Leek American Bistro, Arlington

After years in the restaurant industry, Nathan V. Spittal and Joe D'Jassebi knew exactly what kind of place they wanted to create. They valued sustainable practices and freshness and wanted elegance, but not stuffiness. So they put their heads together, and the result was Leek American Bistro, whose slogan, "Simple. Clean. Elegant.," encapsulates the duo's priorities.

Nathan and Joe source much of their meat, dairy products, and produce from local farmers. Even some of the wine is local, with Virginia concoctions taking up larger portions of the wine list as state vineyards blossom and glass bottles ripen on the vine. Fine, aged spirits also grace the beverage selection, offering an array of tastes to complement the menu's duck breast, crab cakes, and braised short ribs. When they're not grilling strip steak, or stirring anise and lobster into fennel-leek bisque, chefs also knead and bake fresh batches of breads and desserts every single day.