Interested in visiting the newest restaurants in Washington? Offering everything from Southern Italian cuisine to biscuits and gravy, read on to see the newest hot spots to arrive near you.
Officina
Now open at The Wharf (1120 Maine Ave. SW) in Southwest D.C. is Officina. Its three floors pack in a lot of amenities: an all-day cafe, an Italian trattoria, specialty grocery market and rooftop bar.
The ground floor is the place to order a cappuccino and pastry from the barista. It's also where you can pick up some imported olives, cheese or prosciutto to take home.
The trattoria on the next floor is a full-scale restaurant serving Southern Italian cuisine, like linguini with clams, a mixed seafood grill or a platter of meats, including pork shoulder and sausage.
The rooftop offers sweeping views of the river, along with cocktails and wine chosen from the "cellar" that's as tall as the entire three stories.
The man behind it all? Chef Nicholas Stefanelli of the Michelin-starred Masseria.
Heller & Wilde
New to 2519 Pennsylvania Ave. NW in West End is Heller & Wilde. It's a neighborhood tavern and restaurant, serving traditional American food like steaks, fish (cod, salmon, sea bass, whole red snapper) and fingerling potatoes. There are also appetizers to try that the house calls relishes: spinach and water chestnut dip, chopped shrimp and garlic oil, and marinated artichokes and pickled mushroom.
Handcrafted cocktails sit alongside craft beer and cider on the drinks menu. Expect occasional live entertainment, including music and comedy, and enjoy a small outdoor seating area when weather allows.
Yelpers are fans of Heller & Wilde: it's got five stars out of six reviews, so far.
Mason Dixie Biscuit Co.
Finally, there's a new addition to Shaw called Mason Dixie Biscuit Co. It's located at 1819 Seventh St. NW, and is serving up a biscuit-heavy menu of Southern breakfast and lunch options.
The morning menu offers buttermilk biscuit sandwiches with meat (ham, chicken, sausage), egg and cheese, as well as open-faced versions with gravy. Breakfast sides include grits and hash browns.
A lunch menu is similar but swaps eggs for chicken as the main ingredient. Get the chicken sandwich plain or add bacon, honey, hot sauce or avocado for a more complex treat.
