Feast on Afghan dumplings, pumpkin preparations, baked eggplant, and standout kebobs in many varieties. A recent recipient of Michelin's Bib Gourmand designation, vegetarians eat well here. Read more.
Under the direction of chef and co-owner Hiroshi Seki, the restaurant features adventurous dishes like beef tongue, classics like kara-age and a number of accompaniments to its fine sake selection. Read more.
The sheer diversity of this neighborhood restaurant's small menu is impressive, and the kitchen manages to excel at a number of different cuisines, ranging from South American to Georgian. Read more.
Cedric Maupillier has created a buzzing neighborhood spot in Shaw. Standout dishes range from a fried chicken-inspired spin on coq a vin to scallops prepared in the style of boudin blanc. Read more.
The Dabney, Jeremiah Langhorne's Washington debut, shows some of the most aggressive commitment to local sourcing and Mid-Atlantic cuisine in the region. As a result, the dishes change frequently. Read more.
Here, Rob Rubba makes a name for himself with unique dishes with an Asian flair, and has a particular way with duck. Find a carefully-curated wine list and a festive dim sum brunch here, too. Read more.
This LeDroit Park coffee shop, kitchen and cocktail bar offers marshmallow-filled hot cocoa seasoned with nutmeg, clove, cinnamon and allspice for $4.09. Read more.
The Red Hen is the whole package: food, design, service. Bloomingdale residents and destination diners turn here for offal, homemade pastas, and a carefully-curated wine list. Read more.
Stephen Starr's first entry into the D.C. market excels at classic dishes like steak frites and skate, as well as some interesting twists like foie gras mousse. The atmosphere is loud and bustling. Read more.
The contemporary small plates menu boasts a strong selection of cheese and charcuterie, as well as pintxos, bocadillos and classic tapas dishes. Read more.
Getting in can be a challenge — but the payoff is worth the wait. The chef prepares fiery, authentic Thai cuisine in a spare and stylish setting. Read more.
One of the most romantic restaurants in the city, Iron Gate features cooking from Vermilion veteran Anthony Chittum. There are both tasting menus and a la carte options at the restaurant. Read more.
The restaurant serves up a stellar brunch buffet, properly made Manhattans and traditional Indian fare such as lamb roganjosh. The thali platters are a good way to sample a variety of dishes. Read more.
Victor Albisu's South American restaurant serves up a variety of grilled smoky meats, and menu items like arepas. There's even a cocktail list with edible, meaty garnishes available in the lounge. Read more.
The buzzy restaurant has delicious brussels sprouts, flatbread and octopus small plates, and a number of fun festivals throughout the year, celebrating events like Greek Easter. Read more.
On the ground floor: Sapporo-style ramen in a bustling setting. Upstairs, an izakaya specializing in Japanese bar food, whiskeys, shochu and Japanese beer. Read more.
Wiseguy is one of the few places in D.C. to find authentic New York-style pizza. The restaurant also offers some New York standards like garlic knots and chicken rolls. Read more.
From the team behind Daikaya and Haikan, Bantam King is D.C.'s first restaurant entirely dedicated to chicken ramen. Find fried chicken and killler dumplings here, too, but the soup is the main star. Read more.
he wide-ranging wine list (with plenty of sherry and Lambrusco) helps balance the meaty fare. New winter menu additions include must-try seafood options, too, like ahi tuna sliders. Read more.
There is more of a Chinese influence to the menu now, and that shows in its dan dan dumplings, wok-fried noodles, and tableside wonton soup. Read more.
Masseria has one of the more affordable tasting menus in the city. Diners can also go the bar snack route to lounge in one of the city's most transporting restaurant design settings. Read more.
The unique design, combining indoor/outdoor spaces and restaurant with retail, provides a home for an addictive dim sum brunch and beloved dishes like Taiwanese fried chicken. Read more.
Often-lengthy waits for a table end with calming hospitality and Aaron Silverman’s strikingly thrilling acts of culinary daring. Read more.
Pastry chef Alex Levin has established the Navy Yard Italian haunt as the place to go for dessert. Charcuterie dishes and Italian cocktails are also worth exploring here. Read more.
The newly revamped lounge is the most affordable — and really, the best — way to experience this restaurant. Enjoy superior cocktails, excellent burgers, and a swank feel. Read more.
The tribute to American whiskey is Derek Brown's focus here, as are Southern snacks and cocktails. A few blocks south, Brown's new Columbia Room also uses whiskey in several of its high-end cocktails. Read more.
There are some signature sandwiches, like a Reuben-esque "The Messy," and a smoked chicken sandwich. Find meat platters here, too, plus beer, wine, and a mix of sides. Read more.
