Photo by Ronaldo Cabuhat.
By DCist Contributor Jordan Anthony-Brown
Christmas is a wonderful time of the year (the most wonderful, apparently). At a minimum, it represents a much-needed break from work, a festive feeling in the air, and quality time spent with friends and family (depending on how eccentric your family is). But above all, the Christmas season is a time when gluttony isn’t just accepted; it’s essentially encouraged. Whether you’re more focused on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, nothing gets you into the holiday spirit more than eating (and drinking) in a manner that will earn you a wag-of-the-finger across most of the year. It’s the holidays; excesses are bound to happen. But if you or your family and friends are lacking in culinary skills, time, or simply just don’t have it in you to put a holiday meal together, there are plenty of options that will enable you and yours to enjoy a Christmas feast without any groceries, dishes, or cleanup.
1789: Georgetown’s historic 1789 Restaurant (1226 36th Street NW) is preparing to showcase some holiday specials on Christmas Eve (in its dining room, which will likely feel more like Christmas than anywhere else you’ll dine), along with its seasonal a la carte menu. Executive Chef Samuel Kim will be featuring special holiday dishes, such as garganelli pasta with wild boar Bolognese, roast duck breast, and a foie gras torchon, in addition to the restaurant’s regular, seasonally driven menu. Dishes are priced from $13 to $48, and are available from 4-10 p.m. on Christmas Eve.
Ardeo + Bardeo: Holiday dining is also available in Cleveland Park, where Ardeo + Bardeo (3311 Connecticut Avenue NW) is offering a modern American, prix fixe menu from 5-9 p.m. on Christmas Eve. For $50, guests have the opportunity to enjoy specials such as roasted butternut squash soup with cranberry chutney and brown butter croutons, Berkshire pork chop with grits, and an eggnog crème brule.
Bibiana Osteria-Enoteca: Do you like fish? How about seven of them? If so, Bibiana Osteria-Enoteca (1100 New York Avenue NW) is fittingly offering a traditional Feast of Seven Fishes, available from 5-9 p.m. on Christmas Eve. The seafood-laden meal consists of dishes based on fish and pasta, such as black spaghetti with sea urchin and grilled eel with onion compote. But if you’re not feeling the water/surf, the restaurant also offers a limited a la carte menu throughout the evening, which features options that don’t come from the sea.
Blue Duck Tavern: Located in Foggy Bottom’s Park Hyatt, Blue Duck Tavern (1201 24th Street NW) recently appointed a new Executive Chef (Ryan LaRoche) and Chef de Cuisine (Brad Deboy), making it an ideal time to check out what the new kitchen leadership has in store for the holidays, beginning with the restaurant’s a la carte menu available from 5:30-10:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve. On Christmas Day, however, the chefs up the ante with a three-course menu running from 11:30 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. Priced at $100 per person ($45 for children under six), the menu includes first-course starters displayed throughout the restaurant’s open kitchen, followed by holiday entrée choices such as shrimp and grits with shellfish butter, and roasted black bass with oyster stew. The Christmas Day feast concludes with a host of displayed desserts prepared by pastry chef Naomi Gallego. And if you’re particularly lacking culinary skills this holiday season, Blue Duck Tavern is offering a “feast-to-go”, complete with turkey, traditional sides, and seasonal pies.
DBGB: In case you hadn’t heard, Chef Daniel Boulud has made his debut in D.C. But if you haven’t had the chance to visit DBGB (931 H Street NW), Christmas Eve may be your best upcoming opportunity. Celebrate the holidays with Chef Daniel by indulging in a three-course prix fixe menu focusing on seasonal dishes such as a pork and chestnut pate, as well as signature DBGB entrees like roasted duck breast. And don’t pass up on the classic French dessert bûche de Noël (known more colloquially as a Yule log, for those that aren’t polished up on their French).
Et Voila!: Located in the heart of the Palisades neighborhood, Et Voila (5120 Macarthur Boulevard NW) will showcase holiday specials (along with its regular a la carte diner menu) on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Guests will be able to enjoy dishes such as a foie gras terrine with quince compote and brioche, lobster cocktail, and a classic Dover sole. The meal concludes with another special iteration of buche de Noel. Et Voila is open for regular hours on Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day, with lunch running from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and dinner being served from 5 to 10 p.m.
Lupo Verde: For once, 14th Street may actually be on the quiet side around the holidays, so considering venturing to Lupo Verde (1401 T Street NW) to indulge in another iteration of the Feast of Seven Fishes. The traditional Italian feast is offered from 5-11 p.m. on Christmas Eve, and features dishes such as breaded cod with rapini, and squid ink ravioli with fresh prawns. Another great way to get your fish fix before Santa makes his way down the chimney.
Rural Society: What better way to celebrate Christmas by enjoying some well-cooked Latin-style meat? If you agree, snag a reservation at Chef Jose Garces’ Rural Society (1177 15th Street NW) for a four-course menu of traditional Latin and South American dishes. Highlights include matambre (Uruguayan beef tenderloin with carrot chimichurri) and bife rostado (Uruguayan grass-fed prime rib). And don’t forget to polish things off with dulce de leche flan.
Teddy and the Bully Bar: If you’re looking to pay homage to the 26th President of the United States, Teddy & The Bully Bar (1200 19th Street NW) has you covered. The Dupont Circle restaurant is offering a special Christmas Day feast for $55 per person ($21 for children 12 and under), and includes dishes such as sweet potato chowder, slow-roasted lamb porchetta, and pumpkin panna cotta.
The Grille at Morrison House: For those looking to stay on the Virginia side of the river for holiday dining, The Grille at Morrison House (116 South Alfred Street in Alexandria, Va.) is offering two distinct options on Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day. On December 24th, the restaurant is offering a menu based on the Feast of Seven Fishes, featuring dishes such as fruits de mer with lobster, geoduck, mussels, and scallops, and grilled Georges Bank swordfish with saffron risotto, all for $85 per person. As for Christmas Day dining, try an all-day brunch featuring dishes such as “figgy pudding” beignets, buttermilk-huckleberry pancakes, and corned beef hash. The prix fixe brunch is $50 per person.
