Restaurant Week has returned to Washington for another year. Going on now and lasting until Jan. 16., Restaurant Week's special features are the three-course lunch and dinner specials offered by more than 90 local establishments. Ranging from rib houses that spell "grill" with an "e" at the end to swanky sushi bars, $20.05 will buy you a prix fixe three-course lunch at one of these places, and only $10 more gets you dinner. Please note that "prix fixe" means that there is only the slight possibility that there will be a choice in what is served, so go in with an open mind! Pretty much all of these restaurants are outside of the average college student's budget range, so leap on this opportunity to get a fantastic meal for the same amount as entrance to Lulu's and a 3-ounce watery cocktail. Reservations can be made at www.opentable.com, and a full list of participating restaurants can be found at www.washington.org/restaurantwk/. In the meantime, here are a few choice establishments that we recommend:
Blackie's 1217 22nd St. NW (202) 333-1100 Available for: Lunch and Dinner
Blackie's features standard fare consisting of steak, chicken and seafood, all with a slightly pseudo-international twist. Be on the lookout for interesting flavors and an adventurous approach to American food (yes, food can be "international" and "American" at the same time, apparently.)
Chef Geoff's 3201 New Mexico Ave. NW (202) 237-7800 Available for: Lunch and Dinner
Okay, so everyone has been to Chef Geoff's at some point. It's a food-providing arena within walking distance from campus, rendering it quite dear to all of our hearts, but definitely not our wallets. So unless Mom and Pop have been keen on reloading your EagleBuck$ account, you haven't been there that often. This is your opportunity to check out its incredible salads and pizzas while feeling like a true patron of local (really local) cuisine.
Filomena Ristorante 1063 Wisconsin Ave. NW (202) 338-8800 Available for: Lunch and Dinner
If God came down from heaven and burrowed himself in your mouth, your mouth would be the new home of Filomena Ristorante, that cute restaurant next door to the Pleasure Palace in Georgetown (what could be more convenient?). And the next Messiah would be the Linguini Cardinale. Even though this is a prix fixe meal, you're not going to leave unhappy. You may even find religion. Or Ted Kennedy. Filomena Ristorante is also good for prime politician-watching.
Sushi Ko 2309 Wisconsin Ave. NW (202) 333-4187 Available for: Lunch and Dinner
By nature, sushi is destined to be ridiculously expensive, so the prospect of a $20.05 three-course sushi lunch should make all of you quiver in your seats. The spicy tuna roll is by far the best, but you can't go wrong with any of Sushi Ko's maki offerings, or anything made with yellowtail fish. Sushi Ko is also the oldest sushi restaurant in D.C., so head over for a slice of historic deliciousness! Mmm! Raw fish, rice and the green-eyed monster known as wasabi never tasted so good!
Equinox 818 Connecticut Ave. NW (202) 331-8118 Available for: Dinner
If you've ever had the macaroni and cheese from Equinox's lunch menu, you will be a devotee for life. Unfortunately, Equinox is only participating in dinner, but that won't disappoint. The dinner ends with a sweet course, which could possibly include its assorted sorbets. Sorbet is a highly underrated dessert item that Equinox treats with the respect it deserves. The three-course dinner at Equinox normally costs $55, so you can pocket the leftover $25 and still make it to Lulu's if you really want. But we don't recommend it.
If the above decadent eateries are still a little too exciting for the homebody's palate, there are always these overlooked nearby haunts that won't wreak havoc on a tight-fisted collegiate budget, and also remind everyone that there's food outside of TDR (Guapo's, Angelico's and Steak & Egg omitted as a last attempt to pry people away from these places):
Tastee Diner 7731 Woodmont Avenue Bethesda, Md. 20814 (301) 652-3970
The food is inexplicably cheap yet delicious, just like the ubiquitous diner you loitered around back home in New Jersey. The wait-staff has a remarkable array of tattoos, hair extensions and/or fake nails to show off at a moment's notice. The booth in the back right-hand corner when you walk in to the left always seems to be home to the lowliest hoodlums you've ever seen in Bethesda. It serves scrapple. It's open 24 hours a day. It's like Steak & Egg, if Steak & Egg were 100 times classier and had somewhere to sit. And smelled better.
Jandara 4237 Wisconsin Ave. NW (202) 237-1570
When Neisha moved in caddy-corner from the shuttle stop, there was the fleeting thought that the "other" Thai place a few blocks down Wisconsin had seen its last. But Jandara has proven to have slightly better, yet still rather unremarkable, Thai dishes than its competitor. If you're going in thinking this will be a real taste of Thailand, you probably also think that Guapo's is real Mexican food. But the noodle dishes, specifically Jandara Noodles and Mee Thalay, come plentiful and actually taste pretty good after spending the night in a paper box in the mini-fridge.
Luna Grill 1633 P St. NW (202) 387-4005
Luna Grill is just up the street from the Dupont Metro stop. It's not that hard to miss, with decorative ornaments and lighting catching the eye from blocks away. The food is basic and inexpensive; sandwiches, burgers and all-day breakfast are all reliable. Luna Grill is pretty veggie-friendly, and the soups and salads are also tasty. Nothing is particularly standout, except for the incredibly comfortable atmosphere. Luna Grill has all the necessary elements of a great neighborhood place, and it's accessible enough to head over after class.
