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City Cast DC

The latest on the hottest places to eat, drink, socialize, and talk about in Washington, D.C.

Kaela Cote-Stemmermann

The food critic at the Washington Post has long been seen as an all-powerful — and totally anonymous — figure in the local restaurant industry. But the paper’s new critic, Elazar Sontag, is rejecting that anonymity for a more transparent approach. The first thing he did after replacing long-timer 

 was bring back the star review system and introduce himself 

”The work of being anonymous has largely become kind of a theater act,” explained Sontag. “ Sometimes I do get [special] treatment, but I want to be able to talk about it openly and transparently because critics have gotten that treatment for a very long time.”

Since November, Sontag has been eating out seven nights a week to get a sense of he DMV’s food scene. “ I am not trying to pretend that I understand D.C. as well as even [locals] might,” he explained. “I am just offering people a way to see the city and the region anew through my eyes.”

 about D.C.’s changing dining scene, the role of a critic, and the best spots he’s been so far. Below, a list of some superlatives we threw his way.

Best place to go on a third date with someone you want to impress?

“When I really want to impress my partner, who I've been with for closer to five years, I take him to 

…It’s very special and very romantic without feeling too stuffy.”

Best place to take your enemy, someone you can't trust.

. It's a little pasta bar that's standing room only. And I would position myself close to the door, so if they pulled out the butter knife, I could just run.”

] in Vienna serves a dish of century eggs, which are these long-cured eggs in Chinese cuisine that turn black….They're served with crushed chilies, fermented bean curd, and eggplant.”

“It's rare in this line of work that I eat something that feels totally novel and exciting to me. And when that happens, it's like that moment in Ratatouille.”

"The awful thing about a martini is you so rarely remember that you drank it. I had a nice one at 

. It's a great little modern bistro, by the Popal group…Chef Matt Conroy's very talented and it's a very romantic little place for just you and your mother-in-law. If you can get in!”

…there is a Basque cheesecake, which is a pretty wild dish. The center is barely baked. So it's just this lovely layer of cheesecake on the outside. And then at the center, it's this runny, sweet, funky, intense cheese.”

Listen to the full conversation 🎧

DC's Top Food Critic’s Favorite Spots

The latest on the best and newest restaurants and bars in DC. We'll help you find where to eat, drink, and socialize.

DC Food & Drink

Food & Drink

Nothing beats a perfectly balanced sammie. Here are our favorites from around D.C. 

Kaela, Newsletter Editor — Wait, That’s Me!

It’s a breakfast sandwich inside a crunchy, corny, homemade arepa topped with salsa verde; what’s not to love? The Royal also has one of my favorite coffee programs in the city which completes this god-tier meal. 

 I admit this is stretching the idea of what can be considered a sandwich, but the spicy tuna onigiri here is on my weekly rotation. This small Japanese market serves homemade onigiri with various filings for $3 a pop starting at 1:15 p.m., Wednesday - Sunday. 

 — Made with Char siu roast pork, Duke’s Mayo (iykyk), Cantonese-style bok choy, and hot duck sauce, this sandwich is chef's-kiss. Wash it down with a Clarified Orange Julius cocktail (like your best memories at the mall, but better) and the cacio e pepe fries. 

 Not a hot take (it was named one of the named 

 also rules -- bursting with herbs, pickles, feta, and wonderfully messy to eat, to me, it’s perfect. 

 — If it ain't broke, don't fix it. This hoagie is loaded with every meat you could imagine, plus your choice of veggies for $9.50. The bread? A homemade Italian role with a crunchy exterior but pillowy interior. The meats? Salty, fatty, and abundant. 

 — This sandwich clocks in at a full $24 but could feed a family of four (or, if you’re like me, one for several days). Pair that with a little tangy mustard and some pumpernickel and now we're talking.

