The Hamilton, 600 14th St., NW; 202-787-1000.
Howard Theatre, 620 T St., NW; 202-803-2899.
Time was, if you wanted entertainment with your entrée, your
main choices were Blues Alley in Georgetown, the Birchmere in Alexandria,
and Toby’s Dinner Theatre in Columbia and Baltimore. Not anymore. The
dinner-and-a-show combo is experiencing a renaissance, thanks to the
opening of the Hamilton last year and the reopening of the historic Howard
Theatre in April.
Taking up almost an entire block in downtown DC, the Hamilton
includes a 15,000-square-foot downstairs music venue with acts ranging
from jazz pianist Cyrus Chestnut to rocker Jesse Malin.
The Howard Theatre’s $29-million makeover includes supper-club
seating for 650 and a menu designed by renowned chef Marcus Samuelsson. It
opened with a star-studded gala attended by Dionne Warwick and Bill Cosby.
In other words, Washington’s definitely ready for its dinner date.
