For many of us, there is no greater comfort food than pizza. It reminds us of childhood birthday parties, late nights as college students, and lazy take-out Sundays as adults. Well, Washington D.C. has an impressive pizza scene–spots that warrant a night out not only for the quality of pizza but also for the appetizers and drinks, and of late, more spots have joined the roster. As such, we put together a guide to new pizza restaurants in the DC area, with recommendations on how to experience each of these and what to order.

For a pizza night with friends: Alfreda

Another new pizza restaurant in DC that you should add to your list is Alfreda. Located in Dupont Circle, this charming pizzeria excels at the most important thing: making extraordinarily delicious pizza, hence why we included it in our guide to pizzerias in DC. Made with sourdough bread, fresh and aged mozzarella cheese, and a garlicky, savory tomato sauce, the pizzas at Alfreda are truly irresistible. While I am partial to the classic plain pizza for its simple flavors, the Alfreda, with Romano cheese and wild oregano, is lovely, and the white pizza is a cheesy dream, with garlic oil and fresh basil for an herbaceous note.

For a fancy pizza experience: Rosedale

At Rosedale, there is a whole lot more than pizza to enjoy – heavenly potato and cheddar croquettes, for example – but the pizzas are one of the highlights of their menu. Although there are only four types of pizza to choose from, there is one for everyone: a classic cheese, a seafood option, a meat option, and then the best one of all: the Rock Creek, which pays homage to our local park. Featuring two kinds of cheese, creamy whipped ricotta and nutty parmesan, as well as roasted mushrooms and walnuts, it has all the texture and flavor you crave in a pie.

For a family pizza night: Elena James

The unstoppable team from Nina May and Opal has opened up a new spot in Chevy Chase called Elena James. Here, the menu offers items that are great for sharing and that the whole family will love. Breadsticks, covered in a cloud of finely grated parmesan cheese, golden-fried mozzarella sticks, and, of course, various pizzas. The cheese is a simple choice, perfect for picky eaters, with a smattering of basil leaves and melted mozzarella moons, while the forest mushroom and truffle is a decadent option with nutty pecorino, and full of woody notes from the mushroom, truffle, and rosemary. White pizza loyalists will love the caramelized Vidalia onion pizza, with its creamy mozzarella sauce, fresh thyme, and garlic confit. All the pizzas are served on a house-made dough, baked until crispy on the edges, and a lovely chew. Enjoy the pies as much as you can – but do order dessert! There’s a banana split, brownies, and a seasonal pie.

For a pizza surprise: Alta Strada

While you may be distracted by the rich wild-mushroom arancini, chewy and heady rigatoni alla vodka, or the tagliatelle swirled in truffle sauce at Alta Strada, you should not sleep on the chef’s pizza of the day. Made with seasonal ingredients, the kitchen has a different surprise pizza each day. A recent option was a gorgeous roasted maitake pizza, with bubbles of burnt dough, delicate earthy mushrooms, heaps of melted mozzarella, fresh herbs, and smears of garlic-infused tomato sauce.

For pizza from DC’s OG pizza maker: Bar del Monte

If there is one thing Peter Patsan, owner of Two Amys, knows, it’s pizza. His new pizza restaurant in DC, with son Oliver Patsan, is Bar del Monte, which just celebrated its first anniversary. The menu at Bar del Monte is highly seasonal, and can even change daily, but guests can always revel in its Margherita pizza, the deliciously classic combo of tomato, basil, and mozzarella.

For a quick bite to go: Red Hound Pizza

Occupying a tiny spot in Takoma Park, this hole-in-the-wall pizza shop serves up delicious squares of pizza with naturally leavened dough made from wheat grown and freshly milled locally. The small menu at Red Hound rotates regularly, but you can expect 4-5 options daily. Pizzas are sold by the slice and the pie, so you can sample a few different ones!

For pizza with a side of fun: Gordon Ramsay Street Pizza D.C.

With almost a dozen different kinds of pizza, there is something for everyone at Gordon Ramsay Street Pizza. Vegetarians will love the charred eggplant, drizzled with pesto and dotted with pine nuts, purists will go for the Margherita, and the adventurous will love specials like the stout pizza with Guinness mornay and smoked cheddar cheese. The venue also offers a vegan pizza, pizza dips, and sundaes for dessert.

