The Resy Hit List: Where In D.C. You’ll Want to Eat in Oct. 2024
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.
We’ve designed it to be your essential resource for dining in and around Washington, D.C.: a monthly-updated (and now expanded!) 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 Hilloween: If politics is scary, you should see Capitol Hill during Halloween. The neighborhood goes all-out for trick-or-treaters with a Hilloween celebration that includes free hayrides, a zombie dance party, and pumpkin carvings. Beat the Eastern Market sugar rush of this party, and opt for one of the adjacent restaurants and bars, like La Collina, The Eastern, or Joselito Casa de Comidas.
- “Bodega Bakes” D.C. Debut: D.C. chef Paolo Velez recently debuted her first cookbook, “Bodega Bakes.” Naturally, her nationwide cookbook tour starts and ends in the DMV. You won’t want to miss a special dinner she has planned in Tysons Corner on October 27.
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Destination Dōgon: Kwame Onwuachi is back in Washington with one of 2024’s most anticipated openings. His new restaurant serves vibrant cuisine drawing from Onwuachi’s Nigerian, Jamaican, Trinidadian, and Creole background. Also back in D.C. is bartender Derek Brown (Columbia Room and The Passenger) who created a cocktail program highlighting Black-owned spirits and drinks. Book here, and find more openings in New on Resy.
- All-You-Can-Eat La Fiesta de España: Come hungry to chef Pepe Moncayo’s Spanish feast. He has prepared an unlimited feast to celebrate Spanish National Day, including his signature paella. And find lots more Resy Events in and around D.C. here.
New to the Hit List (Oct. 2024)
Cana – Caipirinha Bar, Immigrant Food, La’ Shukran, Planta Queen.
1. Pascual Capitol Hill
One of the year’s most anticipated, and most highly lauded, restaurants. The wife-and-husband team Isabel Coss and Matt Conroy, of Lutèce fame, created an intimate Mexican restaurant in Capitol Hill in what was formerly a barbecue shop. The space is reminiscent of one of Mexico’s beach-chic eateries, and all that remains of the barbecue joint is the smell of wood-fired coals. Dishes that take on those smoky flavors include lamb-neck barbacoa, and tacos al pastor with each tortilla made in house. And don’t miss the parsnip tamal, with its spice-rich mole blanco. While seating is limited to indoors, there are bar seats for walk-in visits and plans for a patio, should a mezcal margarita be calling your name.
2. Astoria DC DuPont Circle
The sleek and intimate space here makes you want to linger for a nightcap or two. And this gem of a craft cocktail bar happens to have some of the city’s best cocktails both in classic formats, like the Vieux Carré, and with unique presentations. That includes tropical drinks like the Molokai Mule, Hart of Darkness, and Dr. Funk, all served in tiki-style mugs. Even better, there’s a deep Sichuan-inflected menu of noodle dishes, plus large-format dishes including water-boiled fish — a seafood feast that reduces down and absorbs the fiery flavors of chiles, Sichuan peppercorn, and doubanjiang to create a rich, savory, and aromatic broth.
3. La’ Shukran Washington D.C.
Michael Rafidi is at it again, adding to his recently opened YELLOW Union Market with a second-story bar and restaurant that can only be accessed from a discreet doorway in the back alley. This bistro-meets-bar and rooftop terrace is looking to be one of the hottest new openings of 2024, and it features unique dishes from across the Levant Region. The food and drinks work in harmonious balance. Take for instance the foie gras with halva butter and pickled huckleberries. The dish comes served with a side of puffed ras-el-hanout beignets combining rich and buttery flavors. This pairs perfectly with a Bedouin Coffee — bar director Radovan Jankovic’s take on an espresso martini infused with cardamom.
4. ANJU Dupont Circle
For robust Korean dishes layered with complex, fermented flavors, look no further. Start with their irresistible mandu — pork and kimchi dumplings — and finish with something bright, like melon flan with pistachios, candied orange peel, and sweetened condensed milk. Beyond the classic gochujang-glazed Korean fried chicken (served here with Alabama white sauce) and the ssam board, we are keen on the dolsot bibimbap served over a hot stone bowl of rice, and your choice of bulgogi or tofu. Indeed, Mama Lee’s Classics are also recipes innovatively adapted from chef Danny Lee’s mother, the family’s first restaurateur — including a jjigae of pork rib, soft tofu, and aged kimchi.
5. PLANTA Queen, DC Downtown
PLANTA Queen expands D.C.’s options for plant-based dining, featuring chef David Lee’s favorite dishes from across Asia. The restaurant immediately transports diners to an elegant Chinese courtyard brimming with dishes reflective of the region. Must-order dishes include the spinach shiitake with udon noodles, bang bang broccoli, and an array of dumplings. This spot is also one of the few places in the city to try vegan sushi like unagi eggplant and ahi watermelon nigiri.
