Passover—aka Pesach—is an eight-day Jewish holiday that celebrates the end of the Israelites’ slavery in Egypt. This year’s holiday runs from April 12-20. It starts with two nights of special meals called Seders, and throughout the week, observers forgo eating leavened bread in honor of the Jews who fled Egypt before their bread had time to rise. Find full Passover meals, a la carte dishes and delicious desserts at these local spots.
Balducci’s
Take the guesswork out of menu planning with one of six full dinner packages, each designed to serve six. They include traditional beef brisket, harissa and hot honey turkey breast, roasted leg of lamb, and spinach matzagna (lasagna but with matzo). Each comes with one starter (chicken soup, gefilte fish or chicken chopped liver), three sides (parmesan artichokes, carrot and sweet potato tzimmes, or potato and veggie kugel), two extras (charoset—apples with walnuts, honey, cinnamon and wine—or cinnamon-scented applesauce) and a dessert (macaroons and sponge or marble cakes). Order now for pickup or delivery April 4-20. // 6655 Old Dominion Drive, McLean
Call Your Mother
Macaroons are a traditional Passover dessert, and this “Jew-ish” deli is putting a flavorful spin on the standard coconut with variations like Pina Colada and S’mores for the duration of the Passover holiday. Also worthy of a celebration: Potato latkes served with apple jam and sour cream. // 6232 Old Dominion Drive, McLean; 1671 Crystal Drive, Arlington (National Landing)
Celebrity Delly
A full Passover dinner serving five to nine people includes an appetizer (chopped liver or gefilte fish), matzo ball soup and charoset, an entrée (chicken, brisket or grilled salmon), two sides, and a choice of flourless chocolate cake or apple matzo kugel for dessert. Need just one more thing for your holiday table? Get any of the dishes, plus latkes, a la carte. Order now for pickup April 12. // 7263 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church
Chutzpah Deli
Place your orders by April 8 to pick up from this slice of New York in Fairfax. Supplement your spread with plates of mini latkes (traditional or sweet potato with pecans), matzo ball soup, charoset, stuffed cabbage, orange-glazed corned beef, za’atar-roasted chicken, homemade applesauce, and orange carrots. Passover and flourless cakes are also available on request. All orders will be ready for pickup starting April 12. // 12214 Fairfax Towne Center, Fairfax
Sababa
This modern Israeli restaurant in D.C.’s Cleveland Park will be serving charoset, braised salmon, braised brisket with tzimmes (sweet potato, carrots, prunes and walnuts) and a Manischewitz Sorbet—an icy treat made with the sweet, kosher-for-Passover red wine. All orders come with house-made za’atar-seasoned matzo throughout the holiday. These dishes are available for dine-in only April 12-20. // 3311 Connecticut Ave., Washington, D.C.
Wegmans
Place an order with at least 24 hours’ notice and pick up a Passover brisket dinner that serves 10-12 between April 8-May 10. It comes with roasted potatoes, seasoned green beans and roasted rainbow carrots. // 1835 Capital One Drive, S., Tysons, and other nearby locations
Whole Foods Market
The catering arm of this grocery chain is ready to help this Passover. It lists bestsellers as a Burgundy-Braised Brisket meal for eight and a Passover lamb shank meal for four (both come with asparagus with citrus and herbs, honey-roasted carrots, potato kugel, gefilte fish, charoset, and matzo ball soup). Get any of those plus latkes a la carte. Cap off the meal with seven-layer cake, coconut macaroons, bonbons or Railroad Cake, a flourless vanilla spongecake filled with apricot jam and topped with apricot and raspberry jams and almond paste. // Check the website for the closest location.