Eater writers and editors always get the same question. Friends, family, acquaintances, and randos all want to know, “Where should I eat right now?” That’s where the Eater Heatmap enters the conversation, pointing diners toward the most intriguing or otherwise buzzy new restaurants in the D.C. area. This list considers restaurants that have been open for six months or less. For the hottest new bars in D.C., go here. And for our map of the region’s 38 essential restaurants, go here.
The Best New Restaurants Around D.C., August 2026
Where to find fabulous sandwiches, meze, thin-crust pizza, and more
New to the list: The Grace, for polished comfort foods in Shaw; Ayat, for NYC’s best Palestinian restaurant now on Pennsylvania Avenue; Rosa’s Diner, for all-day breakfast with Latin flair downtown; and La Merna, for Chicago-style tavern pies and cool vibes in Dupont.
And for this latest monthly refresh of our heatmap, we take off: Boulevard, Marv’s Dogs, and Al Toque.
The Best New Restaurants Around D.C., August 2026
Where to find fabulous sandwiches, meze, thin-crust pizza, and more
Eater writers and editors always get the same question. Friends, family, acquaintances, and randos all want to know, “Where should I eat right now?” That’s where the Eater Heatmap enters the conversation, pointing diners toward the most intriguing or otherwise buzzy new restaurants in the D.C. area. This list considers restaurants that have been open for six months or less. For the hottest new bars in D.C., go here. And for our map of the region’s 38 essential restaurants, go here.
New to the list: The Grace, for polished comfort foods in Shaw; Ayat, for NYC’s best Palestinian restaurant now on Pennsylvania Avenue; Rosa’s Diner, for all-day breakfast with Latin flair downtown; and La Merna, for Chicago-style tavern pies and cool vibes in Dupont.
And for this latest monthly refresh of our heatmap, we take off: Boulevard, Marv’s Dogs, and Al Toque.
Emma’s Torch
Originally a much smaller operation in Brooklyn that has grown to multiple locations in New York, this 4,500-square-foot Silver Spring cafe and training center teaches culinary skills to refugees, asylum seekers, and survivors of human trafficking. The nonprofit’s new flagship will help to give financial independence to over 185 students from over 75 countries each year, while serving classic breakfast fare like egg-and-cheese biscuit sandwiches, avocado toast, and pastries like smoked cheddar broccoli tarts and cinnamon buns. A vast array of brunch options includes brown butter pancakes and vegan chickpea shakshuka, plus the cafe also offers catering services.
Tenleytown Provisions
After hitting the market a year ago, Tenleytown institution Steak n Eggs is officially done. In its place is Tenley Provisions, which opened in June with three restaurants under one roof: fast-casual crepe cafe Sofie’s; Bistro Metzger, a polished comfort foods spot led by Wolfgang Puck alum Colin Graham; and El Jefe Woodfired Pizza.
Tenleytown Provisions
Rye Bunny
Jon Sybert and Jill Tyler, the fine dining vets behind Adams Morgan’s Michelin-starred favorite Tail Up Goat (which closed in December after a decade), turned the same tucked-away real estate into a counter-service spot with room for 84. Named for the couple’s two adopted dogs, Rye Bunny highlights Sybert’s calling cards (produce-heavy, seasonal, mid-Atlantic) in a more casual format. Opening options include half-fried bobo chicken and Sunday ragu, plus a wine list from beverage director Audrey Dowling (with a $35 corkage fee for dine-in guests, too). Tail Up Goat’s stark canvas underwent a full-blown transformation by Edit at Streetsense, complete with folk-art influences, stained-glass partitions, antique wooden chairs, and punches of color in plum, mustard, and maroon.
Scott Suchman
Kathmandu
Named for the capital of Nepal, the anticipated D.C. cocktail bar and tapas spot Kathmandu opened in early May, augmenting the city’s growing collection of Himalayan-influenced culinary options. At the copper bar, Barmini alum José Cox stirs cocktails like a clarified mango lassi, the Lychee Phool martini, a fat-washed espresso martini, and the spiced Himalayan Old Fashioned to go along with a tapas menu of masala crabcakes, wheat noodles with super-spicy minced chicken, momos in tomato chutney, and slow-cooked goat (which sells out fast) from chef Shiva Nepal of the Willard and Art & Soul. The 35-seat hot spot, lined with bamboo stools, exposed brick, and Nepali artifacts, comes from the owner of Tempo Shack on H Street. A new happy hour (Tuesday to Thursday from 4 to 6 p.m.; and 9 to 11 p.m. on Sundays, too) features a free second cocktail and $1 bites.
