Warm Up with These Winter Menus: TheList’s List of What You’re Eating

Hello, fall. The DMV is sliding into cozy season. You know, tailgates, steins, sweater-weather patios, and menus swapping sweet corn for squash and figs. At TheListAreYouOnIt.com, we’ve rounded up the can’t-miss bites and sips of the season. 

Get game-day ready with our NFL roundup (here). 

Tea lover? We got you. Terrific teas, here.

Holiday happenings: Every igloo, market, wonderland & more, here. Plus your Thanksgiving plans, made here.

Looking for this week's best sips? Go here.

So much more below: 

MARK YOUR CALENDAR: 

Winter Coat Drive at Lapis: The Popal Group (Lapis, Lapop, Lutèce, Maison, Pascual) is bringing back its Winter Coat & Accessories Drive for a second year to support Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA). From now until December 14, the team will collect new or like-new coats, hats, scarves, and gloves for refugees, immigrants, and local neighbors in need. Donations can be dropped off daily at Lapis (1847 Columbia Road NW) between 11 AM - 3 PM and 5 PM - 9 PM. In December, the Lapis team will deliver the items and volunteer at LSSNCA’s Resource Center in Alexandria. 1010 New Hampshire Ave NW, Washington DC, DC 20037-2347; tickets here. 

Georgetown Cookie Tour: Join Georgetown Main Street for our annual Cookie Tour this holiday season. There are two cookie tour weekends: Saturday, December 6th and Saturday, December 13th from 1:00 - 4:30pm. Retail partners and Georgetown bakeries are still to be announced, but rest assured that we'll have delicious cookies and excellent holiday shopping spots per usual. georgetownmainstreet.com

NEW & NOTEWORTHY: 

Tasting Menu Debut: Kayu has a new tasting menu. Kayu’s tasting menu reflects the timeless flavors of the Philippines, reimagined through a modern lens. Each dish is thoughtfully crafted to celebrate depth, diversity, and cultural resonance: Pampagana – buchi with foie gras and chestnut; tuna tartare with calamansi kosho and nori; Cassava; Cake – crabfat xo, lardo, ikura; Kinilaw – hamachi, granny smith apple, coconut; Octopus Pancit – glass noodles, squid ink, piquillo peppers; Aged Squab Kaldereta – breast & leg confit, marble potato, green olives; Kinaskas – mango, chèvre, honey; and Taho – silken tofu, tapioca, kaluga caviar. 1633 17th St NW, Washington, DC 20009; kayudc.com

Get Slayed: JINYA’s winter specials are here, this time as a collab with the recently released Demon Slayer movie! Full of authentic flavor, the Tokyo Yatai Classic features a clear chicken broth layered with thin noodles, tender pork chashu, a seasoned egg, Naruto fish cake, and a crisp sheet of nori. From now until the end of February, order the Tokyo Yatai Classic and collect one of three limited-edition ramen spoons featuring your favorite characters from the Demon Slayer movie (dine-in only). Other new cozy winter specials include the Crispy Chicken Wings, tossed in a signature Asian sweet & sour glaze, and topped with fresh cabbage, cilantro and chili slices. 1336 14th street; jinyaramenbar.com

Caribbean Traditions: St. James is serving traditional Pastelles ($10), a staple on every Christmas table in Trinidad. Food historians believe the dish to be shaped by the island’s indigenous Taino and African food traditions. They are corn flour "parcels," similar to tamales, traditionally stuffed with a savory beef filling and steamed in banana leaves. At St. James, pastelles are prepared with a special twist; rather than the ground beef commonly used, the kitchen braises chuck in Trinidadian green seasoning until tender. The meat is finely chopped for a more delicate texture then flavored with chilies, raisins and capers, and paired with a non-traditional mole made with Trinidadian chocolate and jerk seasonings. A mushroom version will also be available for a lighter, vegetarian alternative. Pastelles are available for dine-in and fans can also pre-order here. 