For a pizza and bubbles experience: Pop Fizz

Sparkling wine and Detroit-style pizza. Sounds like an unlikely pairing? Don’t knock it until you try it! Bubbles are the perfect pairing to the decadent and rich pizzas, which include a crispy kale pizza, a mushroom and taleggio pizza, and a lump crab pizza. If it feels heavy, try one of Pop Fizz’s salads with your pizza, but if you’re going for gluttony, be sure to get their truffle fries and skillet chocolate chip cookie too!

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Arlo Hotel opens, complete with Arrels Restaurant and a Rooftop Bar

D.C.’s oldest surviving apartment building, the 1888 Harrison Apartments, has been transformed into a glamorous new 445-room hotel, Arlo Washington D.C. The hotel’s highlights include a gorgeous rooftop bar with indoor and outdoor seating, as well as the flagship restaurant named Arrels. Helmed by Chef Pepe Moncayo, Arrels means “roots” in Catalan to honor the Chef’s Spanish heritage. Standout dishes on the menu include the crispiest patatas bravas, served in a charming cone alongside a puddle of garlicky aioli, grilled gem lettuce crowned with a snowy mountain of Manchego cheese, chewy mushroom fideos, and, of course, flaky, sugar-coated churros served with a dense chocolate sauce.

Dupont Circle Hotel’s Pembroke Sunday Suppers

In the fall of 2024, The Pembroke, the gorgeous, glass-enclosed restaurant located on the first floor of D.C.’s Dupont Circle hotel, launched a new Sunday Supper series. Each month, a different member of The Pembroke’s talented culinary team will curate a prix-fixe, family-style meal, using fresh ingredients from the market, that honors their own personal culture. Guests can choose to dine just with their party, or,  in the dinner’s spirit of gathering, sit at the community table with whomever else is there that evening.

We were lucky enough to attend the inaugural supper, which had a Sicilian theme. (And as you know, we at the Dining Traveler love all things Sicilian!) The family-style meal included sfincione, a garlicky parmesan-dusted Sicilian pizza, panelle, crunchy chickpea flour crackers, stuffed cabbage, grilled romano beans, roasted cauliflower with almonds, mint, lemon, and chilies, and hearty braised beans. Dessert was a marvel; not-too-sweet ricotta cake arrived topped with warm roasted plums and peaches, and the creamiest chocolate chip gelato was too good not to finish. This is a D.C. hotel experience you don’t want to miss!    

Hotel Heron’s Debuts New Cocktail Bar, Francis Hall

Old Town Alexandria’s Hotel Heron, right outside of D.C. just opened Francis Hall, a craft cocktail bar offering a boozy D.C. hotel experience. The menu features about 30 drinks, including gems like Frank’s Punch, a strong combination of corn whiskey, mezcal, clementine, and suze, and a Negroni that is served as a frozen sorbet with mezcal, vermouth, citrus, and chocolate, and made table-side with liquid nitrogen for an extra special experience.

The Fire Garden at Park Hyatt’s Blue Duck Tavern

Lots of local outdoor patios have closed for the winter, but if you love to enjoy the fresh air even when temperatures are low, visit the new fire garden at Blue Duck Tavern for a super seasonal D.C. hotel experience. The newly created outdoor oasis features firepits and cozy blankets on the terrace and a fun menu of seasonal cocktails like a gingerbread martini, made with vanilla vodka, Irish cream, and ginger, and a chai white Russian, featuring chai-spiced cream, spiced rum, and cinnamon. There is also a series of drinks that incorporate at least one ingredient or garnish that was sourced directly from the hotel’s rooftop garden, like the sweet potato old fashioned with rum blend, sweet potato syrup, angostura bitters, and pecan bitters, garnished with dehydrated orange and two charred meringue cubes. Also part of the series are the golden pear with pear ginger vodka, lime juice, elderflower liqueur, ginger syrup, and angostura bitters, garnished with dried pear, and the Park DC cider with apple, cinnamon- and clove-infused bourbon, apple cider, lemon juice, cranberry and ginger syrup, served in a cider mug and garnished with a cinnamon stick. 

Kimpton Hotel Monaco’s Winter Chalet

Dirty Habit has transformed its outdoor patio into a cozy winter chalet with fire pits, blankets, and a snow cannon, offering a lovely festive D.C. hotel experience. Seasonal beverages include warm concoctions like hot toddies, hot chocolate, and mulled wine. Don’t forget to order some of their famous truffle frites!

Visitation Hotel Frederick is the first new hotel to open in Frederick, MD in 50 years

Visitation Hotel Frederick, the first new hotel to open in Frederick, Maryland in the last 50 years, is housed in a space that was formerly a convent and Catholic school, which has been renovated into a 65-room boutique hotel. Celebrity chef siblings Bryan and Michael Voltaggio are opening their first joint restaurant in their hometown inside the Visitation, called Wye Oak Tavern, and the venue is a great spot from which you can explore historic downtown Frederick.

