Photo by LaTur.

The Jewish New Year celebration Rosh Hashanah (the name of which literally means “head of the year”) begins on Sunday and runs until sundown on Tuesday, September 15. It’s a time to atone for wrongdoings from the previous year, let go of regrets, and, of course, eat. Traditional foods for the holiday include eggy challah bread baked in a round loaf instead of the typical braided form to represent the cycle of life and apples dipped in honey to bring sweetness to the year. Ring in the start of the Hebrew year 5776 with food, friends and family but no dishes to wash afterward at these Rosh Hashanah meals around the District.

DGS Delicatessen (1317 Connecticut Ave. NW)
September 13-14; 5:00 pm – close
$45 per person or $65 with wine pairings, tax and gratuity not included
Menu

DGS doesn’t foist the burden of choice upon diners: their Rosh Hashanah menu features four set courses inspired by Ashkenazi traditions, upgraded with fanciful twists. The only decision you’ll need to make is whether or not to pair each course with wine. Potato soup with trout roe and dill is dolled up with a pairing of prosecco rosé, while a simple apple crumble for dessert is complimented by a glass of Andalusian sherry. In between, savor halibut with rye spaetzle and hazelnut gremolata (a condiment made primarily of chopped herbs) and beef tenderloin with potatoes spinach, and black truffle vinaigrette.

Dino’s Grotto (1914 9th St. NW)
September 13-15; reservations available from 5:00 pm – close
$44 per person or $19 for kids under 13, tax and gratuity not included
Menu

Chef owner Dean Gold’s Italian-influenced Rosh Hashanah menu makes the most of the bounty at local farmers’ markets and is dairy-free, as per Venetian Jewish tradition. Whet your appetite with a platter of autumnal antipasti, including saffron and leek frittata, chopped liver crostini with pickled apples, and super-sweet grilled kabocha squash. Matzo ball soup made with duck schmaltz and house-made pasta or risotto made without butter are followed by veal brisket with citrus and dried fruit or fish balls in a spiced tomato sauce. A Sephardi almond cake closes out the meal on a delicate note.

Equinox (818 Connecticut Ave. NW)
September 13; reservations available from 5:30 – 9:00 pm
$50 per person or $70 with wine pairings, tax and gratuity not included
Menu

Chef Todd Gray is known for creating innovative, upscale vegan dishes that even devoted carnivores can enjoy. His three-course Rosh Hashanah menu features options for both vegans and omnivores, but even diehard carnivores will be tempted to switch between the two. Highlights include the curried butternut squash bisque with grilled challah, sweet marcona almonds, and amaretti cookie crumble; pan-roasted red snapper with caramelized artichoke, smoked chanterelle mushrooms, and minty lemon oil; and an apple tart with hazelnut streusel and vanilla-ginger ice cream.

The Heights (3115 14th St. NW)
Presented in partnership with the Jewish Food Experience
September 13; 6:30-7:30 pm (arrive by 6:15)
$42 per person including tax and gratuity; $8 additional for coffee and dessert; $14 additional for wine pairings
Menu and tickets

Rabbi Sarah Tasman from InterFaithFamily/DC will lead blessings at this Sephardi-style meal, which is structured around a series of symbolic foods. Start off with shared appetizers like tilapia and pomegranate ceviche, arugula salad with yellow dates, and Swiss chard pie with sumac and lemon. Entree options include roast chicken with pomegranate and date molasses, Tunisian salmon in a tomato and pepper sauce known as chraime, and a Moroccan squash and chickpea stew. For dessert, don’t skip the vanilla ice cream with tahini and date molasses—when was the last time you saw that on a menu?

Jackie’s Restaurant (8081 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, MD)
September 14-15; reservations available 5:00 pm – close
$35 per person (reservations requested); tax and gratuity not included
Menu

Jackie’s is preparing a Rosh Hashanah menu for the first time this year. First course offerings include house-made gefilte fish and black truffle matzo balls. Entrées are served family-style (one for the table): choose from either beef brisket or lemon and sage chicken, served with an assortment of roasted vegetables. Apple cake or chocolate panna cotta cap it off.

Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak, and Stone Crab (750 15th St. NW)
September 13-14; reservations available from 4:00- 10:00 pm
$45.95 per person (or $19.95 for kids 12 and under), tax and gratuity not included

Joe’s is offering a traditional three-course menu of Ashkenazi Rosh Hashanah classics like challah with apples and honey, gefilte fish with beet horseradish, chopped liver, and matzo ball soup. Main course options include roast chicken, beef brisket, and Alaskan halibut, with a choice of apple pie or flourless chocolate cake for dessert.

Logan Tavern (1423 P St. NW)
Presented in partnership with the Jewish Food Experience
September 13-14; 6:30-7:30 pm (arrive by 6:15)
$40 per person or $55 with wine pairings including tax and gratuity; additional $8 for coffee and dessert
Menu and tickets

EatWell restaurant group is teaming up again this year on their Rosh Hashanah dinner with the Jewish Food Experience, a local project that aims to bring people together through Jewish food stories, recipes, and events. Feast on a selection of appetizers served family-style, then choose from one of three entrees including roast beef brisket with braised potatoes and onions, roasted salmon with a pomegranate-pine nut Israeli couscous, or warm farro salad with roasted sweet potatoes and tangy sumac. Finish off your meal with either apple crisp or mango key lime pie for dessert.

Range (5335 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Suite 201)
September 13-14; reservations available from 5:00 pm to close
$35 per person, tax and gratuity not included
Menu

Dinner begins with a spread of appetizers featuring smoked salmon tartare and chicken liver pate, followed by a beet salad. Main course options are dressed-up versions of familiar dishes, like chicken “pot au feu” with matzo balls, beef short ribs, or an everything bagel with salmon and quinoa, accompanied by an assortment of vegetable side dishes. Wish for a sweet new year over an apple tart with honey ice cream.

Teddy and the Bully Bar (1200 19th St. NW)
September 13-14, 5:00 pm – close
$50 per person, tax and gratuity not included
Menu

Celebrate the Jewish new year and pay homage to our 26th president with a three-course meal featuring some of the most varied and creative interpretations of Rosh Hashanah classics. Standouts include deviled eggs filled with chopped chicken liver and lemon confit, sour cream trout with pumpernickel spiced potatoes, and grilled salmon with borscht puree and lemon-scented kasha. Make sure to go with at least two other people so you can try all three desserts, particularly the kugel crème brulée, which sounds as enticing as it does baffling.