Michelin and Bon Appetit decided this year that Washington is a food city worth paying attention to, but some of us have long appreciated the vibrant dining scene here. Among the area’s monumental assets: one-of-a-kind Indian, Spanish and modern American establishments and headliners including chefs José Andrés and a relative newcomer, Aaron Silverman. It’s true, though, that growth has recently exploded, with about 90 restaurant debuts this summer alone and the promise of many more good things to come. That’s why this year’s dining guide is the most expansive since I became food critic in 2000. My colleagues Tim Carman and Fritz Hahn weigh in with their takes on the area’s best cheap eats and go-to bars, respectively. And I give you 52 reviews of freshly visited establishments from all around the DMV — a restaurant for every week of the year.
No. 2: Pineapple and Pearls
There’s technique behind the fun at Aaron Silverman’s tasting-menu room.
No. 5: Convivial
Chef Cedric Maupillier turns the routine into something wonderful, makes us laugh, or both.
No. 7: Inn at Little Washington
“Worth a special journey”? Thanks to Patrick O’Connell, of course it is.
No. 8: Little Serow
Johnny Monis’s second restaurant rewards the adventurous with funky flavors and VIP treatment.
Afghan Bistro
Sure, it’s tight. But thanks to gracious service, enticing food — and now drinks — you won’t notice.
Bantam King
The sister restaurant to Daikaya focuses on ramen, with poultry in the broth, but also serves a killer fried bird.
Bindaas
From the team behind Rasika, this street food specialist has become a Cleveland Park favorite.
Bread Furst
By making loaves, sandwiches and sweets to die for, Mark Furstenberg proves he deserves his accolades.
Clarity
It takes a lot of skill to present food this polished yet accessible. Chefs Jonathan Krinn and Jason Maddens have done it.
Compass Rose
Owner Rose Previte makes it all happen at this cozy upstairs retreat off 14th Street. For even more of an escape — and a feast — book the private Bedouin tent.
Conosci
This hushed, almost-hidden dining room is accessible through Alta Strada. Once you’re through the velvet curtain, prepare to indulge.
The Dabney
Chef Jeremiah Langhorne's facility with the enormous hearth at the center of this handsome dining room results in delicious plates with a local focus.
Del Campo
You’ll feel the burn and taste the char at Victor Albisu’s steakhouse, where meat isn’t the only draw.
Drift on 7th
The seafood at this Shaw newcomer is fresh and simple, but the kitchen also has a way with side dishes.
EatBar
Relocated to Barracks Row, it’s a carnivore’s paradise thanks to meat master Nate Anda. But vegetarians are welcome, too.
Estadio
At the bustling Spanish tapas place on the busy 14th Street corridor, the best seat is at the counter.
Fiola
The eldest of the three Italian restaurants created by chef Fabio Trabocchi has low-calorie options and indulgent possibilties.
Fiola Mare
Everything is deliciously refined at Fabio Trabocchi’s waterfront restaurant in Georgetown.
Hazel
The Neighborhood Restaurant Group’s current star showcases Rob Rubba’s way with international accents.
Indique
Thanks to the sons of the chef and co-owner, this Cleveland Park stalwart is pulsing with new energy.
Kapnos Kouzina
In Bethesda, the newest arrival in the Mike Isabella family of Kapnos restaurants is outpacing its siblings.
La Cuchara
The menu changes frequently, but you’ll always find something to appreciate at one of Charm City’s best restaurants.
Le Diplomate
The perennial favorite plates textbook examples of some of the cuisine’s trademark dishes.
Masseria
Chef Nicholas Stefanelli's Italian retreat in Union Market is one of the most alluring restaurants in the city.
Nopa Kitchen + Bar
In Penn Quarter, executive chef Matt Kuhn cooks dishes with familiar ingredients in ways that don’t taste like everyone else’s.
Peter Chang
The restaurants in Rockville and Arlington are firing on all cylinders with their enticing Sichuan cuisine.
Proof
Chef Austin Fausett and general manager Brent Kroll have infused the wine-focused restaurant in Chinatown with their own charms.
Red Truck Bakery
Bryan Noyes’s shop is a food destination in tiny Marshall, Va., especially for its cakes and pies.
Rose’s Luxury
Sure, there's more competition for Aaron Silverman's Barracks Row eatery these days, but continues to cast a spell on its customers.
Sweet Home Cafe
The restaurant in the National Museum of African American History and Culture offers pleasing takes on dishes from four different regions of the country.
Woodberry Kitchen
Spike Gjerde’s fetching barn of a restaurant in Baltimore is one that sweats the small stuff.
Zaytinya
If you can’t find something to enjoy in this soaring José Andrés property, you’re too darn picky.
