The Hottest New Restaurants Around D.C., February 2025

"Famous for the more high-end Nina May by Logan Circle and Opal on the D.C. side of Chevy Chase, executive chef Colin McClimans and longtime mixologist Danilo Simic brought Chevy Chase an all-day neighborhood restaurant in December. Five years in the making, Elena James serves breakfast and lunch options for takeout or dine-in, snacks, hefty entrees, and kid-friendly fare like dino-shaped chicken nuggets. Mains include a green salad topped with crunchy La Choy chow main noodles (like McClimans’ grandmother used to make); pizzas covered in caramelized onions, truffles, and spiced lamb with tzatziki (reflecting simple pizza Fridays of his youth); and the all-time classic patty melt topped off with melty Gruyere and held together by thick slices of Texas toast. Balanced cocktails include a spicy margarita with habanero orange liqueur, Old Fashioned, smoked Negroni and a coffee-infused drink with cinnamon." - Tierney Plumb, Emily Venezky