Seasonal Flavors: The List's List of Best Bites

The DMV has officially turned the corner into fall. Farmers' markets are swapping tomatoes for squash, chefs are loading menus with apples and root vegetables, and suddenly every meal feels like the start of soup season. This is the season for braises that make the whole kitchen smell like Sunday. This is one of the best times of year to eat around the region.

Here at TheListAreYouOnIt.com, we've rounded up the can't-miss bites, menu changes and dining experiences to help you eat your way through fall.

• Make a night of it with a show + a great pre or post-theatre meal with our theatre + dining guide here
• This week's list of The List's favorite beverages is right here
• From festivals and pop-ups to patio parties, restaurant events, and fall food happenings around the region, we've got those covered here
• Looking for cozy dining? Check out our Patio Pleasures + Up On The Roof roundups featuring patios, rooftops, courtyards & outdoor dining spots all across the DMV — now with fire pits and blankets.

So much more fall deliciousness below:

MARK YOUR CALENDAR: 

A Very NYC PopUp: James Beard Award-winning chef Paola Velez is teaming up with Stracci Pizza chef-owner Tom Cardarelli for a 3-night collaboration November 10-12 in Alexandria’s Del Ray neighborhood. Inspired by NYC bodegas, the special menu features Chopped Cheese Pizza, Plantain Sticky Buns à la mode, and a few sweet surprises. Available starting at 5:00 p.m. each night until sold out, with limited quantities and walk-ins only; straccipizza.com

Capital Area Food Bank - At the Table: The Capital Area Food Bank is launching At the Table, a 3-part dinner series bringing together acclaimed restaurants and local culinary talent to raise funds and awareness around food insecurity in the DMV. The series kicked off October 14 at Karravaan, followed by The Ruxton on February 16 and Joon on May 10, with each evening featuring special food, cocktails, desserts, and collaborations. Tickets are $350.00 per dinner, with proceeds supporting the Food Bank’s work to address hunger across the region; capitalareafoodbank.org

Mariachi, Tacos, & Margaritas at Apapacho: Apapacho is teaming up with Mariachi Imperio for Mal de Amores, a monthly night of live mariachi, tacos, margaritas, and heartbreak anthems. Guests can sing along to 2 hours of live music while enjoying food and drinks, with one rule: don't call your ex! Upcoming dates include November 13, and December 11 at Apapacho’s Union Market location; apapachotaqueria.com

Four Seasons DC Wine & Dine: The fifth annual Wine & Dine returns November 12 through 13, bringing together celebrity chefs, local culinary talent, and exceptional wines and spirits in support of MedStar Health’s lung cancer research initiatives. The celebration kicks off November 12 with a Culinary Showcase at Bourbon Steak DC from 6:00 tp 10:00 p.m., featuring chef action stations, passed bites, and wine and spirit tastings from chefs including Michael Mina, Lorena Garcia, Douglas Keane, Quentin Welch, and Jillian Fitch. On November 13, guests can enjoy an intimate 4-course celebrity chef dinner with curated wine pairings; web.cvent.com

Karavan Diwali Gathering: DC Diwali returns on Sunday, November 15, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at Karravaan for an afternoon celebrating South Asian culture. The festivities include Silk Road-inspired cuisine, music by DJ Vicious, South Asian-owned small businesses, and a special appearance by comedian Badar Tareen. Guests are encouraged to dress in South Asian festive attire, with net proceeds benefiting Ashiyanaa, a nonprofit supporting South Asian survivors of domestic violence across the DMV; resy.com

Shelia’s Table at Salamander Middleburg: Salamander Middleburg is launching Sheila’s Table, an intimate culinary series hosted by resort owner Sheila Johnson, with its inaugural experience November 15 through 17 featuring Chicago chef and entrepreneur Cliff Rome. The 3-day gathering will include hands-on cooking experiences, chef-led dinners at Harrimans, tastings, cocktails, and fireside conversations exploring the stories behind the food. Attendance is limited, and overnight packages are available. Each gathering will also support a charitable cause selected by the featured chef; salamanderresort.com