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8 Spanish Restaurants in Washington, D.C for Every Occasion

For when you want to impress

The Bazaar

After delays, legal battles, and even a spat with a U.S. president, José Andrés was finally able to open The Bazaar in the historic Post Office Building DC in 2023. It instantly became one of the top spots for the socialites, and reservations can still be hard to get, so we knew we had to include it in our D.C. Spanish dining guide. Spread out over two floors of what’s now the Waldorf Astoria, the restaurant matches the hotel’s almost-over-the-top opulence with marble, brass, enormous ferns, and Dalí-esque art, but with a playfulness that’s also found on the plates. The food is a culinary trip down Andrés’s memory lane, with nods to his molecular-gastronomy days (try the “modern & traditional” olives for a surprise), Spanish roots (stuffed piquillo peppers with sherry reduction), and his past few decades in the U.S. (oyster po-boy). There’s even a reinvented Waldorf salad!

For that old-school authentic vibe

Taberna del Alabardero

Established in Madrid, Taberna del Alabardero opened in D.C. in 1989 and has been going strong ever since. As one of the oldest Spanish restaurants in Washington, D.C., it holds a special spot in our dining guide. Its Spanish origins are evident beyond the name (‘alabardero’ refers to the halberd-armed guards that protect the Spanish royal family), as the restaurant’s ornate interior mirrors the original, and—more importantly—in the food. Basque native Josu Zubikarai helms the kitchen, which turns out authentic Spanish dishes as well as modern takes that take advantage of the quality ingredients the Mid-Atlantic offers. Familiar tapas are available during lunch and dinner like crispy eggplant drizzled with honey and an egg and onion Spanish tortilla, but look for the dishes you may not find elsewhere in D.C., such as ajoblanco malagueño, an almond-garlic soup served cold. If you want to bring some of these flavors home, head next door to Alabardero Tienda, which stocks many of the kitchen’s ingredients; if you’re feeling particularly ambitious, get one of their paella kits).

For Seafood

Del Mar

Fabio Trabocchi’s team at Del Mar serves up sumptuous seafood and other specialties from the Spanish islands in a luxurious setting. To compete with the great views the Wharf in D.C. offers, designers and craftspeople from Spain were brought over to create the idyllic dining room. The food is no less of a feast for the eyes and palate. While the raw bar will tempt, go for the dishes that showcase more of the talents in the kitchen, such as the smoked leeks with a charcoal vinaigrette or one of the several paella preparations that are made to order. Del Mar is a popular Spanish restaurant in Washington, D.C., so be sure to make a reservation; note any special occasion, and the exceptional waitstaff will make sure the experience is extra special.

For home cooking recognized by the Michelin Guide

Casa Teresa

D.C.’s downtown restaurant scene has suffered since most office workers started logging on from home most days. As a result, there have been few exciting newcomers in the past few years, but Casa Teresa is a notable exception and one we knew we had to include in our D.C. Spanish dining guide. Teresa was chef-owner Rubén García’s abuela, and his cooking pays homage to Spanish traditional home cooking: simple dishes that let the quality of the ingredients shine, with many smaller plates meant to be passed around and several options that are served family style. Don’t let the convivial atmosphere and homey dishes fool you, though; chef Garcia takes his food very seriously, perhaps evidenced most in the pa amb tomàquet (‘pan con tomato in Catalan), which comes with written instructions on how to properly prepare the starter of Crystal bread with tomato and olive oil. Whatever happens, be sure to end your meal with the basque cheesecake. Made with goat cheese and served with a puddle of walnut praline, it is absolutely heavenly.

For a unique fusion concept

Cranes

The only sake lounge on this list (and perhaps the only Spanish kaiseki in the country), Cranes fuses modern Catalan cooking with Japanese ingredients and techniques. If you’re looking for a Spanish restaurant in Washington, D.C., with a unique edge, Cranes is it. Chef Pepe Moncayo conceived of this concept following several turns in Spain’s highest-end restaurants and a nearly decade-long stint in Singapore. Settling in Washington D.C. in 2019, he brought kaiseki to the city’s restaurant scene. Kaiseki refers to a Japanese culinary philosophy that is hyper-local and seasonal, in which the chef presents diners with a meticulously crafted tasting menu. At Cranes, this means one day you may find oysters with espelette (pepper from Basque country), on another paella croquetas. Some of the best fusion dishes include bok choy with Manchego cheese and patatas bravas with yuzu ketchup. Desserts, with ingredients like cherry chocolate sorbet and pink peppercorn meringue are also sublime.

