NaRa-Ya

"Waterfront dining is often outside, sun shining down, humidity slowly increasing the size of your hair. But at Nara-Ya, you’ll find yourself surrounded by breathtaking views while you’re shielded from the elements, allowing you to enjoy them year-round whether it’s the perfect summer day or wintry flurries. The Japanese restaurant, located on the third floor, has a wall of glass windows that overlooks the Wharf and the Potomac, and the food, like the tender miso glazed salmon covered in a creamy dashi miso creme, is delicious, which you won’t find at many Wharf restaurants. " - tristiana hinton, omnia saed

"What you do on a special night is important. But the pictures last forever. Nara-Ya gives you lots of backdrop options, whether that’s simple shots along the Wharf, samurai wallpaper in the restaurant, or their dedicated bright pink photo room you walk through on the way to the restaurant. Get the chef’s omakase, which is 10 courses for $115 and gives you a greatest hits of the menu, from the crispy cauliflower to the miso glazed chilean sea bass that is covered in a creamy dashi miso creme." - tristiana hinton, omnia saed

"Getting to Nara-Ya requires navigating the minotaur’s labyrinth that winds through a dedicated picture room, and an incredibly slow elevator that takes you to floor 3.1 (eye roll). But the Japanese spot serves some of the best food on the Wharf, so go anyway. The restaurant is papered in cherry blossoms and has year-round waterfront views. While there’s an extensive sushi menu (the rolls are a little bland), our favorite dishes are the miso-glazed sea bass and lamb chops served with a yuzu chimichurri." - tristiana hinton

"What you do on a special night is important. But the pictures last forever. Nara-Ya gives you lots of backdrop options, whether that’s simple shots along the Wharf, samurai wallpaper, or the dedicated bright pink photo room you’ll walk through on your way to the Japanese restaurant. The chef’s omakase, which is 10 courses for $115 and gives you the menu’s greatest hits, is a stunner from the crispy cauliflower to the miso glazed chilean sea bass that is covered in a creamy dashi miso creme. photo credit: Nina Palazzolo photo credit: Nina Palazzolo photo credit: Nina Palazzolo photo credit: Nina Palazzolo" - Tristiaña Hinton

"Polished waterfront spot with sophisticated takes on fish, including sustainable seafood and locally sourced produce." - Natalie Beauregard