WASHINGTON — D.C. is the best restaurant city in America, and if you’ve been meaning to find out what makes the District so delicious, now is your chance.
Summer Restaurant Week starts Monday, Aug. 14 and runs through Sunday, Aug. 20, and this year, 250 restaurants in D.C., Maryland and Virginia are participating.
Throughout the week, local eateries will offer multicourse menus for $35 for dinner and $22 for lunch and brunch.
However, the deal isn’t just a win for diners.
I-Shi Patterson, operations manager for the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington, says the event helps restaurants too.
“Lots of people in the area are on vacation and maybe tourism isn’t as high in August because typically it’s so hot around here. So over the years, we’ve managed to really work in Restaurant Week during a time when restaurants can maybe feel the pinch to give them an extra revenue boost to lead into the next season,” Patterson explained.
Here are some of the can’t-miss dining spots and menus for this summer’s Restaurant Week. Landing reservations at some of the top restaurants can get competitive, so plan accordingly.
Fine Dining: 1789 Restaurant
1226 36th St. NW, Washington, D.C.
This old Georgetown Federal house-turned-restaurant is known for its upscale American fare. Dinner mains are upward of $39, so a three-course meal for $35 is a steal. (Photo Credit 1789)
\n","caption":"Fine Dining: 1789 Restaurant This old Georgetown Federal house-turned-restaurant is known for its upscale American fare. Dinner mains are upward of $39, so a three-course meal for $35 is a steal.\u00a0(Photo Credit 1789)\n"},{"type":"photo","media":" Fine Dining: 2941 Restaurant If you haven’t made the trip out to 2941, make sure you get there. The restaurant, which sits among gardens and waterfalls, is serving both lunch and dinner during Restaurant Week. Dinner options include beef tartare, summer melon, brioche-crusted sea bass and braised beef short ribs. (WTOP\/Rachel Nania)\n"},{"type":"photo","media":" Fine Dining: Restaurant Eve This Alexandria, Virginia, restaurant is one of the best in the area, and during Restaurant Week, chef Cathal Armstrong is not holding back. On the menu, expect to find local hanger steak, roasted loin of monkfish, pan seared fillet of royal sea bass with creamy polenta, and crisp confit of pork belly with heirloom bean ragout. Dessert looks quite tempting, too. (WTOP\/Rachel Nania)\n"},{"type":"photo","media":" Go Hungry: Ambar At both the Capitol Hill and Arlington locations, diners can choose an unlimited number of small plates for $35 for the ultimate Balkan dining experience. Restaurant Week lunch specials include a chef’s platter and a choice of dessert. (Photo Credit Goran Kosanovic)\u00a0\n"},{"type":"ad","media":" Lunch: Fiola and Fiola Mare If you find yourself either downtown or in Georgetown, it’d be wise to find a seat at Fabio Trabocchi’s Fiola or Fiola Mare \u2014 especially when you can score two courses and dessert for $22. Chilled heirloom tomato gazpacho and burrata with sweet corn crema round out the appetizers, while entrees include Sardinian ricotta cavatelli with baby zucchini and basil, and a lightly grilled arctic char with confit eggplant. (WTOP\/Mike McMearty)\n"},{"type":"photo","media":" Lunch: Ladur\u00e9e For a true “ladies who lunch” experience, head to\u00a0Ladur\u00e9e’s flagship D.C. dining room in Georgetown. It may be tempting to skip the three-course meal and fill up on goodies from the bakery counter, but stick it out for the croque monsieur and pizette v\u00e9g\u00e9tarienne. Dessert is one scoop of ice cream and two macaroons. (WTOP\/Rachel Nania)\n"},{"type":"photo","media":" Lunch: Hula Girl Bar & Grill In search of a more casual, island atmosphere? Head to Hula Girl Bar & Grill in Shirlington for some authentic Hawaiian fare. There’s plenty of poke and teriyaki on the menu. (WTOP\/Rachel Nania)\n"},{"type":"photo","media":" Lunch: Ghibellina If it’s pizza and panna cotta you’re craving, 14th Street’s Ghibellina is the restaurant for you. Diners will also find salads, soup and pasta on the lunch menu for Restaurant Week. (Photo credit Dana Bowden, courtesy\u00a0Kyle Schmitz)\n"},{"type":"ad","media":" Lunch: Altra Strada Michael Schlow’s Italian restaurant and market brings the foods of Italy to D.C.’s Chinatown\/Convention Center neighborhood. The Washington Post’s Tom Sietsema says\u00a0Alta Strada is a great place to go for a good plate of pasta and a nice glass of wine. (Scott Suchman)\n"},{"type":"photo","media":" Brunch: Kyirisan Tim Ma’s Kyirisan, in the heart of D.C.’s Shaw neighborhood, serves dishes that draw on both Asian and French flavors and techniques. Plus, the brunch cocktails have quite a reputation. (Courtesy Rebecca Chin)\n"},{"type":"photo","media":" Hot & New: Haikan Haikan, from the team behind Daikaya and Bantam King, specializes in Sapporo ramen. (Courtesy Kyle Schmitz)\n"},{"type":"photo","media":" Hot & New: Arroz Diners and critics, alike, can’t stop talking about Mike Isabella’s new Mt. Vernon Square restaurant, Arroz, which serves Spanish and North African fare. (Courtesy Greg Powers)\n"},{"type":"ad","media":" Small