- 1342 U Street Northwest, Washington, District of Columbia 20009, United States
- +12024982447
- Visit website
Tierney Plumb/Eater DC
The Grace
Chef Sanjay Mandhaiy (Pappe, Karravaan) transformed his favorite industry bar, the Passenger, as a new modern gastropub last month. There’s a lot going on in this intimate swanky setup in Shaw, outfitted with Americana details like fake wooden mounted fish, antlers, and Western-style landscape paintings on velvet walls. Dressed-up takes on staple dishes from across the country include egg-topped club sandwiches, butter-basted steak and extra-crispy Parmesan steak fries, or a Cuban sandwich. The bar program is big on daiquiris.
- 1539 7th Street Northwest, Washington, District of Columbia 20001, United States
- (202) 993-6067
- Visit website
Hawkeye Johnson/The Grace
La Merna
La Merna, Dupont’s hot new spot for thin, Chicago-tavern pies, house-made pastas and cheeses, and late-night cocktails prepared behind a retro-chic bar, quietly arrived this week. La Merna marks the first D.C. project from Chicago couple Bradley Shorten and Meg Schmitt.
Brad Bobrow
The Riggsby
The Riggsby, chef Michael Schlow’s cult-favorite American restaurant that enjoyed a popular pre-pandemic run in Dupont before it closed in 2019, resurfaced in June in the same Northwest neighborhood. Now tucked inside the Royal Sonesta hotel, regulars can expect much of the same menu they grew to love. Comforting classics like Swedish meatballs, escargot-studded gnocchi, steak au poivre, and its dearly missed bar snacks are all in the mix. Dressed to the nines in a glam bygone look, the sizable newcomer features a glitzy bar, dining room, and parlor lounge area fit for knocking back coffee by day and Negronis at night.
- 2121 P Street Northwest, Washington, District of Columbia 20037, United States
- +12024481800
- Visit website
Riggsby
The Oak Room
A high-end American grill (the Oak Room) with a plush upstairs supper club up top (Bernadette’s) entered Georgetown’s buzzy dining scene in late June. The two-story venture, sliding into the old home of El Centro, comes fromTen Five Hospitality (Mother Wolf, Desert 5 Spot). James Beard Award-winning chef Tim Hollingsworth spearheads a menu full of prime côte de boeuf and decadent shrimp cocktail, with multiple bars slinging riffs on classics like a Castelvetrano martini with olive oil and matcha Old Fashioned. The two-story space takes tips from the Gilded Age of New York and London, with a dreamy patio out back.
- 1218 Wisconsin Avenue Northwest, Washington, District of Columbia 20007, United States
- +12027947474
- Visit website
Uchi
The long-awaited D.C. outpost of the Austin, Texas-based chain centered around sushi and Japanese-influenced fare opened in May. Global flavors get mashed up with Japanese techniques at the fast-expanding Hai Hospitality empire from James Beard award-winning chef Tyson Cole. Uchi serves dishes from all over Japan, but is known for sushi topped with yakumi, Japanese garnishes meant to complement the flavors of the raw fish, and sashimi like the hama chili with slices of yellowtail layered with orange supremes and flavored with ponzu and Thai chiles. The sprawling dining room includes over 100 seats, plus a 14-seat sushi counter and a stunning 18-seat entryway bar surrounded by cozy booth seating. The mottled green marble bar hosts happy hour daily from 4 to 6 p.m.
- 1700 M Street Northwest, Washington, District of Columbia 20036, United States
- (771) 209-5885
- Visit website
Uchi
Ox & Olive
D.C.-based Hive Hospitality, the growing group best known for 14th Street’s pair of stacked Michelin-starred stalwarts (French-influenced bistro Bresca and upstairs tasting room Jônt), entered the steakhouse game – and Georgetown market – for the first time in May. The 50-seat, gothic-style Ox & Olive revives the high-profile alleyway space that Michelin-starred Reverie left behind last year. Chef Ryan Ratino pays homage to his Ohio upbringing with a meaty menu full of rib-eyes and updated American steakhouse classics like a wedge salad, steak tartare eclairs, and mini hot dogs, plus playful desserts and a robust martini program at the bar.
Rey Lopez/Eater DC
Rosa’s Diner
The all-day ode to Americana classics with Latin twists opened in May in the glamorous Victorian row house attached to the Moxy hotel (where short-lived oyster bar Parlor Victoria was). Rosa’s is under the watch of executive chef Francisco Pomalaza, whose dishes include eggs “Benedict” — which is actually a pupusa topped with beef birria and aji amarillo hollandaise — a breakfast burrito stuffed with Salvadorian chorizo, churro French toast, and a Pop Tart pastry featuring guava, brie, and a candied pecan dust. Salads and bowls join “blue plate specials” like mushroom Bolognese and roasted chicken in a citrus marinade paired with Peruvian yellow potatoes. Open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
- 1011 K Street Northwest, Washington, District of Columbia 20001, United States
- +12027808555
- Visit website
Rosa’s Diner
Ayat
Ayat, regarded as one of New York City’s best Palestinian restaurants, opened in D.C. in late July. Ayat is known for its huge portions of all-halal food, with highlights like chicken shawarma platters, silky hummus, and mixed meze spreads — and no alcohol in sight (but you can, however, BYOB). Ayat, owned by Abdul Elenani (and named after his wife, Ayat Masoud), first debuted in Brooklyn’s Bay Ridge neighborhood in 2020, and the brand has been on an expansion spree ever since.
