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

What if you could take a magic mushroom trip without the psychedelic high? That’s the idea behind the eight-course tasting menu at this one-of-a-kind Mexican restaurant from Knead Hospitality (Succotash Prime, Mi Vida 14th Street, etc.), where non-psychoactive mushrooms and other seasonal ingredients summon up one playful experience.

Keith McNally’s brought Minetta Tavern to D.C. alongside all the things that made the New York original such a hit: dark woods, aged photos, a gorgeous hand-painted mural over red leather banquettes, and tables close enough to hear everyone else’s secrets. And let’s not forget about the menu: favorites like the Black Label burger, roasted bone marrow, French onion soup, and a perfect Vesper that will make you weep. Just don’t forget to make your way to the bar upstairs.

This all-day Chevy Chase spot is no less serious than its siblings Nina May and Opal, just more every day, whether it’s friends grabbing drinks, families needing early-bird burgers, or solo diners looking for a quick bite. The menu covers all the bases, from green salads with crunchy chow mein noodles, patty melts, lamb and tzatziki pizza, and short-rib lasagna (cocktails run the gamut, too).

There’s nothing else in D.C. remotely like this exuberant three-level celebration of Black and African Diaspora food and culture. Enjoy Ethiopian coffee or spiced tea in the Café; vividly original cocktails and great music in the Vinyl Room; suya (West African spiced beef skewers) and “Berber-Q” braised chicken in the Resto-Lounge — or try it all.

You won’t want to miss this art-filled, Japanese-inspired rooftop bar at the Arlo Hotel, where ingredients like rice vodka, shiso-ginger gin, and umami bitters redefine what cocktails can be. Throw in chef Pepe Moncayo’s dishes — among them miso salmon hand rolls and pork belly yakitori — and you’ve got yourself a perfect night out.

Because the onetime Aldie General Store has blossomed into this culinary mecca, combining a gourmet market with an appealing all-purpose restaurant. Get ready for everything from Virginia ham croquettes to seafood risotto to hanger steak with fries — plus “the world’s best anchovies,” if you dare.

Because who wouldn’t want great cuts of beef cooked in front of you by friendly servers? At this gem of a Korean barbecue place, the “prime tour” is the way to go, which gets you a sampler of choice cuts, plus impeccable banchan. Add galbi-jjim risotto and a couple of cocktails, and it’s the perfect night out.

Chef Pepe Moncayo (of Cranes Spanish Kaiseki) celebrates his Spanish roots with beautiful, modern interpretations of classics from Barcelona and beyond. Expect savory croquetas, packed paellas, charcoal-grilled whole fish, and big meaty dishes like pork shoulder with mashed potatoes. And a big yes to fun sips, including crisp gin and tonics.

Located right above Hiraya, Kayu is where chef Paolo Dungca reimagines his Filipino background into singular tasting and à la carte menus. Think cassava cakes with crab fat, lardo, and smoked trout roe; crispy pig’s ear salad with fish sauce vinaigrette, and eggplant with roasted peanut sauce. Pro tip: If you really want to go all out, book the chef’s tasting menu at the counter.

If you’re like everyone who loves Nancy Silverton’s original Osteria Mozza, it’s hard to move past your favorites. But that’s why you keep returning. The perfect order in our opinion? Burricotta with artichokes and mint pesto, orecchiette with fennel sausage and Swiss chard, and the butterscotch budino to finish. And do note: The cocktails are fresh and intriguing, and the wine list is exemplary.

Here’s everything you need to know about this new opening.

Because there’s nothing quite like the signature Nirvana dish at Karzima: a towering salad made with 37 ingredients that a server knocks down and mixes in a bowl tableside. It’s crunchy, spiced, sweet, sour, and vibrant in one bite. And there’s lot more to love at the à la carte counterpart to Karma, where chef Ajay Kumar celebrates the colors and flavors of his homeland — inventive cocktails included.

Ever since this good-looking Clarendon Boulevard bar and restaurant opened in Arlington, it’s created a buzz with its something-for-everyone menu (burger? check; mushroom ravioli? check; pan-roasted salmon? check), its stylish cocktails, and its relaxed atmosphere.

Because restaurateur Ashok Bajaj (Rasika, Annabelle, Sababa, and more) is behind this Forest Hills gem — need we say more? Taking design cues from an 18th-century farm estate (the oldest surviving house) in D.C., Rosedale is where James Beard Award-winning chef Frank Ruta  plates the season’s best. Get whatever comes off the rotisserie, salads like beets with fig and lemongrass vinaigrette, and cocktails around the U-shaped bar.

Tight as a jewel box, chef Jonathan Krinn’s tasting menus evolve with the seasons: think smoked beef tongue and tendon salad, cornmeal-crusted lamb brains and mango-truffle vinaigrette, and handmade pasta with bone marrow and clams. It’s like a speakeasy for adventurous eaters.

It’s as if this Dupont Circle was made for first dates. Start off by sampling self-dispensing wines to gauge their palate. If all goes well, sit for quick snacks — cheeses, charcuterie, fried artichokes — or a truffle-topped pizza if the vibe feels right. If it’s going really well, escape to Sabine, the speakeasy bar hidden in the back, for a nightcap.

Stories and history fill Kwame Onwuachi’s Afro-Caribbean restaurant, from paying homage to the land surveyor who drew up the lines for Washington D.C. to the chef’s own Nigerian, Jamaican, Trinidadian, and Creole heritage. At its core, though, Dōgon’s all about good food — grilled Wagyu short rib with red stew jam, greens with beef bacon, peanut crustacean stew with burnt carrots, and rum cake — with fantastic cocktails to boot.