Plates: Tico If you’re in the mood for Latin flavors and a table full of shared small plates, try Tico on 14th Street. Restaurant Week menu options include cabbage salad with salsa verde and almonds, scallop a la plancha with spicy tartar, and brisket tacos with tomato salsa, onion and cilantro. (Credit Rey Lopez, Courtesy Tico)\n"},{"type":"photo","media":" Small Plates: Daikaya Izakaya At Daikaya’s Izakaya, diners can choose food items in five different categories for dinner (little bites, green things, fish and meat, skewers, and rice things), plus dessert during Restaurant Week. (WTOP\/Rachel Nania)\n"},{"type":"photo","media":" Small Plates: Espita Mezcaleria Espita is known for its selection of mezcal and authentic Oaxacan cuisine, and its dinner menu for Restaurant Week includes tuna ceviche and a chocolate tostada. (Credit Rey Lopez, Courtesy Espita Mezcaleria)\n"},{"type":"photo","media":" Seafood: Whaley’s\u00a0 Whaley’s serves fresh seafood on the waterfront in D.C.’s Yards Park neighborhood. While you’re there, check out the restaurant’s\u00a0Ros\u00e9 Garden. (Courtesy Whaley’s, Rey Lopez)\n"},{"type":"ad","media":" Seafood: Blacksalt Jeff Black’s\u00a0Palisades seafood staple, Blacksalt, is serving specials for brunch and lunch during Restaurant Week. (WTOP\/Rachel Nania)\n"},{"type":"photo","media":" Tried and True:\u00a0Rasika Rasika, one of D.C.’s most established and beloved restaurants, is participating in Restaurant Week for lunch. Menu options include palak chaat, tandoori salmon, vegetable thali and lamb badami korma. (Shimon And Tammar Photography)\n"},{"type":"photo","media":" Tried and True:\u00a0Centrolina Amy Brandwein’s City Center restaurant, Centrolina, is a great place to dine on rustic Italian food. (Courtesy Centrolina)\n"},{"type":"photo","media":" Tried and True:\u00a0Requin This French Mediterranean restaurant by chef Jennifer Carroll is cooking up eggplant-tomato\u00a0ratatouille, Spanish octopus a la plancha, and\u00a0blueberry clafouti, among other things, for Restaurant Week. (Courtesy Greg Powers)\n"},{"type":"ad","media":" Tried and True:\u00a0The Riggsby Summer tomato gazpacho, sweet corn soup, roasted chicken, and Angus flat iron steak are on the menu at The Riggsby\u00a0\u2014 a hidden gem on New Hampshire Avenue. (WTOP\/Rachel Nania)\n"},{"type":"photo","media":" Tried and True: Trummer’s On Main During Restaurant Week, this Clifton, Virginia, restaurant is a great spot to taste some of the region’s best food for a deal. (Courtesy Dusty Lockhart)\n"},{"type":"photo","media":" Tried and True: Kapnos While RAMW’s Restaurant Week is the largest in the area, it isn’t the only one. Alexandria’s Summer Restaurant Week runs Aug. 18-27, and Bethesda Restaurant Week is Aug. 11-19. The post Catch cool deals at hot restaurants during Summer Restaurant Week appeared first on WTOP.
\n1226 36th St. NW, Washington, D.C.
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\n2941 Fairview Park Dr., Falls Church, Virginia\u00a0
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\n110 S Pitt St., Alexandria, Virginia
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\n523 8th St. SE, Washington, D.C.;\u00a02901 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, Virginia
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\n601 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, D.C.;\u00a03050 K St. NW, Washington, D.C.
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\n3060 M St. NW, Washington, D.C.
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\n4044 Campbell Ave., Arlington, Virginia\n
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\n1610 14th St. NW, Washington, D.C.\n
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\n465 K St. NW, Washington, D.C.
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\n1924 8th St. NW, Washington, D.C.\u00a0
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\n805 V St. NW, Washington, D.C.
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\n901 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, D.C.\n
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\n1926 14th St. NW, Washington, D.C.\n
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\n705 6th St. NW, Washington, D.C.
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\n1250 9th St. NW, Washington, D.C.
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\n301 Water St. SE #115, Washington, D.C.\n
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\n4883 MacArthur Blvd., Washington, D.C.\n
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\n633 D St. NW, Washington, D.C.\n
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\n974 Palmer Alley NW, Washington, D.C.
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\n8296 Glass Alley #110, Fairfax, Virginia
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\n1731 New Hampshire Ave. NW, Washington, D.C.\n
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\n7134 Main St., Clifton, Virginia\n
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\n2201 14th St. NW, Washington, D.C.\u00a0
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