Just like the holidays, Washington’s Winter Restaurant Week snuck up on us—the official seven days of dining discounts run January 13 through 19*. More than 200 participants around the area offer $20.14 lunches and $35.14 dinners, plus some extra perks such as brunch, beverage pairings, and more. With so many options, it’s hard to decide where to go. To help, we’ve rounded up the spots listed in our recent 100 Very Best Restaurants issue. If you haven’t booked a table yet, it’s best to do so as soon as possible.
Please note that the linked reviews are from the 2013 guide. The latest edition is on newsstands now—get it before it’s gone!
Pick any three courses from the regular dinner menu at this buzzy Cleveland Park brasserie.
Serving: Dinner
Alexandria hosts its own Restaurant Week, but Christophe and Michelle Poteaux also offer special menus for this version, with many classic French offerings.
You’ll find a number of options for each course, as well as tempting add-ons such as a beer pairing and truffled mac and cheese.
Serving: Dinner
Jeff and Barbara Black’s Palisades restaurant/fish market serves up seafood for lunch.
Serving: Lunch
Ashok Bajaj’s first restaurant is still going strong—it’s among the top ten on our list in its 25th-anniversary year.
It’s business as usual in the ground-floor ramen shop, so head up to the izakaya for Restaurant Week.
In addition to the traditional Restaurant Week set menus, you’ll find a fancier $55 option for dinner and bottles of wine for $35.13.
Serving: Lunch and dinner
The afternoon picks include an array of soups and sandwiches (matzo! corned beef!), while dinner brings a choice of more traditional entrées.
Isabella does sandwiches by day and a set, sit-down menu similar to the Restaurant Week one in the evenings.
Serving: Dinner
Signatures like chicken thighs with pepperoni sauce and the crispy calamari pie are on offer for Restaurant Week.
All three area locations of Jaleo offer Restaurant Week, but it’s José Andrés’s Penn Quarter standout that made our top list.
Crabcakes, fried oysters, barbecue shrimp, and more are among the seafood-centric options at this Capitol Hill classic.
You’ll find Restaurant Week extended through January 26 at Mike Isabella’s Greek-inspired spot.
Serving: Dinner
Miso soup, sushi, and rolls are on tap for Restaurant Week, though you’ll have to pay more for certain premium pieces.
Dine at this rustic American in Clarendon on pastas, pizzas, roasted meats, and more.
Serving: Lunch and dinner
One of our favorite Arlington stops for sausages, schnitzel, and other European treats for Restaurant Week.
Serving: Lunch and dinner
The wedge salad, bacon cheeseburger, and other Mintwood classics are among the menu picks, along with extras such as a supplemental cheese course.
Serving: Dinner
Drop into the Penn Quarter brasserie for everything from a sandwich to an indulgent steak dinner.
Serving: Lunch and dinner
Take advantage of Restaurant Week just blocks from the White House with a range of New American dishes like duck confit tater tots.
Serving: Lunch and dinner
As with most of chef Jeff Tunks’s eateries, you can pick any entrée off the main menu (some supplements may apply), as well as dishes from a selected list of appetizers and desserts.
Serving: Lunch and dinner
The original is one of the more popular Restaurant Week spots and tends to fill up quickly, so be sure to book for both locations.
Serving: Lunch and dinner (sample menus from West End)
The days of chicken and salmon as your only options are gone, at least here. Think dishes like grilled quail and Icelandic cod with green papaya and rice noodles.
Looking for a white-tablecloth Restaurant Week option? This Georgetown stalwart is among the few.
Serving: Dinner
Ashok Bajaj’s downtown New American spot boasts a number of options for each course.
If you’re tired of heading to Wolfgang Puck’s first-floor lounge for a dining deal, try the three-course Restaurant Week lunch menu.
Serving: Lunch
Head to one of the best Japanese restaurants in the city for sushi, sashimi, and small plates.
Serving: Lunch and dinner
Head to chef Frederik de Pue’s Shaw spot for offerings such as tiger prawns with black garlic and wild-boar Bolognese.
Serving: Dinner
Braised-veal pappardelle and milk chocolate panna cotta are among the dishes on the Restaurant Week menu.
One of our favorite spots in Alexandria serves the likes of roasted squash soup with chicken cracklings and roast sirloin with root vegetables.
Serving: Dinner
You’ll find another white-tablecloth option at Jeffrey Buben’s classic Southern spot.
Serving: Lunch and dinner
The window-walled dining room of this Ritz-Carlton spot provides a serene mealtime experience.
Serving: Lunch and dinner
This downtown American spot has plenty of options for each course, plus Restaurant Week brunch for the weekend crowd.
Serving: Lunch and dinner
Make a meal of Mediterranean mezze like dips and spreads, lamb meatballs, and more.
*This post has been updated from a previous version.
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.
