Top Chef All-Stars runner-up Mike Isabella opened Graffiato, an Italian-inspired restaurant in DC's Chinatown in 2011. Make sure you check out the second floor's ham bar -- 6 seats that face the kitchen where you can watch prosciutto being prepared to perfection.
Rogue 24
Enjoy Rogue 24's theater-in-the-round style restaurant, where tables surround an open kitchen. The menu is delivered after the meal to maintain the suspense and drama, while keeping dishes like “liquid chicken” a surprise.
Restaurant Eve
Chef-owner Cathal Armstrong grows his own organic vegetables in a garden behind Restaurant Eve. At this "very unstuffy fine dining eatery," you can choose from among tasting menus with 5, 7 or 9 courses.
Maple Ave Restaurant
Maple Ave is a tiny gem in the suburb of Vienna, VA, with big flavors, blending Asian, Latin American and French cuisines.
Mintwood Place
Adams Morgan's Mintwood Place blends French and local cuisines with dishes like escargot hush puppies and pickled deviled eggs. Or try a creative cocktail not meant for sharing, such as The Scrooge: a refreshing black rum, spicy ginger ale and molasses elixir.
Toki Underground
Chef Erik Yang reinvents the traditional Taiwanese noodle at Toki Underground, an artsy new H Street hotspot. Save room for the dessert bento box.
Oya Restaurant & Lounge
Penn Quarter’s Oya offers innovative dishes such as the hamachi jalapeno sushi roll and the lobster mac 'n' cheese in a sleek and sophisticated lounge space.
Asia Nine
Asia Nine puts a modern and playful spin on Pan-Asian cuisine with favorites such as Biden Vice Presidential Roll -- crab meat, cucumber, pickled ginger and chili bean sauce.
Rose's Luxury
Ranked as one of the best restaurants in the United States, and a popular favorite of president Barack Obama, Rose’s Luxury on Capital Hill serves up the tastiest of American tapas. However, this local hot spot is so in demand, you may wanna get in line for a table now.
Granville Moore's
Chef Teddy Folkman stands behind Granville Moore's bar, which has the largest selection of Belgian beers in the Mid-Atlantic (over 50 Belgian brews in bottles and 11 on tap). What goes best with a Belgian brew? Mussels, of course -- and here they’re soaked in blue cheese, pork belly, coconut milk … the list goes on.