DC Capital Feast: On Monday, November 16 at 6:00 p.m., DC Capital Feast returns to The Square for an evening celebrating DC’s culinary community. Guests can enjoy dishes from Rose Previte (Maydan), Susan Bae (Moon Rabbit), Anthony Jones (Marcus DC), and Kareem “Mr. Bake” Queeman, with special recognition of C•CAP alumna Chef Nadia Montague. All proceeds benefit C•CAP, supporting more than 1,400 D.C. public school students through culinary training, scholarships, and career opportunities; my.onecause.com

Celebrate the Big Wins at The Roost: Goldfinch Social at The Roost is hosting The Best of the US Wine Fest on Sunday, November 22, celebrating American winemaking with a walk-around tasting of 30 wines from California, Oregon, Washington, New York, Virginia, and beyond. Guests can explore six tasting stations led by wine professionals, enjoy snacks from The Roost kitchen, and shop an exclusive bottle sale with discounted wines. Two sessions are available at 12:00 and 3:00 p.m.; theroostsedc.com

Irongate Anniversary: The Dupont Circle restaurant is celebrating its 13th anniversary with a walk-around soirée on Sunday, November 22, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Guests can enjoy tasting stations showcasing Iron Gate’s Greek and Southern Italian cuisine, including Crispy Sesame Feta, Grilled Lamb Kebab Gyros, Caramelized Ricotta Gnocchi with Pork Ragu, and an assortment of desserts. The $95.00 all-inclusive ticket includes food, welcome bubbly, and two full pours from a selection of rare wines, specialty cocktails, beer, amaro, and ouzo. Additional drinks are $13.00 each; irongaterestaurantdc.com

Holiday Cookie Exchange: The annual Holiday Cookie Swap will be at La Collina on Monday, December 7, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., alongside a special Cookie Kindness Project fundraiser benefiting Sasha Bruce Youthwork, which supports young people experiencing homelessness in the DC area. Participants can join the cookie swap, contribute baked goods to the fundraiser, or take part in both. Registration closes October 24 for the fundraiser and November 28 for the cookie swap; sign up here

NEW & NOTEWORTHY: 

Thick n Healthy: The independently owned yogurt brand is opening its first storefront in Georgetown with a soft opening on November 14 and grand opening celebrations November 21–22. Known for its rich, creamy, four-times-strained yogurt, THICK serves bowls and layered swirls in flavors like Mango Lychee, Dubai Chocolate, and Hazelnut. After building a following at DMV farmers markets, the brand is celebrating its new home with yogurt tastings, a photo booth, limited-edition merchandise, and a special perk for the first 100 guests on November 21; instagram.com/thick_yogurt

Remember to Give Back: This Thanksgiving, Food & Friends will bring together more than 320 volunteers and staff to prepare and deliver 5,175 holiday meals to 1,035 families living with serious illnesses across DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Each delivery will include a complete Thanksgiving dinner for five, featuring roasted turkey, traditional sides, and pies from Maryland-based Whisked by Jenna. Meal preparation takes place November 23-25, with deliveries on Thanksgiving Day, November 26. Supported by longtime partner Wegmans, the initiative helps ensure neighbors facing serious illness and food insecurity can share a holiday meal with loved ones; foodandfriends.org

Fire Meets Fall: The Argentine-inspired restaurant in Georgetown is welcoming fall with a new seasonal dinner menu highlighting autumn produce and wood-fired cooking. New dishes include Autumn Provoleta with caramelized pears and goat cheese, Butternut Squash Ravioli with sage and parmesan, Farmer’s Pie with duck confit, mushrooms, and pumpkin purée, and Lomo Marsala with Argentine tenderloin. Seasonal desserts include Pear Bostock, grilled apple compote with toffee caramel, and Bartlett Pear and Honeycrisp Apple sorbets. The menu is available now throughout the fall season; braseroatlanticodc.com

