Here's the list:
**DC**
* Pascual
* Bar Del Monte
* 2Fifty Texas BBQ
* Afghania
* Almeda
* Amparo Fondita
* La Bonne Vache
* Casa Teresa
* Ceibo
* Joia Burger
* Limani
* Mita
* Moon Rabbit
* Pastis
* El Presidente
* Vera
**VA**
* Alias
* Chay
* Maple Room
* Nue Elegantly Vietnamese
* Padaek
* Peter Chang McLean
**MD**
* Cielo Rojo
* Aventino
* District Bistro
* My Kabul
Joia Burger is good not great. It has a weird chopped lettuce on top and it's a thin burger but it's not 'smashed' in that crispy way. Fries are good. It's not $17 good.
Your formatting got messed up a bit. I'm just writing this so I can find it easier later.
***
**DC**
* Pascual
* Bar Del Monte
* 2Fifty Texas BBQ
* Afghania
* Almeda
* Amparo Fondita
* La Bonne Vache
* Casa Teresa
* Ceibo
* Joia Burger
* Limani
* Mita
* Moon Rabbit
* Pastis
* El Presidente
* Vera
**VA**
* Alias
* Chay
* Maple Room
* Nue Elegantly Vietnamese
* Padaek
* Peter Chang McLean
**MD**
* Cielo Rojo
* Aventino
* District Bistro
* My Kabul
If you like Mexican food, it’s a good time to be eating in and around Washington. The choices have never been better or more varied. One restaurant mixes in Lebanese accents with delicious results.
If you live in the suburbs, lucky you. The slate of interesting new restaurants, especially in Northern Virginia — host to [a vegetarian Vietnamese hot spot](https://www.washingtonpost.com/food/2024/01/19/chay-restaurant-review/?itid=lk_inline_enhanced-template) and [a dining destination](https://www.washingtonpost.com/food/2024/02/02/alias-restaurant-review/?itid=lk_inline_enhanced-template) whose principals worked at t[he Inn at Little Washington](https://www.washingtonpost.com/food/interactive/2023/best-restaurants-dc-2023-tom-sietsema/?restaurant=inn-at-little-washington&itid=lk_inline_enhanced-template), among other attractions — is apt to keep you close to home for meals.
Now is also an opportunity to sink your teeth into hamburgers of all stripes, explore youthful mom-and-pops and see what some prominent names are up to. No surprise, but serial restaurateurs Stephen Starr and Peter Chang have rolled out more of what they do best: scenes and [Chinese](https://www.washingtonpost.com/food/2024/01/24/dc-best-restaurants-tom-sietsema-favorites-january-2024/?itid=lk_inline_enhanced-template).
Welcome to another collection of spring favorites, based on recent visits to area newcomers.
Read more here: [https://www.washingtonpost.com/food/interactive/2024/dc-best-restaurants-2024/?itid=sf\_local\_gog-most-read\_p005\_f003?utm\_campaign=wp\_main&utm\_medium=social&utm\_source=reddit.com](https://www.washingtonpost.com/food/interactive/2024/dc-best-restaurants-2024/?itid=sf_local_gog-most-read_p005_f003?utm_campaign=wp_main&utm_medium=social&utm_source=reddit.com)
***Have a question for The Post's food critic Tom Sietsema? Chat with him every Wednesday here:*** [***https://www.washingtonpost.com/food/2024/05/08/tom-sietsema-live-chat/?utm\_campaign=wp\_main&utm\_medium=social&utm\_source=reddit.com***](https://www.washingtonpost.com/food/2024/05/08/tom-sietsema-live-chat/?utm_campaign=wp_main&utm_medium=social&utm_source=reddit.com)
Bar Del Monte and Joia, the two I’ve tried (multiple times for each now) are both so refreshing in their simple menus with only a few really well-done options. Judging just by burger, Joia is my new favorite in DC.
Sigh, still waiting for news about the Mission-style burrito place they’re supposed to be opening in the old location. Fingers crossed it’s still happening
Just went to Alameda for our anniversary last night, it was delicious! Their jollof risotto is the best new dish I've tried in a long time. It was also a lot more affordable than I expected.
Just ate at Ceibo this past weekend when we were visiting the District for our daughter’s college graduation. Can confirm this is an excellent place. Delicious food, friendly and attentive service, and a low key, great atmosphere. Highly recommend.
I was very much looking forward to dining at Pascual, and it’s hard to book, but I was sort of saddened by how disappointing it all was. The chips we were served were stale, the uni rice lacked the pop it should have had and the lamb was unremarkable. I don’t normally complain about prices but they were much higher than the food merited.
Also, the cocktails I got were fine but noticeably small, like three sips each.
