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Discover the Best New Restaurants in Washington D.C.

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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 (754)
$30 and under
Contemporary American
Penn Quarter
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
Joe
Dined 4 days ago
Scheduled a meal for eight of my family members. Outstanding food, excellent service, great ambience and quite good value.
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
Joe
Dined 4 days ago
Scheduled a meal for eight of my family members. Outstanding food, excellent service, great ambience and quite good value.
Zeppelin
4.7 (766)
$31 to $50
Sushi
Shaw
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
Lily
Dined on May 2, 2025
Love this place!! Sushi is always delicious, sometimes it takes a little bit to come out on a busy night but it’s worth the wait. Drinks are really good and the patio has a great vibe!
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
Lily
Dined on May 2, 2025
Love this place!! Sushi is always delicious, sometimes it takes a little bit to come out on a busy night but it’s worth the wait. Drinks are really good and the patio has a great vibe!
CUT by Wolfgang Puck
4.5 (677)
$50 and over
Contemporary American
Georgetown
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
lindaVIP
Dined 7 days ago
Great vibe , Amazing food - best steak I have had - delicious cocktails and wine and fabulous service !
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
lindaVIP
Dined 7 days ago
Great vibe , Amazing food - best steak I have had - delicious cocktails and wine and fabulous service !
Boqueria - Penn Quarter
4.6 (582)
$31 to $50
Tapas / Small Plates
Penn Quarter
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
debraVIP
Dined 7 days ago
Good sangria. The lamb kebabs were great as were the beef and chorizo kebabs
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
debraVIP
Dined 7 days ago
Good sangria. The lamb kebabs were great as were the beef and chorizo kebabs
Sushi Hachi
4.5 (229)
$30 and under
Sushi
Capitol Hill
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
Cheryl
Dined on Apr 12, 2025
The best value is the chef’s tasting menu at $37, which comes with several tasty starters and an excellent array of fresh sushi. Top notch!
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
Cheryl
Dined on Apr 12, 2025
The best value is the chef’s tasting menu at $37, which comes with several tasty starters and an excellent array of fresh sushi. Top notch!
North Italia - Washington DC
4.5 (1755)
$30 and under
Italian
West End
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
AmandaVIP
Dined 2 days ago
Our server Rachel was adorable, knowledgeable, and just had the best disposition. The food was amazing. Being from the land of the best pizza ever, think Pepe's, we are pretty particular. Their Pig Pie was outta this world. The pesto chicken pasta was fantastic. Their shrimp scampi was really flavorful and just the right amount with brilliant toast served alongside. We had a bunch of other dishes, all equally delicious; but those stood out.
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
AmandaVIP
Dined 2 days ago
Our server Rachel was adorable, knowledgeable, and just had the best disposition. The food was amazing. Being from the land of the best pizza ever, think Pepe's, we are pretty particular. Their Pig Pie was outta this world. The pesto chicken pasta was fantastic. Their shrimp scampi was really flavorful and just the right amount with brilliant toast served alongside. We had a bunch of other dishes, all equally delicious; but those stood out.
matchbox Penn Quarter
4.4 (603)
$30 and under
American
Penn Quarter
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
JamieVIP
Dined 7 days ago
Quick service and friendly staff! I highly recommend.
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
JamieVIP
Dined 7 days ago
Quick service and friendly staff! I highly recommend.
CIRCA at Navy Yard
4.7 (1257)
$30 and under
American
Navy Yard
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
Kisha
Dined 3 days ago
The food was really good and the service was great!
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
Kisha
Dined 3 days ago
The food was really good and the service was great!
Mazi
4.6 (764)
$31 to $50
American
Downtown
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
ConstanceVIP
Dined 5 days ago
Wonderful dinner all around! Will definitely be back and recommend! Thank you!
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
ConstanceVIP
Dined 5 days ago
Wonderful dinner all around! Will definitely be back and recommend! Thank you!
Julii
4.8 (2520)
$31 to $50
Mediterranean
North Bethesda
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
Sonja
Dined 2 days ago
Everything was wonderful! Food was fresh and very tasty, beautiful presentation. Customer service was excellent, prices were decent and fabulous ambiance. I would definitely go back again.
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
Sonja
Dined 2 days ago
Everything was wonderful! Food was fresh and very tasty, beautiful presentation. Customer service was excellent, prices were decent and fabulous ambiance. I would definitely go back again.

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