17 DGS Delicatessen This refined deli and restaurant puts out standard-bearer versions of Reuben and pastrami sandwiches, and also manages to elevate such dishes as chopped liver. DGS has a solid happy hour, a destination brunch and a quirky cocktail menu to match.

Nick Wiseman, 29 Owner, DGS Delicatessen After working on the line at Equinox at age 15 in DC, then Fabio Trabocchi’s Fiamma and Michael White’s Alto in New York, the third-generation Washingtonian — who also has a psychology degree from Berkeley — decided DC had gone long enough without a decent deli.

Brine at Mosaic, Fairfax, Virginia Just a short ride from the city in the Mosaic District, Urbana and Bourbon Steak vet John Critchley is deftly showcasing the sea’s harvest. Since Travis Croxton of Rappahannock River Oysters owns the eatery, the Obamas are practically required to kick off their meal with a seafood platter featuring the…

“Brine, Mosaic’s seafood-centric raw bar and restaurant opened in May and debuted lunch service in July. They offer everything from oyster chowder and American caviar to plankton bucatini and wood-grilled catch of the day.”  

On the appetizer list, the Roti Green Curry is enchanting—a bowl of creamy chicken curry served with eight pieces of delicate Indian flatbread. The stinging hot curry is powered with fresh herbs and peppers. Spoon some curry onto the flatbread, and eat it like a taco.