Girl Meets Food

DC Summer Restaurant Week is from Monday, August 16, to Sunday, August 22, offering a three-course lunch for $20.10, and a three-course dinner at $35.10 per person.

But you don’t have to wait.  Here are some restaurants offering prix fixe menus before, during or after DC Summer Restaurant Week.  Check back for updates and additions!

The Fourth Estate Restaurant serves stylish American food in the historic National Press Club, using locally grown produce and meats for a menu that elevates taste above trendiness. They will be extending the special Restaurant Week menu an extra week, from August 23-29, 2010.  They also have a three-course prix pixe menu for $30 per person Thursday through Saturday. The Fourth Estate Restaurant, 529 14th St NW, 13th Floor.  202.662.7638

Nage Bistro will offer its special Restaurant Week menu throughout the entire month of August.  Start with a wild mushroom Baklava with pecans, blueberry compote, thyme, and goat cheese foam.  A choice of entrées includes grilled swordfish with seasoned bread crumbs, watermelon, and fennel; and Cajun meatloaf with rapini, potatoes, sundried tomatoes, and rosemary jus.  Nage Bistro, 1600 Rhode Island Avenue, NW.  202.448.8005.

In addition to offering a three-course Restaurant Week menu of innovative Japanese charcoal-grilled meats, fish and vegetables, Kushi Izakaya & Sushi will offer an expertly crafted sake pairing featuring three varieties of sake for $20.  The sake pairing is available during lunch and dinner throughout Restaurant Week.  Kushi Izakaya & Sushi, 465 K Street, NW.  202.682.3123

Restaurant 3 will extend their Restaurant Week menu for an extra week, from August 23-29, 2010, with a menu of comfort food full of soulful Southern flavor.  Restaurant 3, 2950 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington, VA.  703-524-4440.

Café Saint-Ex will offer an indulgent three-course Restaurant Week menu during lunch only which will extend for an extra week, from August 23-29, 2010.  Cafe Saint-Ex serves up American Bistro style cuisine that comfort, while prepared with the finest quality ingredients.  Café Saint-Ex, 1847 14th Street NW. 202.265.7839

Rasika has a three-course prix fixe menu that start with tikka kaliya, seekh kebabs, clam caldine or sev puri; entrées such as chicken makhani, lamb roganjosh and tandoori salmon; and gulab jamun for dessert.  $30 per person Monday to Friday from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., Saturday from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. 633 D Street, NW, with validated valet parking for $7.  202.637.1222

The Oval Room’s three-course prix fixe menu that showcases appetizers such as roasted baby beets with walnuts and goat cheese; and crudo of rockfish with sweet chili, mango and cilantro. Featured entrées include shellfish broth and herb oil; and roasted beef striploin with Swiss chard. Dessert options include almond brown butter cake; or chocolate-red beet cake with and pistachio ice cream. $35 per person from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. nightly. The Oval Room, 800 Connecticut Avenue, NW.  202.463.8700.

Bibiana Osteria-Enoteca’s three-course pre-fixe menu starts with tonno with salad confit yellow fin tuna; or zuppa with chilled fennel soup. Entrée options are paccheri with large rigatoni with raisins, pine nuts and pecorino; and sheep’s milk ricotta ravioli with lemon and spinach. For the sweet, try panna cotta with a liquid black cherry bottom; tiramisu; and crema pasticcera with fried Nutella pastry cream. $30 per person from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Bibiana Osteria-Enoteca, 1100 New York Ave. NW.  (202) 216-9550.

701 Restaurant’s three-course pre-theater menu features grilled pineapple salad with jalapeño, hearts of palm and lime. Entrées such as roasted cod with lentils, haricot verts, and ver jus emulsion; petite prime New York steak; and goat cheese cavatelli with artichokes and oyster mushrooms. For dessert, try fresh berries with orange compari sorbet; or strawberry gelée with frozen yogurt.  $30 per person from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 5:00 to 9:30 p.m. on Sunday. 701 Restaurant, 701 Pennsylvania Ave. NW.  202.393.0701.

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Nothing says summer like dining out-of-doors, relaxing in the sun, a gentle breeze cooling your alcohol-induced rosy cheeks.

Don’t know where to go for alfresco dining with tasty vittles and frosty bevs? Girl Meets Food’s got your back like cool shade on a hot afternoon.

The view from Hotel Madera

ADC (Above DC), the exclusive rooftop pool bar at Donovan House, will serve some Zentan favorites while taking in stunning views of the city. Sip a Chan Manhattan made with Bulleit Bourbon and Canton Ginger Liquor; or nosh on Zentan’s sashimi and sushi.  1155 14th Street, NW, 202.379.4366

Summers are sizzling at Masa 14 with a second-story rooftop deck planned for late July. Try the Lemon Lager, made with lemon-basil syrup, and spicy tuna rolls with wasabi, jicama and scallions. 1825 14th Street, NW, 202.328.1414.

Newcomer Agora will serve Turkish and Greek small plates on their sidewalk café. Sip Ouzo, an anise-flavored spirit, and pretend like you’re in the Greek Isles. 1527 17th Street, NW, 202.332.6767.

Highly-anticipated Buddha Bar offers its French-influenced Pan-Asian cuisine on its outdoor patio as well as cocktails such as the Burn, made with Stoli Vanilla and Serrano peppers. 455 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, 202.337.5555.

