DC Restaurant Week tips on how to choose wisely.

DC's Winter Restaurant Week: January 11-18, 2010

DC's Winter 2010 Restaurant Week starts on Monday, January 11th and will run through January 18; however many DC restaurants extend their promotions an extra week or sometimes an entire month. See http://washington.org/restaurantwk/ for the RW official page to see participating restaurants, and to make reservations.

With so many restaurants participating, how does one chose where to dine? Well here are some tips from your resident native Washingtonian Restaurant week pro!

1. Restaurant Week (RW) is an excellent opportunity to try a restaurant that you have never dined before, one that has just opened up (there are lots in DC recently) or one that you simply could not afford otherwise.
2. To get the most “bang” for your buck, choose really expensive restaurants with superior reputations, for example, I choose restaurants that have been on the Washingtonian’s 100 Very Best Restaurant list consistently that I haven’t tried. Or perhaps your dollar would be best trying a place that serves a cuisine that you've always wanted to try, but were too timid to risk shelling out good money for.
3. Restaurants that offer their full menu are considered the best deal. The restaurants that offer prix fixe menus or pre-theatre menus all year long you can take advantage of anytime.
4. Those that offer any small-plates/tapas/mezze, such as Zaytinya, Jaleo, Oyamel, all great, but already generally offer good deals year-round, so are generally not considered best RW picks.
5. Some restaurants offer only limited selections, or include various upcharges (sometimes called supplemental fees) for some of their better dishes – these should be avoided.
6. While dinner prices have increased over the last several years, three courses at a very nice restaurant for $35.10 could still be a great deal. Lunch is even a better deal at  $20.10, depending on the main course options. Some restaurants will offer their full menu while others will have a special designated Restaurant Week menu.
7. Some restaurants like Dino will throw in a special bonus. For example, the new Kora by Morou in Crystal City will extend their special restaurant menu for the entire month and will offer a complimentary bottle of wine (for every two guests). Morou says, "If you are a party of six and you all order the restaurant week menu than you can have three bottles of wine for free.  The wines you may choose from will be some what limited but we are giving the guests 6-8 bottles to choose from."

Check out my top ten picks based on their reputation, quality of food, restaurant week menu offerings, or based on my own restaurant week experience for Summer 2009. Two Reviews from Summer: Columbia Firehouse: http://wp.me/ptKry-qq Me Jana: http://wp.me/ptKry-qh Top Ten picks for 2010 coming soon!