You Wanna Bite of This! The List’s List of Delicious Dishes

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: 

Japanese Wagyu Week at Little Blackbird: Executive Chef Ryan Moore is celebrating Japanese Wagyu Week from June 17-21 with a rotating lineup of specialty dishes showcasing prized Iwate Gyu Wagyu, including Wagyu Carpaccio, Seared Wagyu with braised red cabbage, Roasted Wagyu with mushroom purée, and a Wagyu Corned Beef Reuben. Each daily special is available for $30.00. The week culminates on June 21 with an intimate five-course Wagyu dinner featuring beef from Japan’s renowned Nakamura Farm in Iwate Prefecture. Limited to 20 guests, the $150.00 experience includes multiple Wagyu preparations, stories from Chef Moore’s recent visit to the farm, and optional beverage pairings featuring sake and wine; littleblackbirddc.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: 

Summer Michelin Menu: Michelin-starred Chef Ryan Ratino is celebrating the season with new summer tasting menus that showcase peak ingredients through a modern French bistro lens. Guests can choose from 3-course ($65.00), 4-course ($95.00), or 7-course ($155.00) experiences featuring dishes such as King Fish with heirloom tomato and yuzu olive oil, Corn & Black Truffle Ravioli, Rainbow Trout with blue crab ragout, and Lamb Loin & Belly with raspberry and merguez sausage. End on a sweet note with Peaches & Cream or the Warm Madeleine Service for Two, and don't miss the signature Brioche Feuilletée with honey butter; brescadc.com

Goodstone’s Grayson: Goodstone Inn & Restaurant has unveiled Grayson’s, a new signature restaurant inspired by the estate’s working farm and Virginia countryside. Named after the property's resident llama, the concept embraces a farm-to-table philosophy with menus built around ingredients harvested daily from Goodstone’s gardens, including fresh herbs, vegetables, and eggs. Offering breakfast, lunch, dinner, weekend brunch, and bar service, Grayson’s delivers a refined yet approachable dining experience that celebrates the flavors, hospitality, and natural beauty of Virginia wine country; goodstone.com

Yala Pop-Up at The Conrad: America’s first Greek ice cream shop is bringing its signature scoops downtown with a new pop-up inside Conrad Washington DC, opening June 27. The collaboration celebrates America’s 250th anniversary and will offer Yala’s handcrafted ice cream, coffee, and pastries in the hotel lobby. Exclusive to the pop-up is The Pursuit of Happiness, a limited-edition Greek yogurt ice cream featuring blueberry and strawberry preserves, fresh lemon zest, and honey; yalagreekicecream.com

We See the Light: The nonprofit social enterprise, Emma's Torch, founded by Kerry Brodie has officially opened a new 4,500-square-foot café and culinary training center in downtown Silver Spring. The expanded flagship location will train more than 185 refugees, asylees, and survivors of human trafficking each year while serving breakfast, lunch, pastries, and weekend brunch to the public. Menu highlights include housemade biscuits, avocado toast, crispy chicken sandwiches, brown butter pancakes, and vegan shakshuka. More than four times larger than its former Brookland location, the new space also supports Emma’s Torch’s growing catering program and mission of helping students build careers in the culinary industry; emmastorch.org

Summer of ‘92: Truluck’s is celebrating summer with the return of its popular Summer of ’92 prix-fixe menu, a 3-course dining experience available for $59.00 per person. Guests can choose from favorites like Shrimp Cocktail, Filet Mignon, Pappardelle Bolognese, and seasonal desserts including Citrusmisu. The restaurant is also spotlighting premium crab selections from around the world through its limited-time Crab, Crab, Crab feature, alongside seasonal cocktails such as the World Cup-inspired Fútbol Pasión and Toasted Pecan Old Fashioned; trulucks.com

Donas Deliciosos: The award-winning donut concept from Michelin-starred chef Miguel Guerra has officially opened its first permanent home at La Cosecha. Inspired by a pandemic baking project between Guerra and his father in Colombia, Donisima puts a Latin American spin on classic donuts with flavors like arequipe and queso fresco, guava and cheese, mango passionfruit, and picarones with chicha morada glaze. The new flagship also serves pastries, savory bites, and non-alcoholic beverages, marking the next chapter for a concept that built a devoted following through its popular DC pop-ups; donisima.com

Pack a Pride Picnic (Pride Alert): Just in time for Capital Pride, Love, Makoto is offering a limited-time Pride Picnic for 2, perfect for a National Mall outing or parade-day gathering. The $48.00 package includes a Rainbow Roll, Kale Soba Salad, 2 Rainbow Vanilla Donuts, and 2 Yuzu Lemonades. Looking to make it a celebration? Upgrade to the $68.00 Pride Party Pack, which swaps the lemonades for Makoto Margaritas or Chika Sake Cups. Available for pickup through Love on the Run or delivery; lovemakoto.com

