Black cod with honey and dill at Malabar. Eater writers and editors always get the same question. Friends, family, acquaintances, and randos all want to know, “Where should I eat right now?” That’s where the Eater Heatmap enters the conversation, pointing diners toward the most intrigu ing or otherwise buzzy new restaurants in the D.C. area. This list considers restaurants that have been open for six months or less. For the hottest new bars in D.C., go here. And for our map of the region’s 38 essential restaurants, go here. New to the list: Malabar, for coastal Indian cuisine in upper Northwest; Banana Leaf, for a taste of Sri Lanka in suburbia; and Little Beast, for Detroit-style pies in the Palisades. For all the latest Washington D.C. dining intel, subscribe to Eater DC’s newsletter. ...read more read less