You have Thanksgiving eve and dinner mapped out. Then what? If leftovers are looking tired, take the family out to one of these crowd-friendly restaurants that can satisfy a range of tastes.
1924 Pennsylvania Ave., NW; 1800 Tysons Blvd., Tysons; 12505 Park Potomac Ave., Potomac
You’ll find something for everyone at this trio of American restaurants, which also have sibling (Farmers Fishers Bakers) on the Georgetown waterfront. Menus vary by location, but all serve a large variety of dishes, from fried chicken to seafood bucatini and many meatless options for vegetarians.
Eden Center
6751 Wilson Blvd., Falls Church
This Falls Church shopping center, aptly nicknamed Little Vietnam, is packed with restaurants that can accommodate a crowd. Some of our favorites include Rice Paper, Huong Viet, and Hai Duong for hearty noodle soups, char-grilled meats over vermicelli, stuffed crepes, and more.
Korean barbecue in Annandale
Gathering around the table for a Korean barbecue feast is just like Thanksgiving—minus the dry meat, plus a lot of beer. Meals are designed for groups so don’t worry about showing up with a crowd (or kids) in tow. It’s hard to go wrong in Koreatown, but we love Honey Pig and Kogiya.
5037 Connecticut Ave., NW
Not only is the wood-fired pizza tasty at this Upper Northwest restaurant, but kids (and adults with energy) can work up an appetite over a few rounds of ping pong on one of the many tables.
410 Seventh St., NW
This barbecue joint near the National Mall and Portrait Gallery can easily fit large families, and serves tasty margaritas to boot. We’re fans of the smoky Kreuz sausage when it comes to the meats.
1063 31st St., NW
This Neapolitan pizzeria in Georgetown can satisfy a crowd, both in terms of size and tasty thin-crust pies. Try La Regina with fresh buffalo mozzarella, prosciutto, and basil.
Multiple area locations in DC, MD, VA
Washington’s homegrown American chain delivers when it comes to family dining, serving everything from kid’s menus to killer happy hour deals (check the Gallery Place location for particularly good food/drink discounts).
1835 18th St., NW
Seasonal shmeasonal—sometimes you just need ultra-crispy chips, swirl margs, and large platters of wallet-friendly Tex-Mex to get through the holidays.
Anna Spiegel covers the dining and drinking scene in her native DC. Prior to joining Washingtonian in 2010, she attended the French Culinary Institute and Columbia University’s MFA program in New York, and held various cooking and writing positions in NYC and in St. John, US Virgin Islands.
