15 Award-Winning Restaurants = 15 Places You Should Probably Try
Between power lunches, UberEats, BlueApron and fast casual everything, we’re starting to wonder if anyone in DC goes out for sit down dinners anymore.
Look, there’s nothing wrong with grabbing a quick, convenient, inexpensive bite once in awhile.
But you live in one of the best food cities on the planet, and there’s no way you’re living your best life if you’re not taking full advantage of the unbelievable restaurant scene at your doorstep.
In case you haven’t been paying attention, DC has so many awesome dining options that Bon Appetit named it ‘Restaurant City of the Year’ in 2016, but that was just the beginning of national recognition.
In 2017, DC restaurants brought home a James Beard Award, 3 of Bon Appetit’s Top 50 Best New Restaurants and 15 total Michelin Stars.
Most of the awards didn’t go to Jose Andres, Wolfgang Puck, Art Smith, Mike Isabella or the other usual suspects of the DC restaurant biz, so read up on the winners, then hit OpenTable and let the reservation-making begin.
Timber Pizza, Bon Appetit’s 50 Best New Restaurants 2017
When they left the tech industry to launch Timber Pizza in 2014, owners Andrew and Chris had exactly 0 pizza making experience between the two of them. Details. Their wood-fired pies quickly became a favorite at DC farmers markets and their brick and mortar has taken the city by storm. Hit them up in Petworth for a Cheese, Please, Green Monster or one of Chef Dani Moreira’s seasonal creations.
https://www.bonappetit.com/city-guides/washington-dc/venue/timber-pizza-company
Himitsu, Bon Appetit’s Best New Restaurants of 2017
Uni with Alabama white BBQ sauce, anyone? That’s just an example of the inventive dishes you’ll experience at Himitsu- a Japanese-inspired joint that’s turning tradition on its head (just across the street from Timber). Sure there’s sushi, but the Far East fusion makes the restaurant special. If you’re lucky enough to land one of the two dozen seats but don’t know what the hell to order, just let the menu’s emojis guide you to which dishes are the owners’ favorites.
https://www.bonappetit.com/city-guides/washington-dc/venue/himitsu
Pineapples and Pearls, Bon Appetit’s Best New Restaurants 2017
Pineapples and Pearls is owned by the same guy who owns Rose’s Luxury. Do you really need any other reasons to go? Ok, so the prices might be a little steep (the tasting menu costs between $180-$280), but you’re paying for a full VIP experience with expansive menu options and wine pairings. If you’re not about dropping a few hundred at dinner, Pineapples and Pearls’ coffee and lunch menus might be more to your liking.
https://www.bonappetit.com/city-guides/washington-dc/venue/pineapple-pearls
Bread Furst’s Mark Furstenburg Wins James Beard Award
Got award-winning baguettes? Bread Furst does. For years this cult favorite has been known for serving up the capital’s best baguette just steps from the Van Ness metro. In 2017, owner Mark Furstenberg finally earned his long overdue recognition and took home the James Beard Award for ‘Most Outstanding Baker.’ There’s not much worth getting on the metro for, but eating warm bread from the best baker in America is one of them.
A Cost Guide to DC’s 2017 Michelin-Starred Restaurants
What does one of the world’s leading tire companies know about the restaurant biz? WAY more than any of us (especially Yelp). The Michelin Star has been the premier hallmark of restaurant quality for much longer than the Michelin Man has been trying to sell you tires on TV, and 12 DC restaurants combined for 15 of them in 2017. If you want the best food (literally) that DC has to offer, this link has your personal dinner to-do list.