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Updating the Eater DC Heatmap, Where to Eat Right Now

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More often than not, tipsters, readers, friends and family of Eater have one question: Where should I eat right now? Restaurant obsessives want to know what's new, what's hot, which favorite chef just launched a sophomore effort, where to sip the cocktail of the moment. And while the Eater 38 is a crucial resource covering old standbys and neighborhood essentials across the city, it is not a chronicle of the 'it' places of the moment. Thus, we offer the Eater Heatmap, which will change often to continually highlight where the foodie crowds are flocking to at the moment.


This time around, we say goodbye to Satellite Room, Minibar and Izakaya Seki to make room for Daikaya, Beuchert's Saloon and Barmini.

01/3/2013: Added Hogo, Range, Taylor Charles Steak & Ice
02/7/2013: Added Ambar, Mari Vanna, Table
03/7/2013: Added Daikaya, Beuchert's Saloon, Barmini

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Union Market

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The long-awaited Union Market finally made its epic debut in early September and while several of the vendors have yet to open up shop, it has been a high-buzz go-to spot for a meal. The Rappahannock Oyster Bar is the Union Market's first restaurant space and has been receiving high marks from fellow chefs and everyday diners alike.

DGS Delicatessen

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DC residents have been desperate for a decent Jewish deli, and are flocking to this modern spin on Jewish cooking from chef Barry Koslow. The matzoh ball soup, chopped liver and pastrami all have followings.

Hogo is The Passenger's Tom Brown's temple to rum, with a wide selection and a number of tiki-inspired drinks. The menu changes depending on what chef is in the kitchen, but dishes are currently Hawaiian influenced.

Bryan Voltaggio's ambitious new restaurant specializes in the whole animal, with a grill station, raw bar, pizzas, a bakery and more. The spacious restaurant also includes a huge bar and a retail market, and is packed with industry talent in everything from mixology to charcuterie.

Taylor Charles Steak & Ice

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The Taylor Gourmet team's latest project is devoted to cheesesteaks and water ice. This graffiti-decorated H Street NE restaurant is churning out late night sandwiches in a small space designed to evoke the Philly streets.

Table is the first of two restaurants from chef Frederik de Pue. The Shaw neighborhood spot has a Belgian-influenced menu with dishes such as frogs' legs, and attention to detail everywhere, including menus handwritten in pencil.

The ambitious Ambar, from Ivan Iricanin and partner Richard Sandoval, provides a modern perspective to Serbian cuisine. Housemade Rakia, a Balkan liqueur, is a particular draw.

Mari Vanna

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New Russian restaurant Mari Vanna has made a splash in Dupont Circle, with celebrity sightings, homestyle food, a clubby third floor, and "secret keys" for regulars.

Daikaya

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Daikaya's been drawing lines out the door, and it's only half open. The Sapporo-style ramen is currently being served in the downstairs portion of this Penn Quarter restaurant, from partners Daisuke Utagawa, Katsuya Fukushima and Yama Jewayni. Coming in just a week or two: the upstairs izakaya, serving drinks and Japanese small plates.

Beuchert's Saloon

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Still in its soft opening phase, Beuchert's Saloon's design pays homage to the speakeasy that the building used to house. The restaurant specializes in carefully-made cocktails and farm-to-table cuisine, and chef Andrew Markert used to work at PS7's. It's the neighborhood place Capitol Hill has been waiting for (literally) — folks patiently line up to grab a bar stool at the new joint.

barmini

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The experimental cocktail lab inside Minibar by José Andrés has been booking up as soon as its first reservations became available for Feb. 15. The bar puts a molecular spin on classic cocktails, offers a peek into sister restaurant Minibar and serves up unique bar snacks such as Thai Chicharrones. Prices are more accessible than Minibar's $225 per person tab, too.

Union Market

The long-awaited Union Market finally made its epic debut in early September and while several of the vendors have yet to open up shop, it has been a high-buzz go-to spot for a meal. The Rappahannock Oyster Bar is the Union Market's first restaurant space and has been receiving high marks from fellow chefs and everyday diners alike.

DGS Delicatessen

DC residents have been desperate for a decent Jewish deli, and are flocking to this modern spin on Jewish cooking from chef Barry Koslow. The matzoh ball soup, chopped liver and pastrami all have followings.

Hogo

Hogo is The Passenger's Tom Brown's temple to rum, with a wide selection and a number of tiki-inspired drinks. The menu changes depending on what chef is in the kitchen, but dishes are currently Hawaiian influenced.

Range

Bryan Voltaggio's ambitious new restaurant specializes in the whole animal, with a grill station, raw bar, pizzas, a bakery and more. The spacious restaurant also includes a huge bar and a retail market, and is packed with industry talent in everything from mixology to charcuterie.

Taylor Charles Steak & Ice

The Taylor Gourmet team's latest project is devoted to cheesesteaks and water ice. This graffiti-decorated H Street NE restaurant is churning out late night sandwiches in a small space designed to evoke the Philly streets.

Table

Table is the first of two restaurants from chef Frederik de Pue. The Shaw neighborhood spot has a Belgian-influenced menu with dishes such as frogs' legs, and attention to detail everywhere, including menus handwritten in pencil.

Ambar

The ambitious Ambar, from Ivan Iricanin and partner Richard Sandoval, provides a modern perspective to Serbian cuisine. Housemade Rakia, a Balkan liqueur, is a particular draw.

Mari Vanna

New Russian restaurant Mari Vanna has made a splash in Dupont Circle, with celebrity sightings, homestyle food, a clubby third floor, and "secret keys" for regulars.

Daikaya

Daikaya's been drawing lines out the door, and it's only half open. The Sapporo-style ramen is currently being served in the downstairs portion of this Penn Quarter restaurant, from partners Daisuke Utagawa, Katsuya Fukushima and Yama Jewayni. Coming in just a week or two: the upstairs izakaya, serving drinks and Japanese small plates.

Beuchert's Saloon

Still in its soft opening phase, Beuchert's Saloon's design pays homage to the speakeasy that the building used to house. The restaurant specializes in carefully-made cocktails and farm-to-table cuisine, and chef Andrew Markert used to work at PS7's. It's the neighborhood place Capitol Hill has been waiting for (literally) — folks patiently line up to grab a bar stool at the new joint.

barmini

The experimental cocktail lab inside Minibar by José Andrés has been booking up as soon as its first reservations became available for Feb. 15. The bar puts a molecular spin on classic cocktails, offers a peek into sister restaurant Minibar and serves up unique bar snacks such as Thai Chicharrones. Prices are more accessible than Minibar's $225 per person tab, too.

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