The Most Anticipated Fall Restaurant Openings to Track Around D.C.

Just as the weather finally cools down, many notable dining destinations will start to swing open around town over the next few months.

Blockbuster D.C. arrivals to look forward to include: Dōgon, celebrity chef Kwame Onwuachi’s Afro-Caribbean showpiece along the Southwest Waterfront; Press Club, a cool Dupont cocktail bar from a pair of East Coast mixology masterminds; famed Philly import a.kitchen+bar; Osteria Mozza, a joint Georgetown project from mega-restaurateurs Stephen Starr and Nancy Silverton; and Cleveland Park places for seasonal American dishes and diner fare, just to name a few. Several Northern Virginia and Maryland neighborhoods are also gearing up to welcome a flurry of fresh establishments this fall.

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Dōgon

What: Top Chef star Kwame Onwuachi makes a hotly anticipated return to D.C.’s dining scene this spring with an Afro-Caribbean restaurant situated at the foot of the 373-room Salamander Washington DC. Building upon the recent success of his critically acclaimed NYC newcomer Tatiana, Dōgon (pronounced “Doh-gon”) pays homage to D.C.’s late-1700s land surveyor Benjamin Banneker and his ties to the West African Dōgon tribe. Onwuachi’s menu plans to explore his own Nigerian, Jamaican, Trinidadian, and Creole heritage. Chain curtains framing lobby-level Dōgon reference the mathematical device Banneker used to map out city lines, revealing a 200-seat dining room with a bar and patio. The James Beard Award-winning chef is best known locally for his time at the Wharf InterContinental’s long-closed Kith/Kin, and Dōgon marks the culinary icon and author’s second act inside a posh hotel along the scenic Potomac River.

Where: 1330 Maryland Avenue SW

When: Monday, September 9

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Karizma

What: Chef and New Delhi native Ajay Kumar expands upon the inventive Indian cuisine he serves at Bib Gourmand-designated Karma Modern Indian, splitting the Chinatown space into two restaurants. The new establishment will serve favorites from its next-door sibling like butter chicken and grilled lamb chops while continuing to transform traditional Indian flavors in modern grilled entrees and small plates. Karma Food Group also owns a casual counterpart to Karma and Karizma in Old Town Alexandria called Kismet.

Where: 611 I Street NW

When: Late September

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a.kitchen+bar

What: The award-winning team behind Philadelphia’s a.kitchen and a.bar, one of the city’s hottest dual dining destinations, plant roots in Foggy Bottom this month. All-day a.kitchen+bar comes from High Street Hospitality Group’s Ellen Yin, who took home the 2023 James Beard Award medal for Outstanding Restaurateur. Up in Philly, a.kitchen and a.bar exist as two separate outposts inside the AKA Rittenhouse Square. For its first foray outside the City of Brotherly Love, they converge into one restaurant and bar called a.kitchen+bar at the base of the shiny new Hotel AKA Washington Circle.

Where: 1 Washington Circle NW

When: Mid-September

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Olio e Più

What: The Group Hospitality’s beloved Southern Italian trattoria out of New York City heads down to D.C. to showcase its homemade pastas, wood-fired pizzas, fritto misto, and tiramisu at the foot of downtown’s opulent French brasserie La Grande Boucherie.

Where: 699 14th Street NW

When: End of September

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Rimtang

What: At both Yume Sushi and its follow-up flagship Kyojin (Eater DC’s 2023 restaurant of the year), chef Saran “Peter” Kannasute focuses on “nontraditional sushi with a twist.” For his latest venture, he taps into his Thai roots. Kannasute offered a first-ever taste of his casual Southeast Asian street food spot via larb moo, a spicy pork salad, and Bangkok-style pork rib soup he personally ladled into bowls. Rimtang will also serve family-style plates and drinks highlighting Thai flavors.

Where: 1039 33rd Street NW

When: End of September

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Dog Daze

What: D.C.’s newest pup-friendly destination swings open in Logan Circle this fall. Patrons can saddle up to the cafe and restaurant or socialize and play with their furry companions in its 6,000-square-foot dog garden. The menu centers around pizzas, small plates, and batch cocktails.

Where: 1100 Rhode Island Avenue NW

When: Mid-to-late September

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Press Club

What: A pair of East Coast mixology masterminds are bringing an awaited polished cocktail project to Dupont with a knack for throwback tracks. The collaboration between Will Patton — the beverage director behind D.C.’s Michelin-starred duo Bresca and Jônt — and Devin Kennedy, a NYC bar vet most recently in charge of East Village’s hip hangout Pouring Ribbons. Taking tips from A and B sides of an album, Press Club will offer two congruent menus at once. A “Track List” that plans to switch up twice a year showcases 8 to 12 classics nodding to the co-owners’ favorite spirits and techniques. Flip for a pricier “Play List” selection of four tasting flights presented tableside. The subterranean setup offers room for 40, plus a patio up top.

