11 MD Restaurants On 2025 '100 Very Best' List By Washingtonian

MARYLAND — If you feel like you're in a dining rut, you can turn to Washingtonian Magazine for help. The publication has released its 2025 list of “100 Very Best Restaurants” and 11 Maryland restaurants made the list.

The full list includes dining spots in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia that have earned praise for their culinary skill.

Here are the Maryland restaurants and where they ranked on the Washingtonian list:

No. 11 2Fifty Texas BBQ (4700 Riverdale Road, Riverdale Park): "Last year, Fernando González and Debby Portillo González opened a DC outpost of their Texas-style barbecue joint and expanded their Prince George’s County smokehouse. What hasn’t changed: Their oak-smoked barbecue is still the best around," said the Washingtonian editors.

No. 29 Caruso’s Grocery (11820 Trade Street, North Bethesda, in Pike & Rose): "… Calamari and cheesy garlic bread are given the respect they deserve at Matt Adler’s Italian American dining rooms. There’s a Caesar that blows away any desk salad, expertly fried chicken parm, and robust pastas such as bucatini with zesty ragu and a dollop of ricotta," the food writers said.

No. 41 Inferno Pizzeria Napoletana (12207 Darnestown Road, Gaithersburg): "There’s one compelling reason to trek out to Darnestown for this “Neo-Neapolitan” pizza: The dough. It’s a chewy-crispy-puffy wonderland that goes with pretty much anything Tony Conte’s kitchen tops it with, from generous plops of fior di latte for the Margherita to roasted potatoes, onions, and rosemary."

No. 50 Aventino (4747 Bethesda Ave, Bethesda): "The centerpiece of this downtown Bethesda dining room is its emerald-green bar, which sends out lovely spritzes, Negronis, and dirty martinis with Parm-stuffed olives. Over in the clubby dining room, the menu—overseen by Red Hen chef Mike Friedman—celebrates Roman cuisine, with its hearty pastas (the best here is the lumache all’amatriciana) and robust meat dishes, such as veal saltimbocca. One unexpected hit: a great lunchtime burger."

No. 58 Northwest Chinese Food (7313 Baltimore Ave., Suite E, College Park): "Knife-cut noodles are one draw to this tiny restaurant, which serves hard-to-find, chili-doused specialties of the Shanxi province. Order them topped with garlicky minced pork; pan-seared into a fluffy pancake with eggs and scallions; or in a blazing-hot beef soup."

No. 60 A&J Restaurant (1319 Rockville Pike, #C, Rockville): "These no-frills favorites dish up top-notch dim sum, with housemade noodles and dumplings, at great prices. … Hits include garlicky cucumber salad, dan-dan noodles, and Szechuan-style beef-and-tendon soup."

No. 88 Beteseb (8201 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring): The injera "vegetarian platter is a gorgeous color wheel showcasing turmeric-spiced cabbage, vibrant sautéed greens, and three kinds of lentils, each distinct and delicious. Omnivores: Add the excellent beef tibs to your platter. Even if you upgrade to the juicy ribeye, Beteseb offers incredible value."

No. 92 Amber Spice (13524 Baltimore Ave., Laurel): True finds include "Hard-cooked eggs bobbing in an aromatic curry; sukka prawns; custardy braised eggplants; and a crispy dosa stuffed with ground lamb and served with coconut-ginger sauce. To finish, get the spiced pudding-like dessert halwa … especially good here."

No. 94 Melina (905 Rose Ave., North Bethesda): "The Cava founders’ sleek Greek oasis at the Pike & Rose development sends out sophisticated cocktails and riffs on classic mezze. Order a smoked old-fashioned set aflame tableside and graze on tuna tartare with roasted eggplant; crackly potatoes with tzatziki; short ribs over creamy orzo; and shrimp saganaki reimagined as a pasta dish."

No. 96 Preserve (164 Main St., Annapolis): "Preserving, pickling, and fermenting are a passion at this cozy, brick-walled dining room. Sometimes the approach is sly—a rich crab bake is tempered with preserved lemon, radiatore pasta is kicked up with truffled miso, and fish and chips get a side of malt-vinegar aïoli."

No. 97 Motorkat (6939 Laurel Ave, Takoma Park): "It serves some of the best fried chicken in town, paired with forbidden rice and a Madras curry that makes the whole thing really zing. Keep to the fried theme—order a Motorpup off the kids’ menu and delight in the crispy, fried exterior of this excellent hot dog."

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