Fabulous Food Finds: The List’s List of Eats
Spring Ready? The DMV is officially shaking off winter and stepping into longer days and menus that feel just a little lighter and brighter. Thank Goodness! We are ready for fresh greens, farmers’ market finds, and chefs leaning into the flavors of the season.
Here at TheListAreYouOnIt.com, we’ve rounded up the can’t-miss bites and experiences to help you eat your way into spring.
-Make a night of it, see a show and grab a great pre- or post-theatre meal with our theatre + dining guide (here).
-This week's list of The List's favorite beverages, here.
-Celebrate the season with festivals, pop-ups, and springtime dining events popping up all over the region (here).
-You don’t need an excuse to visit a woman-owned business or celebrate women history month…here’s the list.
So much more fresh, flavor-packed goodness below:
MARK YOUR CALENDAR:
Get Out of Town: Antigua & Barbuda’s annual Culinary Month returns this May with a full lineup of food-focused events, including Restaurant Week, the signature FAB Fest, and exclusive chef collaborations. The month-long celebration highlights Caribbean cuisine and talent, with guest chefs like Nina Compton and Tristen Epps-Long, plus experiences like “Eat Like a Local” and a finale beach party; antiguabarbudaculinarymonth.com
Moon Valley Strawberry Festival: Moon Valley Farm will host its 2026 Strawberry Festival series on May 16 and 23, featuring the region’s only Certified Organic pick-your-own strawberries. Guests can harvest berries straight from the field while enjoying food trucks, local vendors, and family-friendly activities, with a special early-access day for CSA members on May 9; moonvalleyfarm.net
Vermilion Wine Dinner: Vermilion hosts an intimate 4-course wine dinner on May 21 featuring Northern Virginia’s acclaimed Linden Vineyards. Guests will enjoy pairings presented by winemaker Alex Wilde alongside seasonal dishes from Chef Anthony Chittum, including oyster Rockefeller gratin, Shenandoah lamb, and honeyed strawberries with late harvest petit manseng; vermilionrestaurant.com
Smithsonian Cooking Up History: Registration is now open for a free May 22 cooking demonstration at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History featuring award-winning Italian cooking teacher Giuliano Hazan. Hazan will prepare traditional zabaglione while sharing stories tied to his mother, Marcella Hazan—widely considered the godmother of Italian cooking in America; americanhistory.si.edu
St Owen’s Feast: Owen’s Tavern & Garden and Caruso’s Grocery Pike & Rose are teaming up again for the 2nd annual Saint Owen’s Feast on May 23, an Italian-style street fair packed with food, drinks, and family-friendly fun. Expect Italian street food favorites, seasonal spritzes, rare craft beers, live music, outdoor games, and more—all with free admission and raffle proceeds benefiting Manna Food Center; owenstavern.com
Service & Sacrifice: The DC chapter of Les Dames d'Escoffier International hosts a virtual panel on May 28 exploring the realities of balancing motherhood and careers in hospitality. Moderated by Avery Meetre, the conversation features leaders including Kerry Brodie, Britney Brown-Chamberlain, Leah Culley, and Johanna Hellrigl discussing resilience, flexibility, and the future of caregiving in the industry; lesdamesdc.org
Blue Duck Tavern Anniversary: Blue Duck Tavern will toast 20 years in the nation’s capital as one of the city’s most iconic restaurants in June 2026. To honor this monumental occasion, nationally recognized chefs, who formerly spearheaded Blue Duck Tavern, will return to prepare their signature dishes for a special dinner gathering accompanied by merrymaking over 2006 vintages from Blue Duck Tavern's Sommelier selections. The five-course feast will take place on Wednesday, June 10, with a champagne reception and hors d'oeuvres at 6 p.m.; blueducktavern.com
