A Girl’s Gotta Eat…
My Top Picks for Winter 2024 Restaurant Week
In my efforts to adult responsibly, I’ve been trying not to eat out as much these days. You know how it goes… keeping the fridge stocked, taking my lunch to work, and cooking more meals at home in an effort to save my coins and my waistline! BUT, there are definitely two times a year where that gets thrown out with the bath water and the city I’m proud to call home, yet again, reminds me of why it will always be a sacred and savored playground! Restaurant Week gives me ultimate Sex in the City, night on the town nostalgia and I love it! Grown and sexy ambiance, creative cocktails, and a beautiful plate of food (whether it tastes the way it looks is part of the adventure IMO!) are a few of my favorite things. It’s a part of that night out excitement that I’ve always got time for. And of course the fashion girl in me is always up for an excuse to pull a lewk! So it’s giving win-win!
As my blog content has shifted a bit, I thought this a great excuse to get back to my roots and round up a list of some of the places that are “new” (to me at least), “tried and true”, and “don’t mind if I do’s”. So if scrolling through the full list of participating restaurants is a quick way to suck the joy out of a potential Restaurant Week experience, then look no further. Consider this your easy button!
Booth at Enigma.
But First… Brunch!
If DC does anything it does brunch. Whatever your vibe or tribe, there’s a plate and a place that is sure to meet your palate’s preferences. With a starting tab of $25, it’s also a great way to get the Restaurant Week experience if a weeknight dinner isn’t in your budget or bandwidth. My picks here include a few I’ve yet to get to, and a few that are tried and true.
Roasted carrots and cauliflower at Enigma.
Chaplin’s is one of my favorite places to grab tasty and filling small bites and spirit forward draft cocktails. RW or not, it’s an option that never disappoints. Il Piatto is a recent find that has a great 3 Course brunch deal even outside of RW. Iron Gate, Petite Cerise, and Sfoglina are high on the list depending on the vibe and tribe. Shilling Canning Company and Nina May are faves because of their ever- changing, seasonal menus. It’s always a treat to know you’ll likely enjoy something completely different than your last visit. Lastly, L’Ardente has become a new go -to that I don’t doubt is a as much a treat for brunch as it is for dinner.
Chaplin’s
il Piatto
Iron Gate
L’Ardente
Nina May
Petite Cerise
Sfoglina
Shilling Canning Company
Tried and True
Now, if you, like me, have had your fair share of mediocre meals that didn’t live up to the hype or the height of the bill, then I totally understand why dining out, even for Restaurant Week might not tickle your fancy. But as they say, you can’t let a few bad apples spoil the bunch! My list of tried and trues participating in this winter’s RW were all around great experiences that I would be happy to be considered a repeat offender.
Chloe
Convivial
Cranes
Gravitas
Gypsy Kitchen
Penny Royal
Ris
St. James
Engima
Reasons for the Season
The Smoldering (with Buffalo Trace) from Enigma
Another reason for my love of Restaurant Week is that with it’s discounted deals, you get a chance to try restaurants that may otherwise be reserved for that special occasion. I also love that it provides a snapshot of what your experience could be if you ever decide to revisit during regular service. I like to think of it as a cheat code for all the places at the top of your list. Below are a few of the places I’m looking forward to trying this RW and beyond!