The fall holidays may be scaled back this year, but you can still get your boo on at these five spots. From at-home delivery to spooky themed cocktails, these are the best ways to taste the dark side.
Halloween-Themed Feast Box from Nina May
The Shaw restaurant is encouraging diners to spend Halloween from the comfort and safety of their own home with dinners delivered to your home. Available the last week of October, the Halloween-themed Feast Box includes a mini pumpkin for carving, caramel apples with toasted peanuts, Nina May’s Favorite Candy, Row 7 koginut curried pumpkin soup with spiced pumpkin seeds and nutmeg crème fraîche, Mom’s famous goulash with Carolina gold rice, ground beef and savoy cabbage, and chocolate pumpkin cake with pumpkin icing and Halloween toppings. The box serves two and costs $70; orders must be placed by noon the day before delivery through the Feast by Nina May website. // 1337 11th Street NW, Washington, DC
Day of the Dead Menu at Cocina on Market
The regional Mexican street fare-inspired cantina in Leesburg is offering a special menu for Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) starting starting Friday, Oct. 23 and running through Saturday, Nov. 2, available both à la carte or as a tasting menu with optional mezcal pairings. On the menu is a daily catch ceviche rojo in guajillo and lime with radishes, beef-stuffed chiles with walnut cream sauce, pork tacos with pickled chili and radish salsa, cilantro and onions, turkey mole negro with Spanish rice and heirloom black beans and a dessert of traditional sweetened bread served with a hot chocolate-masa drink. // 7 West Market Street, Leesburg
La Sandia Sugar Skull Paint ‘n Sip / Three Course Dinner
Once again, the Tysons location of chef Richard Sandoval, known as the father of modern Mexican cuisine, is offering their ever-popular Day of the Day-inspired package. The $70 kit includes a ceramic sugar skull, set of 5 brushes and set of 12 paints as well as dinner for one. The meal starts with chips and signature molcajete salsa followed by a choice of a three-taco entree with either al pastor (adobe marinated pork shoulder, grilled pineapple, onion, cilantro and salsa verde), chicken tinga with lettuce, pico de gallo and crema fresca or veggie with crispy cheese, mushroom, squash, corn and grilled scallions. Churros with passion fruit jam, cajeta and warm chocolate sauce make for a sweet ending, and the kit also comes with a traditional rocks Margarita to sip while you are decorating your masterpiece. // 7852L Tysons Corner Center, McLean
Halloween at Opaline Bar & Brasserie
Reserve a table on Halloween night on the patio, where from 7 to 9 p.m. the upscale French bistro downtown is serving Halloween-themed cocktails (and mocktails) and their happy hour food menu alongside the music of award-winning electric violinist Jason Labrador. Boozy libations include the Smoked Crushing Blackberry Martini, Spooky Old Fashioned, Steaming Vampire Punch and Witches Brew Spiced Mezcal Mule, but if you are not imbibing you can try a Bloody Eye Sparkling Cranberry, Witches Brew Sparkling Apple Cider or N/A Steaming Vampire Punch. Space is limited and reservations are suggested; guests are asked to wear a mask and follow social distancing protocols. // 806 15th Street NW, Washington, DC
Day of the Dead Cocktail at Taco Bamba
At chef Victor Albisu’s string of street taco joints in NOVA, the Black Hole Sun ($10) is a black-hued cocktail colored with activated charcoal that mixes mezcal with blackberry, lime and mint. It’s served in a glass bottle adorned with a colorful sugar skull and is available Oct. 23 through Nov. 2 at the Ballston, Springfield, Vienna and Fairfax locations. Try it with the El Diablo taco with fighting chicken, Buffalo sauce, blue cheese crema, pickles, chiles and slaw. // Multiple Locations
