D.C. Summer Restaurant Scene

Published: Aug. 1, 2023

The dog days of D.C. summer do not mean you have to shelter in place next to an air conditioner. Just as things heat up in our nation’s capital, so too does the restaurant scene, from buzzy new spots to Restaurant Week specials you can take advantage of starting on August 28.

In this latest Resy Hit List, you’ll find something served up for everyone — whether you need a weekend brunch recommendation, a romantic dinner for two, or a place to gather with friends to watch the Women’s World Cup. (Go Team USA!)

1. Dauphine's

• Location: Downtown
• Cuisine: Contemporary American
• Price Range: $$
• Description: D.C.’s Summer Restaurant Week starts August 28, and it’s a great reason to book a table at this New Orleans-style spot with a three-course dinner menu for only $55 per person. Although, candidly, it’s worth booking anytime to enjoy Salt Line chef Kyle Bailey’s Louisiana classics menu, which harnesses locally sourced seafood and features an oyster raw bar.
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2. Ellie Bird

• Location: Falls Church
• Cuisine: New American
• Price Range: $$
• Description: The newly opened Ellie Bird (from Michelin-starred Rooster & Owl) is now serving brunch in Northern Virginia on Saturdays and Sundays starting at 9:30 a.m. This place is accessible whether you have a reservation or are a walk-in. Whatever you do, be sure to order the Halo Halo Smoothie Bowl. It’s a brightly colored dish with avocado, granola, tropical fruits, and lime shaved ice.
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3. Kraken Kourts & Skates

• Location: Edgewood
• Description: Looking for some indoor and air-conditioned fun on a swampy D.C. summer afternoon? Head to the new Kraken Kourts & Skates, a social gathering place, bar, and restaurant with cornhole, giant Jenga, shuffleboard, pickleball, and a roller-skating rink. There are private party spaces for celebrations large and small, plus a beer garden and empanadas served by Latin eatery Cocineros from Hyattsville, Maryland.
  Walk-ins welcome. Find more info here.
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4. Wunder Garten

• Location: NoMA
• Cuisine: Beer
• Price Range: $
• Description: This German-style beer garden plays host to a lot of celebrations this summer, including the Women’s World Cup and raising a pint to the recent release of the “Barbie” movie. Its celebratory options include a life-sized Mattel box for photos with friends, plus bar-cabana packages with Barbie-themed swag.
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5. Bar Spero

• Location: East End
• Cuisine: American
• Price Range: $$$
• Description: Bar Spero recently returned the Daily Card specials, which are rotating specials highlighting the freshest and most exciting ingredients from land and sea. This includes Penbay scallops, Autumn olive pork loin, and Cinco Jotas jamon. To see what specials are coming next, follow chef Johnny Spero on his Instagram.
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6. J. Hollinger's Waterman's Chophouse

• Location: Silver Spring
• Cuisine: Steakhouse
• Price Range: $
• Description: This steakhouse and seafood restaurant in Silver Spring recently launched an all-you-can-eat brunch priced at $35 per person on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Brunch features a buffet of options including slow-roasted rib eye with fresh herbs and garlic, hot honey fried chicken, house-cured gravlax, crab-stuffed deviled eggs, and brioche French toast with local berries. The restaurant also has a raw bar menu available a la carte during brunch.
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7. Della Barba Pizza

• Location: Capitol Hill
• Description: This Italian-style pizza pie shop has a devoted following, and recently expanded its hours and service to include breakfast with a selection of freshly baked pastries, espressos, and ice cream for something sweet. Breakfast starts at 8 a.m. each morning, and a new patio with outdoor dining has arrived, just in time for summer.
  Walk-ins welcome. Find more info here.
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8. Centrolina

• Location: Downtown
• Cuisine: Italian
• Price Range: $$$
• Description: Chef Amy Brandwein recently relaunched her popular chef’s table experience with restaurant industry friends. The four-course dinner will center around the cuisine of the guest personality, who will also select a charity where proceeds will be donated. Upcoming guest chefs and personalities include: Masako Morishita ( Perry’s), Scott Drewno ( Anju + CHIKO), Chris Morgan ( Bammy’s), and Joan Nathan ( Jewish Cooking in America) with Yamrote Ezineh ( Letena).
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9. Beloved BBQ at Love, Makoto

• Location: East End
• Cuisine: Japanese
• Price Range: $$
• Description: Things are really starting to heat up this summer at Beloved BBQ — a Japanese steakhouse where diners can grill their own American-raised beef or Japanese wagyu. This restaurant is located in the Love, Makoto food hall and the perfect option for a romantic date for two. After dinner you can sample some more sushi (at Dear Sushi) or drinks (at Hiya Izakaya) with whisky highballs.
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10. Hi/Fi Tex-Mex BBQ

• Location: Alexandria
• Description: Discover the sensational fusion of smoky BBQ and authentic Tex-Mex tacos at this new taco spot in the Del Ray neighborhood of Alexandria. Located behind the beloved Evening Star Café, this walk-in taco shop doubles as a vibrant beer garden featuring eight cabanas, live music, and a host of beer and food features throughout the summer.
  Walk-ins welcome. Find more info here.
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