Hanukkah starts Tuesday, December 16, and there are plenty of options for feasting and drinking over the course of eight nights.
1. Jewish-Italian dinner at Dino’s Grotto
1914 Ninth St., NW
Chef Dean Gold prepares a four-course menu for the first two nights. All dishes use olive oil, but don’t expect an intense, eight-day burn. Think pasta with olive oil and hot peppers, and oil-poached fish ($39 per person, including a glass of wine or house-infused limoncello).
When: December 16 and 17; Hanukkah dishes offered à la carte December 18 to 23.
2. Family-style feast at DGS Delicatessen
1317 Connecticut Ave., NW
Drop in any night of Hanukkah (except December 23) for a family-style dinner of traditional dishes like fresh challah, matzo-ball soup, and brisket braised in red wine ($27 per person). The restaurant takes a break on the 23rd for “Jewish Christmas,” a Chinese banquet with guest chefs Erik Bruner-Yang and Tim Ma.
When: December 16 through 24; Chinese banquet December 23.
3. Seasonal Hanukkah dinner at Equinox
818 Connecticut Ave., NW
Chef Todd Gray offers a four-course menu with seasonal dishes such as sweet potato latkes with citrus-cured gravlax, buttermilk-brined poussin, and bittersweet-chocolate brownies ($55 per person; $80 with wine pairings).
When: December 16 through 23.
4. Hanukkah grilled cheese at GCDC
1730 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Celebrate with a casual bite from this grilled cheese bar: the Maccabee sandwich, filled with slow-cooked brisket, melty cheddar, and dill pickles on challah ($10 at lunch; $14 at dinner with a side dish).
When: December 16 through 24.
5. Eight Crazy Nights of Hanukkah at the Star & Shamrock
1341 H St., NE
You heard it right: The H Street bar/deli plans for a different event every night, including an evening of beer and bingo, Jameson “Jew” fusions, and $5 reuben bagels and He’Brew Chanukah Ale.
When: December 16 through 23.
6. “Gin and tonica” at 2 Birds, 1 Stone
1800 14th St., NW
Barkeep Adam Bernbach has plenty of holiday spirits at his 14th Street watering hole, with eight nights of festive drinks. Look for a tequila-apple cider cocktail, the “gin and tonica,” and the “St. Nicholas Friedman,” a tribute to Red Hen chef Mike Friedman (all $14, except $10 punch).
When: December 16 through 24.
7. Hanukkah doughnuts from Astro Doughnuts
1308 G St., NW
Get into the sweeter side of the holiday with decorative doughnut boxes, which include flavors like crème brûlée, Nutella-glazed, and powdered sugar filled with jam ($20 each for a box with a dozen).
When: Preorder for pickup on December 16, 19, and 20.
8. Latkepalooza at Commissary
1443 P St., NW
Sadly the event is sold out, but there’s an active wait-list that’s worth a try. If you get in, expect all-you-can-eat latkes, a deep-fried-doughnut bar, Hanukkah-themed drinks, and specials like brisket sliders and lox crostini ($15 per person).
When: Monday, December 22.
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.