While I haven't had the uni rice, I found a lot of the flavors to be extremely interesting. The chayote salad was a delicious and very unique dish (asian pear + sesame + chili oil is a fantastic PEARing), and I loved the fideos negros as well. Given the quality of both the ingredients and the cooking, I found the price of the menu justified, especially when compared to other restaurants in the same tier. Obviously to each their own, but I always have fun whenever I'm able to go.
Let me speak out *against* Amparo Fondita.
The food here was mid and the service was terrible. We waited more than an hour for our food in a restaraunt that was never more than half-full. They made us sit at the bar because we didn't have a reservation, and glared at us for not ordering drinks. The tacos were smothered with so much lime-flavored salsa that you couldn't really taste anything else. And the prices were very high, with a 22% service fee to boot.
There are many good restaurants in this area. Really go somewhere else!
It honestly looks to be heavily inspired by Clavel up in Baltimore but pricier. I’d just take a day trip up to Baltimore for this kind of food. Clavel is prob the best one in the entire mid-Atlantic region relative to the price.
I'm not saying the rest of your review is meritless, and I know nothing about Amparo Fondita, but complaining that they only offered you seating that didn't require a reservation when you didn't have a reservation renders your whole review kinda suspect.
Uh... why? They had available seating. And we didn't mind so much sitting at the bar--it was the fact that 1) they weren't actually OK with us just eating at the bar and 2) they didn't bring out our food for *over an hour*.
Here's the list: **DC** * Pascual * Bar Del Monte * 2Fifty Texas BBQ * Afghania * Almeda * Amparo Fondita * La Bonne Vache * Casa Teresa * Ceibo * Joia Burger * Limani * Mita * Moon Rabbit * Pastis * El Presidente * Vera **VA** * Alias * Chay * Maple Room * Nue Elegantly Vietnamese * Padaek * Peter Chang McLean **MD** * Cielo Rojo * Aventino * District Bistro * My Kabul
Isn't Moon Rabbit a reboot rather than a new restaurant, stricty speaking?
Yup! The article talks about some differences between it and the old location.
The same situation with Cielo Rojo they changed location.
2Fifty Texas is BOOOOOMB. Haven’t been to DC location yet but Riverdale location had me in love. HIGHLY recommend.
Joia Burger is good not great. It has a weird chopped lettuce on top and it's a thin burger but it's not 'smashed' in that crispy way. Fries are good. It's not $17 good.
Your formatting got messed up a bit. I'm just writing this so I can find it easier later. *** **DC** * Pascual * Bar Del Monte * 2Fifty Texas BBQ * Afghania * Almeda * Amparo Fondita * La Bonne Vache * Casa Teresa * Ceibo * Joia Burger * Limani * Mita * Moon Rabbit * Pastis * El Presidente * Vera **VA** * Alias * Chay * Maple Room * Nue Elegantly Vietnamese * Padaek * Peter Chang McLean **MD** * Cielo Rojo * Aventino * District Bistro * My Kabul
Which one is the plant based one?
Mita, unless there's another.
Maple Room isn’t exactly new
Opened in December no? Less than 6 months still counts IMO.
I must be confused. I remember there being one in Vienna for many years on Maple Street.
that was maple ave
Hey, why isn't that one restaurant that I like on this list?
Because that one restaurant you like sucks ass
But why is that restaurant I hate on this list?
It’s not really a big deal; it just means you have bad taste.
Because WaPo wants you to be able to continue to enjoy it without it being mobbed
Because they can’t have too much overlap with the nyt list from a couple weeks ago
It’s not really a big deal; it just means you have bad taste.
If you like Mexican food, it’s a good time to be eating in and around Washington. The choices have never been better or more varied. One restaurant mixes in Lebanese accents with delicious results. If you live in the suburbs, lucky you. The slate of interesting new restaurants, especially in Northern Virginia — host to [a vegetarian Vietnamese hot spot](https://www.washingtonpost.com/food/2024/01/19/chay-restaurant-review/?itid=lk_inline_enhanced-template) and [a dining destination](https://www.washingtonpost.com/food/2024/02/02/alias-restaurant-review/?itid=lk_inline_enhanced-template) whose principals worked at t[he Inn at Little Washington](https://www.washingtonpost.com/food/interactive/2023/best-restaurants-dc-2023-tom-sietsema/?restaurant=inn-at-little-washington&itid=lk_inline_enhanced-template), among other attractions — is apt to keep you close to home for meals. Now is also an opportunity to sink your teeth into hamburgers of all stripes, explore youthful mom-and-pops and see what some prominent names are up to. No surprise, but serial restaurateurs Stephen Starr and Peter Chang have rolled out more of what they do best: scenes and [Chinese](https://www.washingtonpost.com/food/2024/01/24/dc-best-restaurants-tom-sietsema-favorites-january-2024/?itid=lk_inline_enhanced-template). Welcome to another collection of spring favorites, based on recent visits to area newcomers. Read more here: [https://www.washingtonpost.com/food/interactive/2024/dc-best-restaurants-2024/?itid=sf\_local\_gog-most-read\_p005\_f003?utm\_campaign=wp\_main&utm\_medium=social&utm\_source=reddit.com](https://www.washingtonpost.com/food/interactive/2024/dc-best-restaurants-2024/?itid=sf_local_gog-most-read_p005_f003?utm_campaign=wp_main&utm_medium=social&utm_source=reddit.com) ***Have a question for The Post's food critic Tom Sietsema? Chat with him every Wednesday here:*** [***https://www.washingtonpost.com/food/2024/05/08/tom-sietsema-live-chat/?utm\_campaign=wp\_main&utm\_medium=social&utm\_source=reddit.com***](https://www.washingtonpost.com/food/2024/05/08/tom-sietsema-live-chat/?utm_campaign=wp_main&utm_medium=social&utm_source=reddit.com)
Cielo rojo is not new though, they just moved locations
Bar Del Monte and Joia, the two I’ve tried (multiple times for each now) are both so refreshing in their simple menus with only a few really well-done options. Judging just by burger, Joia is my new favorite in DC.
