Swizzle Chill

Restaurant News

Restaurant openings, chef announcements, menu launches, and dining developments across D.C., Maryland, and Northern Virginia.

Elegant restaurant dining room with dark wood tables, amber lighting, and a long bar lined with backlit bottles
Spacious beer hall with long communal tables, exposed ductwork, and warm Edison-bulb lighting against brick walls
Chef Interview

Q&A: Chef Mike Cordero on the Blue Corn Tortillas of Taco Rock

Chef Mike Cordero, president of MacNac Hospitality, brought Taco Rock to Rosslyn at 1501 Wilson Blvd. The fast-casual concept serves blue corn soft tacos alongside mango and strawberry margaritas. MacNac Hospitality also operates Bronson Bier Hall and Barley Mac in Arlington, Va.

Bronson Bier Hall opened in Ballston in August 2019, adding a spacious beer-hall experience to the Arlington dining scene.

Latest Dining News

Openings, chef moves, and menu launches from around the DMV.

Elegant Indian restaurant dining room with dark wood tables and amber lighting
Opening

Bombay Velvet Arrives at Reston Town Center

Chef Rajiv Chopra opened Bombay Velvet, an Indian restaurant, at Reston Town Center. The restaurant was set to open April 15, 2019.

Charming brick row houses on a tree-lined Capitol Hill street with warm autumn tones
Opening

Gina Chersevani Opens Capitol Hill Buffalo & Bergen

Veteran D.C. bartender Gina Chersevani launched Buffalo & Bergen on Capitol Hill, adding to the neighborhood's growing food-and-drink scene.

Lively Pike & Rose development in North Bethesda with string lights, outdoor seating, and modern retail facades at dusk
Opening

Hei Hei Tiger Opens at Tysons Galleria

A sister concept to Tiger Fork, Hei Hei Tiger opened at Tysons Galleria Mall in late 2019, expanding the brand into Northern Virginia.

Cozy Capitol Hill bar interior with vintage tin ceiling, marble counter, and shelves of bitters and glassware
Menu Launch

Jinya Ramen Bar's Spicy Meatball Ramen

In September 2019, Jinya Ramen Bar released a limited-time Spicy Meatball Ramen, available through November 30, 2019, at its D.C.-area locations on 14th Street NW, North Bethesda, and Merrifield.

Spacious beer hall with long communal tables and warm Edison-bulb lighting
Announcement

Astro Beer Hall Planned for G Street NW

Astro Doughnuts and Fried Chicken owners Elliot Spaisman and Jeff Halpern announced plans for a two-level Astro Beer Hall at 1306 G Street NW, adjacent to the original Astro Doughnuts shop.

Bright seafood restaurant interior with nautical accents, white subway tile, and a raw bar display filled with oysters on ice
Opening

La Famosa Planned for Navy Yard

Chef Joancarlo Parkhurst announced plans to open La Famosa, a Puerto Rican restaurant, at The Bower residences in Navy Yard, with a target of spring 2020.

Warm-toned overhead shot of a restaurant table set with plates and glasses, soft natural light, inviting atmosphere
Ranking

Washingtonian's 100 Very Best Restaurants 2020

The Washingtonian released its 100 Very Best Restaurants list in January 2020, with Anju ranked at the top. The annual list is a closely watched guide to D.C. dining.

Lively mixed-use development with string lights, outdoor seating, and modern retail facades at dusk
Menu Launch

Astro Doughnuts Holiday Flavors

Astro Doughnuts rolled out holiday flavors in December 2019, adding seasonal sweets to its lineup at the original D.C. shop.

Cozy bar interior with vintage tin ceiling, marble counter, and shelves of bitters and glassware
Update

Trummer's Unveils Post-Remodel Brunch

Following a remodel, Trummer's debuted a refreshed brunch service, drawing attention from D.C.-area diners.

Neighborhoods We Cover

From D.C. proper to the suburbs, here's where the dining action is happening.

  • Navy Yard — Home to The Salt Line, La Famosa, and a rapidly growing dining scene along the Anacostia waterfront.
  • Capitol Hill — Gina Chersevani's Buffalo & Bergen and a cluster of cozy bars and restaurants.
  • Dupont Circle & 14th Street — Jinya Ramen Bar at 1336 14th Street NW anchors a corridor packed with notable kitchens.
  • Rosslyn & Ballston — Taco Rock, Bronson Bier Hall, and Barley Mac from MacNac Hospitality lead the Arlington charge.
  • Reston & Tysons — Bombay Velvet at Reston Town Center and Hei Hei Tiger at Tysons Galleria Mall.
  • North Bethesda & Merrifield — Jinya Ramen Bar outposts bring ramen culture to Maryland and Virginia suburbs.

Explore all neighborhoods →