Discover the Best New Restaurants in Washington D.C.

by The OpenTable Team

Updated October 23, 2019

Best known as the nation’s capital, Washington D.C. forms the hotbed of political action in the United States. This historical city has grown into one of the country’s cultural meccas. D.C. thrives when it comes to museums, arts organizations and sports. With so many attractions, residents and visitors can find no shortage of food options from around the globe, ranging from mom-and-pop shops and authentic ethnic eateries to haute cuisine establishments with Michelin stars. A new restaurant opens up every week in D.C., so how do diners choose? Welcome to the Tastemaker 20. We’ve looked at thousands of restaurants and bars across D.C. to find the favorite places among OpenTable’s expert, seasoned diners. Diners who want a delicious, unforgettable meal should try the best new restaurants in D.C. today. Good luck choosing just one!

Estuary

4.5

4.5 (701)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Penn Quarter

About the restaurant

The Conrad is one of the nicest hotels in D.C. It is also home to one of the best new restaurants in D.C.: Estuary. This stylish, bright eatery features floor to ceiling windows and white and bright red interior touches, so the space feels airy and energized. The menu focuses on seafood, so anyone who loves a coastal meal will enjoy dining here. Diners can eat dishes like tuna tartare, cedar planked scallops, or grilled flounder. For more adventurous eaters looking for an experience, come for the chef’s menu, and let the head of the kitchen prepare his favorite delights.

Top review

Scott

Dined 3 days ago

Wife got the New York Strip and I got the Fried Chicken Sandwich. Both were quite good. Service was excellent. Would come back again.

Discover more

Experience

Christmas Day at Estuary

Experience

New Year's Eve at Estuary

Experience

Ultimate DC Holiday Experience at Estuary Lounge

Zeppelin

4.8

4.8 (730)

$31 to $50

Sushi

Shaw

About the restaurant

Zeppelin is one of the best new restaurants in D.C. and also one of the best Japanese restaurants in the area. This particular take on Japanese food features Yakitori, as well as sushi. Zeppelin has a dark lounge-y atmosphere, and it is a fun place to go for a cocktail at night. Zeppelin also has karaoke after dinner service, so come to show off any singing skills. The restaurant is in the heart of Logan Circle.

Top review

Rome

Dined on Dec 12, 2024

best spicy tuna I’ve ever had. you won’t regret going!!

Discover more

Experience

Every Day Happy Hour

CUT by Wolfgang Puck

4.5

4.5 (603)

$50 and over

Contemporary American

Georgetown

About the restaurant

CUT is a chain of restaurants by Wolfgang Puck. This new D.C. outpost of the celebrated restaurant does not disappoint when it comes to steak and many consider it to be one of the best new restaurants in D.C. Located in the heart of the town’s trendy neighborhood, Georgetown, CUT features a menu of items like Wild Mediterranean Trout, Grilled Maine Diver Scallops, Japanese Pure Breed Wagyu Beef, and Grilled Sonoma Lamb Chops. The restaurant has dark wood, handsome décor with beautiful parquet floors and comfortable plush banquet seating. Diners should consider it for a business meal, a date night, or a celebratory evening on the town.

Top review

SusanVIP

Dined on Dec 14, 2024

Do no post! When I made the reservation on OpenTable I said it was for Peking Duck. I reiterated it in follow up notices. I left 3 messages at the restaurant to be sure we would have it. When we out we were told there had been one and it was gone. It was a 7:00. Reservation. Unacceptable!

Discover more

Popular dish

Tomahawk Ribeye

Experience

Taste of CUT - Prix-Fixe Menu

Experience

Christmas Eve Prix-Fixe Three-Course Dinner

Boqueria - Penn Quarter

4.5

4.5 (545)

$31 to $50

Tapas / Small Plates

Penn Quarter

About the restaurant

There are two locations of Boqueria in D.C.: one in Dupont and one in Penn Quarter. Both feature Spanish tapas and are excellent spots to go out for a festive evening with friends. The tapas menu is wide and varied. Find a selection of vegetables, cheese, charcuterie, seafood, meat, and more. Visitors who come to Boqueria rave about the cocktails and the dimly lit and sleek with minimalist interior.

Top review

Mayra

Dined 3 days ago

Our first time at the restaurant but it won’t be the last. The food is delicious. Even the staple patatas bravas was elevated. Good job!!!