- Order delivery from Grubhub
- 2112 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest, Washington, District of Columbia 20037, United States
- +17719996164
- Visit website
Ayat
Rosselli
D.C. hospitality vet Ashok Bajaj transformed the downtown corner that formerly housed Modena into the Italian restaurant of his dreams with help from a chef with Michelin-starred credentials. An all-new look resembling a luxe Italian apartment (complete with leather walls in the bathrooms) includes a gorgeous U-shaped bar made of marble upon entry, more counter seating, and striking artwork. Carlos Cardona, who most recently cooked at Noi in Hong Kong, prepares risotto arancini, confit pear alongside burrata flown in frequently from Puglia, rotating crudos, linguine and clams, pappardelle with braised beef and pork ragu, osso buco, and branzino al forno. Rosselli (which translates to “rose”) opened in early April for dinner to start, with lunch coming soon. Bajaj’s Knightsbridge Restaurant Group also includes Rasika, Bombay Club, and the newer Malabar.
- 1199 H Street Northwest, Washington, District of Columbia 20005, United States
- 202-216-9550
- Visit website
Greg Powers
Oribu
The Grand Hyatt Washington welcomed turquoise-toned Oribu just in time for the influx of Fourth of July tourists. The fusion menu, inspired by maritime trade routes connecting Asia to the Mediterranean, includes Japanese wagyu sashimi, hamachi crudo, charcoal-grilled salmon, kebab plates, olive wood-smoked burrata, and all sorts of sushi rolls prepared behind a sleek 10-seat omakase counter. The sprawling restaurant off the lobby is the first D.C. venture for chef Joevel Magpantay, a hotel hospitality vet who most recently worked at Andaz Abu Dhabi.
- 1000 H Street Northwest, Washington, District of Columbia 20001, United States
- +12026374775
- Visit website
Oribu
Cielo
Latin supper club Cielo opened in June in Clarendon’s old Red Hot & Blue with a striking new “heaven and hell” look. Seven Reasons alum Daniel Lozano leads a menu full of whole fish, tomahawk steaks, and caviar-topped chips, and Torrance Swain (600T) oversees the cocktail program, spotlighting vibrant blue drinks and martinis with stuffed olives.
The Angie
The team behind Dupont’s Greek hit Balos brought an all-day, French-influenced bistro to Ballston in late June. The Angie — a Virginia offshoot of West End’s year-old hot spot Bar Angie — offers a traditional European menu with upscale American influences. Think a French dip; a two-pound grilled lobster with frites; steak au poivre; Dover sole; and one baller burger. Al fresco dining is also a big focus, with operable windows breathing air into the sizable setup situated at the foot of a glassy office building. The Angie marks the latest collaboration between NYC restaurateur Joe Ragonese and ForFive Coffee founders Stefanos Vouvoudakis and Tom Tsiplakos. There’s a barista bar for the morning crowd, plus a full bar, lounge, and dining room that can seat 162 guests during lunch and dinner. Happy hour runs daily from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Tierney Plumb/Eater
Catahoula
New Orleans-styled Catahoula opened on the scenic waterfront site that housed All-Purpose in mid-May. Rustic Louisiana cooking married with French techniques takes shape in a reinvented dining room that resembles an old-school Parisian brasserie paired with multiple patios. Named for the state dog of Louisiana that’s known for its leopard-like spots, Catahoula has much more than crawfish boils in store. The menu also spotlights Creole Cajun cuisine with Vietnamese twists. Think: crispy okra flecked with lemongrass salt; pork neck skewers covered in a caramel fish sauce glaze; and double-bone Mangalitsa pork chop topped with the same pickled carrot and daikon salad in a banh mi. Executive chef Thomas Malz and beverage director Rachel Sergi both have deep roots in the Big Easy.
Catahoula
Little Birdie
The follow-up act to Del Ray, Virginia’s neighborhood favorite, Matt & Tony’s, opened in late June. The casual corner spot is centered around fried chicken served many ways: as a tower with sidewinder fries, pillowed in bibb lettuce, between fluffy milk bread-like buns with slaw, or topped with five ounces of caviar (at $16 a bite). But there’s truly something for everyone at partner Matt Sloan and chef Eric Brannon’s Little Birdie, from a cold noodle salad to whole grilled trout. While there are tasteful beer and wine lists on the menu, the cocktails ($14 each) and equally thoughtful spirit-free mocktails ($10 each) highlight beverage director Michael Riojas’ talent.
SV Images/Leading DC