Michelin-Starred & Gluten-Free: Knightsbridge Restaurant Group’s Italian restaurant in downtown DC has introduced a new gluten-free lunch and dinner menu from Executive Chef Carlos Cardona. Guests can choose gluten-free penne or spaghetti in dishes like Pasta al Pomodoro, Cacio e Pepe, Pasta all’Amatriciana, and Pasta al Forno. Additional options include Arancini al Limone e Timo, Risotto al Maitake, Branzino alla Brace, and Ribeye alla Griglia; rossellidc.com

Eebee’s Corner Bar x Andy’s Pizza: Cousins Andy Brown and Emily Brown are teaming up for a limited-time Crab & Artichoke Dip Pizza, inspired by Eebee’s popular appetizer. The Sicilian-style pie features Maryland blue crab, artichokes, sherry vinegar, shallots, aged parmesan, provolone, and Old Bay. Available at all Andy’s Pizza locations November 11-25 for $7.50 per slice or $35.00 per pie, and at Eebee’s November 20–December 4 as a $12.00 shareable pizza. Proceeds from every sale benefit the Capital Area Food Bank. The collaboration also marks the debut of Sicilian-style pizza at all Andy’s locations; eatandyspizza.com

Adler x Astro: Astro is continuing its chef collaboration series with Caruso’s Grocery, introducing a Brooklyn-Style Cheesecake Doughnut filled with cream cheese and topped with strawberry glaze, graham cracker crumble, and white chocolate drizzle. Through November 9, guests can also enjoy 2 returning collaborations: Cane’s Rum Cake Doughnut and Purple Patch’s Ube Cinnamon Doughnut. All 3 are available for $5.50 each at both Astro locations, with proceeds benefiting Sister Mentors, Arcadia, and No Kid Hungry. The Caruso’s Grocery doughnut will remain available throughout November, supporting Arcadia; astrodoughnuts.com

Mussel Up: Common Plate Hospitality has opened its first DC location in Cathedral Heights! The Belgian-inspired restaurant features more than a dozen mussel and clam preparations, including Beer & Bacon, Tex-Mex with chorizo, Creole with andouille, and Green Curry, alongside a curated craft beer selection. The 150-seat space is also a destination for sports fans, with 15 TVs and a 180-inch projector screen. Weekend brunch features Chicken & Waffles, Belgian Waffles, and Croque Madame, served Saturdays from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.; eataugies.com

Spice is Nice: James Beard Award-winning chef Meherwan Irani’s small-batch spice brand is opening its 2nd storefront in Georgetown on November 6. The Asheville-based brand will offer a wide selection of freshly roasted and ground spices, signature blends, gift-ready collections, and exclusive collaborations, alongside snacks, condiments, and pantry essentials from local DMV makers. The opening follows the recent debut of Irani’s Botiwalla restaurant in Tenleytown, just 2 miles away; spicewallabrand.com

Caviar Service, Yes Please: Wild Goat Hospitality’s steakhouse in Pike & Rose is introducing a new Caviar Bar and Caviar Service from Chef Aris Tsekouras. Guests can add Precious Pearls Kaluga or Ossetra caviar to bites like Crab Rolls, Tuna Carpaccio, Beef Tartare, and Crispy Potatoes, or enjoy traditional caviar service with blini, capers, crème fraîche, shallots, and cured egg yolk. The restaurant’s signature “Coldest Martini in D.C.” can also be upgraded with a caviar-stuffed olive garnish. The new offerings are available now; eatbouboulina.com

Southern Coastal Indian for Brunch? Yes, Please: Restaurateur Ashok Bajaj’s Forest Hills restaurant Malabar is now serving Sunday brunch from 11:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. The buffet, created by James Beard Award-winning Chef Vikram Sunderam, features a rotating selection of modern Indian dishes, including Kerala Fish Fry, Mangalorean Chicken Curry, Lamb Roganjosh, vegetarian specialties, and traditional desserts. Guests can also enjoy mimosas, Bloody Marys, and sparkling wine, or unlimited brunch drinks for 90 minutes; malabar-dc.com