For the most fun

Jaleo

The José Andrés’ stalwart in Penn Quarter recently celebrated its 30th birthday. However, it’s still as popular as ever with locals and tourists alike – and thus had to be included in D.C.’s Spanish dining guide! The interior has seen several refreshes over the years, while the menu has remained true to its vision of authentic Spanish food to be shared with friends and enjoyed with good drinks and conversation. The extensive tapas menu has something for everyone. We love the mushrooms served over potato puree, the garbanzo salad with sherry dressing, and the crunchy, savory cones filled with tomato marmalade and goat cheese, but if you’re in the mood for paella, Jaleo offers several varieties that are brought to the table in the traditional pans (which serve 4-6 people easily ) tableside, too.

For that neighborhood bar feel

Atxondo

If you’re looking for a neighborhood Spanish restaurant in Washington, D.C., check out Atxondo. The lively restaurant scene on D.C.’s 14th St NW keeps expanding, and Atxondo may be the northernmost establishment (for the moment). This unassuming place serves up northern Spanish food that is anything but. Most dishes on the large menu are tapas-style, so you can sample a lot without breaking the bank. There are perennials like grilled scallions with romesco sauce (criminally underrated in the U.S.). However, don’t overlook seasonal offerings such as golden beets with goat cheese and crispy quinoa or butternut squash soup. The drinks list matches (maybe exceeds) the food menu in length and includes sherry, vermuts, and Spanish beers in addition to wines and cocktails, so take your time and enjoy.

For swanky food in swanky digs

The Saga

Seven Reasons Group built its reputation in D.C.’s dining scene on Latin-American food, but at The Saga, Chef Enrique Limardo goes back to his Spanish roots, albeit with a Latin-American twist, which is why we had to add it to this dining guide. Look for these twists in the fine print of the menu—pickled pineapple, fried green plantains, and guava are there between the patatas bravas and aceitunas marinadas. A chef’s tasting menu and various dishes that are prepared tableside allow guests to upgrade their dinner experience, but if you can’t wait that long, The Saga opens for breakfast and offers different menus throughout the day.

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The Food

The menu at Ceibo is small, but full of gems. Kick things off with the house-made bread and butter, and maybe the green herb salad. Salad is boring, you say? Not Ceibo’s–with pearl onions and shards of a gorgeous, fruity Venetian cheese called Ubriaco Rosso, dressed in a light sherry vinaigrette, this salad is perfect for wetting your palate without filling you up.

Next: plums served on a pillowy bed of creamy ricotta cheese, adorned with candied peanuts and honey to complement the plums. But the leek tart is the highlight of the menu. The buttery puff pastry cup, taleggio cheese, and delicate onion flavor of leeks make for a winning combination. Uruguayans are famous for their love of cheese, and chef Nacho Olivera is no exception. He proudly highlights the wide variety of cheeses that are popular in Uruguay.

Alongside your leek tart, be sure to sample the white asparagus. At Ceibo, the delicate spears are soaked in a velvety beurre blanc sauce, and topped with crispy breadcrumbs to add crunch. Craving more? Pickled eggplant in an eggplant ragu, hearty potato wedges, and oysters are also on the menu. But you may (must!) want to save room for dessert. The chocolate cake is a dream, with a generous pour of sweet dulce de leche sauce, as are the sweet and bright strawberries with lemon meringue. Don’t leave without ordering the Marti Fierro, a traditional Uruguayan dessert consisting of cheese topped with quince paste. Simple but delicious, the dish is named after Martín Fierro, who was an activist for gauchos, Uruguayan cowboys, as this was his favorite dessert.

The Drinks

If you fancy a cocktail, try the pomelo, gin, grapefruit, orange, and yerba mate beverage, which showcases the beloved South American tea. For wine, don’t pass over the Uruguay red wine, made with tannat, Uruguya’s national grape that oozes with spiciness and depth of flavor.

The Vibe at Ceibo

Ceibo is quiet, cozy, and intimate. It’s great for dinner with a date or a small group of friends. The staff is friendly and eager to share their tips on what to order. There’s nothing not to love!

The Verdict

Ceibo is a special addition to the Adams Morgan neighborhood and will quickly become a date night favorite!

