Worth Going Out In The Cold: The List's List Of Great Eats
Winter Ready? The DMV has officially settled into cozy season. Think rich braises, bubbling cheese, and just-baked desserts. At TheListAreYouOnIt.com, we’ve rounded up the can’t-miss bites and experiences to get you through winter deliciously.
Make a night of it, see a show and grab a great pre- or post-theatre meal with our theatre + dining guide (here).
Winter activations are back: igloos, skating rinks, and après-ski vibes all over the DMV (here).
This week's list of The List's favorite beverages, here.
Cozy up fireside - see the best spots, here.
Are you ready for some football? All your Super Bowl needs, met, here.
Looking for love? Valentine's Day do's are here.
So much more cozy, crave-worthy goodness below:
MARK YOUR CALENDAR:
Georgetown Chocolate Tour: On Saturday, February 7th grab your box and take an indulgent tour of Georgetown small businesses collecting treats along the way. In our newest event to our line up, we place chocolate treats at independent shops to create a unique opportunity to introduce you to amazing local businesses. Get your tickets here.
Steak + Frites = Love Forever: Medium Rare is upping the stakes this Valentine’s Day with a proposal-worthy perk. Couples who get engaged on February 14 at any of Medium Rare’s 9 locations will be entered to win free Steak Frites on their wedding anniversary every year for the rest of their married lives. Yes, forever. Winners receive the restaurant’s iconic prix-fixe Steak Frites dinner at no cost annually, featuring a seared culotte steak topped with the cult-favorite secret sauce, crispy French fries, a fresh side salad, rustic bread, and complimentary second servings of steak and fries. Known for its playful French-inspired vibe, crayon-written orders, flirty cocktail napkins, and cheeky restroom French lessons, Medium Rare offers an effortlessly fun setting for popping the question; Click here for more info.
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
NEW & NOTEWORTHY:
Let’s Bowl & Roll: Bindaas Bowls & Rolls is now open, replacing its sister restaurant Bindaas in Foggy Bottom with a new to-go concept designed for quick lunches and easy takeout. Led by Knightsbridge Restaurant Group founder Ashok Bajaj, the revamped spot serves customizable Indian bowls and rolls, along with sandwiches, biryani, snacks, and desserts. Guests can build their own meals by choosing sauces and rotating proteins like lamb, fish, chicken, shrimp, and vegetarian options, or opt for signature offerings. The restaurant will be open daily, with seating available for casual dine-in; Click here for more info.
Sometimes Spicy, Sometimes Sweet: Dolcezza is celebrating Valentine’s Day with a lineup of festive flavors launching February 1 at all DMV locations. The menu includes Red Velvet Cake Gelato and Passionfruit Mousse Gelato, plus sweet-and-spicy sips like the Passionfruit Szechuan Matcha and a Passion Matcha Soda. Dolcezza is also offering soft-serve sundaes at the H Street and Hirshhorn locations, including a Red Velvet Sundae with cake bits and cream cheese frosting and a Passionfruit Sundae finished with passionfruit coulis; Click here for more info.
The Cumberland Valley Coffee & Chocolate Trail Returns: The Cumberland Valley Coffee & Chocolate Trail is back with a nostalgic Friends-inspired theme, running from January 28 through May 11. Using a free digital passport, participants can explore nearly 30 cafés, chocolatiers, and sweet spots throughout the Cumberland Valley, checking in to earn points, prizes, exclusive discounts, and special offers along the way. This year’s trail includes locations such as King & Saint, Denim Coffee, Helena’s Chocolate Café & Creperie, Mummert Chocolates, The Cracked Pot Coffee Shop, and many more. The trail officially kicks off on January 28, with a launch event at King & Saint Café in Shippensburg at 9:00 a.m., where early passport holders can enjoy complimentary coffee and a pastry while supplies last; Click here for more info.
