Dining In Dc – Food and Restaurant Blog

Valentine’s Day 2012: Romantic, Indulgent Meals, Budget Friendly, and Singles-Only Anti-Valentine’s Day Fetes

Love is in the air this time of year (whether you like it or not). Many DC Restaurants offer special menus and promotions to sweethearts (and singles) dining out to celebrate Valentine’s Day. January is coming to a close and the big V-Day, Tuesday, February 14th, is just around the corner, so don’t wait to make your plans. To help, I’ve taken the liberty of providing a few recommendations...

DC Restaurant Week Restaurants Ranked 100′s Very Best

As you’ve noticed this year, Dining in DC has really stepped it up a notch for the upcoming DC Restaurant Week, January 9-15, 2012 by offering all new features. Have you checked out my postings on newcomers, live music or entertainment, the Best Bets neighborhood guide, and of course, my Top 20 Picks? And No, I’m not going to stop there. I know that foodies love good food and even...

Dining in DC Mailbag: Christmas Dinner Ask Lisa Response

Do you have a question about where do dine out in the DC area? Post your questions to Ask Lisa here! You can also read about other people’s questions, and my solutions. Yes, every single question to, “Ask Lisa” gets published and answered. Also via Twitter, I have often helped readers obtain hard to get reservations. Below is a recent question about where to dine in the DC Area on Christmas day...

DC Restaurant Week 2012 Top 20 Picks

DC Restaurant Week Winter 2012 January 9-15, marks the 20th cycle of DC Restaurant Week, which started in 2001. In July 2011, I posted my top ten picks and mentioned the ongoing controversy about the value of restaurant week promotions. I discussed that proponents support the concept because it bolsters business in an otherwise slow time of the year while opponents argue that restaurants don’t put...

DC Restaurant Week First Timers: Newcomers to Restaurant Week

DC Restaurant Week takes place twice a year and since new restaurants open up every single month in the area, it is a great time to check out a place that you’ve been hearing about. According to my list, these spots are first timers to DC Restaurant Week. This post is the first installment of a variety of feature articles to come — all about  DC Restaurant Week. It seems only fitting...

12 Days of Christmas Giveaway: Two Turtle Doves: The Friday Night Game Roast

12 Days.  12 DC Blogs.  12 Amazing Prizes From DC Businesses. On Day 2 of  the #12daysDC Holiday Giveaway, DininginDC is giving away 2 tickets (valued at $150) to the Friday Night Game Roast at Todd Gray’s Watershed (1225 1st St., NE) on December 9th (7-10 p.m.). Think Two Turtle Doves will be on the menu? I don’t think so … Winners of this fabulous prize will enjoy a family-style,...

Enjoy a Comforting Combo: Dining Fireside and Prix-Fixe Menus

We’re not quite there yet, but we’re closer than we think. Once the cold sets in, there is nothing more comforting than dining and enjoying a glass of wine or cocktail beside the warmth of a roaring fire. Oh wait, there is!  It’s even more comforting knowing that it you can enjoy a fine meal without it breaking the bank. Now you can enjoy a hearty meal while listening to the crackle...

Forgo the Cooking Stress and Dine out this Thanksgiving

To most, Thanksgiving means a home-cooked meal enjoyed with your (extended extended extended) family. I’ve cooked. I’ve put in my dues. To me, while lovely to spend time with your family, it ultimately translates to:  hours spent burning your fingers, throwing your back out, and weeks of prep-time. If I had my choice, I’d opt to dine out. Honestly, you deserve a break.  So, take...

Be a Chef at Home: Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s Butternut Squash Soup

I have visited J&G Steakhouse several times, but the most memorable of my visits was around this time last year. I had the Butternut Squash Soup with Fall Mushrooms for the first time. It had full-bodied flavor and a smooth, velvety texture. It was absolutely incredible – like nothing that I have ever tasted. I’ve come across the recipe in a few places, including a demo that he did...

Winter Comes Early to Washington, DC. Where to Eat by the Fire

As a native Washingtonian, I can’t remember a time when we ever got snow in October. Granted, it’s nearly November, but still. Since mother nature has decided to skip autumn for us DC area residents, I say that instead of fighting the inevitable, we accept our doom and fire up the hearth. While the weather outside is frightful, dining by the fire is so delightful. When the temperature...

The Best of Fireside Dining in DC.

  When the temperature drops in DC, nothing warms the body more than a delicious hearty meal sitting next to a fireplace sipping a glass of wine or cocktail. DC offers the best fireside dining with opportunities to sample cuisine from the world’s best chefs. Some of the city’s oldest buildings are located in Georgetown, including 1789 Restaurant (1226 36th St., NW). It takes its name from...

Ici Urban Bistro: A First Look

Washingtonians have witnessed a recent revitalization of DC area hotel restaurants. The mind-set that hotel restaurants are not up to par to other high-end restaurants no longer exists. Ici Urban Bistro, is an excellent example – located inside the stylish Sofitel situated in the historic LaFayette Square, the building erected in 1880; just blocks away from the white house. The clean,...

Brabo: Chef of the Year Robert Wiedmaier’s first restaurant in the Commonwealth. A First Look.

Tuesday night, my husband and I were invited to dine at Chef Robert Wiedmaier’s Brabo for the first time. The restaurant is nestled inside the new Lorien Hotel and Spa located right on King Street in Old Town, Alexandria.  Opened just five months ago, Brabo is the first of Chef Wiedmaier’s establishments in the Commonwealth. Marcel’s, which opened in 1999 and first introduced...