The bustling patio at Zaytinya not only welcomes you with cocktails like the Greek Sidecar, but your little dog, too. 701 9th Street, NW, 202.630.0800.

Need a respite from the heat? Café Atlántico has a shaded patio along a quiet street. Order a Magic Mojito along with your table-side guacamole. 405 8th Street, NW, 202.393.0812.

Seafood lovers should head over to Hank’s Oyster Bar for freshly shucked oysters, clams and lobster rolls on the cozy outdoor patio. 1624 Q St., NW, 202.462.4265.

Score a table outside at 701 with spectacular views of the Navy Memorial fountain, while enjoying King crab salad and a Limoncello margarita. 701 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, 202.393.0701.

Bibiana offers great people-watching on its new patio. Pair creamy Burrata d’ Andria and the Rosanna, with hibiscus liqueur, Frangelico, honey lemon syrup and cranberry. 1100 New York Ave. NW, 202.216.9550.

Snag a seat where the sidewalk ends, at The Bombay Club, serving excellent Indian cuisine near Lafayette Park. 815 Connecticut Ave., NW, 202.659.3727‎. Across the street, The Oval Room oozes elegance on its expansive terrace. 800 Connecticut Ave., NW, 202.463.8700. Or head up Connecticut Avenue to Ardeo-Bardeo (3311 Connecticut Ave., NW, 202.244.6750) where you can have Sunday brunch on the rooftop.

In Bethesda, Redwood offers seasonal, organic and local ingredients on one of the area’s largest patios. Try some Hope In A Glass, with Barbancourt Rhum, cherry liqueur and O.J. 7121 Bethesda Lane, Bethesda, MD, 301.656.5515.

The newly-renovated outdoor patio at Black’s Bar & Kitchen is roomy, sleek and even has a tranquil little pond. 7750 Woodmont Avenue in Bethesda, MD, 301.652.5525.

Eat.  Out.

This year, Thanksgiving is on Thursday, November 26.

I’ve never made a turkey with all the trimmings in my life, and I’m not about to start.

So when I can’t mooch off of the generosity of friends’ mothers, I go somewhere where they get it right, even though I love cranberry sauce shaped like a can.

I compiled a list of some of the best restaurants in DC serving a special Thanksgiving menu just for lazy people like me.  (And you, since you’re still reading):

701 Restaurant Reserve now: Three course Thanksgiving meal with live jazz. 11:00am-8:00pm, $45 per person, $22 per child.

1789 Restaurant Reserve now: Prix fixe three course menu. $50 per person.

Ardeo Reserve now: Three course Thanksgiving dinner.  12:00-8:00pm, $40 per person. Valet parking $5.

Art and Soul Reserve now: Three course family-style Thanksgiving feast.  $55 per person, $25 ages 6-12. Diners will also receive a special “leftover” turkey sandwich with trimmings so they can enjoy a taste of Thanksgiving at Art and Soul throughout the weekend.

Bistro Bis Reserve now: Special à la carte menu available 12:00-8:00pm.

Bourbon Steak at the Four Seasons Hotel Reserve now: À la carte menu from 6:00-10:00pm with holiday specials ranging from $11 to $44.

Blue Duck Tavern at the Park Hyatt Reserve now: Thanksgiving brunch and dinner. Brunch: 10:30am-3:30pm, $85 per adult, $42.50 per child age 6-12, 5 and under free. Dinner: 6:00pm-10:00pm. À la carte menu.

Cafe Promenade at the Renaissance Mayflower Hotel Reserve now: The Grand Thanksgiving Brunch Buffet is $75 per adult and $35 per child ages 12 and under.

Charlie Palmer Steak Reserve now: Three course dinner with a nice variety of dishes. $65 per person, $18 per child.

Coeur de Lion at the Henley Park Hotel Reserve now: Four course Thanksgiving dinner, $65 per person, $25 per child.

Commonwealth Gastropub Reserve now: Special family-style Thanksgiving roast, a three-course menu of seasonal dishes served family-style, $35 per person.

Corduroy Reserve now: Prix-fixe three course menu, $55 per adult, $30 per child 12 and under.

Georgia Brown’s Reserve now: Family-style Thanksgiving with turkey and all the fixings served with Southern hospitality. $36.95 per adult, $25.99 per child.

Indebleu Reserve now: Turkey with all the trimmings combining modern cuisine with Indian flavors from 3:00-8:00pm. $45 per person, $55 w/wine pairing. All meals are served family-style.

J&G Steakhouse at the W Hotel Washington DC Reserve now: Three course Thanksgiving Tasting menu, $35 per person). With wine pairings, $59 per person.

Morrison-Clark Inn Reserve now: Elegant five-course dinner at a historic inn in the heart of Washington, DC. $50 per adult, $25 per child.

Oval Room Reserve now: A three-course holiday menu is $50 per person.

Sou’Wester at The Mandarin Oriental Hotel Reserve now: The new regionally-influenced American restaurant will feature eight different turkey dishes on its special à la carte holiday menu 12:00-8:00 p.m.

Spirit of Washington: Cruise departs from 6th & Water Sts., Pier 4, SW, Washington, DC. Enjoy a three course buffet meal, with dancing and spectacular views of the sites of Washington, DC.  Board at 11:30am, cruise from noon until 2:00 p.m. $49.90 per adult, $29.95 ages 3-11, children under 3 are free.

Vidalia Reserve now: Special à la carte menu available from 12:00-8:00pm.