As a foodie in this large city, there is one event I look forward to twice a year, and that is DC Restaurant Week. This special foodiepalooza presents a great opportunity to explore some of the glamorous high-end restaurants that DC has to offer, and I’m ready for my fifth round.
Hosted by the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington (RAMW), this summer’s DC Restaurant Week is August 14–20. With prix fixe $25 lunch or $35 dinner menus, there are so many options to choose from for your culinary exploration! Check out my top five recommendations for Summer 2017 Restaurant Week.
1. 1789—Georgetown
Nestled in the hilly streets of Georgetown’s residential neighborhood, this is one of the oldest institutions in the district. Established in 1789, this high-end American contemporary restaurant offers one of the best meals I have eaten while living in D.C. The food was beyond exquisite. I enjoyed a comforting beet and goat cheese salad, followed by the most perfectly cooked pork tenderloin, ending with a delicious key lime cake for dessert (and the restaurant gave an added surprise of a homemade hot apple cider). This place a great spot for date night especially, with very elegant decorations throughout the space; makes your dining experience all the more fab and fancy. With regular-menu entrees running $30+, this place is a Restaurant Week steal!
2. Daikaya Izakaya—Chinatown
This DC ramen hot spot usually has walk-in wait times of 45+ minutes at their busiest times. Located in bustling Chinatown, this restaurant offers a twist on the standard Restaurant Week 3-course meal. Instead, Daikaya Izakaya serves up a 6-course meal for the same Restaurant Week price. While these are smaller portions, I can guarantee that you will leave with a happy tummy. I enjoyed a variety of dishes ranging from an oyster with broth to a vanilla ice cream sundae with roasted cherry tomatoes. If you’re into something different and have this place on your DC restaurant bucket list, definitely make a reservation and see what Daikaya has in store for you.
3. Bistro Cacao—Capitol South
Specializing in French cuisine, this restaurant is a great place for a slightly more casual meal. A garden bistro, this lovely eatery is tucked away in the lush green space of Capitol South. I visited this spot during my first Restaurant Week in the District, sharing the meal with my mom and brother. We had the pleasure of eating outside on the patio, and their Restaurant Week menu offered enough variety that we all ordered different things and shared, like we always do. My taste buds were tickled by the pleasure of an adventurous pheasant pate appetizer, a beautiful rack of lamb, and a trio of the classic French crème brûlée, in different flavors. Take a shortcut to France!
4. Central Michel Richard—Downtown
Part of the Michel Richard restaurant group, this relatively new eatery is a hot spot for professionals to come together in the DC craziness and de-stress over a drink or dinner. This modern-American restaurant is a great place to bring your friends or family visiting DC, with a large dining room filled with the sounds of lively conversation. I ventured here on a girls’ night dinner date with my best friend Nina, and we both loved the place. This restaurant has a special on wine bottles, so we enjoyed a whole bottle of Bordeaux, because wine not! For my 3-course meal, I ordered a mozzarella and prosciutto salad, a darn good delicious fried chicken breast, and a pistachio crème brûlée. The combination of modern, sophisticated décor with a friendly staff makes this dining experience extremely comfortable. This place is another Restaurant Week steal, located in DC central.
5. Fiola Mare—Georgetown Waterfront
Okay, confession time . . . I’ve never eaten at Fiola Mare during Restaurant Week, but I have eaten here during regular dinner service. Nina and I treated our moms to a lovely seafood Mother’s Day dinner, and oh my goodness is this place wonderful! If you are lucky to get a table by a window, you have a spectacular view of the waterfront, and a great spot for people watching. This brightly lit restaurant serves an array of Italian seafood dishes. I had the jumbo shrimp with linguine and it was so delicious, I almost licked the plate, but my mom would’ve yelled at me if I did. This restaurant is only serving lunch during restaurant week, so I highly recommend making this a lunch break destination.
Have a place you’d like to recommend? Let me know in the comments!