Sushi Hachi

4.6

4.6 (223)

$30 and under

Sushi

Capitol Hill

About the restaurant

For one of the best new restaurants in D.C. and arguably the best sushi in town, head to Sushi Hachi. The concept behind Sushi Hachi is to blend the modern styling of D.C. area restaurants with the quality of fish in classic Asian eateries. The sushi here is incredibly fresh and the menu is large. Visitors can choose from a selection of sushi, sashimi, nigiri, and rolls. There are other Japanese bites on the menu, including snapper miso ceviche, chicken kara-age with onion and zucchini, and grilled octopus poke tuna. Sushi Hachi is between Capitol Hill and the Navy Yard in Central D.C.

Top review

MarikoVIP

Dined 2 days ago

Great food, elegant dishes, great service, reasonable prices, quiet and nice atmosphere, I’ll come back again soon!

North Italia - Washington DC

4.6

4.6 (1693)

$30 and under

Italian

West End

About the restaurant

One of the most exciting new spots for Italian food in D.C. is North Italia. This small chain of Italian restaurants offers fresh Italian dishes made from scratch, including pasta, pizza, protein entrees, and more. The chefs hand-make the pastas here daily, and there is a daily chef-special pizza, in addition to an Italian-focused brunch menu. Diners will find the meals here to be hearty and rustic, so it is a good place to come when comfort is the craving. North Italia is on Penn Ave, in the heart of downtown.

Top review

jamesVIP

Dined 5 days ago

It’s one of my favorite restaurants for Italian food. The pasta is made fresh on the premises. Great food at reasonable prices.

Discover more

matchbox Penn Quarter

4.4

4.4 (574)

$30 and under

American

Penn Quarter

About the restaurant

For a warm, inviting, neighborhood-feeling café, D.C. folks can now flock to Matchbox: one of the town’s most welcoming new restaurants. The menu here has something for everyone, including burgers and fries, salads, appetizers and more. Consider this to be a place for more upscale bar food, where the servers are friendly and always know the regulars’ names.

Top review

JessieVIP

Dined on Dec 15, 2024

Great experience. We had delicious mini burgers and pizza. But what stood out was the host and waitress could not do enough to accommodate us. Will definitely be back!!

Discover more

Experience

Social Hour Food + Drink Specials

CIRCA at Navy Yard

4.7

4.7 (1219)

$30 and under

American

Navy Yard

About the restaurant

At the Navy Yard is another new exciting restaurant: Circa, which is an American restaurant that rotates its menu seasonally. The location of CIRCA is convenient to serve both visitors and locals alike, close to Audi Field, the Capitol Riverfront, and the Nationals Park. The menu here has options like spinach and artichoke dip, petite filet sliders, and fuji apple shrimp salad. The bustling atmosphere here is family-friendly so bring everyone along for a meal.

Top review

JaneVIP

Dined 4 days ago

We had a business luncheon at the restaurant. Everyone enjoyed the fresh food, friendly service and variety of the menu. We will definitely come back.

Discover more

Popular dish

Tuna Poke Nachos

Popular dish

Brioche Bread Pudding

Mazi

4.5

4.5 (734)

$31 to $50

American

Downtown

About the restaurant

For casual dining in a cute and trendy environment, visitors should head to Mazi. This new American restaurant in the heart of Downtown serves lunch and dinner nightly, and they also have a popular happy hour. When diners come here, they can sample dishes like the New York Strip, chicken kebab, or penne pasta prima. There are also vegetarian and vegan options on the menu, so it may be a good place to take any herbivore friends. Mazi bills itself as family-friendly so don’t hesitate to bring the little ones along to dine.

Top review

James

Dined 3 days ago

The waitress was super efficient, attentive, and not pushy. Food was very good and nicely priced.

Discover more

Popular dish

Mediterranean Sea Bass

4.7

4.7 (2407)

$31 to $50

Mediterranean

North Bethesda

About the restaurant

Another one of the best restaurants in North Bethesda is Julii, a French restaurant with a Mediterranean twist. Founded by the masterminds behind Cava, a chain of popular fast-casual restaurants that people love in the D.C. area. Julii serves breakfast lunch and dinner, and the menu has a distinct French bent. Find items like lamb shank tagine, filet mignon, crispy trout, and scallop risotto. Many diners rave about the atmosphere, which is bright and airy, with floor to ceiling windows in the dining room.

Top review

Megan

Dined 2 days ago

This was our first trip to Julii and we had a wonderful experience. Service was quick, friendly and professional. We have the evil eye cocktail and a French 75 - both were delicious and well balanced. We had 4 food items and all were delicious but the Crispy Trout stole the show. The presentation was beautiful and it was one of the best dishes I’ve had at a restaurant, ever. I feel the portion sizes were generous and well worth the price tag. We can’t wait to go back!