"When Oyster Oyster opened in 2021, it set a new bar for vegetarian dining in DC. The restaurant’s tasting menu is made with foraged and locally sourced vegetables, sauces from kitchen refuse (hello, vegetable scraps), home-grown mushrooms, and regional wines by the glass. The kodachrome interior, booths, and glass wall give the vibe of an elevated diner. Add in the bar with no hard alcohol, an optional juice pairing, and a young, celebrated chef, and it all feels a bit like a Gen Z fever dream. The tasting menu—8 to 10 courses depending on the time of year—is decidedly light, but what it lacks in bulk it makes up for in creativity, changing each season according to what’s growing, thriving, and locally available." - tristiana hinton, madeline weinfield