The Resy Hit List: Where In D.C. You’ll Want to Eat Right Now
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There’s no question we hear more often: Where should I go eat? And while we at Resy know it’s an honor to be the friend who everyone asks for restaurant advice, we also know it’s a complicated task. That’s where the Resy Hit List comes in.
Consider it your essential resource for dining in and around Washington, D.C.: a monthly-updated guide to the restaurants that you won’t want to miss — tonight or any night.
Four Things In D.C. Not to Miss This Month
- Celebrate Hill-O-Ween: Capitol Hill’s largest Halloween festival comes to Eastern Market on Oct. 30. Take in all the costumes, live music, and dancing from the patios of Lobby Bar or Little Engine — both are kid-friendly dining options on Capitol Hill.
- Cassoulet Party: Throw on a chunky sweater and head to Pastis this month for a cassoulet soiree to welcome in fall, celebrating France’s iconic cozy stew. Priced at $70 per person, this October menu series includes a three-course family-style dinner party with fresh-baked baguette, artisanal cheeses, and a slow-simmered cassoulet, followed by chocolate-drizzled profiteroles.
- Visit “Little” Washington: Washington, Va., frequently nicknamed “Little” Washington,” is a city filled with dining institutions worth the drive. Look no further than Patrick O’Connell’s legendary spot The Inn at Little Washington and Patty O’s Cafe, two restaurants offering theatrical hospitality in an intimate, over-the-top setting.
- Tasting Menus Under $100: A tasting menu doesn’t have to break the bank: In fact, quite a few tasting menus offer top-notch flavors at high value. We’re partial to the $42 menu of the day lunch special at Casa Teresa and the $65 three-course Filipino sampler at KAYU in Dupont Circle.
New to the Hit List (Oct. 2026)
Alfie’s, BlackSalt, CHIKO Capitol Hill, Jack Rose Dining Saloon, Oribu, Unconventional Diner.
1. The Oak Room Georgetown
This grand American grill is defined by nostalgia, precision, and old-world hospitality, from the same restaurant group that brought D.C. country line dancing and racks of ribs at Desert 5 in Union Market. Chef Tim Hollingsworth (formerly with The French Laundry), features classic American dishes like shrimp cocktail, a 22-ounce king-cut prime rib, and Dover sole served in a brown butter sauce with capers. You can’t miss the dramatic seafood tower. Upstairs, Bernadette’s offers a distinct mood shift, channeling a candlelit supper club inspired by legendary European rooms like Hotel Costes, Harry’s Bar, and Annabel’s. Designed for long evenings and late-night energy, the space pairs live music, martinis, grower Champagne, indulgent late-night dining, and richly layered interiors wrapped in velvet and candlelight.
2. The Dabney Shaw
Gather around The Dabney’s iconic wood-fired hearth with chef Jeremiah Langhorne to taste some of the best and freshest mid-Atlantic fare. Current menu options include a five-course prix-fixe experience and an à la carte menu, with every ingredient representing the history of the mid-Atlantic region. Sample seafood direct from the Chesapeake Bay, like Maryland jumbo lump crab or fried catfish larb. Or opt for a family-style plate of barbecue spiced chicken served with salsa verde and jalapeno butter. The wine menu also reads like a love note to Virginia wine country with regional vineyards — from Spinning Wheel to Rosemont Winery — featured prominently for paired tastings.
3. La’ Shukran Union Market District
Located above YELLOW in Union Market, Michael Rafidi’s La’ Shukran pulsates with nocturnal energy. Enter this casual bar and it feels as if you’ve been transported to the Levant region with the decor, music, and menu to match. The whole experience was meant to celebrate an immersive experience in Arabic traditions, but with a bit more Rafidi style. Hence the smoky escargot swimming in arak butter, or a side of the Maryland crab served with sweet corn and whipped labne. It pairs perfectly with a Bedouin coffee — bar director Radovan Jankovic’s improved take on the espresso martini, here infused with cardamom spice. Plus, there’s an entire hummus section of the menu.
4. Cordelia Fishbar Union Market
Cordelia’s is the place for coastal-inspired dishes, whether you crave a curated selection of crudo or cured seafood specialties, like a shareable turbot or coal-roasted oysters glossed in spicy ‘nduja butter. This Union Market seafood house is also the place for daily oyster happy hour or bottomless weekend brunch — designed to highlight the freshest flavors from both land and sea. For seafood lovers seeking pristine raw bar selections or those just looking for a mouthwatering burger, Cordelia delivers a dining experience that is accessible for the whole family.
