1. Casual eatery BonMi opened in October near Farragut West. The restaurant’s menu features a twist on the traditional Vietnamese hoagie, along with salads and summer rolls. The intimate restaurant is decorated with a mosaic Asian scene on the wall, with seating for 40 inside and a patio accommodating an additional 20.
2. Southern pizza chain Mellow Mushroom opened its first Washington outpost in Adams Morgan in October. The 6,000-square-foot restaurant is spread across three floors and is decorated with its signature wall murals and posters, drawn and painted by hand. The first floor can seat 77 or host 93 for receptions, an additional 63 seats are on the second floor, and the rooftop space can host as many as 66 for a reception.
3. Known for its picnic-style dining and deep-fried seafood menu, Tackle Box restaurant expanded with the upstairs Crackle Bar in January 2011. The 1,000-square-foot space is adorned with nautical elements and ocean-blue accent walls, and features floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Georgetown’s M Street. Crackle Bar holds 70 for a reception.
4. Located in a former icehouse, the no-frills American Ice Company bar opened in December 2010 and specializes in barbecue—minus the waitstaff—and beer. The raw space has a bar lining one wall and intimate wooden booths on the other, with seating for 60 throughout. There’s also a courtyard with picnic-table seating for 40 or room for about 60 standing.