Do.Nut.Glo.Up (Pride Alert): Pride Month gets a little sweeter at Love on the Run, where the popular Galaxy Vanilla donut is getting a rainbow makeover throughout June. Available as a heart-shaped donut with optional cream filling, the colorful treat isn't just festive—a portion of proceeds from every Rainbow Vanilla Donut sold will benefit Whitman-Walker, supporting the DC-based nonprofit's mission of providing inclusive community healthcare; lovemakoto.com

Rainbow Cakes (Pride Alert): Throughout June, Unconventional Diner is partnering with Whitman-Walker to support LGBTQ+ communities. A portion of proceeds from every Cantina Mule and slice of Rainbow Layer Cake sold during Pride Month will benefit the DC-based nonprofit, which provides healthcare, advocacy, education, and support services for LGBTQ+ individuals and communities; fountaininndc.com

Eastern Shore Lunching: The Easton Italian favorite, The Wardroom, has expanded into daytime dining with a new lunch menu featuring seasonal salads, housemade pastas, and focaccia sandwiches inspired by classic Italian flavors. Highlights include Ricotta Cavatelli with pesto, Spinach Chitarra with artichokes and spring vegetables, and The Posto sandwich layered with prosciutto, whipped ricotta, and arugula on housemade focaccia. For dessert, guests can finish with a cannoli, an affogato; thewardroom.com

NOT NEW, BUT NOTEWORTHY:

Still Waters Run Deep: Now open inside The Westin Crystal City, Stillwater & Stone brings a fresh coastal-inspired dining concept to National Landing. The new restaurant and bar serves breakfast, lunch, happy hour, and dinner with a menu that balances seafood and steakhouse favorites, including Pan-Seared Norwegian Salmon, Steak Frites, and Roasted Stuffed Jidori Chicken. A cocktail program featuring elevated classics, local craft beer, and curated wines rounds out the experience, while the stylish space is designed to welcome both travelers and locals looking for a new neighborhood gathering spot; stillwaterandstonedc.com

Galetterie/Crêperie, Mais Oui: Now open inside Bastille Brasserie & Bar, Maison Breizh brings the flavors of France’s Brittany region to Alexandria through a lunch-focused galetterie-crêperie concept from restaurateur Michelle Poteaux. The menu highlights traditional savory buckwheat galettes, crêpes, French cider, and Breton-inspired dishes, offering a relaxed, regional take on French dining that celebrates the everyday culinary traditions of coastal France. Open Wednesday through Saturday for lunch service; bastillerestaurant.com

New at NUE: Executive Chef Daniel Lê has introduced a lineup of summer dishes inspired by the Vietnamese tradition of balancing richer flavors with refreshing “cooling” foods. Highlights include a seafood platter featuring Hokkaido scallop crudo, Fanny Bay oysters, poached prawns, and a whole chilled lobster with Thai basil lemon aioli, alongside new dishes like Lemongrass Crusted Lamb, Crispy Eggplant, and a seasonal crudité platter. The additions join NUE’s menu of modern Vietnamese dishes designed for sharing and summer dining; nuevietnamese.com

Diner Food is Back: Now open in Mount Vernon Triangle, Rosa’s Diner reimagines the classic American diner with vibrant Latin flavors and all-day dining in a restored Victorian rowhome. Led by Executive Chef Francisco Pomalaza, the menu features creative takes on comfort food, including pupusa Eggs Benedict with birria beef, churro French toast, housemade empanadas, and a diner smash burger melt. Guests can also enjoy specialty coffee, citrus-forward cocktails, and a welcoming space designed for everything from breakfast meetings to weekend brunches and casual dinners; rosasdiner.com

Long Lazy Lunches (Lunch Alert): Following the success of its spring Martini Hour, Minetta Tavern is extending the experience with new late-night hours! Guests can enjoy $10.00 classic martinis, burgers, and bar bites from 10:00 to 11:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, in addition to the existing 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. happy hour. Highlights include the popular martini-and-burger pairings featuring Le Petite Burger or the Petite Black Label Burger, both served with pommes frites, making it an ideal stop for a nightcap in Union Market; minettataverndc.com

Pour-Over Rise n Shine: The beloved specialty coffee pop-up founded by husband-and-wife team Ron Collins and Carolina Meurkens is opening its first permanent location at the Bridge District in Southeast DC. Known for its curated pour-over coffee program, loose-leaf teas, and community-focused events, Café Cino will bring espresso drinks, pastries, smoothies, and future programming to the growing mixed-use waterfront neighborhood. The move marks a major milestone as the café celebrates three years of building a loyal following across the city; cafecinodc.com

The Falcon Lands in Leesburg: Now open at the Village at Leesburg, Falcon & Fig is a new Mediterranean-inspired restaurant and wine bar from Chef Ahmed Ibrahim and co-founder Michelle Reday. The menu focuses on shareable plates and tapas, with highlights like seared pulpo, lamb chops with tzatziki, grilled halloumi, charred eggplant labneh, and branzino with chimichurri, alongside a globally sourced wine program and creative cocktails like the fig-forward “WTF – What The Fig.”; falconandfig.com

A la 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

#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

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