5. Alfie’s Georgetown
Formerly a pop-up, chef Alex McCoy’s Thai restaurant has returned to The District, this time taking up residence on a historic Georgetown block known for its cute cobblestone streets away from the hustle-and-bustle of M Street, NW. The dinner menu is market-dependent, with seasonal ingredients, while the room feels as if you’ve entered into a super-secret supper club. Alfie’s famed khao soi will return, but also look out for monkfish curry with cockle, chargrilled Bavette steak swimming in curry, catfish laap with Key lime, and Hat Yai fried chicken wings.
6. Bammy’s Modern Caribbean Washington D.C.
Get on island time at Bammy’s — a rum bar located in Navy Yard with waterfront views of the Anacostia River. If it’s happy hour, order up a Painkiller and some jerk wings to set the vibe. Bammy’s executive chef Peter Prime hails from Trinidad, and he serves traditional dishes like brown stew beef, jerk lamb chops, and crispy cassava, plus whole fried snapper. Best of all, Bammy’s now has a second takeout option located inside the Union Market food hall.
7. Oribu Penn Quarter
Named after the Japanese word for olive, Oribu draws inspiration from the historic trade routes connecting Asia to the Mediterranean, blending Japanese culinary precision with Mediterranean richness. The interior mirrors this cultural journey with a curving rattan chandelier that guides guests from a Japanese-inspired bar through vibrant interiors evoking the Mediterranean coastline. Oribu offers jet-fresh sushi, an entire section of the menu dedicated to crudos, and an omakase option priced at $145 per person. Sushi pairings are complemented by wine and sake options, plus cocktails like the Nori, with vodka, citrus, and fresh-ground ginger.
8. Emma’s Torch Silver Spring, Maryland
Doing good can be as tasty as a warm cinnamon bun or stack of brown butter pancakes at Emma’s Torch, a culinary training center in the heart of downtown Silver Spring with a mission to empower refugees, asylees, and survivors of human trafficking through culinary education. This nonprofit social enterprise expanded to Maryland after its successful upstart in New York City, serving up an all-day cafe menu that draws upon students’ cultures and culinary upbringings. On the debut menu, look for brunch essentials like a Mediterranean-style shakshuka served in a rich tomato gravy with crispy rice, two soft poached eggs, crispy chickpeas, and tahini. There are also grab-and-go sandwiches and an array of pastries that pair perfectly with the robust coffee program.
Find more info here.
9. Uchi DC Downtown
Uchi’s arrival to D.C. brings a new sleek sushi counter to the city. The iconic hama chili features cool yellowtail packing heat from Thai chili ponzu with orange supreme. Chicken braised in coconut milk forms the soul of the comforting Sasami Yaki. And the Kinoko Usuzukuri is a standout plant-based carpaccio with seasonal mushroom, shallot, and shiro zu. Special occasions call for the Hot Rock, perfect for sizzling sliced Australian wagyu, served here with kosho tamari butter and whiskey maple ponzu. And don’t forget to try the legendary fried milk dessert — a non-negotiable closer for any Uchi meal — that literally bursts with flavor.
10. Lutèce Georgetown
Lutèce has become a D.C. hot spot for French cooking in the comfy confines of a dining room that seats only a few dozen. Top dishes to try here include the skewered duck hearts with a jus and mandarinquat — Conroy’s latest twist on duck à l’orange — or Parisian gnocchi with snails and fermented butter, or a steak tartare spiked with harissa. Service hours have expanded, and this cozy neo-bistro is now open seven days a week. That means more room for late-night bottles, lingering date-night courses, and the kind of friend-meet-up dinners that accidentally become all-night affairs.
11. Jack Rose Dining Saloon Adams Morgan
This whiskey-lovers paradise boasts one of the largest collections in the world, with more than 2,700 different bottle expressions ranging from bourbon, rye, Scotch, American, and international whiskeys on the library-inspired shelves. But beyond the bar, the main dining saloon serves contemporary American cuisine spanning from bar bites like jalapeno deviled eggs and fried green tomatoes to main dishes including fried chicken, Maryland crab cake, rockfish, and steak, all designed to pair with the famously expansive whiskey collection. Note: this is an all-day bar with three-stories of spaces, each offering distinctly different experiences — there’s a private upstairs balcony room, a glass-enclosed terrace bar, and basement speakeasy and bottle shop, Premier Drams, offering up both tastings and bottled spirits you can take home.
12. La Merna Dupont Circle
From husband-and-wife duo G. Bradley Shorten and Meg Schmitt, La Merna offers Midwest hospitality, inventive cocktails, and an in-house cheese program. Schmitt founded a nationally distributed cheese company, trained in cheesemaking in Italy, and brings that expertise to La Merna through housemade ricotta, mozzarella, and stracciatella. Bradley’s Chicago portfolio includes Kim’s Uncle in suburban Chicago, and his Chicago flagship, the purposefully named Pizza, Fried Chicken, Ice Cream. All this translates into one of The District’s only Chicago tavern-style pizza pubs. Pastas like ravioli ‘nudja round out the menu. Look for outlandish cocktails like the Coffee & Cigarettes: an espresso martini with the option to pair with an actual cigarette for $3 more.