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The Food at Aventino

Like all of Mike Friedman’s spots, the Italian fare at Aventino is hearty and mouth-watering. Kick off your meal with a traditional Roman flatbread called pizza rossa, simply topped with a jammy tomato conserva, sea salt and Sicilian oregano, and meaty artichokes smothered in buttery and crispy breadcrumbs and a lemony dressing, with elegant mint leaves as a garnish. From there, choose from a variety of pastas. For something decadent, try the cacio e pepe. Made with thick spaghetti strands called tonnarelli, the cheese and black pepper sauce is like a warm blanket that will wrap you up from the inside out. The ricotta-stuffed cappelletti is another great choice, with a creamy sunchoke-infused sauce and sunchoke chips for a crunchy note. Dessert options are equally as irresistible; the budino with dark chocolate ganache is decadent and luscious; the Amalfi lemon float is fun and unique with vanilla gelato and lemon granita doused in a juniper soda, and the apple cake comes with a gorgeous olive oil gelato that is just the right combination of sweet-salty-fruity-creamy.

The Drinks

Ranging from fun and unique to classic, there is a cocktail for everyone on this menu. For drinks on the lighter side, try the Sicilian spritz for something lesser known, made with Lambrusco and blood orange, or a classic Aperol spritz. For a boozier option, there is the pink lotus with Aperol, gin, lemon, egg white, and orange bitters, or a standard delicious negroni with gin, Campari, and vermouth.

The Vibe

The golden light fixtures, velvety bar stools surrounding the oval-shaped bar, and warm wooden floors are all recipes for an inviting dining experience. The staff is as warm and friendly as the décor, and the only issue will be getting a reservation at this already well-known spot.

The Verdict

This is already our new favorite spot in Bethesda! Aventino can get busy so make sure to reserve in advance. If you’re in Washington, D.C., check Mike Friedman’s other spots too. The Red Hen is also one of our favorites!

The post The Team Behind All-Purpose Opens Aventino in Bethesda appeared first on The Dining Traveler.

Ilili DC

With its colorful interior, spacious windows, gorgeous hanging plants, and dangling gold light fixtures, Ilili is quite the place to dine. Lately, Ilili has started lunch services, which include a variety of unique dishes. You can design your meal as you fit. Maybe a series of mezza with hummus, labneh, or olives is all you need; maybe you prefer a salad, or maybe your appetite is calling for a full entrée. Whatever you choose, there are several standout dishes to keep in mind.

First, the hummus, made inhouse, which is so silky smooth it is practically buttery. You may choose to order your hummus with a topping; for something spicy, try the jalapenos; for a bit of crunch, add a sprinkling of the rich pine nuts, and if you are craving a meaty element, go with the umami sauteed wild mushrooms. Baba ghanoush is also a treat, super smoky and earthy, and the tabbouleh is bright, fresh, and tart. Perhaps best of all is the fatayer, with heaps of melted cheese, a doughy crust, and a drizzle of fragrant lavender honey. The fattoush salad is sunny and light, and the falafel is made with chickpeas and fava beans for an extra nutty kick.

If your lunch can include a cocktail, sample the thyme after thyme, which is light but brimming with earthy and bitter notes. The baklava, made with walnuts and pistachios, is flaky and sweet and begs to be eaten alongside a cup of Turkish coffee. You can make your lunch at Ilili quick one, but the ambiance and cuisine beckon you to dine, indulge, imbibe, and luxuriate in the gorgeous setting with impeccable fare.

Cranes

The fusion fare at Cranes is one of the best in the DMV, and now you can try Chef Pep Moncayo’s dishes at lunchtime. Delicate dumplings, where mashed edamame is enrobed in dumpling wrappers, steamed, and then doused with a buttery sauce with a sprinkling of spring peas, are sublime, as are the meaty mushroom gyoza. The red miso ramen is the star of the menu, with springy noodles, cubes of tofu in a sweet glazed miso sauce, a bold, savory tomato and miso broth, and lots of earthy veggies like grilled bok choy. For those who can’t decide, choose the bento box menu with several options from the menu. Close your meal with the yuzu cheesecake: it is undoubtedly the creamiest cheesecake you will ever have the pleasure of eating, and the contrast of the tart, acidic yuzu, and calamansi to the luscious cheese is sublime.

