Between the hurricane, the election, and planning your
Thanksgiving
feast, you may have missed the flurry of restaurants opening in
the past few weeks.
Washington is booming with new places to eat and drink, from
casual spots to special-occasion
destinations and one-of-a-kind concepts. Browse the list below,
get hungry (or thirsty)
viewing the delicious pictures from our talented photographers,
and then get out there
and start your weekend.
Never heard of a “philanthropub?” Well neither had we until this U Street spot debuted,
with profits from sales on booze and food going to a number of charitable organizations.
Now there’s one more way to wake up with a less-guilty conscience on Sunday.
We don’t usually think deli for dinner, but then again, Washington hasn’t seen a Jewish
deli offering house-made pastrami and matzo-ball soup alongside creative cocktails.
Chef
Barry Koslow (formerly of Tallula
and Eatbar)
and his team whip up all that and more in their days-old Dupont spot; look for brunch
in the coming weeks.
Though the new Georgetown waterfront ice
rink
doesn’t open until Monday, you can sit and stare at the frozen
stuff from the heated
patio of this Founding
Farmers
sibling. Tiki-themed cocktails, tableside growlers, and an
array of pizzas are just
the start of the extensive menu.
We got early details
on this swanky spot in the Melrose Hotel, which brings more seasonal plates to the
West End from chef
Nate Lindsay.
Leek American Bistro
With the soft-opening phase behind them, this Ballston newcomer is primed for its
grand debut on Friday. Expect a celebratory vibe, with menu specials, wine discounts,
and a complimentary mimosa or Bloody for locals during Saturday and Sunday brunch.
After a series of
delays,
José Andrés’s most ambitious Washington mini restaurant returns
with a full remodel,
more seats, and a higher price tag (up to $225 from $150). You
probably can’t get
for the weekend, but you can start trying.
Impress a date at this tasting menu-only spot from
Komi
alum
Johnny Spero, tucked into a cozy, brick-walled
dining room above Acqua Al
2.
Bonus: You won’t have to agonize over ordering decisions, as
they’re slim to none
in the four- and eight-course menus.
Taan
The ramen craze continues with the addition of a
second noodle-slurping spot in Adams
Morgan (you can read about the first, Sakuramen, and others
here.
In addition to the steaming bowls, we’ve stopped in for tasty
bao buns and fried green tomatoes with
uni hollandaise.
Thirsty in Alexandria? Head to this reinvented space attached to the Westin Hotel
for classic cocktails from a PX
alum, plus hearty pub dishes such as seafood-studded mac and cheese.
Vino Volo
After delays due to Hurricane Sandy, your favorite airport wine bar lifts off in Bethesda
on Friday afternoon. You’ll find small plates and plenty of wine by the glass and
bottle, with the added perk that you can now just chug multiple goblets for fun rather
than to soothe your traveling nerves.
Robert Wiedmaier debuts his latest eatery on Friday night, a casual, Mediterranean-influenced
spot in Bethesda’s Wildwood shopping center. Those looking for a lighter start to
a weekend night can head over for dishes cooked without butter or cream.
and Takeout Food
If a fried chicken biscuit with bacon and honey butter sounds like a dream, then make
it a reality at the latest downtown spot from
Jeff Buben (Vidalia,
Bistro Bis).
The sit-down restaurant’s adjoining takeout deli is only open weekdays, but you can
head to the dining room or the bar for equally comforting eats like barbecue shrimp
and grits.
Anna Spiegel covers the dining and drinking scene in her native DC. Prior to joining Washingtonian in 2010, she attended the French Culinary Institute and Columbia University’s MFA program in New York, and held various cooking and writing positions in NYC and in St. John, US Virgin Islands.
