The Foods of Summer: The List’s List of Eats
Summer Ready? The DMV certainly is. Farmers’ markets are starting to overflow, chefs are loading menus with peak-season produce, grills are firing up, and suddenly every meal feels like a good excuse to stay out a little longer. This is the season! Tomato salads that actually taste like tomatoes, sweet corn in everything, berries on the menu and long lunches that somehow turn into dinner. No judgement. Honestly, 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 summer in the DMV.
- 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 summer food happenings around the region, we’ve got those covered here
- Looking for outdoor dining? Check out our Patio Pleasures and Up On The Roof roundups featuring patios, rooftops, courtyards, and outdoor sipping spots all across the DMV.
So much more summer deliciousness 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 in May, 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
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
Jose Andres at Lincoln Theatre: Chef José Andrés is taking his newest cookbook, Spain My Way, on the road with a live immersive event at the Palazzo Theatre presented by Capital One. Guests can expect stories behind the recipes, live cooking moments, music, and the signature energy that has made José one of the culinary world’s most beloved personalities—all inspired by the flavors and spirit of Spain; joseandres.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
Keg Hunt: Come take part in a multicity craft beer scavenger hunt hosted by ChurchKey, Rustico, and Neighborhood Restaurant Group. From Thursday, June 4th - Sunday, June 7th, visit up to 8 participating locations to discover secret beers and win prizes, including 2 VIP tickets to Snallygaster; churchkeydc.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
Dinner with Michael Twitty: The American Revolution Museum at Yorktown will host an intimate June 11 dinner experience with James Beard Award-winning culinary historian Michael W. Twitty on the eve of the Virginia Declaration of Rights’ 250th anniversary. The evening blends conversation, history, and a multi-course menu inspired by Twitty’s acclaimed cookbooks, exploring African American heritage, Southern foodways, and the role of community around the table; jyfmuseums.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
World Cup of Wine: Lulu’s Winegarden is hosting a global wine tasting party on June 14 featuring 25+ wines from a dozen wine-producing countries, paired with bottomless breakfast tacos and soccer matches airing throughout the space. The interactive tasting includes walkaround pours, discounted take-home bottles, and two afternoon sessions designed for wine lovers of every level; luluswinegarden.com
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:
The Salty Donut x Lyre’s Collab: The Salty Donut and Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic are partnering on a limited-time summer collaboration running May 22–29, featuring 2 strawberry-forward treats inspired by non-alcoholic rosé. Highlights include a strawberry rosé cake donut and a rosé & matcha spritz made with Lyre’s Sparkling Rosé, available for one week only at participating locations nationwide; saltydonut.com
A Big Brisket Burger: Celebrate National Burger Month and National Brisket Day with 2Fifty’s limited-time Brisket Burger, made with a blend of American Wagyu and prime brisket smoked over white oak and seared to finish. Topped with Swiss cheese, curry sauce, beef-tallow caramelized onions, and pickles on a DC Lyon Bakery bun, it’s a smoky, over-the-top take on the classic burger; 2fiftybbq.com
Listen to This (Brunch Alert): Oasis is debuting a new weekend brunch, pairing Japanese-inspired dishes with its signature audiophile atmosphere in Clarendon. Highlights include truffle avocado toast with sashimi, smoked salmon crepes, karaage chicken and waffles, and matcha cream crepes, alongside yuzu mimosas, sake flights, and espresso martinis. Sundays add live jazz from 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., kicking off May 24 with guitarist Alejandro Villarreal, turning the patio and listening bar into a laid-back brunch destination for music lovers and weekend diners alike; oasisthelisteningbar.com
Ala Carte at Oyster Oyster: As it approaches its five-year anniversary, Michelin-starred Oyster Oyster is introducing its first-ever à la carte menu for walk-in guests on Wednesdays and Thursdays, featuring frequently rotating seasonal dishes from James Beard Award-winning Chef Rob Rubba; oysteroysterdc.com
Lola’s Halo Halo (AAPI Month Alert): To close out AAPI Month, Fish Shop is serving Lola’s Halo Halo, a nostalgic Filipino shaved ice dessert inspired by Chef Ria Montes’ childhood summers with her grandmother in Queens. Available May 15 through 31, the colorful treat layers young coconut, sweet red beans, housemade leche flan, and ube over condensed milk shaved ice for a refreshing taste of Filipino tradition; fishshopdc.com
Wellies for Everyone: Gordon Ramsay Restaurants are rolling out limited-time Beef Wellington-inspired specials starting May 28 for National Burger Day. The lineup includes a Wellington Burger stacked with mushroom duxelles, crispy prosciutto, and gravy mayo, plus a Wellington Pizza topped with bresaola, truffle béchamel, and rich savory flavors inspired by Ramsay’s iconic signature dish; gordonramsayrestaurants.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
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 (Brunch / Lunch Alert): 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. Brunch is also served on Saturdays and Sundays featuring Spanish-style cuisine; bullywdc.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
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:
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
