Finest Dishes Eater DC Editors Ate This Week: February 27

With Eater editors incessantly eating out throughout city, we come throughout a lot of standout dishes, and we don’t wish to maintain again any secrets and techniques. Welcome to Eater DC’s rotating roundup of the most effective issues we’ve eaten as of late.

Brussels sprouts

I simply checked out Willowsong, the long-awaited substitute to Moon Rabbit on the foot of the Wharf’s Intercontinental lodge. A scrumptious shock resides below chef Jeffrey Williams’ mattress of Brussels. Dig down deep to discover a thick piece of grilled toast all soaked up in lemony and garlicky goodness. Undoubtedly spring for the fluffy milk bread with miso butter made in-house, however don’t refill too quick on carbs; the vegetable lasagna is superb, as is his plate of moon-shaped cresto di gallo pasta jazzed up with completely crispy oxtail. Roasted candy potatoes aren’t boring right here, because of brown butter harissa and citrus yogurt dressing. Williams, an LA transplant with New Orleans roots, says he’s already prepping his gumbo within the again forward of the Wharf’s huge Mardi Gras blowout on Saturday, March 1. 801 Wharf Road SW — Tierney Plumb

Seafood stew

Motorkat, the neighborhood spot up in Takoma Park, is beloved for a cause: The service is extremely sort and pleasant, the meals is reliably nice, and the plush purple velvet cubicles are good for date night time. My eating accomplice even discovered a pearl in our scrumptious fried oysters, straight from the Chesapeake Bay, which introduced loads of excited waiters to our desk. The seafood stew served with black rice was good for a chilly winter night time, with a creamy paprika and coconut milk broth and completely cooked fish, blue shell mussels, and shrimp. Hearty, warming, however nonetheless gentle sufficient that I might steal a couple of bites of my accomplice’s fish and chips, which have been completely crispy. Don’t skip the banoffee trifle, with layers of graham crackers, dulce de leche, caramelized bananas, and whipped cream. 6939 Laurel Avenue, Takoma Park, Maryland — Emily Venezky

Roasted beets salad

Emily Venezky/Eater DC

Mount Nice’s basement Greek pizza spot Martha Expensive is tremendous cozy, with a wraparound bar peering into the small kitchen and big pizza oven. Whereas the sourdough pies listed below are at all times unbelievable and coated with wonderful toppings like spicy lamb and pickled purple onions, the ingenious salads and appetizers at all times blow me away. I can’t say sufficient nice issues in regards to the radicchio Caesar topped with crispy sourdough breadcrumbs and tons of white anchovies, however this time I needed to strive one thing new and ordered their beet salad. The roasted and marinated beets have been served with an enormous pile of feta, herbs, and crispy garlic chips topped with a glug of excellent olive oil. The tremendous easy salad is made with high-quality elements and paired completely with the whipped orange-flavored feta and a contemporary pita from the pizza oven to scoop up each final chunk. 3110 Mt. Nice Road NW — EV

Pizza marinara evoluta

Are you able to inform I really like pizza? Pizza grasp Giulio Adriano simply switched up his menu at Lucy Bar, including extra unbelievable pies, pastas, and montanara (fried dough bites). It’s arduous to decide on which basic Neapolitan pies to strive, however the brand new marinara evoluta is a powerful contender. Adriano upgrades basic marinara with briny olives and anchovies which can be balanced out with unbelievable smoked mozzarella introduced in from Italy. Paired with a glass of one of many Italian reds and the stay jazz on Thursday nights, it makes the proper laid-back meal. 1350 Florida Avenue NW — EV

Sushi boat

Emily Venezky/Eater DC

My favourite Valentine’s Day plans are those with out reservations or high-priced tasting menus that also really feel like an unbelievable deal with. Completely timed, Love, Makoto’s walk-up Hiya Izakaya unveiled its two-person sushi “love” boat proper earlier than the Hallmark vacation and it was the very best plan. The $85 decadent boat is sort of the steal, with greater than sufficient sashimi and nigiri, plus huge items of tamago, gentle cucumber salads, and three completely different sushi rolls. The scallop sashimi and two several types of tuna nigiri have been particularly memorable, with high-quality fish that nearly melts in your mouth. For those who’re going for gentle bites, the $5 snacks on the glad hour menu are at all times a positive guess, I at all times order the discounted Dekopon Daisy cocktail and a tuna crispy rice if I make it there earlier than 6 p.m. 200 Massachusetts Avenue NW — EV