6. Ama Capitol Riverfront/ Navy Yard
Ama brings the essence of Northern Italy to the Navy Yard. Chef Johanna Hellrigl and husband Micah Wilder have pulled from regions around the Ligurian Sea and the “Pale Mountains” of Alto Adige to create a dining experience that is inviting and unrushed. Mornings begin with Caffè Vergnano espresso “al banco” and a delicately flaky cornetto, followed by focaccia Genovese sandwiches and seasonal salads. As the sun sets, Wilder has conjured up spritzes, seltzers, and carbonated frozen drinks to complement signature Northern Italian flavors and dishes, including Tyrolean knödel and Ligurian langoustines.
7. La Bonne Vache Georgetown
A college-esque sub shop (Booeymongers of Georgetown) has been dramatically transformed into an all-day French cafe to celebrate the good life. Executive chef Robert Aikens (Starr Restaurants) works in the kitchen with sous chef Ann Cashion (Cashion’s Eat Place and Johnny’s Half Shell) and chef de cuisine Scheyla Acosta to create a D.C. dining destination that brings the Côte d’Azur a little bit closer to the nation’s capital.
La Bonne Vache, which translates to the good cow, will absolutely fill the sandwich-sized hole in your heart — try the roti de boeuf or chicken paillard — and save room for the burgers made with a blend of NY strip, hanger steak, brisket, and boneless short rib. Are you salivating yet?
Find more info here.
8. Shilling Canning Company Navy Yard
Shilling sources some of the Mid-Atlantic region’s best ingredients by partnering with local farms and picking garden-fresh produce grown on their front patio. Under each menu item, including on the seven-course tasting menu (priced at $150 per person), you’ll find the local farm where ingredients were sourced. Also, Ampersandwich is back by popular demand for lunch. This pandemic-era pop-up recently returned; chef Reid Shilling turns out selections like a Baltimore pit beef sandwich and the McReid — his take on a barbecue rib sandwich.
9. Immigrant Food – Ballston Ballston-Virginia Square
Immigrant Food recently expanded its D.C. footprint to Arlington, Virginia after gaining a downtown D.C. following at both lunch and dinner. Washingtonians love this menu for its political sensibilities and a menu that spans the globe. The restaurant celebrates immigrant street food in a cozy, intimate setting with popular lunch dishes like the Madam VP Heritage bowl. This tribute to the Vice President (and maybe future President) Kamala Harris combines her Indian and Jamaican heritage with a coconut-curry chicken served over turmeric rice with plantain, chickpeas, and pineapple. Think of Immigrant Food as your “approachable chic” gastronomic experience, where the food is politics.
10. L’Avant-Garde Georgetown
L’Avant-Garde honors the French tradition of dining with pleasure. Chef Sébastien Giannini has stepped in and revised the menu to include a new lunch offering, plus updated French Riviera-style cuisine for dinner. That includes salade Niçoise and sea bass seared in olive oil and a generous helping of eggplant caviar. Still, duck remains one of the most prominent features on the menu. You can try it in one of two ways: A foie gras cooked in terrine with cognac, cherries, and toasted brioche. Or a seared duck breast served with cherries, red cabbage, and a duck demi-glace with caramelized gala apples. Pro tip: Giannini also serves up one of the best burgers in town.
11. Cucina Morini Mount Vernon Triangle
This new concept from Chef Matt Adler brings the legacy of Osteria Morini to the Mount Vernon neighborhood but with a Southern Italian flair. The menu is inspired by Adler’s extensive travels along the Italian coast, with a menu highlighting small plates, family-style dishes and handmade pastas. Do not skip out on ordering pollo alla diavola, a fiery chicken dish from Southern Italy, and linger before or after your meal at the Aperitivo Bar. It is arguably the best bar to save a buck or two at happy hour. Sip on $7 martinis, or a $10 Made in Manhattan, featuring a twist on that classic drink with the addition of Cynar.
12. KAYU H Street Corridor
Chef Paolo Dungca celebrates his Filipino roots with a spirit of “bayanihan” — a concept that centers on community and uplifting others. But what defines Hiraya is a sense of fun, one that permeates all day long, from ube and rainbow-colored lattes to happy hour cocktails, like a pandan daiquiri, as well as a brisket, egg and cheese served on a golden-brown laminated bun, with an optional McDonald’s-style hash brown. Dungca has also taken that spirit upstairs, literally: He recently debuted a tasting menu on the second floor, with options to try all of his best dishes in a seven-course ($145) offering.
