OT: DC area "special occasion" restaurants

[Beckylove]

I know there are lots of DC area Mommas here and I need some help. My brother recently got married in an intimate ceremony. Just the two of them.

I need ideas for a wedding gift. They don't want "stuff" since they have a small apartment and have what they need.

I was thinking some gift certificates to nice restaurants around town for date nights for the newlyweds.

I need suggestions for the DC or Arlington areas where dinner & some wine would be in the $100 neighborhood.

Thanks in advance for your ideas!

[egoldber]

Not DC or Arlington, but 2941 in Falls Church is simply amazing.

http://www.2941.com/

[michellerw]

Poste at the Hotel Monaco
Restaurant Eve in Alexandria (I suggest the tasting menu)
CityZen
PS7
Corduroy
Willow in Arlington
New Heights
The Oval Room
I haven't been to 2941 in about 6 years, but it's outstanding.

Also take a look at this: http://www.washingtonian.com/sections/restaurants/100best/index.html

[happymomma]

I love L'Auberge Chez Francois in Great Falls. The food is so good there.

[crl]

Slightly less formal suggestions:

Jaleo in DC
The Carlysle in Arlington
Sushi-Ko in DC

And I agree with the suggestion to look at the Washingtonian's website--they have great reviews, a list of top 100 and also occasionally feature a list of most romantic, etc.

(I lived in Arlington for a total of 8 years before coming to CA--came back to SF last year so my restuarant knowledge may be a bit out of date.)

Catherine

[egoldber]

Some other suggestions.....

Obelisk in DC
Makoto in DC (very traditional, tiny Japanese restuarant)

[TonFirst]

I love L'Auberge Chez Francois in Great Falls. The food is so good there.

Second....

[crl]

Some other suggestions.....

Obelisk in DC
Makoto in DC (very traditional, tiny Japanese restuarant)

Makoto is wonderful!

Catherine

[g-mama]

Not DC or Arlington, but 2941 in Falls Church is simply amazing.

http://www.2941.com/

YES!! Isn't it? I've only been once (dh has gone many times w/ clients) and I loved it.

[egoldber]

It was sooooo good! DH's parents took the whole family there for his 40th birthday. We sat at the chef's table in the kitchen and it was amazing!!! I thought it was much better than Chez Auberge, but it's hard to compare them. CA is very traditional, old school French and 2941 is uber modern. So completely different experiences.

[mommylamb]

For a real special occation, Restaurant Eve in Old Town Alexandria is amazing!
http://www.restauranteve.com/

Is there a particular type of food you're looking for?

[lowrioh]

My favorite restaurants in the city are Corduroy and TenPenh. I agree with the PP that the Washingtonian and Washington Post sites give great reviews.

[kcimato]

I'm going to third L'auberge Chez Francois in Great Falls. It's very romantic and it's location is very unexpected. The waiters are amazing and not at all intrusive. They aren't in your face and leave you to eat and chat. Your never hurried.

[HallsofVA]

Not DC or Arlington, but 2941 in Falls Church is simply amazing.

http://www.2941.com/

I love 2941! As with many french style restaurants the portions are not large, but the tastes are fantastic. We've been for both lunch and dinner and both were great. For lunch especially, I was amazed at the fact that though it seemed like we didn't get a lot to eat, I left there pleasantly satisfied and remained satisfied for a long time after, which I chocked up to the great ingredients that weren't fully of sugary filler.

The first time we ate for dinner we did the tasting menu, which included 6-7 courses of little plates. And at that time, everyone got the "cotton candy of the day" as an afterdinner treat, which was the most incredible cotton candy I've ever tasted!

If you really want to give them a treat, and they don't mind driving an hour or so outside of the city into the country, the Inn at Little Washington is another incredible choice and pricey enough that most folks don't go their on their own unless they are celebrating. Last time I was there it was a Prix Fixe menu so it's easy to give as a gift since you know what dinner will cost. You can also stay there, though it's more economical to stay at one of the B&Bs down the street.

