August in the D.C. area has its perks if you stick around. Commutes are easier, the neighborhoods seem quieter and stores are less crowded. And then of course there’s Restaurant Week, sponsored by Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington, which offers the perfect excuse to go out and try some tasty dishes at bargain prices.
This summer’s Restaurant Week is Aug. 17-23, with nearly 25 participating restaurants in Arlington, Falls Church and McLean. For $22 (lunch) or $35 (dinner), most kitchens offer a prix-fixe menu that includes an appetizer, entrée and dessert. Here’s a partial preview of what’s cooking:
Melon salad at Trio Grill. Photo by Amy Kurth.
ARLINGTON (click for a full list of participating restaurants)
4000 Campbell Ave. (The Village at Shirlington)
703-931-0777
Try This: Lobster bisque or the New Orleans shrimp with creamy grits cake (lunch or dinner)
photo of SER by Rey Lopez.
1330 South Fern St. (Crystal City)
571-319-4001
Try This: The Kahlua Pig Roll (slow-roasted Hawaiian pork in a wonton wrapper with pickled cabbage, grilled scallions, cheese and toasted sesame seeds) and pecan pie (lunch). Or the smoked duck breast (dinner).
2800 Clarendon Blvd. (Clarendon)
571-970-2180
Try This: Ceviche de pescado, pork carnitas and tres leches cake.
1250 South Hayes St. (Pentagon City)
703-412-2762
Try This: Spiced lamb kofta with pita bread, pickled onion and tahini dip (lunch). Or the fennel-crusted cod with corn and summer vegetable succotash and Meyer lemon sauce (dinner).
3195 Wilson Blvd. (Clarendon)
703-465-936
Try This: Choose any appetizer, entrée, and dessert from Chef Matt Hill’s seasonal menu, from lobster gazpacho to the fennel-crusted pork chop.
3100 North Washington Blvd. (Clarendon)
703-741-7636
Try This: Choose any appetizer, entrée, and dessert from the seasonal menu. You can’t go wrong with yellowfin tuna tartare, a Bohemian sausage platter or a steaming bowl of mussels.
2300 Wilson Blvd., Suite 140 (Courthouse)
703-465-4440
Try This: Salmon marinated in herbs and pesto (lunch), or sea bass over couscous with mushrooms and basil pesto (dinner).
photos of SER by Rey Lopez
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photos of SER by Rey Lopez
1110 North Glebe Road (Ballston)
703-746-9822
Try This: Navarra lamb stew with tomatoes and Rioja wine (lunch or dinner), followed by a dessert of puffed pastry with strawberries, toffee and fresh cream.
Photo courtesy of Water & Wall.
Photo courtesy of Water & Wall.
3811 Fairfax Drive #105 (Virginia Square)
703-294-4949
Try This: Arugula salad with strawberries, candied walnuts, chevre and pickled blueberries (lunch or dinner); Hudson valley duck confit with caramelized Brussels sprouts (dinner); Rarro risotto with herb chimichurri (dinner); Chocolate peanut-butter tart (lunch or dinner).
Note: Sneak peek of the Restaurant Week menu also available Aug. 10-16.
FALLS CHURCH (click for a full list of participating restaurants)
2941 Fairview Park Drive
703-270-1500
Try This: Chilled coconut melon soup with kaffir lime, corn and Thai basil (lunch). Or pan-seared rack of lamb with summer squash, herb vinaigrette and spaetzle (dinner).
Heirloom tomato salad at Trio Grill. Photo by Amy Kurth.
Primavera dish at Trio Grill. Photo by Amy Kurth
Peanut pie from Trio Grill. Photo by Amy Kurth.
8100 Lee Highway (Merrifield)
703-992-9200
Try This: Summer melon salad with prosciutto, goat cheese, mint and dried olives; Pappardelle primavera with shrimp, roasted red pepper coulis, blistered cherry tomatoes, roasted corn and herbed ricotta; NC peanut pie with Concord grape drizzle, white bread ice cream and candied peanuts.
McLEAN (click for a full list of participating restaurants)
The Ritz-Carlton Hotel, 1700 Tysons Blvd. (Tysons Corner)
703-744-3999
Try This: Summer corn soup with house-made hot sauce; watermelon salad with avocado, radish, goat cheese and peanuts (lunch or dinner); Jose’s lobster roll (dinner).
1861 International Drive (Tysons Corner)
703-448-3900
Try This: Cheeseburger with parmesan truffle fries (lunch), or porcini-rubbed sliced tenderloin (dinner).
6825-K Redmond Drive
703-288-4601
Try This: Penne pasta with mussels, shrimp and tomato sauce (lunch); or beef-tenderloin medallions with artichokes and rosemary sauce (dinner).
8045 Leesburg Pike, Suite 246B (Tysons Corner)
571-282-6003
Try This: BLT and avocado (lunch); or Madras curry chicken (dinner).
8521 Leesburg Pike (Tysons Corner)
703-848-4290
Try This: The 6-ounce broiled Atlantic salmon with Thai-honey glaze. Or the mixed grill with a 4-ounce tenderloin filet, free-range chicken breast and a jumbo lump crab cake.
1714-U International Drive (Tysons Galleria)
703-442-9110
Try This: Cheddar-stuffed “Juicy Lucy” burger (lunch); or the honey-mustard glazed St. Louis ribs (dinner).