 — This is my favorite steak and cheese in D.C.! It's got all the cheez wiz goodness of a classic cheesesteak, but with butcher-quality meat to match. Real ball knowers get the hot peppers added to cut through all the ooey-gooey richness. 

 — Kids used to skip school to get this sandwich at lunch (not me!). True eaters will also get another coco bread and beef patty on the side to make a side sandwich. Scotch Bonnet hot sauce is a must. (Silver Spring, Laurel)

The Best Sandwiches In Washington, DC

DC Sandwiches We Love

Sunday is International Women’s Day and we’re celebrating in the best way we know how: food! From culinary legends to rising stars, here are eight women who are shaping D.C.’s restaurant scene with everything from pastries to pulao.

Chef Shamim Popal and her family fled Afghanistan when the Soviet Union invaded in the 1980s, 

. Despite having no formal culinary training, she opened a successful restaurant group alongside her husband and children, which includes 

. Popal still runs the kitchen at Lapis where she whips up delicious, healthy, home-style Afghan food.

 to be on the Washington Commanders cheerleading team, where she worked for five years (even becoming captain) before getting into cooking. “I learned a lot of relevant skills as captain because it was all about managing the team,” says Morishita. She took over 

 in Adams Morgan in 2024, quickly turning the local spot into a critically-acclaimed destination for Japanese comfort food.

Amy Brandwein is a eight-time James Beard Award-nominated chef and mastermind behind D.C.’s contemporary Italian mainstay Centrolina. She is also a strong advocate for women in the industry and a legend in D.C.’s food scene. Centrolina has 100% female leadership. If you swing by, 

 their daily homemade pasta and the tuna crudo.

Before opening her first restaurant, Compass Rose, 

 spent three years traveling to over 30 countries. Now, she is the chef and owner of some of D.C.’s most acclaimed restaurants, including the 

Paola Velez is an award-winning D.C.-based pastry chef and the author of “Bodega Bakes.” You may recognize her from shows like “The Today Show” and “What Am I Eating." She runs the desert program at Providencia on H St. NE and started the movement 

. She told us her style is “whimsical, playful Americana foods — bursting with sazon and Latino flavors.”

Seng Luangrath (Thip Khao, Padaek, Baan Mae)

I, like many Washingtonians, am a Seng Luangrath fan girl. Luangrath is personally responsible for the takeoff of D.C.’s Laotian food scene. 

 during the Vietnam War and learned to cook in a Thai refugee camp before coming to D.C. and opening 

 in 2014 with unapologetically Lao dishes that got national attention.

Panamanian chef Jovana Urriola spent time as a private chef for actor Owen Wilson  and competing in "Top Chef" before coming to D.C. to revamp 

. She specializes in Latin American cuisine with a Panamanian touch. On her off days 

Known as the Julia Child of Persian cooking, 

 was born and raised in Iran before moving to the U.S. in 1983. Her multiple cookbooks have won dozens of awards and The New York Times declared her one of “seven immigrant women who changed the way Americans eat.” She now brings her recipes to life at her restaurant 

From culinary legends to rising stars, here are eight women who are shaping D.C.’s restaurant scene this International Women's Day. 

Meet the Female Chefs Shaping DC’s Culinary Scene

Welcome to our rolling list of all the best new restaurants opening in the District!

Two new homestyle Italian spots are opening on opposite sides of D.C. this month along with a Korean-American cafe and a meaty revamp of José Andrés’ Waldorf Astoria restaurant.

Is that *sniff* Parmesan? Two new homestyle Italian spots are opening on opposite sides of D.C. this month along with a Korean-American cafe and a meaty revamp of José Andrés’ Waldorf Astoria restaurant.

 inside the Canopy Hotel at The Wharf. Housemade pastas, Neapolitan pizzas, fresh grilled fish, and sunny spritzes are all served in a bright open dining room meant to resemble a quaint Italian piazza. And the floor to ceiling windows and views of the water do

 like Venice. I’m begging you, don’t skip the tiramisu for dessert.

