Where to find family-style lamb shoulder, lobster-and-truffle mac, beef Bourguignon, 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 buzzworthy new restaurants in the D.C. area. This list considers restaurants that have been open for six months or less. For our map of the D.C. area’s 38 essential restaurants, go here.
New to the list: Purl, for global comfort foods and nostalgic cocktails on H Street; Philippe Chow, for decadent Peking duck on the Wharf; Josephine, for Parisian party vibes in Old Town; Kitchen + Kocktails, for upscale Southern cuisine downtown; and Joon, for a parade of Persian eats in Tysons.
Leaving the list: Hedzole, Rose Ave Bakery, PLANTA Queen, Villa Yara, Figleaf Bar & Lounge, MI VIDA Chinatown, Akeno
Kitchen + Kocktails by Kevin Kelley DC
This eye-popping addition to downtown’s dining scene arrived off Franklin Square in the former home of Toro Toro last month. Immersed in an impressive floral display, the two-story replacement centers around upscale Southern cuisine and crowd-pleasing cocktails. Restaurateur Kevin Kelley imports fan favorites from his Chicago and Dallas counterparts like lamb chops and lobster tail; blackened or fried catfish; Southern friend chicken and waffles; and staple sides like candied yams and fried okra. A bar program showcasing Black-owned spirits sends out gilded mimosa towers, a Gold Fashioned unveiled in a cloud of smoke, and Don Julio frozen margaritas served in a repurposed tequila bottle.
1300 I St NW, Washington, DC 20005
(202) 769-9898
Article courtesy of EATER Washington DC