[crl]

The Inn at Little Washington is truly awesome, but way more than $100 for dinner and wine for 2. I think we dropped over double that several years ago and we're not big drinkers. Plus you really don't want to drive back to DC/Arlington after dinner there. We waddled down the street (I think we even sat on a bench in the cold for a few minutes) to our B&B.

Catherine

[HallsofVA]

My favorite restaurants in the city are Corduroy and TenPenh. I agree with the PP that the Washingtonian and Washington Post sites give great reviews.

Another Ten Penh fan here (conveniently located at the intersection of 10th streeth and Pennsylvania Ave in DC), for good Asian Fusion. I also like their sister restaurant DC Coast for seafood.

Kinkead's is another seafood place I like in DC, along with it's sister location in Tysons, VA, Colvin Run Tavern (I think.) The latter has very good food, but a consistent knock against it has been mediocre service. We went one year for our anniversay, and a server managed to knock our red wine glasses all over our entrees and our clothes. While they did ultimately pay for the drycleaning, the only other adjustment they made was to give us coffee mugs to take home with us. (Woo hoo!)

[egoldber]

Alas, Colvin Run Tavern is closed.

[HallsofVA]

The Inn at Little Washington is truly awesome, but way more than $100 for dinner and wine for 2. I think we dropped over double that several years ago and we're not big drinkers. Plus you really don't want to drive back to DC/Arlington after dinner there. We waddled down the street (I think we even sat on a bench in the cold for a few minutes) to our B&B.

Catherine

You are right. I did say it was expensive. I think when we ate there in 2002 for our anniversary, it was just over $100 per person for dinner, plus alcohol was additional. I think our bill for 2 of us was about $300 after drinks, tip and dessert. But I did think that it was cool that our menus for that evening were personalized with our names and anniversary on them!

[HallsofVA]

Alas, Colvin Run Tavern is closed.

Good. I was surprised it lasted a long as it did! The food was great, but they lost repeat business by the lousy service.

Does this mean my pair of coffee cups from there are now valuable collector items? Should I go rush out to ebay to sell them? :-)

[egoldber]

I only ate there once and our experience was fine. Not in the same league as others mentioned in this thread though.

[crl]

You are right. I did say it was expensive. I think when we ate there in 2002 for our anniversary, it was just over $100 per person for dinner, plus alcohol was additional. I think our bill for 2 of us was about $300 after drinks, tip and dessert. But I did think that it was cool that our menus for that evening were personalized with our names and anniversary on them!

That is really neat--we still have our menu somewhere. And the service was flawless and the food was exceptional. I just wanted to point out the cost because the OPer specified around $100 for dinner for two with drinks. And I really do think the Inn at Little Washington nearly requires an overnight to be truly enjoyed. I just can't imagine facing the drive back after the meal. I actually think a lot of the suggestions on this thread would run over $100, especially with drinks. I haven't been to most of the restaurants, but based on my impressions I would check menu prices carefully to see if $100 would really cover it.

Catherine

[crl]

I asked DH, who has eaten at a lot more DC restaurants than I have--for work. His first suggestion was The Carlyle: http://www.greatamericanrestaurants.com/carlyle/ He agreed that with drinks some places might be pushing it on the $100--depends on which bottle of wine, etc. He also suggested Two Amys with tickets to the Uptown afterwards for a fun, casual date night.

Catherine

[TwinFoxes]

Not DC or Arlington, but 2941 in Falls Church is simply amazing.

http://www.2941.com/

We just ate here for our anniversary. It's beautiful, the setting is fantastic. And it was a very, very good dinner. I know it was way over $100 though. OP, did you mean per person?

I like Carlyle a lot, we lived very close up until our move. But it's kind of loud, and not classically romantic (nice people watching though). I'm trying to think of a way to describe it...the food is very good, not cheap, but it attracts families who don't want to eat at chain restaurants. I don't mean that in a negative way (I'm describing myself!) You could eat there for less than $100 for two.