 Bazaar Meat is replacing his other restaurant, The Bazaar, in the Waldorf Astoria. The menu is centered around premium cuts and theatrical dining. Think bone-in New York strip, Japanese Wagyu, and even a whole suckling pig for those looking to dine communally. Signature Bazaar dishes — like the cotton candy foie gras and caviar cone — will remain on the menu alongside a jamón bar, raw bar, and cocktail program.

Downtown office workers everywhere cried when Poppabox closed last year. But now from the ashes comes this all-day 

 with bibimbap, cup noodles, katsu, and cream donuts. They are soft-launching until March 10 before opening officially.

 that opened late last month serves Chinese-style breakfast sandwiches and congee in the morning and transforms into a disco parlor with full plates at night. Get the roast duck or the honey char siu along with $12 specialty cocktails under the spinning disco ball.

Opened by a former banker, nothing costs more than $30 at this 

 — including the steak. Nick Perkins, formerly of Petite Cerise, leads the kitchen and the concise menu is full of comforting classics like Caesar salad, rigatoni, and bread pudding. The drink menu is mostly different takes on negronis and spritzes, because what else do you need?

A love letter to the streets of Bombay, steel plates clink and chai simmers endlessly at 

this new Indian street food spot in Alexandria

. The menu features bhel puri, vada pav, and layered chaats, alongside classics like butter chicken and biryani. The interior screams 90s with Bollywood posters lining the walls and fried dishes served in newspaper.

While some people have a “TBR" (to be read) list , I have a “TBE” (to be eaten) list , and this month it is absolutely stacked. From Nikkei-style hand rolls to celeb cocktail bars to pour-over coffee, these are D.C. best new spots to try.

This moody, 25-seat counter restaurant by Chef Carlos Delgado of Causa specializes in Nikkei-style hand rolls — a Japanese immigrant-inspired cuisine from Peru. Think cigar-sized handrolls with fillings like ceviche, fatty tuna, and scallops with parmesan sauce. It opens on Feb. 20 and is primarily walk-in only.

Opening Feb. 8 at La Cosecha, this cocktail bar is the brainchild of actor Wilmer Valderrama (from “That '70s Show”) and Colada Shop co-founder Daniella Senior. It draws inspo from Latin American traditions and communal hospitality and will serve complimentary hangover soup at last call.

This new cafe refers to itself as a “neighborhood salon.” By day it is a sun-lit cafe serving Swing’s coffee and pastries from Souk. Then after 4 p.m. it turns into a cocktail bar. Currently only the cafe is open, with bar operations coming soon.

Inspired by Cranes’ sold-out taco omakase collab, Chef Pepe Moncayo is transforming Cranes into a high-energy taqueria by day. The casual lunch menu combines Spanish and Japanese flavors into tacos like chicken karaage with napa cabbage and togarashi crema, garlic shrimp a la plancha with chili oil, and koji-marinated skirt steak with salsa macha and lime. If you go between 11-11:45 a.m. you get a free taco!

Real D.C. coffee snobs know Black Crown has been pumping out the best espresso on Capitol Hill for a while, but their gorgeous new cafe space on the 2nd floor of the Cannon House Office Building has brought it to a new level. You 

have to pass security to get in. But, it’s worth it.

Located above Sushi Sato, this cocktail and karaoke lounge has $1 dumplings after midnight to keep the party going. Cocktails include a matcha martini, a miso whiskey sour, and a deadly long Thailand iced tea.

Aka the Bitcoin bar (don’t worry, they also take card), this part dive bar, part tech hub is one of the oddest establishments we’ve been to. The massive space hosts two bars, a huge stage, a podcast studio, and bitcoin think tank offices. The drinks are strong and everything is fried in beef tallow.

January is a notoriously slow month for D.C.’s restaurant scene, but there are still a few great new places to check out, including showy steakhouses, a bitcoin bar, and several additional locations of D.C. favorites.