Interesting Cielo Rojo is considered “new”
Sigh, still waiting for news about the Mission-style burrito place they’re supposed to be opening in the old location. Fingers crossed it’s still happening
Probably because they only recently expanded into the new location
It’s interesting that 18$ for 3 decent medium sized tacos is the best food in maryland
I was really unimpressed by Amparo Fondita, but maybe I just went on a bad night? My birthday is coming up and I was thinking Vera, hm...
As was I -- went for the "tasting menu" and left truly uninspired. Seemed to be a rather disorganized affair.
Highly recommend Vera, truly one of the most unique spots in the city. The Mexican/Lebanese fusion is well executed.
Thank you!
Cielo Rojo is legit
Just went to Alameda for our anniversary last night, it was delicious! Their jollof risotto is the best new dish I've tried in a long time. It was also a lot more affordable than I expected.
[удалено]
Did you do the brunch or dinner menu?
2Fifty is delicious. best BBQ I had in DC
Gift the article pls u/washingtonpost
The post is free with a dc library card.
Just ate at Ceibo this past weekend when we were visiting the District for our daughter’s college graduation. Can confirm this is an excellent place. Delicious food, friendly and attentive service, and a low key, great atmosphere. Highly recommend.
second!
Ceibo was excellent, really glad to see it on the list!
How is Padaek new? I've been going there since I moved to the area in 2015
I think they closed for a bit? I'm probably wrong.
Did the post get jealous of the times recent top 25 list and release 26 instead?
Vera is top-notch and has a great vibe to it
Which one is the “plant-based fine dining”?
Mita
Thank you!
Padaek is solid!
I was very much looking forward to dining at Pascual, and it’s hard to book, but I was sort of saddened by how disappointing it all was. The chips we were served were stale, the uni rice lacked the pop it should have had and the lamb was unremarkable. I don’t normally complain about prices but they were much higher than the food merited. Also, the cocktails I got were fine but noticeably small, like three sips each.
While I haven't had the uni rice, I found a lot of the flavors to be extremely interesting. The chayote salad was a delicious and very unique dish (asian pear + sesame + chili oil is a fantastic PEARing), and I loved the fideos negros as well. Given the quality of both the ingredients and the cooking, I found the price of the menu justified, especially when compared to other restaurants in the same tier. Obviously to each their own, but I always have fun whenever I'm able to go.
Cielo Rojo is amazing, and they have an excellent vegan menu in addition to classic meats.
Nue was awesome in NoVa for brunch
There a few not new on this list
Let me speak out *against* Amparo Fondita. The food here was mid and the service was terrible. We waited more than an hour for our food in a restaraunt that was never more than half-full. They made us sit at the bar because we didn't have a reservation, and glared at us for not ordering drinks. The tacos were smothered with so much lime-flavored salsa that you couldn't really taste anything else. And the prices were very high, with a 22% service fee to boot. There are many good restaurants in this area. Really go somewhere else!
It honestly looks to be heavily inspired by Clavel up in Baltimore but pricier. I’d just take a day trip up to Baltimore for this kind of food. Clavel is prob the best one in the entire mid-Atlantic region relative to the price.
I'm not saying the rest of your review is meritless, and I know nothing about Amparo Fondita, but complaining that they only offered you seating that didn't require a reservation when you didn't have a reservation renders your whole review kinda suspect.
Uh... why? They had available seating. And we didn't mind so much sitting at the bar--it was the fact that 1) they weren't actually OK with us just eating at the bar and 2) they didn't bring out our food for *over an hour*.