Pesce Seafood House

"This Latin seafood spot in Dupont Circle swaps tartar sauce and malt vinegar for mole and salsa verde. The restaurant looks like a maze—small dining rooms and tables zigzag throughout the space. The light walls are covered in mini mirrors and murals of fish, and each room feels like you’re sitting in a little tank, which can feel like a betrayal as you sip your creamy lobster bisque. Come here for a low-lift dinner with parents or just to enjoy buttery cuts of tuna and chewy octopus with chunky polenta with your homies on a weeknight." - tristiana hinton

"The treasured D.C. fish house founded over 30 years ago by famed French chef Jean Louis Palladin and Roberto Donna made a triumphant return to Dupont Circle in February. Pesce resurfaces a few blocks north from the original, taking over the prime corner most recently home to short-lived raw bar Brine. Judita Doliveira, Brine’s former general manager and a longtime Pesce employee, steps in as Pesce 2.0’s sole new operator. Fellow Pesce and Brine alum Jose Benitez pays homage to the storied classic with grilled sardines and calamari, plus a chef’s tasting table and daily happy hour (4 p.m. to 6 p.m.). Doliveira, a lifelong artist, installs a series of fish-eyed murals around the 47-seat space." - Tierney Plumb

"Grab a laid-back seafood dinner at Pesce, where the fresh cuts of tuna and branzino are served alongside mole and salsa verde. The tiny Latin seafood restaurant in Dupont Circle looks like a maze—small dining rooms and tables zigzag throughout the space. The light walls are covered in mini mirrors and murals of fish, and each room feels like you’re sitting in a little tank, which can feel like betrayal as you sip your creamy lobster bisque. Come here for a low-lift dinner with parents or just to enjoy really good seafood with friends on a weeknight. Get the tender octopus, served with a creamy polenta." - Tristiaña Hinton

"Pesce Seafood House, previously known as Pesce, has reemerged in its original Dupont neighborhood. Under new ownership by Judita Doliveira, the venue continues to offer a variety of seafood dishes with a focus on quality. The restaurant features two dining rooms, a bar, and a private patio, continuing its tradition with a modern twist on the menu. Doliveira, who has deep ties to the original founders and extensive experience in the restaurant industry, aims to blend her passion for art and food in the revamped space." - Tierney Plumb