This massive new Gaúcho-style restaurant features traditional flavors from southern Brazil. Choose from different fire-roasted cuts of beef, lamb, or pork carved tableside as part of the price-fixed experience. They also have more untraditional options like bacon-wrapped chicken breasts, beer marinated chicken drumsticks, or grilled shrimp finished with a passionfruit and mango glaze.

Have you ever eaten at a Japanese-Brazilian steakhouse? Me neither, but I’m excited to try. One of the first of its kind in the country, Churasuko combines Japanese and Brazilian dishes with options like tableside shaved wagyu and sashimi, Brazilian cheese bread with gochujang, seafood towers, and fusion cocktails.

This will be the fourth and largest location of this female-founded, Mexican street food joint. Besides their classic cemitas, tlayudas, and tacos, this location will also have new items like a steak trompo and a lineup of house-made paletas. The bar includes a Mexican-inspired espresso martini and the “Mai Horcha-Tai,” a tiki cocktail with Mexican spirits and house-made horchata orgeat. Yum.

Fast-casual NYC chain Springbone Kitchen opened its first D.C. location in Georgetown in December. The menu includes grain bowls with housemade hot sauce, but the highlight is definitely the plethora of cozy bone broths that come in potable coffee cups. My favorite thing I got there was the bone broth hot chocolate. Don’t knock it til you try it.

This unassuming tavern — dubbed D.C.’s crypto bar — is 50% dive bar, 50% crypto think tank, and 100% nightmare first date spot. The tallow-fried bar menu includes burgers, half-smokes, and chopped cheese sandwiches, crab cakes and a $100 tiki drink only purchasable through bitcoin. But the cocktails are admittedly good, and it does open at 11 a.m.

JINYA is opening yet another D.C. location next week, but it’s okay because we can’t get enough. Rich ramen broths, dumplings, creative cocktails, and affordable prices make it a welcome addition to the Georgetown food scene.

Logan Circle standby wine bar just opened a new location in Cleveland Park with their famous avocado toast, outrageous charcuterie spreads, and a wine list as long as your arm.

Restaurant openings are slowing down as we approach the holidays, but there are still some gems, including an already beloved neighborhood bar, a build your own pasta joint, and the return of Compass Rose’s legendary khachapuri.

There is nothing more comforting than a classic neighborhood joint, and 

 does this really, really well. Cozy leather booths, classic cocktails, and an eight-ounce cheeseburger that can compete with D.C.’s best. “I want to be [Shaw’s] ‘Cheers,’” 

When Compass Rose closed back in May, I was inconsolable. But restaurateur 

 is back with a new cafe concept in the same space. Previte says 

 is a “more grown-up version of Compass Rose,” where people can hang out, work, or grab coffee and breakfast. And most importantly, khachapuri is back on the menu. Currently only open for breakfast and lunch.

Call Your Mother finally has some competition. 

 just opened its second location in Mt. Pleasant beside La Tejana. (Sadly, it hasn’t made a dent in breakfast taco spots’ weekend lines.) Definitely go for one of their breakfast sandwiches, they are generous with the lox.

The owners of Midlands and Ivy and Coney just opened this 

 inside an old Walter Reed mechanic shop. Big garage doors open onto a lawn where the menu includes Chicago-style tavern pizzas, halfsmokes, hot toddy’s, and homemade soda.

Ingle Korean Steakhouse (14th St. Corridor)

 is opening their second location, this time in D.C. at the former Nama Ko space. The D.C. location, which will be overseen by James Jang of Donbury, will focus on prix-fixe menus and specialty cuts from American wagyu farms. Besides beef, the menu also has a variety of traditional Korean dishes like doenjang jjigae, chilled buckwheat noodles, and octopus salad.

 specializes in made-to-order pasta with shapes I’ve never heard of and sauces from pesto to arrabbiata. Throw in a cannoli and a bottled Aperol spritz and you’ve got yourself a perfect evening.

