Making your mark in a crowded culinary scene can be difficult (we've all seen The Bear, after all), so it’s worth recognizing when a new restaurant succeeds in delivering great food for its customers. Every year, Bon Appetit releases an annual list of its favorite new restaurants in the U.S., and one D.C. spot made the cut for this year's edition.
Bar del Monte, the Mount Pleasant Italian hotspot, is the only D.C. restaurant included in the magazine’s list of 20 this year. Chef and owner Oliver Pastan opened the cozy trattoria in March, but it’s already staked its claim on a street filled with some of the city’s best restaurants by serving simple Italian dishes in a building that used to be an auto shop.
It’s that execution that seems to have landed it on Bon Appetit’s list. “When so many chefs are playing to phone cameras, this kind of salt–pepper–olive oil cooking feels especially bold—a reminder that simple food can be the hardest to make, and every bit as exciting to eat,” Bon Appetit contributing editor Amiel Stanek wrote, referencing Pastan’s take on a traditional meat lamb skewer called arrosticini.
This reporter has visited Bar Del Monte, and can confirm it’s a worthy night out. The bright, modern space creates a nice ambience, and the menu includes specials and an array of tasty small plates like the one BA highlighted in its list. The restaurant also serves great pizza, which isn’t surprising because Pastan’s parents have owned and operated 2 Amys, the beloved Neapolitan pizzeria in Cathedral Heights, since 2001. There’s a lot to like if you’re more inclined toward sweet rather than savory, as well; the dessert menu includes panforte, plus lots of gelatos.
The restaurant is open Thursday to Monday 5-10pm, and doesn’t accept reservations. Notably, there’s a no tip policy because a service fee is already factored into menu pricing.