basis at the flagship shop in Maryland’s Riverdale Park, as well as another restaurant coming soon to Mount Vernon Triangle.

Walk-ins welcome.

The ultimate in Peruvian cuisine can be found in Shaw’s Blagden Alley. Whether you’re looking for a fine-dining experience, or a tropical rooftop bar, Peruvian-born chef and co-owner Carlos Delgado takes you on an epicurean journey through his home country’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-centric dishes. Upstairs at Amazonia find Delgado’s approachable à la carte menu and a leafy rooftop bar. It also has bragging rights to one of the largest pisco collections in the United States. (Downstairs at Causa is a more formal chef’s tasting menu offered at $175 per person.)

It’s not just diplomats, but D.C.’s political elite, including presidents and politicians, who gravitate to this see-and-be-seen dining room. And why not? This buzzy brasserie taps into the bipartisan appeal of classic French fare — from steak au poivre to escargots. Whether this is your first visit or you’re one of the many regular VIPs, Stephen Starr’s original homage to Paris is a must if only for the heaping breadbasket filled with fresh pastries and baguettes. It’s also a popular spot for weekend brunch, including some star-studded dishes with over a decade of staying power, like the croque madame and the burger Américain.

Chef Paolo Dungca celebrates his Filipino roots with a spirit of “bayanihan” — a concept that centers on community and uplifting others. But what defines Hiraya is a sense of fun, one that permeates all day long, from ube and rainbow-colored lattes to happy hour cocktails, like a pandan daiquiri, as well as a brisket, egg and cheese served on a golden-brown laminated bun, with an optional McDonald’s-style hash brown. Dungca has also taken that spirit upstairs, literally: He recently debuted a tasting menu on the second floor, with options to try all of his best dishes in a seven-course ($145) offering.

Delve into the diverse tapestry of Indian cuisine with executive chef Ajay Kumar’s menu, which features several regions across India. Venison Lal Maas is a homage to Rajasthan, the renowned hunting capital of India. Grilled octopus offers a bridge between Indian and French influences, transporting diners to the shores of South India, and a white asparagus kadhi from Gujarat provides a delicate and sophisticated touch, highlighting the culinary richness of India’s western state.

Each of these dishes is available to try on a tasting menu that comes in either a 6- or 9-courses, with the option to add wine pairings.

This low-key cocktail lounge is hidden beneath the beloved Afghan restaurant Lapis. This basement bar was designed to be a modern-day version of an 18th-century literary salon. And instead of a run-of-the-mill espresso martini, Lapop’s bartenders craft a boozy pick-me-up called the Cardamaro Shakerato. It’s a frothed beverage that incorporates cardoon, allspice dram, and espresso. Or try the range of Afghan-inspired tiki drinks, like one served in a peacock ceramic glass with sloe gin, Old Tom gin, pomegranate juice, and fresh mint. Each cocktail is accented with Middle Eastern flavors, and best of all, the small plates from the Lapis kitchen are available to order as you sip.

The go-to spot for breakfast tacos in Washington, with the line to prove it on most weekends. What first started as a pop-up is now a brick-and-mortar in Mount Pleasant, offering a handful of tacos like the Tio Willie. Said taco combines scrambled eggs, bacon, fried potatoes, and a drizzle of queso — no surprise it’s one of the more popular picks on the menu. Or go for the Super Migas, a vegetarian option, loaded with fixings to see you through the day. This shop also partnered up with 2Fifty BBQ to offer an Austin-themed taco known as the 512. It’s a taco stuffed chock full of Texas-style brisket, cheesy scrambled eggs, queso, and pico de gallo.

Find more info here.

Waltz into the Waldorf Astoria in Washington D.C. and snag one of the coveted counter seats at Sushi Nakazawa for what might be this town’s all-out omakase experience. Chef Katsuyoshi Okuna serves sushi conceived by the restaurant’s executive chef, Daisuke Nakazawa, namely an exclusive nigiri menu consisting of approximately 20 pieces of fish, priced at $180 per head at the counter. Ingredients are flown in daily, including rare shellfish from Japan.

Chad Spangler and Glendon Hartley wanted to build the opposite of a staid, studied cocktail bar, and Service Bar is just that — very come-as-you-are, very much about party vibes, with a cocktail menu that changes with seasons or with bartenders’ whimsy. You might find a margarita spiked with smoky Mexican raicilla and al pastor-marinated pineapple juice, or a zero-proof yuzu matcha slurpee with lime juice, blended with coconut milk and matcha. And then, the chicken. Don’t miss the staple dish: an extra crispy fried chicken sandwich, sprinkled with optional hot sauce dust, served with a side of mac ‘n’ cheese. Or opt for the nuggets, which, let’s face it, are the perfect bar food.

This French bistro from the The Dabney team has star dishes that stay on the menu all day, including foie gras beignets served with raspberry and black pepper jam and a decadent French onion soup. It is also mandatory to order the crispy beef fat fries served with a vinegary aioli, perfect for dipping. None of this is to overlook bar director Daniel Todd’s exceptional cocktails, or a tightly curated wine list by Dabney veteran Jessica Liberto, featuring regions from Beaujolais to Burgundy and Bordeaux offered by the bottle or the glass.

What was once a notable fine-dining establishment (Komi) is now a down-to-earth ice cream parlor … that doubles as a pizza shop, and triples as a wine shop, with a robust selection of natural-leaning wines. Basically, Gemini is our Swiss Army knife of dining around Dupont Circle. When it’s impossible to decide where to eat? A slice is always nice — a particular favorite is the Red Grandpa with bacon, fontina, and pickled peppers, for a salty-pickled bang. Or order up an Athens-style falafel with shawarma-spiced wings for a weekend hang. And nothing is sweeter than their selection of Happy Ice Cream. Look for the cart serving up cones and cups on weekends, or take home a pint of Basque cheesecake and passion fruit.

Find more info here.

Reveler’s Hour gets high praise for fresh pastas, garlic knots, and a sweet trio of gelatos. Beyond its reputation for outstanding Italian fare, it also stands out as a haven for wine enthusiasts, featuring an adjacent wine shop and the expertise of sommelier Bill Jensen. He skillfully pairs Italian wines with a range of dishes, from beef carpaccio to ricotta cavatelli. That magic comes thanks to a wine list that spans Europe — including small Greek vineyards, a diversity of French selections, and natural-minded Italian bottles. This is the same Michelin-starred team behind Tail Up Goat, located just a few blocks away in Adams Morgan, which means hospitality is taken seriously here — as the name might imply.