Seven Reasons

There are many updates related to Seven Reasons, including a new space down in CityCenterDC and a spectacular new brunch menu. From the finger-linking melted cheese tequeños, served with dollops of guava jam, to the irresistible avocado dip, served with egg yolk, to the crunchy waffles to the traditional Venezuelan breakfast with eggs, black beans, arepas, and fried cheese, this brunch has something for everyone. Vegans will appreciate the impossible burger, and those with a sweet tooth will not want to pass up the tres leches or mango flan. The brunch cocktails include pina coladas, espresso martinis, bloody marys, and tropical aperol spritzs. The brunch is a delight!

The Verdict

Visit all of these spots!

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Pascual

The Culinary Theme: Pascual chefs Matt Conroy and Isabel Coss, who hails from Mexico City, seek to showcase the diversity of Mexican cuisines and flavors. You can expect dishes from Oaxaca, Mexico City, and other localities across Mexico.

The Food and Drinks: The kitchen at Pasqual revolves around their wood-fired grill, and an element of every dish on the menu at least touched or rested above the wood grill, giving a smoky note to every item. Kick off your meal with an order of the guacamole, which comes a trio of salsas on the side, pickled veggies and crispy, freshly fried tostadas. Next, dive into garbanzos served on a bed of a vegetarian green chorizo flan and adorned with peppery santa hoja, a Mexican herb. The parsnip tamal comes drenched in a gorgeous blanco mole, a nutty mole hailing from Oaxaca, and is traditionally served to brides at their weddings because of its creamy white color. The fideos is one of the best dishes on the menu, with heaps of smoky mushrooms, huitlacoche, and black garlic. The earthy flavors and chewy texture of the dish are extraordinary. For dessert, try the buñuelo, a fun and surprisingly light dessert that comes fresh from the fryer with two sauces for dipping, one chocolate and one dulce de leche. Their cocktail menu features several mezcal concoctions; go with the Pascual Oaxacan Old Fashioned if you want to stick with the smokey theme, and those abstaining will love the non-alcoholic margarita.

The Vibe: The staff are warm and friendly, the dining room is small and cozy, and the restaurant is low with a shared love of exquisite food and carefully crafted beverages.

El Presidente

The Culinary Theme: The food at Stephen Starr’s newest DC venture, El Presidente, emphasizes dishes from Mexico City, and the massive menu has something for everyone.

The Food & Drinks: First, you need to order nachos. Smothered in melted cheese, beans, tart pickled onions, and a simple tomato salsa, these nachos are the perfect sharing dish to start your meal. Then – go crazy and order as many items as you want! Grilled Mexican street corn with chipotle mayo is sweet and rich and spicy all at once. Black bean enchiladas are cheesy and bold, and build-your-own mushroom tacos come with hunks of meaty portabellas, chewy charro beans, guacamole, and grilled shishito peppers. The drinks menu is equally extensive and tempting: there is a sweet frozen pineapple margarita, beer cocktails, and an impressive list of mezcals and tequilas.

The Vibe: The ornate and whimsical dining room of El President, located by Union Market, is just one of the many draws to this Mexican restaurant.

Amparo Fondita

The Culinary Theme: Amparo Fondita focuses on contemporary dishes from different states around Mexico. The restaurant seeks to honor Mexico’s culinary heritage and diversity through seasonal, heirloom ingredients. The result? Unique, super tasty dishes.

The Food & Drinks: Amparo’s several menu sections offer choices of botanos (which are small bites), tacos, entrees, side dishes, and desserts. Our advice: choose something from every section! From the botanos, order the quesadilla which is oozing with melted cheese and huitlacoche, featuring a heady truffle taste. From the taco section, the Swiss chard and potato option with its nutty pumpkin seed crema is meaty and filling. Main dishes skew to the traditional with choices such as various iterations of chili relleno. The fried plantains are sweet and glistening with butter and are served with a fiery salsa Negra as a side. Margaritas are a must and finish your meal with a sweet slice of tres leches cake, topped with bright crescents of mandarin oranges and bright pink raspberries.

The Vibe: Located in Dupont Circle, the restaurant has a warm and inviting ambiance with low lighting and booths that invite sharing and talking. Perfect for a group of friends who want to luxuriate over dishes and indulge in a bevy of beverages.

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The Dining Traveler team was thrilled to be able to attend the announcement of the 2024 Restaurant and Chef Awards nominees. This year, the event took place in Washington, D.C., at the famed Waldorf Astoria Washington, DC. The announcement of nominees, which was highlighted by enthusiastic screams and claps, concluded with words from the D.C. Deputy Mayor, Nina Albert, who reminded the group of chefs, PR staff, and other culinary and hospitality stakeholders that in 2023, Washington D.C. had the most restaurant openings of any other city in the United States, with 42 openings for every 100,000 residents – quite the accomplishment! However, one of the things that made me beam with pride was the three Puerto Rican finalists: chefs Carlos Portela of Orujo and Gabriel Hernandez of Verde Mesa for the chef’s awards and documentary filmmaker Rafael Ruiz for the media awards.