More Focaccia, Please: Chef Mike Friedman is expanding the reach of Fossette Focacceria, bringing its popular focaccia sandwiches to AP Pizza Shop in Bethesda. Available all day, the new menu features 6 sandwiches: Caprese; Mortazza with mortadella, stracciatella, pistachio crema, and black pepper; Tartufo with prosciutto cotto, stracciatella, arugula, and black truffle honey; Circolo with smoked turkey, fontina, tomato, cabbage, iceberg, and lemon aioli; Italiano with a mix of Genoa salami, finocchiona, soppressata, mortadella, mozzarella, and spicy peppers; and Chicken Parm with a parmesan-sesame chicken cutlet, provolone, basil, and marinara; Click here for more info.
Raclette Season (Happy Hour Alert): Mikko Nordic Fine Foods is leaning into winter with a cozy, storm-day lineup of Nordic hot drinks, comforting starters, and the return of its beloved Raclette and Buckwheat Blinis, available for a limited time. The Dupont Circle rowhouse café is serving warming cocktails like Spiked Cider with Nordic spiced rum, Spiked Chai with bourbon, Red Glögg with mulled wine and almonds, a classic Hot Toddy, and a Nordic Coffee finished with aquavit, walnut liqueur, and whipped cream. Guests can pair drinks with hearty winter starters, while Raclette and Buckwheat Blinis are back through February only. Daily happy hour runs from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., featuring $4.00 off cocktails, $3.00 off wine, and $2.00 off beer; Click here for more info.
60 Years of Mr Henry’s: A Capitol Hill mainstay since 1966, Mr. Henry’s is celebrating a major milestone in 2026 - its 60th anniversary. To mark 6 decades as one of Washington’s most beloved neighborhood pubs, the historic Victorian spot is rolling out a yearlong celebration featuring monthly, decade-themed festivities beginning in February, each honoring a different era of its history. The anniversary programming ends in a milestone gala in August 2026, inviting generations of Washingtonians to toast the past, present, and future of this enduring local institution; Click here for more info.
Get In My Belly: 2Fifty Texas BBQ is going all-in on pork belly with a week-long pop-up running Monday, January 26 through Sunday, February 1 at both the Riverdale Park and K Street locations. For Pork Belly Week, regular specials are on pause in favor of daily features, including Hot Honey Pork Belly (Monday & Sunday), Al Pastor Pork Belly (Wednesday), Char Siu Pork Belly (Thursday), Green Spaghetti with Pork Belly (Friday), and Pork Belly Burnt Ends (Saturday); 2fiftybbq.com
Cubano Delicioso at Reagan National: Colada Shop has opened its first-ever airport location at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), bringing its signature Cuban coffee, cocktails, and all-day bites to Terminal 2, C Gates (airside). Open daily from 5:00 a.m. until the last departing flight, the new outpost is designed for everything from early-morning caffeine fixes to pre-flight toasts. The menu features Colada Shop favorites like Café Cubano, cortaditos, Café con Leche, Havana Cold Brew, shareable coladas, housemade sodas, zero-proof cocktails, and a full bar pouring classics such as mojitos, piña coladas, and espresso martinis. Travelers can also expect all-day bites including croquetas, empanadas, yuca fries, platanachos, the Cuban sandwich, plus breakfast staples like churro waffles, pastelitos, and pan de bono; coladashop.com
Lunch PopUp: Taco Taco: Taco Taco by Cranes is a daytime taqueria pop-up led by Executive Chef Pepe Moncayo that brings the soul of Cranes into a casual, crave-driven lunch format. The lunch menu features tacos, wraps, bowls, and shareable plates designed for speed, flavor, and repeat visits. Sample dishes include maitake mushroom tempura with achiote-pineapple and yuzu kosho crema, crispy chicken karaage with napa cabbage and togarashi crema, garlic shrimp a la plancha with ajo blanco and chili oil, beer-battered fish with citrus slaw, and koji-marinated skirt steak finished with salsa macha and lime. 724 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001; cranes-dc.com
