Summer On A Plate: TheListAreYouOnIt’s List of Good Eats

Summer has not officially ended yet, and the DMV is dishing out flavor in every form. Local chefs are serving up sun-soaked menus full of peak-season produce and bold ingredients. At TheListAreYouOnIt.com, we’ve rounded up the can't-miss dishes and dining experiences that define the season.

Craving al fresco everything? Don’t miss our Patio Pleasure Round Up & our Up On The Roof guide for the best open-air bites and rooftop sips. 

Always seeking sushi? Check out our where we Sushi roundup, here. And if you're looking to let the chef take the reins, we've got a Tasting Menu list for you, right here. 

Don't miss all the best summer restaurant weeks, here.

Lastly, the best way to cool off in this heat is our Ice Cream Season list, here, for all your scoops & swirls.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR: 

Sicilian Wine Dinner at Iron Gate: Iron Gate is hosting  four-course dinner paired with wines from Tenuta di Castellaro (Lipari Island, Sicily), hosted with special guest Daniele Sassi. Expect site-specific, organically farmed Aeolian Island varietals—including Malvasia delle Lipari, Carricante, Corinto Nero, Nero d’Avola—showcased alongside Chef Tony Chittum’s seasonal menu. The dinner is on September 10th. This intimate dinner offers a guided tasting and the stories behind these volcanic-island wines—paired thoughtfully with coastal-inspired dishes. 1734 N St NW, Washington, DC; irongaterestaurantdc.com

Bristol Bay Salmon Week: From September 8-14, Washington, DC restaurants will spotlight wild sockeye salmon from Bristol Bay, Alaska, as part of the fifth annual Bristol Bay Salmon Week, organized by the Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association (BBRSDA). Participating restaurants spread throughout the city and offering diverse cuisines, are presenting their unique takes on featuring sockeye salmon, showcasing the fish's versatility. Among those participating are King Street Oyster Bar, Maketto, Vagabond, and Matt & Tony’s. Visit these restaurants between September 8-14 to experience their special salmon dishes. Info here. 

Taste of Bethesda: Here's a scavenger hunt for you: find a place where can you try food from your favorite downtown Bethesda restaurants while also enjoying live music on four different stages. Stumped? Here's a clue: it'll take place on the streets of Woodmont Triangle the first Saturday of October. That's right, Taste of Bethesda is back with delicious bites from more than 40 Bethesda restaurants. Taste of Bethesda will take place Saturday, October 4 from 11am - 4pm. Tickets here. 

Shuck It: Early bird tickets are available for the Shuck It Oyster festival. 65 +dc tax per person* Join them for the 12th annual Georgetown Shuck It! Beer and Oyster Festival at Tony and Joe's! Saturday, October 18, 2025 1-5 pm ID required to enter. 21 and up. Get tickets here. 

Snallygaster: On October 11, 2025 the merry monster makes its triumphant return to DC for its 13th year as a rollicking tribute to the wonderful world of craft beer. Festival goers can expect a mind-boggling selection of no fewer than 450 highly sought-after draft beers, gravity kegs and bottle + can pours from 175+ of the finest American and international producers set against a backdrop of local food trucks and two stages of live music. info here. 

NEW & NOTEWORTHY: 

Open Your Mind: Life Alive Organic Café is teaming up with Harvard-trained nutritional psychiatrist Dr. Uma Naidoo to launch the “Open Your Mind” Challenge. This month-long program is designed to boost mood and sharpen focus through approachable gut-brain habits, paired with a limited-edition “Open Your Mind” Smoothie (Sept. 2–30). Packed with blueberries, lion’s mane, and blue spirulina, the smoothie brings Dr. Naidoo’s research to life in a vibrant, mood-boosting blend. Lifealive.com

Sprouting in Bethesda: Eat Sprout, celebrated for its scratch-made, local and organic ready-to-go meals, will open its first DC-area location at Bethesda Row. Enjoy wholesome favorites like oat bowls, chia puddings, smoothies, and acai bowls, alongside artisanal breads, and scratch-made salads and spreads. eatsprout.com

Meditation on Flavor: DC’s psychedelic-inspired tasting menu is back after a month-long hiatus! Starting September 3rd, Sagrada will reemerge with a brand new menu in time for fall. The “Meditation on Flavor” is rooted in the sacred, woven with ancestral traditions and elevated through contemporary artistry. Each “chapter” unfolds as part of this immersive journey through food. Eight courses take guests through the chapters of a psilocybin-inspired experience, featuring ingredients like cacao, sacred mushrooms, tomatillo and mango, tamarind, dandelion, wagyu, duck, pumpkin and more. sagradamia.com

