This New York-based burger shop opened in Georgetown this summer to long lines, and if you were wondering if it lives up to the hype, the answer is yes. This casual laid-back spot, with white tables, metal stools, and a simple serving counter, does indeed make a great burger, and they’re as simple as they are delicious—just tender meat, grilled onions, a tangy mayo sauce, and pickles for $6.50. No offense, but Five Guys can take a seat.

DC hit the jackpot this year with not one, but two incredible burger spots. While 7th Street Burger keeps things simple, Joia Burger in Mt. Pleasant is all about more is more. Prepare to squeeze into this tiny shop, where customers crowd around stand-up tables and stools, eagerly awaiting what are touted as “wagyu burgers.” Those are essentially smashburgers, topped with chopped tomatoes, lettuce, onions, pickles, and a house sauce that’s perfect for loaded fries.

The Connecticut-based chain brings their pho vs. ramen battle to Union Market, and trying to decide between the two soups is the best dining problem you’ll have in the city. There are two bars with plenty of seating, but when you walk in for either lunch or dinner, opt for a table so you can spread out a little more. A mix of hip-hop from the last 20 years plays at the perfect volume so you can sing along to your favorites without disturbing other diners.

When you’re looking for a spot to drink on sunny days, head to Rooftop Kitchen in Tenleytown. The neighborhood spot, from the same team as Bourbon Steak, is basically a patio in the sky. And like any good patio, you’re here to soak up the sun and drink good cocktails, like the smoky mezcal Wahakan Hat Trick. Grab a seat on the giant patio furniture where you can hang out with the homies when you’ve all decided to skate out of work a little early.

When you’re looking for cheesy, crispy pizza that you won't want to share, head to Alfreda. The small Dupont Circle spot is great for gossip with coworkers or catching up with friends over a bottle of wine plucked right from the main wall of the dining room. The menu is short and to the point—there are four pizzas, three salads, and a couple appetizers. Get the Alfreda pizza, topped with a slightly sweet granna padano, cracked pepper, and oregano you smell the minute you walk through the door.

This tiny corner spot brings a Jewish-style deli to Navy Yard with thick sandwiches like Marc’s Mash Up that's stuffed with juicy chicken, creamy avocado, and thick slabs of country bacon. Most folks grab and go at the counter service spot, but there are a dozen stools—mostly overlooking Half St.—where you can enjoy knishes and bagels, too. This is a particularly welcome addition for Nats fans looking for a last-minute bite to bring into the stadium.

This causal Italian spot is in the old Nicoletta Italian Kitchen space, and has greatly improved on the Italian food you can get. There’s an all day Happy Hour in the bar area during the week, where you can get $7 martinis. If that’s not reason enough to stop by (it is for us), the taglioni neri, a soft squid ink noodle in a nice spicy sauce, and the cheesy, comforting gramigna are.

La Bonne Vache puts a fun French twist on the classic American burger. It’s in the old Booeymonger space in Georgetown, and it still holds that low-key sandwich shop charm, just with a little more je ne sais quoi. Bistro style two-tops are squeezed into every nook and corner of the space, and there’s a small bar crammed in the corner where you can eavesdrop on your neighbor’s conversation without much effort.

Grab a laid-back seafood dinner at Pesce, where the fresh cuts of tuna and branzino are served alongside mole and salsa verde. The tiny Latin seafood restaurant in Dupont Circle looks like a maze—small dining rooms and tables zigzag throughout the space. The light walls are covered in mini mirrors and murals of fish, and each room feels like you’re sitting in a little tank, which can feel like betrayal as you sip your creamy lobster bisque.

Your Only Friend, a sandwich shop in Mt. Vernon Triangle, is our favorite place to sit down and spill secrets over lunch. While there’s a counter-service carryout, walk past and grab a bar seat. Or plop down on one of the nook-like tables where TLC’s “Creep” plays just loud enough to make your emergency lunch meet-up feel like a closed-door meeting. The menu is full of thick-stuffed sandwiches like our personal favorite, Chicky Pep No 2, a breaded chicken sandwich smothered in melted cheese.