Can’t take cooking in this brutal summer heat? Get out of the kitchen. Summer Restaurant Week, a twice-yearly Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington event, returns Aug. 12-18 with cool cuisine at affordable prices. Browse the fixed-price brunch, lunch and dinner menus ($25-$65) at some of the 60 participating NoVA eateries. It’s the perfect time to try a new place or just a new dish. Here’s a small sampler of what’s cooking.
Ambar Clarendon
This bastion of Balkan specialties extended its Restaurant Week to run from Aug. 5-25. That means more time for you to try the $25 lunch special ($29.99 if you add dessert) or $55 dinner special. Try the Vitamin Salad (carrots, cucumbers, beets, apples and sriracha sunflower seeds in a honey-lemon dressing), lamb medallions with lemon-garlic yogurt, halloumi cheese with black and white sesame seeds and honey, and flaky baklava. // 2901 Wilson Blvd., Arlington (Clarendon)
American Prime
Meat lovers, rejoice because these menus are for you. The $25 lunch choices include corn chowder, smoked brisket sandwich and key lime pie, while the $55 dinner boasts smoked short rib and house-smoked prime rib. Prefer another protein? No problem. Choose from fish and chips, scallops or sea bass. For dessert, enjoy bread pudding at either seating, or at dinner tuck into flourless chocolate cake with raspberry coulis. // 1420 Spring Hill Road, McLean
Circa
With locations at The Boro in Tysons Corner and in Clarendon, you can hit the restaurant twice and get different meals because the two locations have minor differences between the menus. For example, the Clarendon spot’s lunch menu features Jambalaya, while the one in Tysons has shrimp and grits. The dinner menu—$55 or $65, depending on what dishes you choose—comes with a glass of wine, draft beer or mocktail. Starters include four-cheese macaroni or tuna poke nachos, mains are ravioli primavera and almond-crusted rainbow trout, and desserts include apple pie and brioche bread pudding. // 3010 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington (Clarendon), and 1675 Silver Hill Drive, Tysons (The Boro)
Corso Italian
This Shirlington restaurant will dish up a three-course, $25 lunch menu and $40 dinner menu (add a Lambrusco wine flight for another $15). Select from choices such as Tuscan Bread Soup (both seatings), a meatball sub (lunch only), Porchetta (both seatings) and Seared Tuna Crudo (dinner). Dessert options are the same on both menus: hazelnut chocolate cheesecake, fig leaf panna cotta and cannoli. Some items, such as Spaghetti al Pesto at lunch and scallop risotto at dinner, carry upcharges. // 4024 Campbell Ave., Arlington (Shirlington)
Joon
With brunch or lunch for $35 and dinner for $65, you can satisfy your Persian cuisine cravings any time of day during Restaurant Week. Fill up on brunch starters such as lamb toshka (ground lamb with mozzarella, labneh and za’atar), mains such as Persian omelets or French toast topped with apple and barberry compote and lemon curd whipped cream, and desserts including a glazed cardamom doughnut. For lunch, feast on pistachio soup, chicken or beef kabobs, and saffron and rose water ice cream. The dinner menu features falafel, salmon with herbed saffron basmati rice and Persian Love Cake (white chocolate pistachio ganache, apricot jam and rose water glaze. // 8045 Leesburg Pike, Tysons
SER
Get deals on the authentic Spanish comfort foods here for a little longer. The family-owned restaurant is extending its Restaurant Week menu through Aug. 26. The choices for the three courses are the same at lunch and dinner, but the price is $25 and $50, respectively. (Tack on a wine pairing for $25.) Indulge in chilled melon soup with Iberico ham, fried calamari, grilled salmon or hanger steak, churros with melted chocolate or flan. // 1110 N. Glebe Road, Arlington (Ballston)
Spice Kraft Indian Bistro
From Aug. 13-18, this boutique bistro is offering a five-course menu that’s $40 for one person and $75 for two. Pick one or two apps such as a mini samosa (vegetarian) or chicken cutlet balls in tandoori ranch, entrees such as chicken tikka masala or baby eggplant curry (vegan), and vegan chocolate pistachio mousse for dessert. All meals come with plain or garlic naan and rice. The paired drink is a Tequila Watermelon Sharbat with tequila, orange liqueur, fresh watermelon, Indian spices, ginger, lime and mint. // 1135 N. Highland St., Arlington (Clarendon)
Surreal
Chef Enrique Limardo’s new spot in National Landing will offer a three-course, $55 dinner during Restaurant Week. Start with the Tropical Spring Salad or the Aji Amarillo Tiradito (fresh-caught fish, rocoto leche de tigre marinade and tricolor quinoa). For mains, try the Veal MacParm (organic veal sirloin with marinara sauce and mac and cheese) or the Instagrammable Crispy Tuna Poke Pillow (sushi-grade tuna, jalapeños, mango, wakame, togarashi, rice paper, avocado and sushi rice). Cap off the meal with a Chocolate Waffle Cannoli or the Orange Sunset Royale, made with vanilla ice cream, orange reduction, sable breton crumble and Japanese citrus candies. If you prefer to drink your dessert, our restaurant critic recommends the the Café Bombon, made with rum, Licor 43, espresso and Dalgona coffee. // 2117 Crystal Drive, Arlington (National Landing)
2941 Restaurant
An oasis off 495 in Falls Church, this French American restaurant will offer a three-course dinner during Restaurant Week. Enjoy views of the great outdoors through floor-to-ceiling windows while you munch on apps such as chilled asparagus soup and an heirloom tomato tart with smoked goat cheese and micro arugula. Entrée options include seafood risotto in blue crab broth, grilled ribeye and yellow corn ravioli. Assuming you still have room, select from three sweet finishers: peach mirilton, a blackberry eclair and peanut entremet. // 2941 Fairview Park Drive, Falls Church