Five Restaurants to Try This Weekend

Saturday night dinner: Convivial

Convivial [Photo: R. Lopez]

Why not check out a new addition to Eater's 38 essential D.C. restaurants? Cedric Maupillier has created an ideal neighborhood restaurant in Shaw with his follow-up to Mintwood Place. Menu highlights range from leeks Dijonnaise, squash vadouvan, and a fried chicken-inspired spin on coq a vin. Also try the soft-shell crab while it's still on the menu this season.

Orange Crushes on the waterfront: Cantina Marina

Cantina Marina [Photo: Facebook]

Head to the waterfront and visit one of D.C.'s essential bars. And with the weather shaping up to be sunny and hot all weekend, there’s no better place for pretending it's a day at the beach. Grab Maryland's favorite drink, the Orange Crush, or order a Michelada, margarita, or Corona-rita.

Hot pot lunch: Mala Tang

Mala Tang [Photo: Facebook]

Feast on some spicy hot pot this weekend for its supposed cooling properties. This Arlington restaurants does both traditional or vegetarian broth, in mild or mala spicy (Sichuan peppercorns and chili oil). For dipping, there's a host of seafood specials along with pork, pork intestine, lamb, beef, ox tripe, vegetables, and tofu. Not in Virginia? Then try another hot pot spot nearby.

Get there first: Anxo

Tim Ma [Photo: R. Lopez]

This project from Sam Fitz, Rachel Fitz, Tim Prendergast, Cooper Sheehan, and chef Alex Vallcorba is finally open after hosting pop-up events for over a year. The Basque-inspired menu features trendy bite-size pintxos (Basque tapas) like salt cod fitters, marinated mussels, and Spanish tortilla. Also find larger dishes meant for sharing like cider poached octopus, rockfish escabeche, roasted quail, and fried pig ears. Cider is the focus of the beverage program.

Food and drinks on the patio: RPM Italian

RPM Italian [Photo: Facebook]

D.C got a new patio in Mt. Vernon Square when this restaurant from reality stars Giuliana and Bill Rancic opened last month. The menu from chef Doug Psaltis features Italian dishes like fried olives, raw bar selections, spicy King crab pasta, spaghetti and meatballs, and more. Homemade pasta is a particular focus.