Metropolitan Washington Winter Restaurant Week was originally scheduled to run from Jan. 18-31. But last night, Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) president and CEO Kathy Hollinger announced in a statement that the event will be postponed a week. It will now take place from Jan. 25 to Feb. 7. This is due to the fact that DC Mayor Muriel Bowser has extended the city’s dining ban until at least January 22 due to safety concerns surrounding the inauguration.
“Until then, the public is encouraged to support the region’s restaurants in whatever ways they can with takeout, delivery, and on-premises dining available in Northern Virginia and suburban Maryland, and takeout, delivery, and outdoor dining in DC,” Hollinger said.
Of course, Jan. 25 will come soon enough and those who still aren’t comfortable dining outside the home will still have plenty of options. Besides prix-fixe takeout and delivery meals, many restaurants are also outdoing themselves with takeout wine and cocktail pairings. To-go meals from $35 dinner menus are priced at $60 for two or $120 for four diners. The more luxe at-home $55 menus are $100 for two people and $200 for four.
But with dining out still at 50-percent capacity in Northern Virginia, food lovers are invited to dine inside restaurants, too. I’ll follow up next week with a list of my recommendations for the best reservations to make and to-go menus from which to order for this winter’s Restaurant Week.
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