Washington’s crush of new places to eat, in almost every neighborhood, is an embarrassment of riches. That’s why this spring, rather than revisiting old restaurants, we are celebrating only those destinations that have opened in the past year.
Not every fresh face is toast-worthy. (An obvious contender, Requin from Mike Isabella, was dropped from consideration when the restaurateur was sued for alleged sexual harassment and his chef left last month.)
That still leaves a lot to celebrate. My Top 10 list alone includes a mouthwatering tavern, two all-day cafes and a game-changing, plant-focused destination.
My advice: Strap on the feed bag and eat up the scene.
No. 2 Fancy Radish
There are no animal products in sight, but eaters of all stripes will love Richard Landau’s cooking.
No. 3 Del Mar
Fabio Trabocchi’s ode to seafood is the Wharf’s most enchanting, indulgent and comforting restaurant.
No. 4 A Rake’s Progress
Baltimore star Spike Gjerde opens his first D.C. restaurant in the Line hotel.
No. 5 Little Pearl
The cafe/wine bar is the most casual way to get a taste of Aaron Silverman’s cuisine.
No. 8 Unconventional Diner
Sure, chef David Deshaies cooks comforting classics, but watch what he does with a little inspiration.
No. 9 The Tavern at Rare Steak and Seafood
The ground-floor bar below the formal steakhouse is the place for moderately priced fun.
No. 10 Old Maryland Grill
Crab cakes, coddies and ham biscuits that hit the mark make every night homecoming in College Park.
Addie’s
Generous portions and excellent bread make Jeff Black’s restaurant a Montgomery County standout.
Brothers and Sisters
The all-day menu inside the Line hotel is particularly noteworthy for fabulous desserts.
Kaliwa
Cathal Armstrong showcases Filipino, Thai and Korean dishes at the Wharf.
Primrose
It’s a looker of a wine bar, with food, drink and service to match.
Sababa
Restaurateur Ashok Bajaj’s latest spotlights the flavors of the Middle East in Cleveland Park.
Spark
In a former fire station, Peter Prime cooks the food of his native Trinidad.
