5 Best Restaurants in D.C. Waterfront, Washington, D.C.

“Best pizza in D.C.” is a hotly contested title, but All-Purpose Pizzeria down on the Capitol Riverfront is a strong contender. Its whole wheat dough is carefully made with high-quality ingredients, and you’ll find a mix of classic and intriguing choices like chili-roasted corn, chili-lime aioli, or truffle honey. Garlic knots make for a delicious starter, and you can round off your meal with a range of desserts, including tiramisù and a freshly baked cookie with award-winning gelato from Dolcezza.

There was great excitement in summer 2020, when the second Colada Shop opened, an extension of its very popular first branch in Northwest D.C. Its breakfast menu, in particular, is extensive and appealing, bringing a Cuban twist to familiar-sounding offerings and serving a wide variety of coffees, including café con leche and café bonbon, made with condensed milk. And while it may feel strange to have baked eggs for dinner rather than breakfast, it’s certainly worth breaking with convention for the sake of the chorizo and chickpea calderos. If you’ve never had sweet plantains before, this is a great place to try them. Finish your meal with churros, and you’ll be thoroughly satisfied.

The stylish design and superlative pastas of this take on cuisine from northern Italy's Emilia-Romagna region might seem like an unexpected match for the sports fans flocking to Nationals Park. But you can't ask for a better way to cap off a day at the ballpark than the wood-grilled meats here. You can also try the charcuterie and cheese (the creamy robiola is particularly delicious), all washed down with an Italian cocktail. If you want to treat your palate, this restaurant is an excellent choice.

Shilling Canning takes pride in the quality of its fresh, locally sourced ingredients, and it shows. The Shilling family hails from Baltimore, where they were known for their positive values and respect for the community, as well as their excellent food products—chef Shilling and his team are clearly devoted to honoring the family legacy with a similar ethos. Customer service is impeccable. If you’re sometimes overwhelmed with long menus and multiple decisions, it’s refreshing that the dinner menu here consists of a weekly changing three-course chef’s menu with optional wine pairings. The patio is set off from the main street and bordered with plants, which adds to the pleasant, upscale atmosphere.

Most restaurants pair beer with food, but here you'll find the opposite: the refined but hearty new American fare is designed to complement the 10 brews on tap. If you're not sure whether an herbal saison or the spicy fruit of a Scotch ale would go best with a bone-in beef short rib in a Kansas City rub, don't be afraid to ask the gracious cast of servers. Note the artful industrial decor, a symbol of revitalization in the Navy Yard area, and don't miss the impeccable brunch.