Where: 1506 19th Street NW

When: Early October

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Minetta Tavern

What: NYC restaurateur Keith McNally finally makes good on his promise to bring his famed Greenwich Village pub to Union Market district this fall. Situated near Pastis, the French bistro he runs with Stephen Starr, the white subway-tiled space will be the spot to splurge its expensive burger alongside a stellar list of martinis. An upstairs bar called Lucy Mercer is named for FDR’s mistress.

Where: 1287 4th Street NE

When: October

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F1 Arcade

F1 Arcade

What: The second U.S. edition of British-born F1 Arcade will permanently park in the Union Market district next summer, transforming a 17,500-square-foot warehouse into a high-octane entertainment complex equipped with 80 full-motion race simulators made in collaboration with F1’s motorsport design teams. A big bar staying open late will sling Champagne cocktails, local beers, and non-alcoholic options under an aptly named “Designated Driver” section. Fancied-up bar food will include items like wagyu beef burger, cauliflower wings slathered with Korean gochujang sauce, and sea bass ceviche. F1 Arcade’s first U.S. edition debuted in Boston’s Seaport District this year.

Where: 440 Penn Street NE

When: Sunday, October 13

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Buffalo & Bergen Cleveland Park

What: Gina Chersevani’s third D.C. installment of her famed all-day diner brings the upper Northwest strip debut dishes like morning danishes stuffed with seasonal fillings. A savory “Carb Bar” with seats overlooking the bakery station sends out high-brow spins on Hot Pockets, pizzas, and other homages to her Chersevani’s Italian heritage. Buffalo & Bergen continues to bring down dough from NY’s A&S Bagels, which is proofed and baked on-site to build its beloved sandwiches. Caffeinated drinks fueled by Annapolis-based Ceremony Coffee joins classic egg creams, floats, sodas, and cocktails churned out from a vintage soda machine. Chersevani, who lives on a working farm in Frederick County, goes big on local and seasonal ingredients at the follow-up to her Buffalo & Bergens in Capitol Hill and Union Market. The newest edition, framed with expansive windows, leafy plants, and a green-heavy color palate, resembles a bright atrium and sports an expansive patio out front.

Where: 3501 Connecticut Avenue NW

When: Late September/early October

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Sagrada

What: A funky tasting menu spot from Knead Hospitality + Design is opening on 14th Street NW. Each multi-course meal “will explore the psychedelic mind through a culinary lens,” according to a release. Knead also runs nine other restaurant brands in D.C., including Gatsby, Bistro du Jour, Succotash, Mi Vida, and Beresovsky’s Deli.

Where: 1901 14th Street NW

When: Mid-fall

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Rosedale

Projects Design Associates/rendering

What: Ashok Bajaj of Knightsbridge Restaurant Group (Rasika, Bombay Club, Bindaas, Modena, Annabelle, and others) brings Cleveland Park a seasonal American eatery this fall. The 100-seat newcomer with a communal U-shaped bar and a sizable patio will swing seasonal, with daily specials pulled from the kitchen’s rotisserie. The Rosedale Farmhouse, for which the restaurant is named, was built in 1793 by Revolutionary War Colonel Uriah Forrest. A small stone cottage constructed in 1740 was incorporated into the structure, making Rosedale the oldest surviving house in what is now D.C.

Where: 4465 Connecticut Avenue NW

When: October

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Arrels

What: Arrels, which means “roots” in Catalan, pays homage to chef Pepe Moncayo’s Spanish heritage in the new Arlo Washington DC hotel. Look for modern takes on classic dishes from Barcelona, Andalucia, and beyond, with charred vegetables and tapas brought to life via a state-of-the-art Spanish oven and grill. Moncayo is best known for his work at Penn Quarter’s Japanese-Spanish mainstay Cranes.

Where: 333 G Street NW

When: Late October

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Osteria Mozza

What: East Coast restaurant magnate Stephen Starr (Le Diplomate, St. Anselm) unveils an Italian restaurant and market in Georgetown with help from Nancy Silverton, one of the most famous chefs on the West Coast. The powerhouse duo transform the historic Georgetown Market that most recently housed gourmet grocer Dean & DeLuca into Osteria Mozza, which shares the same name as Silverton’s LA hit.

Where: 3276 M Street NW

When: Fall

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Alara

What: D.C. hitmaker Hakan Ilhan is calling his latest project Alara, which refers to a “beautiful water fairy” in Turkish mythology. Seasonal menus and wines plan to focus on the four coastal countries of Turkey, Greece, Lebanon, and Israel. The restaurant will kick off with a selection of meze and hot and cold dips like red pepper-and-walnut muhammara, followed by lots of meaty mains like lamb chops, Greek interpretations of seafood (branzino), and potentially Moroccan tagine. Alara will also serve some best sellers found at Ilhan’s Turkish stalwart Ottoman Taverna in Mt. Vernon Triangle. Like his other establishments, expect a strong happy hour component and “very approachable” prices from day to night. The Mediterranean restaurant takes over the address that housed Italian darling Paolo’s Ristorante for over three decades till its closure in 2018.

