Girl Meets Food

The first-ever summer Alexandria Restaurant Week has been announced for August 20 through 29, 2010.

Sixty restaurants throughout the city will feature either a $35 prix fixe three-course dinner, or $35 dinner for two; a $3.50 sweet treat is offered at participating local bakeries, chocolatiers and dessert shops.

Many of the city’s favorite foodie establishments are participating including Bastille, La Bergerie, the Grille at Morrison House, Del Merei Grille, Geranio, A La Lucia, Tempo, Cheesetique, FireFlies, Fontaine Caffé & Creperie, Grape + Bean, and ACKC Cocoa Bar.

Alexandria Restaurant Week let’s you enjoy tantalizing multi-course meals and distinctive treats prepared especially for the occasion showcasing the inventive culinary diversity offered throughout the city. From fabulous fine dining to casual neighborhood favorites and tasty little delights, Alexandria Restaurant Week offers something for everyone.  See customized Restaurant Week menus here.

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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.

D.C. Summer Restaurant Week is finally here! From August 16-22, 2010, enjoy a prix-fixe 3-course lunch, dinner or both! Promotional prices are $20.10 for lunch and $35.10 for dinner.

Prices do not include beverage, tax or gratuity, and remember, D.C. Summer Restaurant Week can be a server’s worst nightmare realized, so be nice and tip on the value of the meal, folks! Twenty percent is the norm these days.

Places to try? I recommend 2941, Bastille, Black Salt, Bourbon Steak, the new Carmine’s, Eola, Kellari Taverna, Lyon Hall, Masa 14, The Oval Room, PS7’s, Rasika, Tabard Inn, Trummer’s on Main, Zaytinya, and Zengo.

D.C. Summer Restaurant Week is brought to you by the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) and Destination DC (DDC) is one of the most anticipated events in the area by locals and visitors alike.

Click here to see the list of participating restaurants!