Tasting Menu Debut: Kayu has a new tasting menu. Kayu’s tasting menu reflects the timeless flavors of the Philippines, reimagined through a modern lens. Each dish is thoughtfully crafted to celebrate depth, diversity, and cultural resonance: Pampagana – buchi with foie gras and chestnut; tuna tartare with calamansi kosho and nori; Cassava; Cake – crabfat xo, lardo, ikura; Kinilaw – hamachi, granny smith apple, coconut; Octopus Pancit – glass noodles, squid ink, piquillo peppers; Aged Squab Kaldereta – breast & leg confit, marble potato, green olives; Kinaskas – mango, chèvre, honey; and Taho – silken tofu, tapioca, kaluga caviar. 1633 17th St NW, Washington, DC 20009; kayudc.com
NOT NEW, BUT NOTEWORTHY:
Forget Fast Food: Immigrant Food is putting a global spin on classic fast-food comfort with its new “Brisk Food Deals,” available online only at DC and Virginia locations. Priced at $19.99, each deal includes fries and an in-house zero-proof beverage. Combos highlight the brand’s international influences, from the Moroccan Mac Combo with the Immigrant Burger to the Bangkok Express Combo featuring Thai noodles, the (K)FC Combo with Filipino fried chicken, and the Cuban Tropical Combo with the Havana sandwich; immigrantfood.com
Arlington Gets a Mozzarella Laboratory?: Tony Boloney’s is officially landing in the DMV, opening its first local outpost at UPSIDE on Moore in Rosslyn, Virginia. The cult-favorite pizzeria and cheesesteak institution, founded in Atlantic City, NJ, is known for its unapologetic, scratch-made approach and wildly creative comfort food. The new vendor debuts with a grand opening on Tuesday, January 27, bringing its signature pies, cheesesteaks, and fan-favorite “Mad Mutz” mozzarella sticks to the Rosslyn food hall lineup; tonyboloneys.com.
Spanish Steakhouse: Bully Spanish Steakhouse is now open inside the St. Gregory Hotel, introducing a neighborhood-driven Spanish steakhouse rooted in fire-forward cooking. Live-fire grilling anchors the menu, with beef, pork, and seafood cooked simply and confidently, complemented by classic Spanish dishes such as patatas bravas, jamón and Manchego, fideuà, branzino, and picanha. 2033 M Street NW; bullywdc.com
AYCE Sushi (Brunch Alert): Love, Makotto has debuted an extensive all-you-can-eat brunch buffet that costs $65 per person, excluding beverages. Highlights include the Baked Crab Hand Roll, Tuna Crispy Rice, Miso Salmon, Roasted Strip Loin and Pork Shoulder, Housemade Soba Noodles, three types of Mochi Donuts and the Dear Sushi Ichigo Strawberry. 200 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Ste. 150; lovemakoto.com
Down to the Cellar: Oyster Oyster's hyper-seasonal menu evolves in harmony with the Mid-Atlantic’s micro-seasons, and is prepared vegetarian or vegan, with the option for an oyster course. Chef Rob recently debuted the Cellar Larder Menu, which gives a special spotlight to the restaurant's cellar of vegetables that have been preserved, fermented and dried through the past few seasons. Highlights include dishes like Kohlrabi with kelp, smoked garlic, coriander, and caper vinaigrette and nasturtium gelee; Beauregard Sweet Potato “Mochi” with collard greens, pickled ramps and sweet potato skin broth; and Grilled Lions Mane with cabbage, red carrots, emmer farro, and a brown butter-Kefir sauce; among others. 1440 8th St NW; oysteroysterdc.com
Winter Views & Winter Menus: As the cooler months settle into Washington, ART DC is celebrating the season with a fresh winter menu from Michelin-starred Chef Pepe Moncayo. Bringing his signature Japanese-influenced approach to a dramatic rooftop setting, Chef Moncayo introduces a menu with favorites like Chicken Soup Dumplings with chili oil and fried onions, Short Rib Curry Bao with pickled radish and umeboshi mayo, Tuna Rolls with yuzu kosho and tobiko, and miso-glazed Sweet Potato finished with sesame and mint. 333 G St. NW, Washington, DC 20001; artrooftops.com
Yes, Soup for You: Chef Suresh Sundas’ Thukpa (Himalayan-inspired soup) special at Tapori will be available on Mondays in limited quantities. Two soups to choose from: Vegetarian Udon noodles in a soy broth with silken tofu, enoki mushrooms, bok choy, and Napa cabbage ($20) or Duck Meatball Udon noodles in a soy broth with enoki mushrooms, bok choy, and Napa cabbage. 600 H Street NE Suite E; taporidc.com