Whether running a restaurant or creating compelling video content, these three Boricuas have a unique take on Puerto Rican gastronomy. Puerto Rico continues to gain more visibility in the culinary world, and rightfully so. With its diverse food culture, these artists are the perfect ambassadors.

Meet the Meet the 2024 James Beard Awards Puerto Rican Finalists:

Chef Carlos Portela

I first learned of Carlos Portela when I was producing The Dining Traveler Guide to Puerto Rico. He had just started his atelier in Caguas in 2015. Since then, he’s brought a unique take on Puerto Rican food to the island with a creative tasting menu from his restaurant in San Juan. A classically trained chef and sommelier, he describes his cooking style as avant-garde, merging his haute cuisine techniques with local boricua ingredients like yuca, sweet peppers, and locally caught ahi tuna. The Orujo dining experience takes you on a delicious multi-course journey in his cozy restaurant as Chef Portela personally pours you a glass of Rioja that he personally selected with a braised short topping a deconstructed alcapurria.

Orujo Taller, 906 Ave Juan Ponce de León, San Juan, Website

Rafael Ruiz

If you’re looking to learn about Puerto Rican food and listen to the voices of some of the most prominent chefs in Puerto Rico, subscribe to Rafael Ruiz’s La Mafia YouTube Channel. His channel is a master class of Puerto Rican food culture and a platform for boricuas to tell their stories about the island’s gastronomy. Ten years ago, he started writing about restaurants in Puerto Rico on his blog, La Mafia, with a focus on independently-owned restaurants, and it evolved into a beautiful video series focusing on establishments like Orujo, El Burén de Lula, and El Rancho de Apa. Ruiz is a second-time James Beard Media Awards finalist, with his El Burén de Lula episode nabbing a nomination in 2020.

Chef Gabriel Hernandez Febo

I still vividly remember dining at Verde Mesa, a restaurant in Old San Juan, back in 2019. Thoughts of the perfectly grilled octopus that my then toddler devoured and the tembleque (coconut custard) delicately covered in tiny fushia and orange edible flower petals come to mind. At Verde Mesa, Chef Gabriel Hernandez Febo creates edible art with his delicately plated dishes without losing that sazón boricua, like a scallop tartare atop a guava gazpacho. The restaurant, tucked away in Calle Tetuan in Old San Juan, takes you back in time with rustic furniture and vintage plates, where Chef Hernandez Febo serves his farm-to-table fare.

Verde Mesa, 107 Calle Tetuan Esq, C. San José, San Juan, Website

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Rangoon: Burmese Garlic Noodles

Located in Chelsea, Rangoon has a comfortable, inviting interior and sensational menu full of classic Burmese dishes, including crispy squash tempura, served alongside a garlicky tamarind sauce, and Burmese egg curry, where boiled eggs come swimming in a chunky tomato sauce. The real highlight on the menu, however, is the garlic noodles, called kyarsen si chet in Burmese. Made with light and fresh thin rice noodles, the dish is bursting with the flavor of garlic in every strand. Shards of stir-fried cabbage, a handful of chopped green onions, and a sprinkling of fried shallots bring color and texture to the dish, serving as just the right contrast to the silky noodles. Garlic lovers, this dish is calling your name.

Le Bernardin: French Truffle Pasta

The truffle pasta at Eric Ripert’s French Le Bernardin is nothing short of extraordinary. The house-made tagliatelle is infused with Perigord black truffle, cooked to perfection, and then swirled in the most sinfully creamy black truffle butter sauce. The noodles will literally melt in your mouth. Savor every single bite.

Soda Club: Italian Bucatini

Soda Club offers up a host of delicious pasta (insider tip: you can sample all of them if you do their six-course pasta tasting, which is $75 AND includes a bottle of wine!), but the most comforting of them all is their bucatini. The hollow noodles are smothered in a bold arrabbiata sauce and then topped with crispy breadcrumbs and shards of vegan parmesan cheese. It’s a classic comfort dish that never gets old.

