The Best New Restaurants in D.C., July 2025 | Eater DC

"The team behind Eater 38 hit Daru doubled down on H Street this year with a rowdy new South Indian restaurant and cocktail bar. Tapori, which means “vagabond” in Hindi, draws influence from South Indian street markets and Bollywood films that embrace Mumbai culture. Tapori centers around communal eating and flavors that span from Kerala to Nepal. Nepalese chef Suresh Sundas and beverage director Dante Datta teamed up with faraway chef Baburam Sharma to develop a menu that reflects his Nepalese background, upbringing in Delhi, and decades of experience in cooking South Indian cuisine. Dishes like pani puri, vada pav, and dosas join cocktails made with indigenous spices and fruits like chaat masala, jackfruit puree, and hibiscus. The former home of Fancy Radish got a complete overhaul from Edit Lab, complete with a 20-person communal table, patchwork tile-covered bar, and booths peering into the bright open kitchen." - Eater Staff