You Had Me at Gooey: MidnighTreats, the late-night dessert brand famous for oversized, over-the-top treats, just dropped its biggest flex yet: the 8” Cookie Pie. Try pies like the classoc chocolate chip, the cookie butter pie and more. midnightreats.com

Explore India: Bindaas will be highlighting different regional menus from India.  Beginning September 1, through December 2025, Monday through Saturday evenings, guests can explore a culinary adventure featuring a three-course fixed-priced dinner menu for $45 per person, exclusive of tax and service charge. September showcases cuisine from North India. Diners will begin the journey with an amuse of Golgappa/Bhelfollowed by an appetizer choice of Murg Makki Tikki, Spiced chicken, fresh corn, cheddar cheese, and mint chutney or Paneer Khurchan Tokri, Cottage cheese, bell peppers, chat masala, and a potato basket, followed by the entree choices of Shrimp Lababadar, Onion, tomatoes, ginger, green chili, and fenugreek or Murg Makhani, Chicken tikka, makhani sauce, and honey or Lamb Roganjosh, Caramelized onions, kashmiri chilis, saffron, and fennel or Navratan Korma, Seasonal vegetables, cashew nut, green cardamom, and mace, served with Naan and saffron rice.  2000 Pennsylvania Avenue; bindaasdc.com

Belly Dancer Brunch (Brunch alert): Vera Cocina & بار (Bar) has unveiled new menu items to their brunch program. Enjoy dishes like Pistachio Pancakes with Whipped Nutella - Indulgent, fluffy pancakes made with pistachio flour and layered with rich, nutty sweetness, Kafta Smash Burger - A savory twist on the classic burger with spiced kafta, pickled onions and serrano crema, Fattoush Salad - Crisp, bright, and bold with tajin-spiced tortilla chips and a zesty vinaigrette. 2002 Fenwick St NE; veradc.com

The return of pizza night Sacre Sucre: Sacre Sucre has brought back their pizza night service on Thursday and Friday, with hopes to add Saturday and Sunday in the near future. Every Thursday and Friday from 6pm to 10pm, they'll be serving up delicious sourdough pizzas paired with our handpicked selection of natural wines and craft beers. 933 Fell St, Baltimore, MD; sacresucre.com

Capital One Center Celebration of the Arts: Capital One Center Celebration of the Arts, presented with Tephra Institute of Contemporary Art (Tephra ICA), is a two-day outdoor festival happening October 4–5, 2025, in the heart of Tysons, VA. Designed for all ages, this immersive event transforms the streets of Capital One Center into a multi-block celebration of the arts— featuring interactive installations, hands-on workshops, live music, and culinary experiences for every generation. More info here. 

Kayu Resurrection: After closing on H Street at the end of June, Kayu by Chef Paolo Dungca is officially back! The James Beard Foundation 2025 Emerging Chef Semifinalist reopened his modern Filipino restaurant on August 6th in Dupont Circle. The more casual, streamlined version of Chef Paolo’s former Filipino tasting room offers some new spins and old favorites from the previous menu, including a sweet corn agnolotti, Chef Paolo’s famous cassava cake with crab fat, jamón Ibérico, and trout roe, as well as ube bao bun chorizo burgers and crispy pork belly with a chickpea stew. Enjoy a glass of Chenin Blanc or a tamarind margarita while snacking on some bites at the bar, or sit down for a full dinner in the airy 40 seat dining room. 1633 17th St NW, Washington, DC; Kayu.com

Picnic Inspo: The St. Regis has added a new afternoon tea service to their menu. The St. Regis Washington, D.C.’s Afternoon Tea Picnic invites you to indulge in a refined al fresco experience, complete with an artful selection of savory sandwiches, delicate confections, and warm, freshly baked scones. After collecting your bespoke wicker basket from our Concierge team, stroll to your favorite sun-dappled corner of the city and settle in for an intimate experience for two. Unfold your picnic blanket and savor an array of sweet and savory delights including a Citrus Bloom Tart featuring blood orange curd and lime or a Smoked Salmon Sandwich featuring Norwegian Salmon, caviar and caper cream on pumpernickel bread alongside seasonal and classic scones and cookies, including Classic Devonshire Cream, Lemon Curd, and Strawberry Jam. 923 16th St NW; marriott.com

New in Georgetown: Flor. Coffee + Books, a Buenos Aires-inspired café and bookshop has officially opened. Flor. Coffee + Books will offer specialty coffee, including their own coffee blend from Georgetown’s Grace Street Coffee Roasters,  Argentinian and French pastries and soft serve from Dolcezza. A whimsical gratitude machine called The Appreciation Station  will dispense gratitude prompts to inspire intention-setting and journaling.  The menu includes offerings such as Argentinian empanadas, chipás, medialunas, sandwiches, toasts, bowls, salads, and pastries, along with hot and iced espresso drinks, matcha and chai lattes, and loose-leaf teas. 1220 31st Street NW; @florcoffeeshop