Hao Noodle: Chinese Dan Dan Noodles

The sunlit, plant-filled dining room at Hao Noodle is the perfect spot for enjoying a bowl of dan dan noodles. The thin noodles are tossed in a gorgeous, heady sauce comprised of peanuts, sesame, chili oil, and scallions. Each bite is full of the nutty flavor of peanut and sesame, the spicy warmth of chili oil, and the chewy goodness of the noodles.

Suram: Japanese Impossible Tan Tan Ramen

There is nothing not to love about ramen, and the impossible ramen at Suram is particularly divine. The chewy, springy ramen noodles are soaked in a smooth miso broth and crowned with spicy impossible meat, meaty mushrooms, and crunchy bamboo shoots and scallions. It is so warm and flavorful that you will keep eating well beyond being full!

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First Day Trip from Dubrovnik: Montenegro

With its gorgeous mountains and views of the Adriatic, you will delight in all that Montenegro has to offer.

What to See on a Daytrip to Montenegro:

• Ston: En route to Montenegro stop in Ston, a gorgeous town in southern Dalmatia. The town walls are longer than those in Dubrovnik, built in the 14th century, and the town has oyster beds that are said to produce the most delicious oysters in the world! A visit to this part of the Peljesac Peninsula is highly recommended.
• Perast: Upon entering Montenegro your breath will be taken away at the sight of the shimmering sea and majestic mountains. As you approach the Bay of Kotor, take the time to visit the small town of Perast. Home to a cathedral from the 15th century, a bell tower, and a square. You will also have the opportunity to take a short boat ride to the small island off the coast of Perast, called Our Lady of the Rocks which is home to a church and an adjacent museum. This is a must-do during your day trip from Dubrovnik.
• Kotor: Just beyond Perast, is the medieval port town in Montenegro called Kotor, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Surrounded by fortified walls, you must make time to wander the winding cobblestone lanes of Kotor and admire the Romanesque churches and ancient buildings. Cat lovers, be sure to stop by the Kotor Cat Museum!

Where to Eat:

• Persat Lake Promenade: For coffee and a pastry!
• Marshall’s Gelato: For a delicious, sweet treat in Kotor
• Catovica Mlini: This is truly one of the most beautiful and charming restaurants I have ever visited. Just beyond Kotor, in a Montenegrin town called Morinj, is this family-owned venue that is over 200 years old and includes old flour mills, a gorgeous tavern, and outdoor dining space that is complete with gardens, ponds, streams, gazebos, and small bridges. It is romantic and elegant, with impeccable service. Treat yourself to an indulgent lunch with wine, cheese, bread, and dishes like pasta tossed with shards of zucchini and bathed in a saffron cream sauce.

• On your way to and from Ston you’ll see signs for oysters and other seafood; you can’t go wrong with a dozen fresh-shucked oysters or a pot of mussels at any of them.

Second Day Trip from Dubrovnik: Bosnia

With its multicultural heritage and medieval ambiance you will walk away from your trip to Bosnia feeling like you took a step back in time.

What to See in Bosnia:

• Kravica Waterfall: This gorgeous cascade should be your first stop when taking a day trip from Dubrvnik to Bosnia. Located in Herzegovina in Bosnia and Herzegovina, on the Trebižat River, the waterfall pours into a gorgeous green pool where you can swim, soak or splash around.

• Mostar: There is much to see in this old town, including the famous Mostar Bridge, also called Stari Most, a 16th century bridge that was rebuilt after it collapsed due to shelling in 1993 during the Croat-Bosnian war. Views of the bridge from below and from the bridge overlooking the city are not to be missed. Next, visit the old town of Mostar, where you can peruse shops in the bazaar, wander the cobblestone streets, and take in sights like the Koski Mehmed Pasha mosque, a visually stunning 16th century mosque.

Where to Eat:

• Restoran Vodopad Kravice: Treat yourself to a cold beer at the waterfall adjacent café
• Restaurant Sadrvan: Located in the old town in Mostar this streetside café is perfect for both sampling Bosnian food and absorbing the local culture. Order lots of dishes to share so you can sample items like a platter of grilled mushrooms, zucchini and tomatoes smothered in cheese, potatoes roasted with herbs, creamy rice cooked with mushrooms, warm bread, baklava, and local tea and coffee.
• If you want a meal with a view, there are restaurants and bars with patio seating all along the Neretva River that runs through Mostar. Review your options from the bridge, and then stroll over there for a charming all-fresco lunch or dinner.

Day Trips From Dubrovnik: The Verdict

When visiting Croatia, take the time for these dreamy day trips from Dubrovnik. That’s one of the highlights of traveling to Eastern Europe: you can experience multiple countries in a short amount of time.

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