13. Tiger Fork Shaw
This contemporary Cantonese restaurant tucked away in Shaw’s historic Blagden Alley is sporting a newly appointed chef. Executive chef Simon Lam features a playful menu of modern takes on street food, traditional dim sum and classic Chinese dishes inspired by the bustling city of Hong Kong, including Lam’s take on congee, a savory Chinese rice porridge, which comes laden with roasted mushrooms and a soft-boiled egg. And it’s not just a place to book for your next dinner. Tiger Fork recently debuted a “Hei Hei Café” menu with brunch and lunch classics on weekend afternoons. It’s inspired by traditional Cha Chaan Teng (Hong Kong’s quintessential East-meets-West diner culture) and offered from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekends.
14. Pastis – DC Union Market District
The latest D.C. rendition from Stephen Starr has the look-and-feel of its New York City sibling but with a je-ne-sais-quoi factor that has quickly made it the “it” power dining destination in Washington. And of course there are several original dishes to this menu including beef tongue, Wiener schnitzel, and roast chicken for two. By far, the bar is the centerpiece. Order-up Starr’s favorite cocktail, the Monsieur Marmalade. (Guess the secret ingredient.) Or, it being Pastis, there’s also Parisian-inspired cocktail classics and easy-drinking spritzes.
15. Joia Burger Mount Pleasant
In the mood for a smashburger? La Joia has both meaty and veggie burger options with Filipino flare. Patrice Cleary, also the owner of Purple Patch (another Mount Pleasant institution) took inspiration from this Filipino restaurant to compose a menu of colorful dishes, including soft-serve ube ice cream. The restaurant is open for both lunch and dinner and you can spot this burger joint by the line that typically snakes out the door during the 9-to-5 meal-time rush. The all-beef smash burgers are made with premium wagyu, while the vegan vegan burger, made from wild oats, rice, and a three-bean patty, stacks up to any competition.
Walk-ins only.
16. Omakase @ Barracks Row Capitol Hill
Ricky Wang’s pop-up omakase counter got so hot on the local sushi scene that the noted chef (formerly of Nakazawa DC) just had to make it permanent with this exquisite omakase bar above Han Palace. Climb the steps to a sushi counter experience perfect for your next date night. There are only two seatings each night. Wang’s concept consists of small dishes followed by a nigiri tasting totaling about 20 courses. Right now, the menu also features seasonal favorites like Chesapeake soft shell crabs. Pro tip: Don’t miss his otsumami — Japanese bar food — options.
17. Amparo Fondita Dupont Circle
Chef Christian Irabién brings a taste of Mexican cuisine to Dupont Circle, with a focus on the country’s coastal regions and an homage to his mother and grandmother’s cooking from Chihuahua, Mexico. The restaurant’s seafood-focused menu transports diners to the beach with offerings like citrus-cured fluke ceviche or red snapper with esquites and salsa macha. Consider even a simple a side of black beans: Irabién works with heirloom beans from Rancho Gordo in Napa Valley, and cooks via a time-intensive process that uses avocado leaves and traditional Mexican spices, an homage to the traditional agricultural practice known as milpa.
18. Opal Chevy Chase
A cool coastal vibe sets the scene for the dining room and menu this new American restaurant from chef Colin McClimans. Starters include a succulent saffron spaghetti with clams and fiery chile flakes or tuna sashimi with garlic chili crunch, avocado, and tostada shells. Meanwhile, most main dishes are cooked in a wood-burning oven. That includes a Maryland-style rockfish, and a grilled chicken paillard with sunchokes, olives, and a mint cream yogurt. And every Sunday, Opal does grilling and chilling right. Pull up to the patio with a Sunday skewer menu, including surf-and-turf mix of steak, shrimp and lamb kebab.
19. Cana – Caipirinha Bar Adams Morgan
The caipirinha cocktail takes center stage at this new Brazilian bar and restaurant in Adams Morgan that adds a dash of Rio De Janeiro to your next date night agenda. Cana is a tropical tribute to the lively botecos of Brazil, where the spirit of music and dance pulses through the air. In true Rio fashion, this bar also features a wide array of vintage vinyl, plus soulful Brazilian cuisine, like salt cod croquettes and a dish snack called torresmo. It’s a delicious and meaty pork belly fried to a crisp and topped with fennel and lime plus maracuja aioli for dipping.
20. Perry’s Adams Morgan
You certainly can’t beat the rooftop view at Perry’s, plus the expertly crafted omakase tasting menu from chef Masako Morishita, who was recently named Emerging Chef of the Year by the Beard Foundation. One bite of her edamame dumplings, and it’s easy to see why this restaurant is one of the most talked-about in Adams Morgan. What kept us coming back for more this year? For one thing, a Japanese-style breakfast menu, the likes of which D.C. has never seen before. It’s offered Saturdays and is a hearty spread of Morishita’s favorites, including grilled salt-cured ocean trout, a Japanese-style soft omelet, and nasu agedashi — fried shishito and eggplant served in a sweet dashi soy broth.
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