1. The Darcy Hotel
At this Logan Circle property, Marcel’s chef Robert Wiedmaier debuts Siren, a seafood place starring luxe catches such as ivory king salmon and Japanese uni. David Guas (Bayou Bakery) mans the neighboring cafe, Lil’ B, specializing in eats from his native Louisiana. 1515 Rhode Island Ave., NW.
2. The Crab Shack at Fish
José Andrés has transformed the patio of his MGM National Harbor seafood restaurant into a crabhouse specializing in steamed Maryland blues, seafood dogs, and Chesapeake boils—all matched with Spanish cider (it’s José, after all). 101 MGM National Ave., Oxon Hill.
3. Summer Pop-Ups
Everything’s coming up rosé at the pink-umbrella-shaded, riverfront Rosé Garden at Whaley’s (301 Water St., SE). Hill Country Backyard BBQ is back at the National Building Museum with live tunes, ’cue, and brews (401 F St., NW). And it’s tiki time again at Jack Rose’s tropical bar (2007 18th St., NW), where you can sip tropical rum drinks Thursday through Saturday.
4. Maxwell Park
Wine whiz Brent Kroll—formerly of Iron Gate and Adour—goes solo with an ambitious wine bar in a 32-seat Shaw space. Inferno Pizzeria’s Tony Conte designed the menu. 1336 Ninth St., NW.
5. Poke!
Hawaiian poke bowls are booming, with a new wave of restaurants hawking the tartare-like dish. There’s the fast-casual Poké Papa (806 H St., NW), where eclectic DIY options abound; the more traditional Abunai Poke (1920 L St., NW) from a Honolulu native; and Pokéworks (4221 John Marr Dr., Annandale) in the Block, a trendy new food hall.
6. Ladurée
The luxe French patisserie and cafe, founded in 19th-century Paris, lands in Georgetown—the perfect home for designer macarons and $23 salmon club sandwiches. 3060 M St., NW.
7. Cotton & Reed Allspice Dram
This spiced, rum-based spirit is the latest release from DC’s only dedicated rum distillery—and it’s here just in time for tiki season. Find it at local liquor stores or at the distillery (1330 Fifth St., NE) for $35.
8. Sunday Supper at Union Market
On June 4, chefs Traci Des Jardins, Jose Garces, and Douglas Rodriguez headline the all-star culinary lineup at this family-style Latin American dinner. The event benefits the James Beard Foundation’s new program for women in business. Tickets ($250) at unionmarketdc.com.
9. Bar Bao
The people behind DC’s Provision 14 embrace the bao-bun trend with this 5,300-square-foot restaurant. Expect bountiful Chinese steamed buns, of course, alongside cocktails and dumplings. 3100 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington.
10. Sagamore Spirit Distillery
Under Armour founder Kevin Plank is behind this destination-worthy waterfront distillery in Baltimore, which specializes in Maryland-style rye made with local spring water from a sister farm. Tours and tastings daily. 301 E. Cromwell St., Baltimore.
This article appears in the June 2017 issue of Washingtonian.
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.