D.C. is getting another karaoke bar (never enough, if you ask me). 

 in National Harbor with 24 futuristic private karaoke rooms, family entertainment, and even weekend brunch. Some of the rooms can host up to 40 people, essentially your own private club.

Welcome to our rolling list of all the best new restaurants opening in Washington, DC!

Washington, DC's Best New Restaurants and Bars

DC's Best New Restaurants and Bars

Gone are the days when being gluten free meant being stuck with rice krispies at every birthday party. Whether you’re fully gluten-free or just gluten-curious, the DMV is actually stacked with bakeries that refuse to compromise on flavor or texture. No more hockey-puck muffins, just really, 

✨ What Makes a Good Gluten-Free Bakery?

For us, the best spots balance pastry structure and moisture without that gritty rice-flour aftertaste. We want to see baked goods that are tender, flavorful, and indistinguishable from their gluten-filled counterparts. Bonus points for dedicated gluten-free kitchens (no cross-contamination anxiety) and creative, not just compensatory, baking.

Sweet Crimes is the Capitol Hill neighborhood hero. Their cupcakes are impossibly fluffy, the cinnamon rolls are gooey in the center, and the sandwich bread actually holds together (a rare feat). It’s the kind of place that makes you double-check the “gluten-free” label because it tastes too good to be true.

Cinnamon sugar donut holes or the Mexican brownie.

This gluten-free bread pop-up has — hand on heart — the best bread I've ever had, gluten free or otherwise. The texture is soft but not gummy and doesn’t dry out after the first day. It’s available at the Bloomingdale Farmer’s Market and 

This D.C. stalwart has stuck around for a reason. They have consistently solid sweet treats, reasonable prices, and a convenient location. The scones and sandwiches are a highlight for me, as are their rotating seasonal treats (hello, 

). Many sweets are also free of dairy, nuts, and soy.

Short rib ravioli, fresh-made fat rigatoni, cups of tiramisu — the menu at this gluten-free pop up will have you drooling. Say Vrai supplies a lot of local restaurants with gluten free pasta, so you know it’s the best of the best. They have a storefront in Damascus but you can also find them at some local farmers markets, including Dupont and Arlington.

If there is one thing worth hauling yourself to Virginia for, it’s gluten-free crepes, and they’re plentiful at the Happy Tart, which specializes in French-inspired pastries. The quiches are buttery, the crepes delicate, and behind the counter are dozens of colorful tarts. It also has a charming dining room, unlike most of these spots which are grab-and-go only.

A gluten-free quiche slice or chocolate tart.

This family-run bakery is one of the area’s OG gluten-free bakeries and has everything you could ever need. I usually go for an egg sandwich on a buttermilk biscuit with a coffee and donut on the side. But their sweet treat selection rotates daily and often features dairy-free and vegan items as well. You can also order a whole GF cake!

Okay, not a bakery — but hear me out. Not many places do gluten-free pizza well and Emmy Squared’s gluten-free Detroit-style pizza crust is shockingly good, thick with crispy edges and a pillowy interior. If you’re craving a more savory treat, this hits the spot.

The Best Gluten Free Bakeries In the DMV

 (who knew the DMV’s best momos were in a Liberty Gas Station?), so we’re back with another list of incredible food being served in the most unsuspecting places. From a liquor store serving Indian street food to a dry cleaner pressing paninis, these are the DMV best bites you would never find from the street.

 hosts an unexpectedly delicious Ethiopian carry-out restaurant with juicy sambusas and generous platters of tibs, doro wat, and varying kinds of firfir. In the market itself you can buy Ethiopian ingredients and specialties like injera, spices, and snacks.

This market’s best sellers are Tito’s, Corona, and handmade samosas, in that order. Head to the counter in the back of this liquor store for 

 like bread pakoras, samosas, and specialty sandwiches. All with a side of beer, naturally.

