Long-awaited Osteria Mozza debuted in Georgetown this fall. | Rey Lopez/Eater DC The news that generated the most clicks over the past 12 months While D.C. diners were sad to see a lot of their favorites close in 2024, they were also hungry to know what’s opening next. Readers were especially excited to hear about the anticipated arrivals of a glitzy French brasserie a block from the White House; a lively Lebanese rooftop off U Street; a show-stopping Italian makeover of a dearly missed Georgetown building; and a big-ticketed downtown lounge with Japanese flair. Other hot headlines in 2024 included everything from big upper management changes at José Andrés Group to an ultra-exclusive White House dinner to D.C.’s hottest cocktail trend of the summer. And now, here are Eater D.C.’s 10 most-clicked news stories of the year (listed in descending order) 10. La Grande Boucherie Makes a Jaw-Dropping Entrance Into D.C. The sophisticated brasserie out of NY made a grand entrance in downtown D.C. this spring. Situated in the 1920s-era National Bank Building, the brand’s sixth and most jaw-dropping edition yet blends the sophisticated ambiance of an indulgent steakhouse with a refined Parisian brasserie/raw bar. The ambitious, multimillion-dollar project breathed new life into the historic landmark with an elaborate Belle Epoque-era interior filled with mahogany wood, glass partitions, and a curved metal bar top imported from Paris. 9. Inside Yalla, D.C.’s Stunning New Tribute to Middle Eastern Cuisine The Kota Agency All plates are served family-style at Yalla. Three different types of hummus and platters of skewers from chef Marcel Chehaieb turn the penthouse of Space Lounge on U Street into a communal dinner spot full of late-night live performances and DJs. Chehaieb says he wants the plant-filled restaurant and lounge to become a gathering space for everything from quiet early evening tea to high-energy dancing later in the night. The mosaic-tiled bar lined with glass-blown lanterns runs nearly half the length of the rectangular room, reinforcing Yalla’s emphasis on drinks that integrate flavors like dates, cheese, nuts, mandarins, peaches, apricots, sumac, za’atar, rosemary, and mulberry. 8. One of D.C.’s Best Pizza Places Prepares to Open a Much-Bigger Location Experienced pizzaiolo Giulio Adriani, the Naples native behind the U Street corridor’s acclaimed Slice & Pie, announced big plans this summer to do second D.C. location on the edge of the city at the Parks at Walter Reed. The much-bigger upper Northwest slice shop will add an expanded menu of panini sandwiches in addition to the beloved New York and Detroit-style pies. The pint-sized original got national attention this year when 50 Top Pizza ranked Slice & Pie the second best slice shop in the country. Maria Lustre Rebrikova Pizza master Giulio Adriani flipping dough at his award-winning Slice & Pie in D.C. 7. Michelin Announces Another Three Restaurants for the D.C. Guide Michelin started bread-crumbing diners with the announcements of D.C. restaurants that would appear on its incoming guide, and September’s teaser was the closest one to the French tire company’s December awards ceremony. All three of these additions, Amparo Fondita, Cucina Morini, and Pascual, had been open for a year or less at the time. When the actual guide was announced months later, Amparo Fondita got Bib Gourmand status and the two others ended up only being recognized by Michelin (no stars, Bib Gourmand designation, or any other distinction). Pascual did, however, get huge accolades this year — named one of Eater’s Best New Restaurants in America, for one. 6. Inside Osteria Mozza, Georgetown’s Highly Anticipated Italian Marvel Acclaimed LA-based chef Nancy Silverton and East Coast mega-restaurateur Stephen Starr joined forces for the first time this fall, completely transforming Georgetown’s iconic Dean & Deluca space into the luxurious D.C. outpost of Osteria Mozza. The stunning restaurant combines all three of Silverton’s California menus in one 20,000-square-foot setting, and an added retail component was a stipulation in the lease for the historic building. Starr had courted the space for years and started the slow overhaul three years ago. The cross-country hospitality magnates hit it off from the start, with Silverton likening Starr to a captain adept at commanding an “enormous crew” — and he calling her an inspirational “Wikipedia” of information on food. 5. Inside D.C.’s Creamy Cocktail Craze of the Summer Move over, fizzy cocktails. This summer, bars and restaurants were all about cocktails that were clarified, foam-topped, frozen, emulsified with egg, or just straight up creamy. There’s a science behind this trend, with fats sticking to the palate better than watery drinks as oils in the creamy liquid break down slower and will continue to be released over time, resulting in a longer, more luxurious finish. Bartenders across D.C. broke down how they make their deliciously creamy cocktails — and why the rich drinks had a moment this year like never before. 4, What the Elite Will Eat at Tonight’s White House State Dinner Photo by Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post via Getty Images A sequined table setting at April’s state dinner. The President and First Lady rolled out the red carpet one night in April to honor Japan’s visiting Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his wife, and Eater DC got an exclusive preview of what the VIP guests ate inside 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue just as annual cherry blossoms started to bloom outside. For the fifth state dinner under the Biden administration, White House chefs prepared house-cured salmon, dry-aged Maryland beef, and a salted-caramel pistachio cake. After the lavish three-course meal, plated on George W. Bush and Lyndon B. Johnson china, 230 well-dressed guests — which included former White House residents Bill and Hillary Clinton to actor Robert De Niro — stuck around for an intimate concert from famed American singer-songwriter Paul Simon. 3. Ina Garten’s Favorite Cheeseburger Is at This D.C. Spot Ina Garten appeared at the Kennedy Center this fall to kick off the tour for her new memoir, Be Ready When The Luck Happens, and an audience member asked where she’s had the best cheeseburger ever. Her answer? The one she had for lunch at D.C.’s own Bourbon Steak. The luxe lounge inside Georgetown’s Four Seasons hotel serves both a prime steak burger with aged white cheddar ($26) and a wagyu double burger with American cheese ($28). 2. José Andrés Is No Longer the CEO of His Restaurant Group Three decades and 40 restaurants later, superstar chef and humanitarian José Andrés stepped back in May as chief executive of his eponymous culinary empire that started with tapas at Jaleo in D.C. José Andrés Group (formerly known as ThinkFoodGroup) promoted Sam Bakhshandehpour from president to its new global chief executive. While the famed Spanish-born chef hands off the top title at José Andrés Group, he stays very much on board as the founder, creative force, and executive chairman. 1. Inside the Buzzy New Arcade, a Next-Level Lounge for Downtown Two years after Shōtō brought downtown a high-brow spot to sample fresh fish flown from Japan, the modern izakaya doubled down on Midtown Center in February with a flashy new lounge next door. Eater DC got a first look inside the highly ambitious addition to D.C.’s nightlife scene that opened with a no-photo, invite-only format. Nearly every eclectic detail was sourced in Japan, from a blinking wall of Pachinko slot machines to a big bonsai tree perched prominently in its terrace area. Managing partner Arman Naqi’s vision for the Arcade came to light while wandering the flashing streets of Tokyo’s two big entertainment districts dominated by neon-lit clubs, video game-enabled bars, and karaoke rooms. Rey Lopez The Arcade opened earlier this year with high-caliber DJs and pricey table service.