How About a Little Heat: Bar Chinois has some new menu additions. You can go for a sweet and savory option with the Walnut Shrimp, consisting of crispy fried shrimp, honey walnut sauce and crushed walnut. Enjoy the warm Brussel Sprouts with spinach, cashews, pickled onion and a Yuzu-soy vinaigrette, or feel the heat with the Spicy Eggplant, with wok-fried purple Chinese eggplant, tobanjang chili paste, fresh basil and pickled peppers. For a hearty meal, the Zha Jiang Mian is the perfect choice; Chinese udon noodles with spicy Szechuan beef sauce, tobanjang, fresh cucumber and pickled onion & scallions. 455 Eye Street; barchinoisdc.com

A Change is Afoot: Restaurateur Ashok Bajaj of Knightsbridge Restaurant Group announces the mid-December closing of the year-old restaurant, Rosedale, to be replaced by Malabar in mid-January 2026. Malabar, will bring modern Indian fare, with a culinary team led by Group Executive Chef Vikram Sunderam.  4465 Connecticut Avenue, NW; .knightsbridgerestaurantgroup.com

A Soft Serve Alert: Dolcezza is sweetening up the holidays with its seasonal flavors made with the freshest ingredients.  Throughout December, all six DC-area locations are rolling out limited-edition gelato flavors, decadent soft-serve sundaes, and festive hot drinks that taste like holiday spirit. Try gelato flavors like hot chocolate or drinks like a holiday latte. goldbelly.com

20 Years of Rasika: Rasika Penn Quarter, is celebrating 20 years as a destination restaurant in the nation’s capital. To celebrate the milestone anniversary, guests dining at Rasika Penn Quarter will be treated to featured “Best of Rasika” tasting menu created by Chef Sunderam.  The five-course menu changes each month. The Non-Vegetarian Tasting Menu is priced at $90 per person, exclusive of tax and gratuity, and the Vegetarian Tasting Menu is priced at $80. Wine Pairings can be enjoyed for an additional $55 per person. 633 D Street, NW, 20004; rasikarestaurant.com

Hot To Go: Laud Shawarma, the Nigerian-style shawarma eatery formerly located in the Solaire Social food hall, has launched a new take-out and delivery menu featuring holiday to-go meal options, game day platters, and a curated value meal option known as “The Laud Box”. laudshawarma.com

You Had Us at Brisket Shakshouka (Brunch Alert): Silver and Sons, chef Jarrad Silver's regional barbecue restaurant with a Jewish/Mediterranean twist, is now offering brunch at its Bethesda brick-and-mortar location. The brand-new brunch menu features breakfast sandwiches made with smoked salmon and pastrami, brisket shakshouka, flaky pastries like sausage, egg, and cheese phyllo pies, and breads such as chocolate babka, donuts, monkey bread, and other pull-aparts. 627 Lofstrand Lane, Unit 627B, Rockville, Md. 20850; silverandsonsbbq.com

NOT NEW, BUT NOTEWORTHY:

Wicked Pop-Up: Barrel House Café & Bar is having a WICKED WEEK, an immersive Broadway-themed celebration inspired by the hit musical Wicked. A weeklong Broadway-themed takeover celebrating Wicked, complete with themed cabarets, trivia nights, and late-night dance parties. Each night brings a new adventure—from musical brunches to high-energy club remixes—featuring live performances, DJs, acrobats, and creative cocktails. 1341 14th St. NW; .barrelhousedc.com

Pasta, Pasta: Gigi's Pasta has opened at Western Market DC and invites Washingtonians to step away from the rush and into a space where every bowl tells a story.  You can craft their own pasta experience, selecting from an array of fresh sauces, proteins, and seasonal ingredients, or choose from hot-and-ready signature dishes that capture the bright, clean flavors of coastal Italian cooking.2000 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington DC 20006; eatgigispasta.com

