Best Places You Don't Know and Need to Go in DC

Hear are some places you may have never heard of and need to go to right now. Literally, get up, loosen your pants and get ready for amazing food across Washington DC.

Unconventional Diner

Its name speaks volumes. Pick a popular diner staple, and David Deshaies has probably tweaked it to some degree of finer in his two-part valentine to comfort food. By day, customers stream into the self-service cafe for delicious breakfast sandwiches, sweets and a chickpea stew so vivid it appears to be auditioning for a magazine cover. Dinner unfolds on the left side of the restaurant, where booths the color of sea foam and walls decorated with graffiti create an eye-catching canvas for food that’s been informed by years of having worked for the masterful Michel Richard, may he RIP. We’re talking elegant, bite-size chicken pot pies; meatloaf that incorporates Gruyere cheese for succulence and Sriracha for a blaze of a glaze; and miso-brushed salmon served with a fan of buttery sliced zucchini. But most of all, we’re talking a chef at the top of his game, doing his own thing and making the masses happy.

The Pig

From the folks behind Logan Tavern and The Heights, The Pig’s got a pork-focused sharing menu and a rustic, general store feel: Frederick-sourced barn wood walls, and an entire bar made from a huge butcher’s block, so — chop chop! — get to drinking on it. Barn wood on the walls matches the hearty barnyard cuisine at this pork-centric New American eatery. Their menu is paired with American crafted cocktails, beer, and wine. We welcome our guests with great hospitality in a comfortable setting. Explore & enjoy the experience.

Maydan

Rose Previte’s trendsetting eatery showcases Caucasian, North African & Middle Eastern cuisines. When you enter our town square—our “Maydān”—they want you to feel a sense of wonder. They want you to forget what you know and be ready to explore. And we’ll be there with you for every bite. You’ll feel like you’ve met new friends—a new family—who will guide you through the square to a table full of dishes. Dips, spreads, salads, condiments, roasted and grilled meats, and seafood coming together in unison. Just remember, there is no wrong way to go about this. Chefs Gerald Addison and Chris Morgan and their staff are in constant motion, as people happily hum and hover over communal tables. As for the food? It’s inspired by the chefs’ globe-trotting travels, and skews Middle Eastern with a colorful bounty of spreads, salads, and kebabs – all of which you’ll want to scoop up with the toasty, pliable flatbreads baked in the Georgian tone ovens. The best part? Everyone – whether you’re vegan, vegetarian, or a meat eater – will find something soul-soothing to tuck into. You’ll want to come back. Often.

Best DC Tees

Fancy Radish

Acclaimed, Philadelphia restaurateurs offer globally flavored, plant-based dishes in chic digs. A Vegetable Restaurant by James Beard nominated Chefs Rich Landau and Kate Jacoby, Fancy Radish offers an exciting new dining experience in the Nation’s Capital. In the heart of the H Street Corridor in NE, the mix of verdant garden and urban industrial creates a vibrant, intimate setting for inventive vegetable cooking. The Bar features natural wines, plenty of craft beers and a creative cocktail list, all selected to compliment the wide range of tastes through the dinner and dessert menus. Fancy Radish currently serves dinner 6 nights a week and will soon add Brunch hours and be available for private parties of various sizes. We look forward to hosting you!

Bresca

Chef Ryan Ratino’s avant-garde, French influenced cooking & modern cocktails in a playful bistro. Unexpected flavors forged from nature and mingled with flourish. Vibrant herbs grown as close to home as it gets (they’re from the rooftop garden). The freshest ingredients responsibly sourced both near and far. This is modern bistronomy—casual fine dining where experimentation becomes the everyday. Experience cuisine that’s constantly evolving in a setting that’s forever inviting. Drink with delight at the bar. Make the menu your own. Let the exploration unfold.

Del Mar

A beautiful Spanish villa-like setting with waterfront views backdrops Basque tapas, grills & wine. Fabio and Maria Trabocchi bring the flair and fare of coastal Spain to the District Wharf in celebration of their family traditions and tastes. Prepare to be dazzled. Located at the District Wharf, DC’s most exciting new destination, is Fabio and Maria Trabocchi’s latest culinary vision. Del Mar is a celebration of Maria, her Spanish heritage, and the family’s traditions created and preserved at their home on the island of Mallorca. Featuring authentic seafood fare and flavors from the coasts of Spain, the robust menu includes tapas, raw bar, charcoal grilled fish, seafood stews, and a variety of rice dishes (yes, paella)!

Chloe

Chef-driven, internationally inspired fare in urbane digs with a hip bar & casual lunch scene. Chloe is a showcase of Chef Haidar Karoum’s personal culinary journey, including his Lebanese roots and extensive travel around Western Europe and Southeast Asia, all grounded in and linked by the seasonal bounties of the Mid-Atlantic. The restaurant is located in Arris, a newly completed building at 1331 4th St. SE in The Yards neighborhood.

Not your pace? Check out some other great places around DC

Now eat, drink and be happy