Diners' Choice: Hot spot restaurants in Washington, D.C. Area

OpenTable

Updated March 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants that are the best hot spots in Washington, D.C. Area? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Silver Social

4.8

4.8 (182)

$31 to $50

Tapas / Small Plates

Navy Yard

About the restaurant

Silver Social by Executive Chef Ype Von Hengst offers a creative menu of elevated comfort food and contemporary American sharing plates to complement our craft drink menu.
Located on the second floor above Silver Diner, Silver Social’s unique feature is a 50-seat covered outdoor terrace overlooking Nationals Park.

Rules & Restrictions: 16+ accompanied by an adult till 9:00pm. 21 and Up only after 9:00pm

Your table will be reserved for 1 hour 30 minutes for parties up to 6 people. The entire party must be present to be seated. If you can’t make your reservation, please cancel it 30 minutes in advance.

We accept online reservations for parties of 1 to 6 persons. For parties of 7 to 9 persons, please call the restaurant for availability. For any larger groups please contact our Event Planner Rebecca Morris at rmorris@eatatsilver.com

Top review

Bianca

Dined on Mar 9, 2025

We came for a friend’s birthday and it was an exceptional experience, not to mention that everything we ordered was delicious. We are still talking about it days later.

Eatopia Eatery

4.8

4.8 (24)

$31 to $50

Ethiopian

U Street Corridor

About the restaurant

Welcome to Eatopia Eatery, an Ethiopian fine dining experience located in the heart of the historic U Street Corridor. We offers a luxurious dining experience with a communal touch. Indulge in the vibrant atmosphere from our wide window seats while our excellent service ensures that every moment is memorable.

At Eatopia, our culinary artisans craft each dish with love, using authentic ingredients and traditional techniques to bring the flavors to life. Signature dishes include our tantalizing Doro Wot & our savory Shiro (Chickpeas ) to our wide plant based selections, sea food entrees. You got to try the Eatopia Beef Tibs and Lega Tibs (Lamb)

Join us for a dining experience where the present meets the future, and every bite is a celebration of hope, heritage, and tradition.”

Eatopia is just steps away from iconic landmarks such as the Lincoln Theatre and the African American Civil War Memorial and close to DC's main attractions, including the White House and the National Mall.

Top review

King

Dined on Mar 8, 2025

It was an amazing place and the food was top notch. I strongly recommend it to anyone looking for a great vibe.

MXDC

4.7

4.7 (2508)

$30 and under

Mexican

Downtown

About the restaurant

🎉🌮 Exciting News Alert! 🌮🎉

We are thrilled to announce that MXDC is officially OPEN at our new location at 1610 14th St NW, Washington DC! 🎉✨ Come join us for an unforgettable dining, lounge, and bar experience filled with delicious tacos, refreshing drinks, and fantastic vibes. 🍹🌶️

We can't wait to welcome you to our new home and create many more memorable moments together! See you soon at MXDC!

With love and tacos,
The MXDC Team ❤️🌮❤️

Top review

Jean

Dined 2 days ago

Food and cocktails were great. Great vibes on a saturday night with live DJ. Axel was great and attentive.

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4.7

4.7 (170)

$31 to $50

Contemporary French / American

Penn Quarter

About the restaurant

In the grand tradition of French cuisine, Café Riggs presents a contemporary American brasserie that reimagines classic dishes within a vibrant setting.

Top review

joelVIP

Dined 4 days ago

My son and I traveled to Washington, D.C. for a quick 24-hour trip. He introduced me to breakfast at Cafe Riggs. From the minute I walked in, I knew this would be an awesome experience. The service was outstanding and the food was incredibly fresh and delicious. We will be back!

Laporta's Restaurant

4.6

4.6 (2326)

$30 and under

American

Alexandria

About the restaurant

Laporta’s restaurant is the ideal place for extraordinary food in a casual, comfortable setting. Laporta’s has an attentively serviced contemporary dining room perfect for a romantic evening out or any other special occasion, combined with an adjoining intimate Jazz lounge. Relax and listen to the live jazz featured nightly. The lounge has the warmth and friendly feel of a local’s bar yet with the same excellence of service and consistency of food quality that defines our dining room and exemplifies the restaurant as a whole. The menu features inventive fresh seafoods and hearty pastas complemented by the provincial-style desserts of Margaret Laporta.

Top review

Joseph

Dined 3 days ago

We've been to Laportas many times over the last twenty years. The food, service, and ambiance has always been outstanding. The regular menu offers great variety augmented by seasonal specials. It's a great place to take guests.

Urbano 116

4.5

4.5 (387)

$30 and under

Mexican

Alexandria

About the restaurant

Welcome to Urbano 116.

* Please note that outdoor tables are NOT available for reservations, we will be happy to accommodate you outside on a first come, first serve basis.

Top review

markVIP

Dined 3 days ago

Ate in backroom in Alx restaurant. Not very appealing venue. Good food. Good service.

Dave & Buster's - Gaithersburg

4.5

4.5 (87)

$30 and under

American

Gaithersburg

About the restaurant

Each Dave & Buster's has more state-of-the-art games than ever, more mouth-watering menu items and the most innovative drinks anywhere. From wings to steaks, we've got whatever suits your appetite and our premium bar assures we're stocked to satisfy! Plus, you can watch your game on one of our massive HDTVs with epic stadium sound.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined 3 days ago

We had a large group with a lot of separate families with kids. Our server was amazing and she was so well organized.

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Experience

Sunday SIP Night

IVY by the Lake

4.3

4.3 (191)

$30 and under

Middle Eastern

Sterling

About the restaurant

Conveniently located in Loudoun County, Ivy by the Lake combines Mediterranean and Middle Eastern influences with local-inspired dishes.
Our unique lakeside getaway is the perfect ambiance for our chef’s curated menu. Begin the evening with our flavorful dinner options and custom cocktails, and let the night evolve into a late-night revelry.
The perfect escape, we look forward to seeing you at Ivy by the Lake.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined on Feb 15, 2025

We had an amazing experience at Ivy by the Lake! We stopped by on Valentine’s Day after a concert and were warmly greeted and seated right away. To start, we ordered the hummus with lamb, which was absolutely delicious—rich, flavorful, and perfectly prepared. For hookah, we went with the waitress’s recommendation, Poison Ivy, and it did not disappoint! Smooth, well-balanced, and truly elite. The DJ was phenomenal, playing a mix of music that kept the entire place vibing. I found myself dancing in my seat all night! The atmosphere, service, and overall experience were top-tier. I’ll definitely be back for more great food, hookah, and vibes!

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Experience

Tableside Shawarma($92 Per order, NOT per person)

Dave & Buster's - Springfield

4.3

4.3 (92)

$30 and under

American

Springfield

About the restaurant

Top review

SDurden

Dined on Mar 9, 2025

Great service. Our waitress was excellent and managed our party of 20+ very well.

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Experience

Military Monday

SoBe Restaurant & Lounge

3.9

3.9 (1213)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Lanham

About the restaurant

Featuring South Beach inspired Decor and an expansive menu, SoBe should be at the top of your list for Upscale Restaurants in suburban Washington, D.C. Our mixture of international cuisines, highlighted by premium meats and fresh seafood, will ensure that your experience is one to remember. Expect a fine dining atmosphere and a gracious and courteous staff to attend to your needs. Our bar features artisan cocktails, premium liquors, draft beer and a selection of global wines. Relax in our Lounge Area for Happy Hour or any gathering.

Top review

Letitia

Dined 3 days ago

Food was good, band was awesome, service was very slow.

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