The Levantine-influenced French bistro from the founders of Cava Grill added to the dining scene at the Pike & Rose development in December, brining an elegant ambiance accented in gold to go with impeccably presented dishes from bubbly chef Sasha Felikson (formerly of Doi Moi). Early hits inside the jewel box include the crispy trout entree, pistachio and fennel salt dinner rolls with whipped labneh butter, roasted bone marrow, and warm salmon nicoise salad. The packed bar area has quickly become a popular meeting ground for Basil Hayden Old Fashioneds and a refreshing mezcal cocktail called the Conquistador.

El Sapo has injected an energetic dose of Cuban culture into Silver Spring, adding mojitos, branded coconuts, and live music to the Maryland suburb. Chef Raynold Mendizábal, who runs Urban Butcher a short Vespa ride away, is drawing nightly packed crowds for takes on his native country’s classic ropa vieja. Diners are encouraged to stay and sip hard-to-find rums plucked from a roving wicker box (his favorite is the Santa Teresa 1796). The venture is a family affair: Mendizábal’s sister, who’s also a manager, makes cross-shaped art adorned with puka shells and coins that add extra flair to the electric green space. One of the signature cocktails, an espresso martini with Tito’s Vodka, is designed to keep caffeinated customers dancing.

Chevy Chase newcomer I’m Eddie Cano delivered the once-sleepy neighborhood a mod spot to sample Italy’s greatest pasta hits and down Vespers in front of a mural that features Italian film stars like Sophia Loren. The first-time venture from James Gee and Massimo Papetti (Assaggi Osteria, Cafe Milano), who met while working at East Hampton’s celebrity-packed Cittanuova restaurant in the mid-2000s, encourages diners to say its name three times fast to reveal the phonetic meaning behind the American-meets-Italian respite: Americano. Italian-born Papetti is now leading “language and linguini” classes inside the throwback 60-seat restaurant.

The self-described “Jew-ish” bagel shop and deli in Park View has generated a tremendous following in a hurry. The shop from the Timber Pizza team of Andrew Dana and chef Daniela Moreira was so packed on it’s opening weekend in October that it had to shut down for two days the following to reconfigure the menu and temporarily pausing latke production. The za’atar covered bagels and the sandwiches stuffed with wild combinations — like peach jam, cream cheese, bacon, jalapeños, and potato chips — keep bringing the crowds back.

Opened on the last day of November, Bombay Street Food represents accomplished Northern Virginia restaurateur Asad Sheikh’s first crack at the D.C. market. A four-page menu is full of spicy dishes that Sheikh promises will test even the must durable customers’ tolerance for spice. A monsoon season section features comforting favorites from the owner’s hometown of Mumbai. Indo-Chinese items promise a combo of Asian cultures not frequently seen in the District.

The second location of Kith and Kin chef Kwame Onwuachi’s gourmet cheesesteak counter arrived in Union Market in mid-December. Rich ribbons of dry-aged ribeye mingle with smoked provolone cheese, caramelized onions, garlic aioli, and bread toasted in beef fat to drive up wait times at the small stall in the bustling food hall.

The flashy Northeast restaurant, a joint effort between founder Joe Carroll and James Beard Foundation Award-winning restaurateur Stephen Starr (perennially packed Le Diplomate), opened for daily dinner service in September with a 120-seat dining room, 13-seat chef’s counter, a 19-seat U-shaped bar, and an 18-seat patio. In the kitchen, Marjorie Meek-Bradley was just named Eater D.C.’s 2018 Chef of the Year for her takes on steak, salmon collar, and sides worthy of starring roles.

Restaurateur Manuel Iguina’s latest venture — an ode to Wisconsin Avenue’s former name — slid into the space most recently occupied by Paolo’s Ristorante this fall. American classics get a Hispanic bent at High Street, like a five-cheese pizza with manchego cream, fontina, taleggio, mozzarella, and parmesan, or rotating specials made with goat meat. Iguina just kicked off live music nights inside the space.

Situated way down Water Street, the Berliner is in the boonies of Georgetown. But once people find it, they’re greeted with a deep draft list curated by chef Mike O’Brien that includes American craft beers alongside rare German finds such as Mahrs Brau Ungespundet. O’Brien — whose early gigs in cooking included time at the Liberty Tavern, Blue Duck Tavern, and Birch and Barley — directs a sausage-making operation that churns out six varieties to go with house-made mustards and relishes.

The modern American restaurant arrived last month in the heart of historic Georgetown, which is going through a full-blown dining renaissance as of late. Executive chef Johnny Spero’s 64-seat restaurant, two years in the making, features a minimalist design with globally-inspired dishes that draw from his diverse resume (Minibar and Komi in D.C., as well as Copenhagen’s Noma and Spain’s Mugaritz). Despite its high-end feel, dishes ($12 to $30) won’t break the bank.

American Son​ delivers diners an all-day option for inventive dishes from D.C. chef Tim Ma. The scene-y newcomer, an ode to Ma’s experiences growing up as a second-generation Asian American in Arkansas, sits on the lobby level of the months-old Eaton DC hotel. Early hits include the beef cheek with charred peach, a grilled romaine salad, and the potato croquette — a savory spin on a funnel cake. The hotel kitchen’s late-night menu features Taiwanese fried chicken and tater tot poutine. Weekend brunch service features avocado toast, pork belly hash, and a salmon pastrami BLT.

The 32-seat sushi restaurant owned by James Beard Foundation award winner Michael Schlow packs some fun elements into its tiny dining room. Heritage pork gyoza in a soy truffle broth highlight the selection of small plates. Vegetarians will be pleased with a selection of fish-free nigiri: mushroom, eggplant, cucumber, beets).

The first stateside venture from British hospitality vet Simon Lowe brought the bustling Penn Quarter neighborhood a quaint and colorful getaway for across-the-pond comfort foods and craft cocktails last month. The opening also marks the comeback of D.C. chef Will Artley, who cooked at the White House, the now-shuttered Nonna’s Kitchen, and Grist Mill Restaurant. He’s serving his famed “BLT” gnocchi at Scotts. Some other menu items, like sour and scotch-based cocktails and meats served daily from a rolling vintage trolly, double as wall art.

The palatial tiki bar overlooking the Washington Channel opened in December, giving visitors at the Wharf development a laid-back venue to drink frozen Coca-Cola spiked with rum and a host of other cocktails created by Todd Thrasher. The owner and renowned mixologist asked several of his chef buddies — Erik Bruner-Yang, Bryan Voltaggio, and David Guas — to contribute to a menu that includes rotisserie chickens, pulled pork platters, and a whipped, non-fermented poi dip.