NOT NEW, BUT NOTEWORTHY:

Back to the Green with Marcus: Chef Marcus Samuelsson is celebrating the release of his new cookbook, “Back to Green: Rediscovering a World of Delicious, Healthy Eating,” with a special companion menu at Marcus DC. Inspired by the book’s exploration of global ingredients and culinary traditions, Chef Anthony Jones has created dishes including Awaze Roasted Head-On Shrimp with jerk squash purée, Whole Grilled Fish with pepper sauce and green mango, and Spiced Donuts with glazed cherries and Chantilly cream; marcussamuelssongroup.com/marcus-dc

Art on a Plate: Fish Shop at The Wharf is celebrating the release of “A Cookbook for Iwan: From Studio to Stove, Recipes from Hauser & Wirth’s Global Family,” featuring 200+ recipes from artists and creatives, including Annie Leibovitz and Amy Sherald. As part of the celebration, Chef Ria Montes is recreating Amy Sherald’s Aunt Brenda’s Gulf Coast Gumbo, bringing a personal family recipe from the acclaimed artist to the restaurant’s menu; fishshopdc.com

Autumnal Omakase: Nobu DC in the West End is introducing 2 new seasonal offerings, including an off-menu Fish & Chips with Caviar special, available by request on weekends. The dish features tempura-fried Glacier 51 Chilean Sea Bass with yuzu-tamari crème fraîche and a tin of Kolikof Grand Reserve Ossetra Sturgeon Caviar. Guests can also enjoy a fall omakase tasting menu, available nightly through January 3, featuring Baked Oyster Shichimi Amazu, Chilean Sea Bass with black pepper crust, Prime Heritage Angus Tenderloin, and a selection of chef’s sushi and sashimi; noburestaurants.com

Our Bar + Brunch: Daniella Senior’s 5C Hospitality, the team behind Colada Shop and Elegancia, has opened Bar Nuestro at Urby in Navy Yard. The Latin-rooted, European-inspired bistrot features dishes like Yuca Beignets, Oxtail Mafalde, and Pork Chop Milanesa, alongside Build Your Own Martinis, Tiny Tinis, and creative cocktails. Weekend brunch is served Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., featuring Wagyu Hash Toast, Huevos a la Criolla, Chivito Sandwiches, and brunch cocktails. The kitchen is peanut- and tree nut-free and cooks without seed oils; barnuestro.com

Tweet, Tweet PSL: Chef/Owner Eric Brannon is giving the classic pumpkin spice latte a savory twist with his new Latte Spiced Pumpkin dish. Japanese kabocha squash is roasted with espresso and warm spices, paired with soy-whiskey caramel, and finished with an airy peppercorn-and-chili milk foam, bringing familiar fall flavors from the coffee cup to the plate; littlebirdieva.com

Yala! Your Greek Summer Continues Into Fall: Yala is welcoming fall with a lineup of seasonal flavors, starting with Chai on October 8 and Pumpkin Spice on October 10. Later this month, guests can look forward to Dark Chocolate (dairy-free), Apple Pie, and Cinnamon Apple Baklava. Founded by Chrys Kefalas, Yala specializes in Greek yogurt ice cream made with locally sourced A2 dairy from Maryland’s South Mountain Creamery. The brand’s popular pop-up at Conrad Washington, DC has also been extended through the fall; yalagreekicecream.com

Private Dining, Yes Chef!: Chef Amy Brandwein, the restaurateur behind Centrolina, has launched Casalina, a new private dining and catering company serving the DC area. Inspired by seasonal Italian cooking and locally sourced ingredients, Casalina offers customized experiences ranging from intimate dinner parties and celebrations to corporate breakfasts, lunches, and meetings. Menus feature dishes like Pear & Ricotta Tortelli, Chestnut Pappardelle, Beef Tenderloin, and Maple Budino, alongside house-made pastries, grazing boards, and aperitivo selections; casalinadc.com