Food & Friends: Food & Friends hosts its 33rd annual Chef’s Best on June 8 at the Marriott Marquis, bringing together 30+ top regional chefs for tastings, cocktails, and a live auction. Led by Chef Mauricio Chirinos, the evening supports the organization’s mission to provide medically tailored meals to those living with chronic illness, with a goal to raise $1 million; foodandfriends.org
Dame’s Table: Hosted by Les Dames d'Escoffier Washington DC Chapter, this lively tasting event returns June 11 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.) at Whittemore House. Guests can explore chef-driven food and wine pairings from top local talent, plus a silent auction featuring unique culinary experiences—all supporting grants and scholarships for the next generation of women in food; lesdamesdc.org
Carla Hall One-Woman Show: Carla Hall is debuting her world premiere solo show, “Please Underestimate Me!”, at the Olney Theatre Center this summer. In the one-woman production, the award-winning chef, author, and TV personality shares a candid, humorous, and deeply personal look at her journey—from her Tennessee roots and Howard University to Paris runways. The DC chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier has reserved a block of seats for 2 performances: Friday, June 26 and Thursday, July 9 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $72.00, with a portion supporting scholarships and mentorship for women in food and hospitality. A special $92.00 ticket for the June 26 performance includes a post-show meet-and-greet with Carla Hall and light refreshments; buy tickets here.
Family Reunion: Chef Kwame Onwuachi’s acclaimed culinary festival returns August 20–23 at Salamander Middleburg with its 2026 theme, “Folklore: A History of Storytelling.” The multi-day event brings together top chefs, panels, workshops, and immersive dining experiences celebrating Black and Brown contributions to food and culture, with tickets and packages now available; salamanderhotels.com/experience/family-reunion
Yottem Ottolenghi at Sixth & I: Celebrated chef and author Yotam Ottolenghi will appear at Sixth & I on October 8 at 7:00 p.m., discussing his latest cookbook Simple Too. In conversation, Ottolenghi will explore his philosophy of bold, approachable cooking and share recipes designed to make flavorful meals feel effortless; sixthandi.org
NEW & NOTEWORTHY:
Brunch Bistecca (Brunch Alert): Acqua Bistecca debuts weekend brunch starting May 10 with an Italian-inspired menu built for lingering over. Highlights include lemon ricotta pancakes, Maryland blue crab crespelle, and tableside tiramisu toast, alongside interactive cocktails like build-your-own spritzes and customizable Bloody Marys; acquabistecca.com
Uchi Uchi Coo: The nationally acclaimed sushi destination from James Beard Award-winning Chef Tyson Cole is now open in downtown DC, bringing its signature blend of Japanese technique and global flavors to the city for the first time. Led locally by Chef Rob Drennan, Uchi offers creative sushi, hot and cold tastings, omakase experiences, and a popular happy hour—all served with the restaurant’s signature hospitality-driven approach; uchi.uchirestaurants.com
Yala x Levain = OMG: Levain Bakery Georgetown and Bethesda are teaming up with Yala Greek Ice Cream for a limited-time summer collaboration running through October. Guests can mix and match Levain’s iconic cookies with Yala’s Greek ice cream in the form of ice cream sandwiches, affogatos, floats, and cookies à la mode—with more pop-ups and special events planned throughout the season; levainbakery.com
You Had Us at Cardamom Coffee Cake [Brunch Alert]: Chef Lindsey Flowers has launched a new Sunday brunch menu at Namak, blending Eastern Mediterranean flavors with playful brunch dishes like strawberry-rose French toast, cardamom coffee cake, and a sujuk egg-and-cheese sandwich. Guests can also dig into mezze favorites, kebabs, and lamb smashburgers while sipping cocktails like the za’atar-rimmed “Bloody Maryam” or exploring General Manager Dhiandra Olson’s eclectic wine selections; namak-dc.com