Go inside the Foxhall Square shopping complex, then go inside a grocery store and you’ll find a 

 with amazing homemade goodies. Think fresh baklava, warm meat pies, and juicy kabobs. On your way out, grab some specialty sweets and spices from the grocery.

Black Crown Coffee Collective (Capitol Hill)

 has been pumping out the best espresso on Capitol Hill for a while, but their gorgeous new cafe space on the 2nd floor of the Cannon House Office Building has brought it to a new level. You 

have to pass security to get in. But it’s worth it.

Sarah’s Market and Dry Cleaners (Georgetown)

 serving scrumptious paninis, coffee, and salads. It's a light and refreshing local spot in an area filled with tourist-pleasing fast casual options.

. The matcha is dark green and whisked to microfoam-perfection every time. The espresso is consistently great and they have lots of fun homemade syrups like pandan and lavender.

Tucked behind a little red door on the side of the United House of Prayer For All People is one of the 

 Breakfast and lunch is served cafeteria style and you’ll get loaded up with piles of candied yams, collards, and fried fish — all for less than $15. Go on Friday for the massive crab cakes.

 in the center of Takoma Park has everything you need, from surprisingly good Jamaican patties to daily specials to necessities and groceries.

What Are Your Favorite DMV Eats Hidden In Plain Sight?

From a liquor store serving Indian street food to a dry cleaner pressing paninis, these are the DMV best bites you would never find from the street.

8 Perfect DMV Restaurants Hiding in Plain Sight

8 Perfect DMV Bites Hiding in Plain Sight

D.C. punches above its weight when it comes to regional cuisine — from 

. Now, Chef Carlos Delgado — of acclaimed Peruvian restaurants Causa and Amazonia — is adding another to the portfolio, D.C.’s first nikkei-style hand roll restaurant, opening Feb. 20.

 is a 25-seat counter in Eastern Market that will specialize in Japanese-Peruvian cuisine, also known as nikkei (knee-kay) cuisine. “ This is to teach people that [nikkei] cuisine exists in Peru and it's just part of the bigger umbrella that is Peruvian food,” said Delgado. Even the name of the restaurant is a hat tip to the Sakura Maru, a ship which brought the first Japanese immigrants to Peru.

Located in a tiny row house, this dimly lit, first-come first serve restaurant feels both uniquely D.C. and also transportive. Despite its small size, every aspect of the design is intentional, from the 3D printed octopus chopstick holders to the Peruvian-made ceramics Delgado helped design to a massive hand-painted ceiling mural (also an octopus!).

The menu centers on made-to-order handrolls, which diners can order via a paper dim sum menu and are meant to be eaten immediately. One roll is a play on classic Peruvian ceviche. “ It's a roll that tastes like ceviche. But we're not using lime, it's more about Japanese ingredients like dashi and soy sauce,” says Delgado. Others feature dry-aged fish, grilled scallops with parmesan, fatty tuna, and (of course) octopus.

Delgado recommends ordering around six per person with most rolls ranging between $7 and $13. “I wanted to provide that same high-end experience [as Causa], but for a lower ticket price,” said Delgado. He specified that he hopes it becomes a spot locals can frequent for a quick meal before continuing their night.

Delgado is also reserving a few seats each night for the “Maru Experience,” a high-end tasting experience of about 15 courses for $115 per person. The menu will include seasonal ingredients and more experimental nikkei dishes beyond just handrolls.

At first, Maru San will only be open for dinner Thursday through Monday, but there are plans to expand to lunch and dinner seven days a week. The restaurant is first-come, first-served, with the exception of four seats for the “Maru Experience,” which is currently booked through April.

😋 Inside Scoop: Where In DC Is Chef Delgado Eating?

Some of Delgado’s favorites come from D.C. chef power couple Matt Conroy and Isabel Coss, including 

 in Georgetown. For something sweet he swears by 

 in Riverdale. “It’s delicious, they do a good job of everything that I've tried,” said Delgado.

