What's new and hot for D.C. Winter Restaurant Week
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Don't sleep on D.C. classics like Iron Gate with a wood-burning fireplace. Photo: Courtesy LeadingDC
Winter Restaurant Week is happening at over 360 DMV restaurants, starting next Monday.
Why it matters: More eateries than ever are joining the Restaurant Association's winter promotion this year — on par with Summer Restaurant Week.
State of play: Participants offer a variety of multi-course menus for lunch, brunch ($25 or $35) and dinner ($40, $55, $65).
- Nearly 100 restaurants also offer drink pairings — and even complimentary drinks (more common at brunch).
What's new at Winter Restaurant Week
Over 40 first-time participants. Don't overlook D.C. classics like Sushi Taro, Jaleo, Rasika and Iron Gate — they're Restaurant Week experts by now. But the promo can be a fun excuse to try something new. At the top of my list for newcomers:
- Arrels (Downtown): Chef Pepe Moncayo's Spanish newcomer serves modern, upscale takes on traditional Spanish dishes like paella and fideua at lunch ($35) and dinner ($55), plus vegetarian and pescatarian subs.
- Cordelia Fishbar (Union Market): Clyde's new wood-fired seafood restaurant doesn't skimp on its $65 dinner menu, which indulges with oysters, bluefin tuna, dry-aged king salmon and more.
- El Taller del Xiquet (Glover Park): Given the prix-fixe at adjoining Michelin-starred Xiquet runs $200+, the $65 Spanish dinner here — which includes award-winning paella — looks like a good deal.
- A. kitchen + bar (West End): The popular Philadelphia restaurant woos diners with French-American fare — and the RW lunch ($35) and dinner ($65) menus look tempting with mussels in carrot-harissa broth or chicken with polenta and black garlic jus.
- Kayu (H Street): Chef Paolo Dungca's recently revamped Filipino tasting room offers an artful $65 dinner menu with plenty of choices, plus a $25 lunch/brunch.
- Elle (Mt. Pleasant): The popular bakery/bar/bistro is finally jumping on Restaurant Week with their homemade ferments, scratch sandwiches, pasta and creative mains at lunch ($35) and dinner ($65).
- Tail Up Goat (Adams Morgan): The beloved, Michelin-starred bistro rolls out a tempting $65 dinner for the first time, offering creative plates (e.g. Nashville hot sweet breads, bottarga pasta) and veggie options. Nearby sister restaurant Reveler's Hour is also partaking in the promo (pastas and garlic knots, yum).
The intrigue: Wagyu beef is on many menus this year thanks to a partnership with the Embassy of Japan.
- I'm eyeing the all-wagyu dinner at the new rooftop restaurant Art DC downtown ($65) and Perry's wagyu curry rice as part of chef Masako Morishita's eye-catching dinner menu ($55).
Restaurant Week hacks from a D.C. food writer
As a longtime D.C. food writer, I've found a few tricks to having a good restaurant week experience.
- Brunch and lunch are often the best deals, especially at pricey restaurants. I'd book afternoon meals at buzzy Peruvian lounge Amazonia, Italian brunch at Cucina Morini or Fiola Mare, a leisurely L'Ardente lunch (or Japanese neighbor Love, Makoto), Balos' Greek party brunch, and lunch at The Bazaar by Jose Andres (which also pours a $20 wine pairing).
- It's also fun to get a discount taste of an expensive tasting menu — if you set expectations that it's more a sample versus the full shebang. Think newly Michelin-starred Mita, which offers its Latin "vegetable experience" for $55 (typically $75+) or modernist Colombian spot El Cielo, which serves a $65 prix-fixe (tastings typically $180+).
That said, don't underestimate a good neighborhood spot or upscale casual restaurant that may throw in a drink pairing or offer more generous portions to impress during RW.