13. Unconventional Diner Shaw
Unconventional Diner serves inspired dishes that blend soulful comfort with haute technique. The menu is studded with imaginative delights that echo the restaurant’s name, from French fries with “sexy sauce” to pot-pie poppers — an addictive appetizer version of the all-American favorite — to a meatloaf that’s “nothing like anyone’s mom’s.” Chef David Deshaies, a James Beard nominee, is the culinary force behind this highly acclaimed spot in Shaw, which also boasts a Michelin Bib Gourmand designation. Craft cocktails and award-winning desserts add to the alchemy for diners looking for an entertaining and delicious culinary experience.
14. Oasis The Listening Bar Arlington
Oasis is Arlington’s newest listening bar, merging Japanese cuisine with a hi-fi audio experience. Inspired by Japan’s listening bars, the restaurant offers a sensory experience featuring master sushi chef Jose Ventura along with live DJ performances, and Japanese-inspired cocktails. A wide range of sakes are offered in flight tastings. Whisky enthusiasts will also enjoy a premium Japanese whisky omakase experience. Oasis proudly serves Joy Boy craft beer, a locally made Virginia brew perfect for pairing with Japanese bites from grilled skewers to nigiri and sashimi at the sushi counter.
15. CHIKO Capitol Hill Capitol Hill
Chiko offers both a casual mid-week dinner spot or a fancier date night out on Capitol Hill. The Chinese-Korean menu from acclaimed chefs Scott Drewno and Danny Lee (Mandu, Anju, I Egg You) serves curated dishes like satisfying stir-fries, decadent noodle and fried rice dishes, and filling banchan-style sides. Pro tip: the tasting counter offers an unforgettable taste of the entire menu while experiencing the theater of the open kitchen. The Chiko Experience is $75 per person, and menu must-try dishes include the soy-glazed brisket, stir fry bulgogi, and garlic shrimp dumplings.
16. Pizza Paradiso Spring Valley
D.C.’s original Neapolitan pizza spot is the perfect hang in D.C.’s Spring Valley neighborhood, either on the climate-controlled patio, or inside at the bar known for its rotation of more than 250 different types of craft beer with a happy hour that pours from 3-6 p.m. daily. The secret to the Paradiso magic is the process it takes to make its pies. The pizza-making starts with a wood-burning domed stone oven that cooks at a temperature of 650 degrees. The end result: light, airy, yet perfectly crisp dough for pies from a margarita and four-cheese pizza to more unique options like the di mare — a spicy pesto shrimp pizza. Best of all, you can order 12-inch pies half-and-half for those who want to try a little bit of two different styles.
17. Her Diner Adams Morgan
This Adams Morgan all-day cafe is an inclusive space meant for everyone at any meal — breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Comfort food dishes (pro tip: order the meatloaf) meet regional cocktails like Maryland’s Orange Crush, and you better believe there is a daily happy hour. Her Diner is also a neighborhood gathering place for Wednesday trivia, “RuPaul’s Drag Race” watches on Fridays, and destination weekend brunch with a group of friends.
18. BlackSalt Palisades
This neighborhood seafood destination is known for local seafood, thoughtful service, and a seasonally inspired menu. Sourcing the freshest fish and shellfish from the Chesapeake Bay and beyond, BlackSalt offers everything from an exceptional raw bar to expertly prepared daily catches. The warm, inviting dining room and acclaimed wine list make this an ideal choice for happy hour or a special celebration.
19. Wheelhouse Chevy Chase
Chevy Chase is embracing a new nautical vibe. Wheelhouse from the Georgetown Events Hospitality Group’s crew (Millie’s, Jetties, and Surfside) packs Chesapeake flavors into a menu that features oysters casino, raw clams, and Maryland crab soup. And those flags lining the ceiling — you bet they are of the sailing variety. So, go ahead. Anchors away, as you toast to a round of sea breezes.
20. The Grace Shaw
The latest restaurant from chef Sanjay Mandhaiya (Karravaan and Pappe) leans heavily to the tavern bar setting. The menu features nostalgic sandwiches, like the club sandwich, Reuben, and Cuban, alongside pub grub that channels bold Indian flavors like a mango-coconut shrimp with sweet and spicy mango chow. If The Grace bar program is a step above that’s on purpose, given the big shoes it has to fill: the space was formerly The Passenger bar. As at its predecessor, here you’ll find well-executed classic cocktails, including a tamarind-banana daiquiri and top-notch martini. With rich woods, gentle ambient lighting, and cozy textiles and art, the Grace is settling in as a neighborhood destination. Don’t miss the perfectly cooked steakhouse-style burger.
