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
- Dine Out for Turkey Day: Why baste the bird, when you can reserve? Several restaurants are preparing Thanksgiving menus for meals that don’t require bringing or cooking dishes. These tables will book up fast, including FireFly’s dinner in Dupont Circle and The Lafayette’s rooftop meal at the Hay-Adams Hotel, within view of the White House.
- Blue Catfish on the Menu: It’s the sustainable dish trending across several menus this fall. Blue catfish, which is an invasive species to the Chesapeake Bay, is popping up on menus from Leo in Annapolis, which serves a “Napville” hot catfish sandwich, to a pan-seared option with sofrito butter grits at Cordelia’s Fishbar in Union Market. Any way you eat this fish, it’s helping keep the Bay protected, one order at a time.
- Maru San Dinner Collab Series: Carlos Delgado was recently named one of Food & Wine‘s Best New Chefs in America, and to celebrate he’s hosting a monthly dining series at Maru San with other Best New Chef alums from the DMV. Proceeds from each dinner benefit No Kid Hungry, and upcoming collaborations include Angel Barreto (Nov. 17) of Anju, Rob Rubba (Dec. 1) of Oyster Oyster, and Masako Morishita (Feb. 23) of Perry’s Restaurant.
- Cheers to Great Bar Food: A bar seat is always a treat to see how cocktails and other drinks are made at some of D.C.’s best restaurants, but a few bars — including Adams Morgan’s Maison and the semi-circular Union Market bar at St. Anselm are also places to linger for a meal, whether it’s a big hanger steak or a super-savory duck pasta.
New to the Hit List (Nov. 2026)
Bernadette’s, The Dabney Cellar, The Dome / Hi-Lawn, Inferno Pizzeria Napoletana, Pisco y Nazca, Realm Rooftop & Lounge.
1. Bernadette’s Georgetown
The Oak Room in Georgetown has an intimate bar that’s becoming its own destination along M Street. Consider it a candlelit supper club inspired by legendary European rooms like 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. And do not sleep on the signature dish, a juicy wagyu cheeseburger — it’s available at both restaurants from chef Timothy Hollingsworth.
2. The Dabney Cellar Mount Vernon Square
Think of Dabney Cellar as the more intimate bar tucked beneath its big brother — the Michelin-starred Dabney. Located in the basement, Dabney Cellar serves hyper-seasonal and local dishes from the surrounding DMV region. Keep it in the back pocket as a moody, dimly lit date night spot. This bar also doubles as a local haunt to sip mid-Atlantic wine with a seafood tower or a dozen freshly shucked Chesapeake Bay oysters. We suggest noshing on a plate of grilled figs with country ham, blue cheese, and sorghum while sipping on a glass of Virginia’s Chatham Vineyards chardonnay.
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. Pisco y Nazca – Bethesda Bethesda
This hot spot is known for offering bold Peruvian flavors, alongside indulgent desserts and handcrafted pisco cocktails. Newly added dishes include the aguadito de pollo, a cilantro-based soup served with jasmine rice, choclo, green peas, and chalaquita, and a ceviche trio, served with three styles of ceviche: Leche de tigre, Nikkei, and a spicy jalapeño version, Cocktails include the Autumn in Cusco, a bourbon drink made with red apple syrup, lemon juice, and cardamom, and the Dulce de Leche Espresso Martini, a Latin twist on the classic espresso martini. And save room space for dessert. The must-order dish is the alfajor pavlova — a Peruvian shortbread cookie served with dulce de leche and topped with meringue and strawberries.
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. The Dome / Hi-Lawn Union Market
Get festive with some holiday cheer, with winter season-themed food and drink specials at. The Dome at Hi-Lawn. Best of all, this rooftop bar transforms into a literal snow globe (but don’t worry, it’s climate controlled) featuring an interactive and immersive digital display designed to take you to The Alps with glamour, festive details, and plenty of holiday music. The Summit Lounge showcases a 360-degree visual show from creative director Dario Spinelli featuring unique kaleidoscopic elements, alongside light Alpine bites including fondue and spiked hot cocoa.
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. Inferno Pizzeria Napoletana Gaithersburg, Maryland
Chef-owner Tony Conte has one of the best pies in the DMV, developed around his past as executive chef at The Oval Room. and as executive sous chef at the acclaimed Jean Georges in New York. His much more casual and comforting Inferno Pizzeria Napoletana pays homage to wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas with artisanal touches. Conte, who lives in Gaithersburg, Md., has both a restaurant and a pizza pop-up at the Rocklands Farm Winery in nearby Poolesville.
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. Realm Rooftop & Lounge Washington
The views and the dishes at Realm all have stories to tell. In particular, flavors and cooking techniques carried through generations of the African Diaspora serve as a connective thread throughout the menu — bringing depth to dishes like braised wagyu oxtails, jerk lamb ribs, and crab galette, informed by seasonal ingredients. Enjoy it all with views of the D.C. skyline at this rooftop restaurant.
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.
