Courtesy DGS.The Jewish High Holidays are upon us with Rosh Hashanah, the start of the new year on the Jewish calendar, beginning this Wednesday evening. Yom Kippur, the day of atonement, follows October 3 and 4. Time at temple features prominently into the holidays and, of course, so does food. A small handful of restaurants offer options for those looking to make dining out a part of their observing of the holidays.
Dino’s Grotto
Dean Gold is a lover of pork, but he leaves it off his Jewish holiday menus, which were a special fixture of his Cleveland Park operation and continue in Shaw. He’ll intersperse recipes from his family vault, like matzo ball soup, with Sephardic Italian preparations. This year’s five-course $44 menu includes Tuscan spice rubbed brisket, fish baked with raisins and wine. An early risotto course and a finishing almond cake eschew butter to keep the meal dairy-free. The menu is available Wednesday starting at 4:30 p.m., Thursday and Friday.
DGS Delicatessen
The upscale Dupont Circle deli will serve four courses for $40 this Wednesday, Thursday and Friday with wine pairings matched with each course available for $18 extra. The gourmet twists on traditional foods begin with a squash kreplach (or dumpling) finished with brown butter, pomegranate, and pistachios and recommended with a Cava brut. Seared pacific cod is complemented with caviar sauce as is a roasted duck breast with a plum brandy gastrique. Honey-glazed donuts filled with apple preserves makes for a sweet end to the meal and start to the new year.
Logan Tavern
Why do you suppose the EatWell DC restaurant group opted to host their Rosh Hashanah meal at Logan Tavern instead of The Pig? The P Street restaurant is partnering with the Jewish Food Experience website for a one night only pre-service Rosh Hashanah dinner on Wednesday. An appetizer buffet starts at 6 p.m. before guests take their seats at 6:45 p.m. for entrees, brisket or salmon. They’ll get you out by 7:15 p.m. if you need to bounce to make 8 p.m. services. Or you can stick around 30 more minutes and linger over apples and their self-sourced honey. The dinner is $36 and includes tax and gratuity.
Mon Ami Gabi
Bethesda’s French bistro will serve multi-course holiday meals this Wednesday and Thursday from 5:30 to 9 p.m. for $37.95. The feast includes a choice of entree, matzo ball soup, family style noshes and traditional sides like carrots tzimmes and kasha varniskes. Apple tarte tatin, flourless chocolate cake, and stewed fruit compote is for dessert.
Sixth and the City New Year’s Eve Party
Not your bubbe’s way to ring in the Jewish New Year. Sixth & I Synagogue’s young professional programming is taking over the Carnegie Library with festive food and drink and music from local brass band Black Masala. Tickets are $36.
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If you’re still trying to figure out where you can attend services, there’s not a great comprehensive guide out there. Our 2008 Yom Kippur guide on Where to Feast Before the Fast is still a fairly accurate map to what services are out there, of course with some subtractions, additions, and address changes. This calendar can also help point you in a direction, though it’s far from complete. Many Jewish High Holiday services are for congregation members only, while others require spots to be reserved in advance. If you didn’t plan ahead, three open, non-ticketed options (suggested donations accepted) include Fabrangen, Georgetown University and MesorahDC at Sixth and I.
