Members of the D.C. restaurant industry gathered together last night at the new District Distilling on U Street to celebrate the Eater Award nominees in Washington.
The awards represent the standout newsmakers in D.C. dining this year, and winners included such restaurants as fast-casual vegan restaurant Shouk, Metier and Kinship chef Erik Ziebold, tiki bar Archipelago, Adams Morgan restaurant Tail Up Goat, fast-casual chain Cava Grill, and the stunning new District Distilling. The public also voted for such people's choice winners as Hazel chef Rob Rubba, Navy Yard seafood restaurant Whaley's, and mezcal destination Espita Mezcaleria. Editors' choice winners took home a tomato can declaring their victory. But the event also celebrated the various nominees in categories including Restaurant of the Year, Bar of the Year, Fast-Casual Restaurant of the Year, and more. Winners across the country were similarly celebrated in an event in New York City earlier this month, co-hosted by D.C.'s own Carla Hall.
D.C.'s first combination restaurant and distillery District Distilling, which won the award this year for best restaurant design, hosted an evening marked with tastings of their four own spirits (white rum, bourbon, gin, and vodka), a signature cocktail made with their gin, and plenty of food from the distillery's chef Justin Bittner, including fried chicken and sausage customizable biscuit sandwiches, trotter tots, deviled eggs, and much more.
The event took place from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Monday evening, and Eater photographer Rey Lopez was on hand to capture the scene. Check out photos of all the festiveness above.