Wicked, For Good: Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken has a new Wicked Mini Box in celebration of the movie release this week. The mini doughnut box features four Strawberry Glaze topped with a Glinda-inspired crown; four Green Vanilla Glaze topped with Elphaba’s signature hat; two Pumpkin Pie, and two Apple Honey Bun doughnuts. 1308 G St. NW, Washington, DC 20005; astrodoughnuts.com

Peppermint Season: Van Leeuwen is kicking off the season with the return of its cult-favorite Peppermint Stick Ice Cream, plus two new peppermint-packed creations—and a limited-time holiday pint promotion perfect for gifting, gatherings, and stocking the freezer. Try the Peppermint Stick Ice Cream (Seasonal LTO): Pink, minty, iconic. A festive classic that always sells out fast; Peppermint Fudge Sundae: Peppermint Stick Ice Cream topped with hot fudge, whipped cream, and peppermint crunch; Peppermint Mocha Milkshake: Coffee Affogato Ice Cream + Peppermint Stick Ice Cream blended with vegan chocolate sauce, whipped cream, and peppermint crunch. vanleeuwenicecream.com

Tail Up Goat Makes Way for Rye Bunny:  At the end of the year, Jill Tyler and Jon Sybert will close their critically acclaimed restaurant, Tail Up Goat, to make way for Rye Bunny, a new rigorously seasonal and hospitality-forward counter-service restaurant opening in Spring 2026. 1827 Adams Mill Road NW; ryebunny.com

A Flower Blooms in Navy Yard: Taquería Xochi began as a pandemic-born ghost kitchen on U Street. The new Navy Yard outpost debuts an expanded culinary program featuring a new Steak Trompo featuring shaved, slow-cooked sirloin and ribeye from a traditional trompo, along with the cheesy, seared Steak Costra, and a lineup of vibrant house-made paletas. Fans will also find Xochi favorites such as Esquites, Pork Belly Chicharron, tlayudas with birria or chorizo, a wide taco selection including vegan options, signature Cemitas, Tortas on telera bread, Mulitas, and desserts like tres leches and churros. taqueriaxochi.com

Splendid Holidays: The holidays have arrived at Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, and there’s plenty to celebrate! The Splendid Holiday Collection: A celebration of nostalgic, joy-filled flavors—available now online and in scoop shops across the DMV and includes flavors like eggnog, panettone and more. jenis.com

Neighborhood Tavern: Juneberry Garage, a neighborhood restaurant and bar housed in what was  once Walter Reed’s mechanic and hobby auto shop is set to open their (original) garage doors  to the brand-new indoor dining room and Mid-Western-inspired bar, overlooking the Great Lawn.  Signature tavern pizzas anchor the food lineup, with a cracker-thin crust and robust sauce and cheese all the way to the edge. Standout  pizzas include the caramelized mushroom topped with mushroom “bacon”, balsamic caramelized onions  and arugula and a classic sausage & peppers pie. 6810 Cameron Drive NW, Washington, DC; juneberrygarage.com

Walk-Ins Welcome: Maison Bar à Vins saves close to 30 seats for walk-ins for guests without a reservation, plus another 8-10 drink rails. The entire menu, including their growing late-night menu, is available throughout the bar + restaurant for walks-in or reservations alike. Spring for new Fall dishes from Chef Matt Conroy like a Campanelle Pasta w/ Pumpkin, Black Truffle, & Parmesan or a Carrot salad with Carrots, Apple, Nduja, D’Ambert Blue, Apple. 1834 Columbia Rd NW, Washington, DC 20009; maisondc.com

Caruso’s at Home: Caruso’s Grocery is bringing its signature comfort dishes straight to your table with the launch of Caruso’s at Home, a new catering program designed for effortless entertaining. From hearty classics like braised meatballs and truffle butter pasta alfredo to veal or chicken parmesan, linguine with white clam sauce, crisp salads, and decadent desserts — Caruso’s at Home delivers warmth, flavor, and nostalgia for every occasion. 2920 Clarendon Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201; carusosgrocery.com