Where: 1303 Wisconsin Avenue NW

When: Fall

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Cordelia Fishbar

What: Clyde’s Restaurant Group’s newest project in the bottom of luxury apartment building Morse centers around globally influenced seafood dishes prepared over a charcoal flame grill. The 10,000-square-foot space seats 250 diners across a big central bar, sidewalk patio, and private event space. Seafood is the star of the show, but a few beef, pork, and chicken entrees will also be cooked over charcoal. Cordelia will also showcase a selection of conserva (tinned fish), raw crudo, and cured seafood. While Clyde’s Restaurant Group is long known for its abundant raw bar selection and oyster happy hours at places like its top-grossing Old Ebbitt Grill, “we have never focused exclusively on offering a seafood-driven restaurant” until now, says CRG president John McDonnell, in a statement.

Where: 550 Morse Street NE

When: Fall

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Slice and Pie

Maria Lustre Rebrikova

What: One of country’s best pizza places debuts a second D.C. location in the Parks at Walter Reed development. Look for its familiar lineup of New York and Detroit-style pies and slices alongside an expanded offering of panini sandwiches and small-batch gelato from acclaimed chef and Naples native Giulio Adriani. The new space is much larger than the 14th Street NW original, with room for up to 26 sit-down guests.

Where: 1155 Dahlia Street NW

When: Late Fall

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Bar Betsie

What: Industry vets and buds Jean Paul (J.P.) Sabatier, Drew Porterfield, and Ralph Brabham, the team behind Logan Circle’s pint-sized drinking den Jane Jane, will do a second venture across town. Like 3-year-old Jane Jane, which has quickly risen as one of the city’s best cocktail bars, Bar Betsie honors another partner’s matriarch. Bar Betsie, named for Sabatier’s mom who had a penchant for hospitality, strives to be “soulful, unpretentious gathering place where everyone comes to play,” per a statement. A design by Edit Lab at Streetsense calls for hip neon accents reflected off mirrored walls, wood paneling, intimate booths, banquette seating, and 14-seat bar and outdoor patio slinging light snacks, beers, wines, and cocktails.

Where: 1328 4th Street NE

When: Fall

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Virginia

Francis Hall

What: This first-floor cocktail lounge joins the array of dining destinations at the recently opened Hotel Heron. Situated in the heart of the 134-room property, guests can enjoy 30 featured cocktails that span from “forgotten stuff” to classics and bar bites at the polished watering hole. Dressed with a tented ceiling, burnished brass bar, and plenty of rich jewel tones, Francis Hall is named after a barkeep who worked in Old Town for 40 years. “He was someone who knew everyone’s name and was part of the community — we’ve built the menu with that story line,” says Betty Woodward, Hotel Heron’s director of food and beverage.

Where: 699 Prince Street, Alexandria, Virginia

When: Early October 2024

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Modan

What: With a name that literally means “modern” in Japanese, this new restaurant will offer contemporary takes on classic Japanese fare from chef Micheole (“Chico”) Dator. The 7,000-square-foot restaurant will feature a bar, sushi counter, private omakase counter, and an outdoor patio. The minimalist look features light wood paneling and natural elements like rocks and greenery. Known for his former role as the executive sushi chef at Nobu DC, Dator will turn to an in-house dry-aging program to create a menu full of buttery slices of beef, fish, and other animals from the land and sea. Dator plans to celebrate Southeast Asian flavors and other cuisines that draw upon his experience working at Nobus around the world.

Where: 1788 Chain Bridge Road, McLean, Virginia

When: October

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Maryland

Beth’s

What: Located in the heart of downtown Bethesda, Beth’s will serve a casual American menu in a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The name is an ode to “Bethesda,” where owners Deniz and Celal Gulluoglu live and currently run Levantine hit Ala. Ingredients will swing local, with a focus on top-notch cocktails, beer, and wine. The industrial-styled space carves out room for 80 patrons in the dining room and 20 at the bar. A covered patio area fit for 30 will feature a fire pit.

Where: 4948 Fairmont Avenue, Bethesda, Maryland

When: Mid-November

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Bouboulina

What: A Mediterranean-influenced grill is the latest addition to Cava founders Ted Xenohristos, Ike Grigoropoulos, and chef Dimitri Moshovitis’ fine dining spots in Bethesda’s Pike & Rose neighborhood. The three childhood friends-turned-business partners also own a French bistro with a twist, Julii, and a “fine casual” Greek spot, Melina, in the Maryland business complex. The new 3,080-square-foot space will serve prime steaks, fresh seafood, and bread from a wood-fired grill. Bouboulina is named after the first woman in international naval history to become an admiral during the Greek War of Independence, a nod to the heritage of the owners.

Where: 915 Meeting Street, North Bethesda, Maryland

When: Fall

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Duke’s Grocery

What: The East London-styled pub for fancy sandwiches and snack plates busts into the Maryland market this fall. Duke’s calling cards include an epic happy hour spanning seven hours, free-flowing Pimm’s cups and English breakfasts during brunch, shiny copper bar tops, cheeky decor, and an essential burger that carries a registered trademark. Along with the recently rebooted Dupont original, additional D.C. locations sit in Woodley Park, Foggy Bottom and Navy Yard.

Where: 10128 River Road, Potomac, Marlyand

When: Late Fall