Kebabs from Kirby Club in Washington, D.C.

Written by Adele Chapin

Dining Out

The Ultimate Washington DC Dining Guide | Listen

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Best Chef: Rose Previte

Kirby Club, Compass Rose, Medina, and Maydan – Fairfax, Logan’s Circle

Rose Previte of Kirby Club, Compass Rose, Medina, and Maydan in Washington, D.C.

A lifetime of travel—including a trip along the 6,000-mile route of the Trans-Siberian Railway—helped inspire Washington, D.C. chef Rose Previte’s constellation of restaurants, each showing off flavors from the Middle East, the Caucuses, North Africa, and beyond. Whether it’s via kebabs at Kirby Club, khachapuri (cheesy Georgian bread) at Compass Rose, or absinthe tea service at cocktail bar Medina, Previte wants to create spaces where friends can make memories through food. In fact, the name of her acclaimed, wood-fired restaurant sums up her mission: Maydan translates to “gathering place” in Arabic. Along the way, Previte has also hosted a TV show, written a cookbook, launched a wine company, and rolled out her own olive oil.

Hearty salads with fresh fruit from Medina in Washington, D.C.

Rose Previte’s Washington, D.C. Recommendations

Anju, Adams Morgan

A “neighborhood and industry favorite” for Korean cuisine.

The Red Hen, Bloomingdale

If you’re a DC local, this is a classic and a staple. Get the rigatoni!

Centrolina and Piccolina, Downtown

Female-owned, modern Italian with bread and baked goods and rotating specials to die for.

Hank’s Oyster Bar, Old Town, The Wharf, Dupont Circle

Don’t miss the OG location in Dupont, but if you want to be by the water, the Wharf location is a vibe.

Lapis, Adams Morgan

Afghan and family owned; plated to shar; makes you feel like you’re at a fancy meal at your favorite aunt’s house.

Best Mixologist: Dante Datta

Daru, H Street

At self-described “Indian-ish” restaurant Daru on H Street in Washington, D.C., co-owner and beverage director Dante Datta gets inspired by melding contemporary techniques with classic drinks from the golden era of cocktails. Of course, his drinks are very on-theme for Daru—like an Indian take on a gimlet with plum cordial, Amrut Nilgiris India dry gin, and buttermilk whey. Ingredients like garam masala, cumin, coriander, or tamarind are often mixed with unique spirits made both locally and as far-flung as Nepal. It’s a formula that’s working: since opening in 2021, Daru’s racked up national press, and Datta and co-owner Suresh Sundas are behind a new H Street spot called Tapori inspired by freewheeling street markets.

Dante Datta’s Washington, D.C. Recommendations

Press Club, Dupont Circle

A beautiful clean space inspired by the record bars of Tokyo, with exquisite cocktails.

Suns Cinema, Mount Pleasant

An independent movie theater and cocktail bar [where cofounder] David Cabrera specializes in a really long amaro list and pours the Chicago drink Malört.

Providencia, H Street

We did a pop-up with them on election night; it was nice for us all to be together.

Albi, Navy Yard

Chef Michael Rafidi uses live fire, grilling meat and vegetables, and I love the fact that you can turn it into a more upscale tasting menu or you can go for comfort food.

The Pug, H Street

This H Street dive bar has been around for [more than] 15 years; it’s a great place for locals.

Moon Rabbit, Penn Quarter

I had my birthday meal at Moon Rabbit and tried flavors that I hadn’t had before, really. I just sat there staring at them, thinking, “How they come up with this?”

Best of: Washington, D.C.

Best New Restaurant: Pascual, Capitol Hill

One of the toughest tables to snag right now has to be a seat in Pascual’s tiny dining room, where chips and guac is elevated to an art form (think tostadas arriving on a lazy Susan accented by little dishes of smoked papaya, salsa macha, and more). Chefs Matt Conroy and Isabel Coss charmingly channel Mexico City in this new spot run by The Popal Group.

Best Tried and True: Perry’s, Adams Morgan

How often does a restaurant celebrating its 40th birthday become a buzzy dining destination? At Perry’s in Adams Morgan, new chef Masako Morishita is scooping up awards and transforming the menu with unique Japanese comfort food like udon carbonara.

Prettiest Croissants: Rose Avenue Bakery, Woodley Park

The pastries at year-old Rose Avenue Bakery in Woodley Park make up a technicolor rainbow, thanks to flavors from Asia like ube, pandan, and matcha. Croissants dressed up with passion fruit curd or s’mores filling are incredibly photogenic, as are the doughnuts, cakes, cookies, savory buns, and breakfast sandwiches.

Best Brunch With Your Pup: Shilling Canning Company, Navy Yard

Dogs are welcome outside at this Navy Yard restaurant devoted to seasonal Mid-Atlantic cuisine; in fact, the staff rolls out the red carpet for four-legged friends with treats and water at the ready. Humans will appreciate the patio lined with garden boxes and menu options like decadent country ham biscuits.

Best Food Hall: The Square, Downtown

An acclaimed Spanish restaurant, fancy sushi counter, New York-style pizza outpost, taco shop slinging beef quesabirria, wine shop/market, kombucha bar, and more all come together under one roof (or rather a glassy atrium) at this new downtown food hall.

Most Creative Burger: Joia Burger, Mount Pleasant

Chef Patrice Cleary branched out from Mount Pleasant’s popular Filipino restaurant Purple Patch with a burger shop up the street. Joia specializes in special sauce-slathered smashburgers—order up to three Wagyu patties topped with gooey cheese and lettuce, tomato, and pickle mixed up slaw-style.

Most Iconic Dive Bar: Tune Inn, Capitol Hill

Times change, but Capitol Hill’s Tune Inn stays the same, right down to the wood-paneled walls, jukebox, and taxidermized creatures hung throughout. Owned by the Nardelli family since 1947, the bar opens at 8 a.m. for steak and eggs.

Coolest Omakase: Dear Sushi, Chinatown

Try dueling new-school and old-school nigiri on the omakase menu of Dear Sushi, housed within downtown Japanese food hall Love, Makoto. Think king salmon accented with traditional ponzu and sakura salt along with more imaginative pairings like shisho tapenade and shaved truffle.