Mudbugs!: Bayou Bakery Coffee Bar & Eatery: Chef David Guas is bringing back his annual Crawfish Boils on May 23 and June 13, flying in fresh Louisiana crawfish for an afternoon of true New Orleans-style feasting. Guests can dine in on crawfish platters with all the fixin’s, grab a “Boil in a Bucket To-Geaux,” or go big with the new Bayou Bargain Bundle packed with crawfish, cornbread, muff-a-lotta wedges, beans & rice, and beignets for the whole crew. Frozen Hurricanes, Abita beer buckets, and bottled New Orleans cocktails round out the party; bayoubakeryva.com
Bully For You (Lunch Alert): Starting May 18, Bully is bringing the Spanish tradition of Menú del Día to DC with a daily multi-course lunch experience for $28.00. Served Monday through Friday, the rotating menu includes a first course, seasonal main, dessert, and a complimentary bite to start—turning lunch into a slower, more thoughtful midday ritual; bullywdc.com
Pasta Pastabilities: Chefs Jamie Leeds and Darren Norris have officially opened Hank’s Pasta Bar above Hank’s Oyster Bar in Old Town Alexandria, blending customizable pasta bowls with a relaxed trattoria atmosphere. Guests can mix and match housemade sauces, artisanal pastas, proteins, and toppings, alongside signature dishes like rigatoni bolognese and fusilli pesto. The new dine-in concept also features cocktails, Italian wines, and opening week perks; hankspastabar.com
New, The Boulevard: Opening in the former Wilson Hardware space, The Boulevard blends modern American and Asian fusion with a nightlife edge. The kitchen—led by Chefs Homero González and Bayron Navarro with consulting from Chef Juan “Nacho” Olivera—serves dishes like lamb bao sliders, king salmon tiradito, sushi, and spicy ceviche. Upstairs, the Solset rooftop delivers cocktails from Glendon Hartley alongside DJs spinning house and down-tempo beats, making it as much a late-night destination as it is a dinner spot; boulevardva.com
#Trending: Soft-serve margaritas are having a moment, and Xochi is bringing the trend to DC with its frozen twist on the classic. Pair it with the new Sinaloa Dog—a bacon-wrapped street-style hot dog topped with sautéed onions and peppers—for the ultimate summer-ready combo; taqueriaxochi.com
Spring Omakase: Nobu DC is offering a limited-time spring tasting menu through June 16, priced at $145.00 per person. The omakase-style experience features seasonal highlights like oyster with ume salsa, beef tenderloin with ponzu, and strawberry lychee panna cotta, alongside chef-selected sushi and sashimi; noburestaurants.com
Granchi Dal Guscio Morbido: Tarì Trattoria is welcoming soft shell crab season with limited-time dishes inspired by the Amalfi Coast. Highlights include sautéed soft shell crabs with saffron aioli, cherry tomato salad, and fregola, plus tonnarelli pasta with soft shell crab and a light peperoncino; tari-trattoriadc.com
Ragu for You: Vermilion is hosting a Sunday Night Ragu Family Dinner each week starting at 4:00 p.m., offering a hearty family-style Italian feast for $35.00 per person in the tavern, bar, and lounge. The meal features Chef Anthony Chittum’s slow-cooked ragu with pork spare ribs, braised Angus beef, meatballs, fennel sausage, plum tomatoes, and hand-cut egg noodles. The spread also includes a lacinato kale Caesar, sourdough garlic bread, and apple cider donuts with salted caramel and frozen custard for dessert. Guests can also pair the meal with featured red wines by the bottle selected to complement the Sunday feast; vermilionrestaurant.com
NOT NEW, BUT NOTEWORTHY:
Lunch Launch on The Hill (Lunch Alert): La Collina has launched a brand-new lunch menu from Chef Kat Petonito, available Tuesday through Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The lineup centers on housemade focaccia sandwiches—think Italian cold cuts, pork cutlet, and eggplant milanese—plus hearty salads like crispy rice and chicken. To sip, there’s a playful twist: cocktails served in to-go pouches, including cucumber mint lemonade and white peach sangria; lacollinadc.com
