The RAMW Winter Restaurant Week is almost here, and though we may experience Monday delays if the winter storm worsens, eateries plan to serve special set lunches ($22) and dinners ($35) starting Monday, January 25 and running through February 3. It’s tricky deciding where to eat with over 100 participants, so a good place to start is our annual 100 Very Best Restaurants issue, on newsstands now (and available by digital subscription). This year over 30 of our top picks are joining in the promotion, listed below.
Ardeo+Bardeo (dinner)
3311 Connecticut Ave., NW
Ashok Bajaj’s eclectic American bistro in Cleveland Park provides plenty of variety on their restaurant week menu.
Bar Pilar (dinner)
1833 14th St., NW
Creative small plates are the draw at this 14th Street neighborhood bar/restaurant, as are the tasty cocktails.
Bibiana (lunch and dinner)
1100 New York Ave., NW
Expect modern Italian cooking in a sleek atmosphere at this Penn Quarter restaurant.
Bistro Bis (dinner)
15 E St., NW
Jeff Buben’s stalwart French bistro serve serves elegant fare near Union Station for restaurant week, with plenty of options when it comes to dishes.
BlackSalt (lunch)
4883 MacArthur Blvd., NW
This Palisades seafood market and restaurant dishes up fin fare for restaurant week lunch. Don’t skip the crab cake sandwich if it’s on the menu.
The Bombay Club (lunch and dinner)
815 Connecticut Ave., NW
Expect refined Indian fare in an elegant atmosphere at Ashok Bajaj’s first Washington restaurant. During dinner live piano tunes add to the ambiance.
Brasserie Beck (lunch and dinner)
1101 K St., NW
Belgian beers and robust dishes are on tap for restaurant week at Robert Wiedmaier’s downtown eatery.
Casa Luca (lunch and dinner)
1099 New York Ave., NW
Fabio Trabocchi’s warm osteria dishes up house-made pastas and grilled meat and fish or restaurant week.
Central (lunch and dinner)
1001 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Michel Richard’s restaurant week menu leans classic, including the French-American bistro’s burger and goat cheese Caesar.
China Chilcano (lunch and dinner)
418 Seventh St., NW
Head in for a high-energy atmosphere and creative Peruvian fare at José Andrés’s most recent Penn Quarter restaurant.
DBGB Kitchen + Bar (lunch and dinner)
931 H St., NW
Restaurateur Daniel Boulud serves American-French fare with an emphasis on house-made sausages at this vivacious CityCenterDC restaurant.
Del Campo (lunch, brunch, and dinner)
777 I St., NW
Chef Victor Albisu’s South American grill serves weekend brunch for restaurant week—a good deal, given that it follows $22 lunchtime pricing.
Equinox (dinner)
818 Connecticut Ave., NW
Vegans will feel at home with Todd Gray’s menu, which features a number of meatless dishes alongside seasonal Mid-Atlantic fare.
Fiola (lunch)
601 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Take a break for an elegant afternoon meal at chef Fabio Trabocchi’s first fine dining Italian restaurant.
Fiola Mare (lunch)
3100 K St.. NW
The #1 restaurant on our 100 Very Best list this year serves refined Italian seafood on the Georgetown Waterfront.
G by Mike Isabella (dinner)
2201 14th St., NW
Chef Mike Isabella serves a delicious lineup of pastas and meat/seafood dishes at this 14th Street spot, which acts as an equally-tasty sandwich shop by day.
Graffiato (lunch and dinner)
707 Sixth St., NW
Terrific wood-fired pizzas and Italian small plates are on offer for restaurant week at Mike Isabella’s Penn Quarter Italian-American haunt.
Iron Gate (dinner)
1743 N St., NW
One of the most romantically-set restaurants in Washington serves delicious Mediterranean food to match, plus an extensive list of unusual wines.
Jaleo (lunch and dinner)
Bethesda, Crystal City, and Penn Quarter locations
Spanish tapas and a lively atmosphere can be expected at all locations of Jaleo. Don’t miss one of the bar’s signature sangrias or gin-and-tonics.
Kapnos (dinner)/Kapnos Taverna (lunch and dinner)
2201 14th St., NW; 4000 Wilson Blvd., Arlington
Guests pick four tapas-size portions from the Greek-Mediterranean menu, or can opt for a more extensive five-course tasting for $55 per person. The Ballston branch also serves restaurant week lunch.
Lyon Hall (lunch and dinner)
3100 Washington Blvd., Arlington
Clarendon’s bustling brasserie serves tasty French-American fare, as well as a killer hot dog and soft pretzel for anyone craving comfort foods.
Mintwood Place (dinner)
1813 Columbia Rd., NW
Much of Mintwood’s regular French-American dishes are served for restaurant week, making this an attractive candidate for those who want variety.
Osteria Morini (lunch and dinner)
301 Water St., SE
Hone in on the terrific pastas and desserts at New York-based restaurateur Michael White’s Navy Yard Italian.
PassionFish Reston (lunch and dinner) and Bethesda (dinner only)
7187 Woodmont Ave., Bethesda; 11960 Democracy Dr., Reston
Chef Jeff Tunks leaves room for plenty of choice on his restaurant week menus. Guests have free reign of the regular menu when picking their entrees, with few surcharges for pricey proteins like steak and lobster.
Rasika/Rasika West End (lunch)
633 D St., NW; 1190 New Hampshire Ave., NW
These sibling modern Indian restaurants, #5 on our 100 Very Best Restaurants list, are worth skipping out of the office for a relaxing lunch.
Restaurant Eve (lunch and dinner)
110 S Pitt St., Alexandria
Chef Cathal Armstrong serves both the seasonal European fare he’s known for, and also a newer lineup of Filipino dishes. Both are worth exploring.
Ser (lunch and dinner)
1110 N Glebe Rd., Arlington
Ballston’s new-ish Spanish spot goes beyond tapas, serving a range of entrees and a strong selection of Basque ciders.
Sushi Ko (lunch and dinner)
5455 Wisconsin Ave., Chevy Chase
Diners will find a mix of nigiri, sashimi, and cooked Japanese dishes at the oldest sushi spot in Washington (now located in Chevy Chase).
The Riggsby (lunch)
1731 New Hampshire Ave., NW
Chef Michael Schlow’s retro American restaurant in Dupont’s Carlyle Hotel is a worthy destination for lunch. Don’t miss the smoked trout or spaghetti.
Tico (dinner)
1926 14th St., NW
Tasty tacos and eclectic small plates are all good reasons to visit this upbeat 14th Street restaurant, equally great for a date or night out with friends.
Zaytinya (lunch and dinner)
701 Ninth St., NW
You’ll make a meal of creative Mediterranean mezze for restaurant week at José Andrés’s longtime Penn Quarter hotspot.
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.
