Washington DC Restaurant Week Winter 2008 Jan. 14-20- Participating Restaurants In Virginia
DC Restaurant Week Winter 2008 is just around the corner. If you are seriously considering participating it’s best to book now and be sure that the restaurant is offering a RW menu-some places do only lunch or only dinner. Prime spots fill up fast, especially at places who perform well and truly go with the spirit of RW, like Farrah Olivia which has an extensive list of tempting choices. Also take advantage of participating restaurants which are extending RW.
For those of you who may be unfamiliar with DC RW, it takes place bi-annually in January and August, when restaurant covers are traditionally down. The deal is that you get a three course fixed-price lunch for $20.08 or a three course fixed price dinner for $30.08. Beware the upcharges however (an upcharge is an added cost for a dish which has more costly ingredients).
There are of course pro’s and con’s to RW and it has it’s protractors and detractors. Some folks avoid it like the plague siting crowds, poor service and sub par food portions and choices. I myself feel that the glass is half full. I see RW as an opportunity to try out a new restaurant-perhaps one that I normally wouln’t think to go or think was within my budget. Also, RW is a way to maximize your dining dollars if the restaurant provides true value. By value, I mean decent choices (3 or more) with normal portions (I don’t think I’m paying to get a “taste” of a place-I want dinner!), with little or no upcharges and good service all at a price which would come under the normal cost of a 3-course meal there (for most places it’s about equal to getting a free dessert). I tend to skip restaurants which offer specials and pre-theater menus (unless RW is actually cheaper than the pre-theater menu, like Bastille) since I know I can get a good deal there anytime.
More hints- be on time! Some restaurants have a maximum amount of covers during RW particuarly for dinner service. Tip your server well. I’ve never been a server yet I consider myself a good tipper and recognize that the overall average tip during RW will be less per table than usual, so I take that into consideration. Enjoy your dinner and move along smartly. I like to linger just as much as the next guy, but RW isn’t the time to camp out. Last, enjoy the spirit of RW and if you have a good experience, spread the word and patronize!
I’d love to hear your experiences from past RW outings and please, keep us updated on RW 2008 in the comment section! For a more complete list of RW offerings including DC and MD, check out DC Foodies.com.
I will be updating the NoVa list daily as I get information, so check back for more information.
100 King- Lunch and Dinner
100 King is offering lunch and dinner with limited menus.
Bastille- Dinner Only
Bastille’s RW menu is offering 3 choices per category with an optional $9 cheese course. The Chef’s Bouilabasse looks very good.
Cucina Vivace- Dinner Only
The RW menu is here.
Daniel O’Connell’s- Lunch and Dinner
Domaso Trattoria- Lunch and Dinner
Dinner will cost $32.08 and choices will include soup or salad/escolar or lamb/creme brulee or bread pudding.
Extra Virgin of Shirlington- Lunch and Dinner
Farrah Olivia by Morou- Lunch and Dinner
Farrah Oliva will be extending RW from Jan. 8-31. Both lunch and dinner menus offering a generous amount of tempting dishes such as duck confit, autumn mushroom pie and lemon cheesecake with thyme syrup. Farrah Olivia appears to be a good option for vegetarians during RW.
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar- Dinner Only
The Grille at the Morrison House- Dinner Only
Choice of Waldorf salad or apple and parsnip bisque/Tuna or Kurubota pork/chocolate cake or apple pie.
Harry’s Tap Room- Lunch and Dinner
J.R.’s Stockyard Inn -Lunch and Dinner
Jaleo Crystal City- Lunch and Dinner
Thank you to Robert, the General Manager of Jaleo Crystal City for responding with the following via email:
We are offering our full regular menu. For lunch, it will be three tapas, one from each of our three cold, seasonal, and hot menus, for $20.08. for dinner, it is $30.08 for the same tapa offerings, plus coffee/tea and dessert.
Jaleo will be extending RW an additional week through Jan. 27.
La Bergerie - Lunch and Dinner
La Bergerie will be offering some items from their regular menu. Additionally, they regularly offer an early bird special- 3 course prix fixe dinner for $35.
La Tasca- Lunch and Dinner
All locations of La Tasca will be offering unlimited tapas from their regular menu for $20.08 at lunch, and $30.08 at dinner. This special is also available each Wednesday.
Leagal Seafoods - Dinner only
Arlington location only. Choices include cream of crab soup, scallops and calamari and key lime pie.
The Liberty Tavern- Dinner Only
Liberty Tavern will be offering their entire menu with choice of one appetizer, one entree and one dessert for $30.08. No upcharges- not that’s the spirit!
The Melting Pot (Arlington)- Dinner Only
Obi Sushi- Dinner Only
Pinzimini (The Westin Arlington Gateway)- Lunch and Dinner
Pinzimini’s RW lunch menu offers 3 choices per category. The RW dinner menu offers a similar amount of choices with highlights such as scallops, mussels, NY strip steak and duck breast.
Sette Bello Restaurant- Lunch and Dinner
Tivoli Restaurant- Lunch and Dinner
Willow Restaurant- Lunch and Dinner
Willow has extended RW from Jan. 20-26 and Jan. 28-Feb. 1. I am definitely going to take advantage of this because their RW menu is full of wondering sounding dishes!
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