The Washington Post's food critic, Tom Sietsema, has named four Maryland restaurants to his latest choices for new dining spots to try.
MARYLAND — Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsema's latest list of the best new restaurants to try includes four Maryland destinations, ranging from Baltimore to Montgomery County.
Sietsema does an annual list of the best new eateries to try around the D.C. region. Many of the restaurants are from Washington, DC, but eateries from Maryland and Virginia also make the list.
This year, Sietsema noted that supporting your favorite eateries "might be more important than ever."
"Federal layoffs and labor issues have taken their toll on restaurants, and diners seem more hesitant than before to pay ever-higher prices to eat away from home," Sietsema shared.
Nevertheless, there have been a handful of new spots that made an impression on the Post food critic.
Find out what's happening in Bethesda-Chevy Chasefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Baltimore is represented on the list with The Duchess, founded in 2024 in the Hampden neighborhood, which brings a taste of food of Guam in the western Pacific to the region.
"The nods to pub grub include very good beer-battered fish and chips, the entrées star thin-cut marinated short rib with pickled shiitakes, and desserts should keep you in your seats with indulgences such as chocolate custard dolloped with Chantilly cream," Sietsema wrote about the menu.
Also winning praise is Elena James All Day, located at 8551 Connecticut Ave. in Chevy Chase. The venue describes itself as a neighborhood café, market, and restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Created by restaurateurs Colin McClimans and Danilo Simic, Elena James complements its sister restaurants, Nina May and Opal.
"The menu manages the neat trick of fusing fun with familiarity," The Post said. "Instead of chicken wings, you get duck wings."
San Pancho in Takoma Park is owned by husband and wife team Carolina McCandless and David Perez. They met at a Mexican restaurant in San Francisco's Mission district, and their restaurant aims to bring "Mission style" burritos to the DMV.
Sietsema said the couple dish up fast food served with care. He praised the dinner selection chicken burrito. "The bundle encases grilled breast meat massaged with cumin, paprika and vinegar and sharing space with pinto beans, red rice and melted cheese."
The final Maryland spot on the list belongs to Wye Oak Tavern, run by James Beard-nominated and “Top Chef” stars, chefs and brothers Bryan and Michael Voltaggio. The restaurant is located at 211 E. Church St. in Frederick.
Prime rib is everything you want it to be — thick cut, crusted in garlic and mustard, blushing pink — and best eaten with mashed potatoes and creamed spinach that lets the vegetable shine," Sietsema said. … "Crisp rockfish flanked with two golden hush puppies and pan juices merges the taste of tomatoes and sea."