Boulevard in Arlington might be an option. Again, not terribly romantic, but good food, and good people watching. $100 would be cutting it close I think, if they get a bottle of wine. Oh, I just thought of a good place in the District. Central by Michel Richard. We had a really good meal there, and it won a James Beard award for best new restaurant. Again, probably outside the $100 cap, but not by all that much depending on what wine they buy.

http://www.boulevardwoodgrill.com/Boulevard_Woodgrill.html
http://www.centralmichelrichard.com/

What a nice sis you are!

[michellerw]

I'm pretty sure you can stay under $100 at Poste, even with a bottle of wine. My husband doesn't drink, so we always buy wine by the glass.

Another good option is Zaytinya. It never gets too terribly expensive if you order mezze, plus it's super tasty. I have noticed that the service has taken a dive in the last couple of years.

For a far more casual atmosphere and Syrian/Lebanese, I like Layalina in Arlington on Wilson Blvd.

[crl]

I do agree that Carlyle is a bit on the noisy side. I think it's a bit nicer than a "family" restaurant, but agree that it's maybe more of a meet friends kind of place. . . .

I'm really liking the Makoto suggestion. It's a quiet, small, intimate restaurant. The one time I was there the food was wonderful and the service was quite good. I was someone's guest so I don't know about cost though. But I think it's a great, somewhat unique suggestion for a romantic dinner.

Catherine

[HallsofVA]

One option to stay under or around $100 but still dine as some of the best restaurants is to go during restaurant week. Fixed price meal, reasonably priced, and generally around $30 or so per person for dinner for 3-4 courses. In addition, some restaurants around the theatre and the capitol always have a fixed price option. Charlie Palmer near the Capitol is one that comes to mind.

[dcmom2b3]

Bistro Bis or Vidalia (though perhaps outside of the stated budget).

For atmosphere *only* (food and wine are just adequate) The Iron Gate on P street NW during the spring when the wisteria that covers the trellised garden seating area is in bloom. How's that for specific . . .

I haven't been for ages, but the Tabard Inn has great atmosphere and good food.

Not what I'd consider special occasion places, but for busy bistro atmosphere and great food try Montmarte, Belga Cafe or Matchbox (all on Capitol Hill). Great pizza at 7Hill.

[Beckylove]

I've checked out some of these websites and they look fantastic. Now the hard part-- choosing.

Thank you so much for your help!

[TonFirst]

I just wanted to point out the cost because the OPer specified around $100 for dinner for two with drinks. And I really do think the Inn at Little Washington nearly requires an overnight to be truly enjoyed. I just can't imagine facing the drive back after the meal.

Oh, y'all. Our first anniversary gift to ourselves was an overnight at the Inn at Little Washington. Heavenly, sublime, flawless, exceptional - words cannot do it justice. I don't see how you could do dinner and drinks there for two for less than $100, though. It is a huge splurge and a truly memorable experience. And man, I wish I had a cow cart in my living room. I'd become a total cheese-eating recluse.

[egoldber]

The 4 course prixe fixe tasting menu at 2941 is $58. So a little more than I remembered. Depending on the wine, it could definitely be closer to $200.

[mommylamb]

Another wonderful place where you could probably stay within that budget is the Tabard Inn. It's a wonderful cozy place to go, especially in the winter time.

[3blackcats]

Villa Mozart in Fairfax is awesome. High end, and not that expensive.

[TonFirst]

I'm bumping this because we're in NOVA until 1/2 and we're taking advantage of free babysitting from the grandparents on New Year's Eve. We couldn't get in at Restaurant Eve, but we just snagged a table at 2941 for 8 p.m. Woot!

[crl]

I'm bumping this because we're in NOVA until 1/2 and we're taking advantage of free babysitting from the grandparents on New Year's Eve. We couldn't get in at Restaurant Eve, but we just snagged a table at 2941 for 8 p.m. Woot!

Have fun!

Catherine