Bar Japonais © Nina Palazzolo
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Wine and dine your way around these hot places to eat and drink in the District.
The owners of Mt. Vernon Triangle’s French-Chinese restaurant Bar Chinois have expanded to 14th Street with a new fusion concept. Bar Japonais, a French-Japanese Izakaya, has replaced the Spanish restaurant Estadio in Logan Circle. The sleek and sophisticated ambiance has plenty of sharable plate offerings, sushi, crudos, French wine, Sake and cocktails.
From DIY appetizers that pay homage to Spanish chef Rubén García’s abuela Teresa to the family-style entrees of whole fish, pass-the-plate grilled meats and veggie dishes prepared over open flames and oak charcoal, Casa Teresa offers a progressive dining experience unlike anything else in the city. You’ll feel like you’re eating at grandma’s house in the heart of Spain.
© Scott Suchman
If you've enjoyed a trendy evening at the popular Residents Cafe in Dupont Circle, be sure to bop down to Washington Harbour for the same colorful, buzzy vibe and quality craftsmanship with a more global spin. River Club combines flavors from Lebanon, Italy and Spain into a mix of mezze plates and desserts. "Rooted in attainable luxury," the team seeks to maintain a groovy vibe all around, so the patterned paradise proffers funky multilingual tunes and a table service featuring arak (Lebanon), amaro (Italy) or vermut (Spain).
© Chai Pani
Chai Pani, the James Beard Award-winning Indian street food restaurant from Asheville has arrived in the District. Chefs Meherwan Irani and Vishwesh Bhatt have crafted a menu that fuses Indian street food with fresh creations inspired by Vish’s Gujarati heritage and Southern culinary roots.
Perry’s in Adams Morgan has long been a fan-favorite for its community-minded drag brunches, its idyllic yet low-key rooftop and its killer Japanese menu. Yet, in 2022, Chef Masako Morishita began authoring an exciting new chapter in the restaurant’s forty-year story. The first Japanese woman to helm the kitchen, Morishita has refreshed the menu to reflect her adventurous brand of “modern comfort food," including parmesan-topped edamame dumplings, shrimp katsu burgers on potato buns (held together by pink flamingo cocktail picks), udon carbonara and a special Japanese breakfast service. Morishita has been honored by the James Beard Foundation and the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington.
Apapacho
Husband-and-wife team Alam Méndez and Elisa Reyna opened their lively taqueria Apapapacho in La Cosecha, Union Market's hub for Latin food and culture. The spot embodies its name by providing guests an "embrace with the soul" through both hospitality and menu, combining the founders' expertise in traditional Oaxacan cooking and pastry arts. The resulting specialty? Some really memorable tortillas.
The newest restaurant concept from Long Shot Hospitality (the same group behind The Salt Line) is led by critically acclaimed Chef Kristen Essig. Dauphine’s evokes New Orleans in its Cajun-flavored and inspired dishes, served at a convenient location right near the McPherson Square Metro. Expect an elegant yet relaxed environment that will feel like Louisiana in the heart of DC.
Albi
Chef Michael Rafidi pours his heart into his Navy Yard restaurant. That’s no joke, either; Albi literally means “heart” in Arabic, a nod to the chef’s Levantine roots that matches his signature mix of mezze plates and mashawi, dishes cooked over an open flame. Savor Mediterranean staples with a twist, like a saccharine fattoush with pear and cucumber or the sumac bok choy with honey, whipped feta and smoked peanut harissa.
As if you needed more convincing, Chef Rafidi was honored with the 2024 Outstanding Chef Award from the James Beard Foundation.
2Fifty’s second location on K Street in Mount Vernon Triangle touts handcrafted and wood smoked Texas-Style BBQ with what they describe as “a pinch of the tropics.” The pitmaster embraces the “low and slow” method, smoking ethically sourced meats over their specially selected wood for anywhere between six to 14 hours. At communal tables, guests can combine their cut of choice with American classics and Salvadoran favorites like esquites and plantains – for dine-in, take-out or catering.
Mita elevates vegetarian dining with five, seven or 14 courses' worth of plant-based selections. Co-owners Miguel Guerra and Tatiana Mora, who have gained recognition for their other DC spot El Cielo, combine cross-continental South American ingredients with contemporary methods to showcase the versatility of veggies. Aside from crowd-favorite arepas, sample a few staples you may never have tried before – or, enjoy classics in new formats and combinations, like yuca cake or charred banana with barley.
Darvish Kitchen
Masoud Aboughaddreh, known for Greenhouse Bistro and Lima Twist, is thrilled to bring Darvish Kitchen to Connecticut Avenue. With a deep passion for promoting Persian culture and food, Aboughaddreh ensures the space offers an authentic Persian dining experience. The kitchen serves traditional Persian dishes like kabobs and khoresh and desserts such as Persian cream puffs.