Maru San Brings Nikkei Hand Rolls To Eastern Market

Vegan food doesn’t have to be bland, and it 

 doesn’t have to be healthy. Here are our 10 favorite vegan spots in D.C. for everything from cheap fast food to fine dining to donuts.

 feels like dining in someone's kitchen. They serve the best dosas in D.C. with fillings like mysore masala, curried spinach, and paneer. The majority of the dishes are entirely vegan but leave you so full you can barely finish them.

 is totally out of place in Clarendon, but they serve some of the best vegan fast food. Dig into vegan fried chick’n, burgers, or grilled cheese with sides like eggplant fries and loaded tater tots. If you’re not vegan, you can request dairy cheese.

., where the donuts are fluffy and fresh. For your first time, stick with the bestsellers like Boston cream, blueberry cake, and French toast. They are perfection.

, composed completely of vegetables and oysters (which vegans often allow because they lack a central nervous system). He also runs a sustainable, eco-friendly kitchen — reusing food scraps and oyster shells and even using electric stoves, 

 is worth the drive from D.C. During the pandemic, co-owner Lan Tran gained experience cooking in a Buddhist temple (famously plant-based) and has brought her learnings to the kitchen at Chay. The menu is almost all vegan (with a couple vegetarian exceptions) and has everything from bun bo hue and hot pot to favorites like curry noodles and pad thai.

, this spot is a far cry from your classic leafy vegan spot. Try their country fried steak or crab cakes and you’ll know what I mean. The Alexandria location is the best in my opinion.

 in Takoma isn’t technically plant-based, but you can ask for their vegan menu that has creative takes on their classics using ingredients like mushrooms, cactus, cashew crema, and pumpkin seeds.

Eating here is like dining in a chic rainforest. They have a large herbaceous drink menu, and we love the King Trumpet Calamari, which is actually fried mushroom. For mains, the Chianti-Braised Jackfruit was rich, hearty, and beautifully plated. 

 has a Michelin star. You choose between two different tasting menus, or a (slightly) cheaper 4-course prix fixe bar menu. Items include creative arepas, mole, and miso pineapple mousse.

Despite now only having one location in Takoma, 

 is still a D.C. institution. They have every dessert you can imagine, but vegan. They also have a wide variety of gluten free and nut free deserts, a breakfast menu (hello challah french toast 😏), and plenty of themed goodies around the holidays.

More vegan recs from Tom Sietsema! 

DC’s 10 Best Vegan Restaurants 

We’ve visited hundreds of D.C. restaurants this year for work or pleasure. That’s a lot of dishes, but we do have our standouts that have lived in our minds rent free. Without further ado, here were our team's most memorable bites of 2025.

It’s no secret that Pastry Chef Susan Bae is D.C.’s dessert queen — I mean she literally won this year’s 

 from 50 Best. As someone with a big sweet tooth, this dish convinced me that the best desserts actually should be a little savory. The pandan panna cotta base makes for a luxurious bite, while the coconut granite and salty seaweed sit on top as a refreshing palette cleanser that keeps you going back for more. 

, visually stunning, and positively worth an extra trip. [Kaela Cote-Stemmermann, Newsletter Editor]

Pizza with a perfectly blistered crust and melty cheese? Check. Buffalo wings with cool ranch and shredduce? Double check. Chef and owner Rachael Jennings created the best kind of monster here — 

 topped with spicy chicken and all your favorite burger toppings. Funky pizza is a big leap from her background at 

(RIP), but somehow it all comes together to create one of the best pies in the city. Plus, during Wednesday's happy hour, select pizzas are half off. [Julia Karron, Senior Producer]

Tucked away in D.C.’s northernmost corner is 

Food & Drink

DC's Top Food Critic’s Favorite Spots

DC Sandwiches We Love

Meet the Female Chefs Shaping DC’s Culinary Scene

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