Laura Hayes, a Washington food writer and Thrillist.com contributor, offers her pick of five of D.C.'s newest restaurants worth trying:
Rose's Luxury: "An enchanting secret garden kind of place with chef Aaron Silverman at the helm. I'm convinced that he's the hardest-working American after Obama. Menu items range from pork lychee salad to barbecue brisket."
Tico: "'Top Chef Masters' alum Michael Schlow's first D.C. restaurant is located on the 14th Street corridor and offers a primarily American menu with Latin/Spanish twists, including killer tacos (something that D.C. was sorely lacking)."
Compass Rose: "Rose Previte and her husband, David Greene, host of NPR's 'Morning Edition,' just opened a restaurant that serves international street food inspired by their travels around the world, serving everything from Georgian khachapuri [a cheese-filled bread] to Korean ribs. It is also on the 14th Street corridor."
Fiola Mare: "This stunning waterfront restaurant in Georgetown brings sophisticated cuisine back to the area. The caviar-studded menu has prices to match, but it's gorgeous, and the seafood is flown in fresh."
Sona Creamery: "A charming place in the Eastern Market area, it is the first-ever D.C. restaurant with an on-site creamery. With plans to make its own cheese, the site has custom-built, climate-controlled aging caves. Primarily a wine-and-cheese bar, look for addictive menu items like the Bruno's Big Kid, a mac-and-cheese sandwich served with bacon jam.