NOT NEW, BUT NOTEWORTHY: 

New in the Morgan: Another French concept has been added to Adams Morgan early this September. Maison Bar à Vins is a moody and eclectic space that promises a full cellar with a wide selection of organic, biodynamic, & natural wines as a focal point. Their cocktails will all feature a wine-based ingredient or ingredient made by a winemaker, plus curated picks of cognacs, armagnacs, & calvados alongside French single malts and gins. The culinary program will feature plates like Eel Croquettes, Brioche Stuffed Chicken, and in-house made pastas that go beyond your standard bites at typical American wine bars. maisondc.com

Check Meowt: Tacocat, the latest addition to Western Market from acclaimed chef and restaurateur, Tim Ma, is now open at the Foggy Bottom-based food hall. The new taco stall is serving an unapologetically fun lineup of globally inspired bites, embracing a no-rules approach to Mexican staples. The menu blends creativity with authenticity, featuring a variety of tacos, burritos, tortas, and ceviches, alongside bold appetizers and playful takes on breakfast classics. 2000 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20006; tacocatdc.com

Art & Gelato Collab: Dolcezza Gelato & Coffee has unveiled a newly wrapped outdoor shipping container from which Dolezza sells its locally made gelato.  The container wrap was designed by artist Adam Pendleton, in conjunction with his landmark exhibition Adam Pendleton: Love, Queen. To mark the collaboration, Dolcezza is releasing a limited-edition Single Origin Chocolate gelato: stone-ground Ecuadorian cacao blended with local grass-fed milk, available only at the Dolcezza container at the Hirshhorn from Aug. 22 through Sept. 30. dolcezzagelato.com

New York’s All Day Cafe in DC: Daily Provisions, famous in NYC is coming to DC. Open early, Daily Provisions serves a unique take on classic breakfast items, including its signature crullers, B.E.C.s with a runny egg yolk, and freshly brewed coffee and teas. Throughout the afternoon and evening, Daily Provisions serves made-to-order, chef-driven sandwiches and salads, featuring favorites like the Chicken Milanese Sandwich withcrispy breaded chicken, melted mozzarella, peppers, and onions on fresh baked focaccia, and the “Chefy” Salad with marinated white beans, cucumbers, Gruyere cheese, chicken, a jammy egg and Thousand Island dressing. 1601 Connecticut Avenue NW; dailyprovisions.co

A Velvet Fifth Year Anniversary: Bombay Velvet, Reston’s only upscale Indian restaurant, is celebrating its 5th anniversary, marking five years of redefining Indian fine dining in Northern Virginia. The milestone celebration will feature exclusive menus, cultural collaborations, and special events throughout the year. Celebrations include Winemaker dinners with curated Indian pairings, Anniversary tasting menus featuring signature and new creations, and more. 12120 Sunset Hills Rd, Reston, VA; bombayvelvet.us

Provisions from 1310: Chef Jenn Crovato from 1310 Kitchen & Bar on Wisconsin Avenue has opened 1310 Provisions market where you can enjoy grab & go options. Try the overnight oats, Kale Caesar, Lemon Quinoa, Soba Noodle Salad and more. 1310 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC; 1310kitchendc.com

The Return Power Lunch: The Bazaar by José Andrés has launched a new lunch tasting menu. Enjoy dishes likes Embutidos & Pan con Tomate Spanish and domestic cured meats with pan de cristal, fresh tomato; Pollo al Ajillo slow cooked chicken thighs, black garlic; Key Lime Beach key lime mousse, graham crumble, lime air; and more for a midday break. 1100 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20004; thebazaar.com

South American Cravings: Selva is now open in Dupont. Chef Orellana draws inspiration from his upbringing on a small farm in El Salvador and other countries in South America. The menu invites you to take a flavorful journey through the continent with an an array of small shareable plates highlighting traditional recipes and contemporary interpretations such as Ceviche del Pescado,Yucca Brava, Grilled Sardines, or Beef Empanadas with pepper and olives. 1223 Connecticut Avenue; selvadc.com

Summer Nights Barbecue Series: Presented by a.kitchen+bar D.C. x OpenTable + Benefiting Southern Smoke Foundation: join James Beard Foundation Outstanding Restaurateur Ellen Yin + team for a sizzling five-part BBQ & grilling series featuring top DC chefs. One night only dinners will feature a range of flavors including Korean, modern regional Vietnamese, Italia, and bold Mexican. Each chef (headshots here) will prepare four signature dishes ($18-$38). Guests can expect live DJ sets, pay-as-you-go plates + cash bar, with proceeds to support Southern Smoke Foundation ($10 entry fee). Thursdays, 5–9PM. More info here.