Burnt Hill Farm Chef Counter Experience: The Chef’s Counter at Burnt Hill Farm, led by Chef Tae Strain, debuts this May as an intimate 12-seat tasting experience overlooking the vineyard. Guests can enjoy a 7-9 course menu rooted in Asian American flavors and Mid-Atlantic ingredients, paired with estate wines, with reservations open now and service running Friday through Sunday evenings starting May 1; burnthill.farm
Soft Serve Collab: A new limited-time collaboration between José Andrés Foods and Dolcezza offers 2 Spain-inspired soft serve sundaes from now until May 10. Highlights include a Basque Cheesecake Sundae with goat cheese, honey, and black pepper, and an Olive Oil Sundae made with Arbequina EVOO and sea salt. Available at select Dolcezza locations and José Andrés restaurants.; dolcezzagelato.com
Jalapeño SMASH: In honor of National Burger Month, DaBo Burger is serving up The Jalapeño Smash—a limited-time burger from Chef Elias Taddesse featuring a jalapeño-smashed patty, pepperjack cheese, charred tomato salsa, and lemon thyme aioli. Available all May at the Bridge District location, it pairs perfectly with Atlas Brew Works beers, including the award-winning Bullpen Pilsner; daboburger.com
Beefy Bacon: The Silver & Sons Community Store truck in Bethesda is serving up a new breakfast lineup, including a standout bacon, egg, and cheese made with house-smoked Roseda Farms beef bacon. Served on an English muffin and paired with complimentary coffee, it’s a quick, hearty way to start the day; silverandsonsbbq.com
Crab & Crush: Crab season starts now with Cowbell’s new “Crab & Crush” nights, featuring prepaid seatings at 5:30 and 7:45 p.m. Each reservation includes a 2-hour table and a first round of steamed blue crabs, plus orange crushes, $5.00 Natty Bohs, and the full menu; cowbellseafood.com
Plates of Pasta: The Wine Kitchen has debuted its refreshed spring Pasta Tasting Menu, a multi-course, $57.00 experience highlighting housemade pastas and seasonal ingredients. Dishes include pea ragù garganelli, gnocchi alla gricia with ramps, and a strawberry rhubarb semifreddo—available Tuesday through Sunday with full table participation; thewinekitchen.com
Sunday Family Dinner: Caruso’s Grocery is launching a new Sunday Family Dinner series, offering a 3-course Italian-American prix-fixe menu for $35.00 per person every Sunday from 4:00 to 9:00 p.m. Guests can mix and match favorites like garlic bread quattro formaggi, chicken parm, penne vodka, and classic desserts—bringing a cozy, family-style vibe to the table; carusosgrocery.com
Burrito Pop Up: Michelin Bib Gourmand spot Amparo Fondita is hosting a weekday lunch pop-up from Chef Christian Irabién’s upcoming concept El Gabacho, running through August 14. The takeout-focused menu features handmade flour tortilla burritos filled with bold options like chile colorado, pollo chipotle, and chile relleno—offering a fast, flavor-packed preview of what’s to come; amparofondita.com
Top Chef Tasting Menu: Marcus DC has launched its first tasting menu from Executive Chef Anthony Jones, a 5-course experience inspired by his personal story and culinary journey. The menu blends French technique with global influences, featuring dishes that reflect childhood memories, professional milestones, and the restaurant’s modern American perspective; marcusdc.com
Mediterranean Flair on H Street: Tiffany’s Bar & Bistro is rolling out a new spring menu from Chef Mehmet Sukutli, blending Mediterranean flavors with modern twists. Expect shareable mezze like whipped feta and beet labneh, plus standout plates like Adana kebab and duck shawarma. Served at weekend brunch on Saturday–Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.) brings dishes like Turkish eggs, pistachio French toast, and indulgent kaitifi hotcakes; tiffanysbistrobar.com
