Celebrate the Fourth with These Specials
The Fourth of July is Wednesday, and it is time to fire up the grill before heading to the National Mall to watch the fireworks. If you don’t want to spend your holiday in a hot kitchen or in front of a grill, check out these restaurant specials worth celebrating.
Bayou Bakery, Coffee Bar & Eatery, 1515 North Courthouse Road, Arlington, will be open 8 a.m.-4 p.m. serving its Red, White & Blue Cake ($28/whole or $4/slice) with layers of red velvet cake, cream cheese icing and blueberry jam filling topped with fresh blueberries and crumbled graham crackers. Also, star shaped cookies ($2.50) will be offered in the tri-colors. Whole cakes musts be ordered 48 hours in advance of pickup.
Buttercream Bakeshop, 1250 Ninth St. NW, is whipping up a deep-dish blueberry icebox pie featuring fresh, juicy blueberries, lime juice, vanilla whipped cream and a graham gracker crust. It is available whole or by the slice. Call in advance to confirm availability and special store hours.
Estadio, 1520 14th St. NW, will be open from 5-11 p.m. serving Spanish-inspired versions of America’s favorite grill-out bites: hot dogs and burgers. The menu puts a Spanish twist on barbecue favorites, such as the Butifarra Dog, Spanish pork sausage with shishito pepper relish ($9) and the Manchego cheeseburger with piquillo peppers and caramelized onions ($12). The restaurant also pays homage to the American flag in dessert form with the blueberry creme brûlée tart. Drink specials will include $4 Mahou beer and $4 clara con limon, a shandy-type drink combining Mahou and housemade lemon soda.
Jack Rose Dining Saloon, 2007 18th St. NW, is partnering with Frederick, Md.-based Flying Dog Brewery for its sixth annual AmeriCAN DrinkDependence Day. The terrace opens early at 3 p.m. serving $4 Flying Dog cans and $5 drafts until the fireworks end. Guests can also enjoy half-priced bites ($3-$6.50) such as pickled corn hushpuppies with sumac creme and wildflower honey; smoked whiskey wings with habanero and honey bourbon sauce; crispy chicken skins with paprika, lime and green goddess dressing; and smoked brisket rolls with hop-b-q sauce and slaw. The new summer terrace menu will also be available, featuring seasonal dishes like summer burrata with grilled white peaches, blackberry and shaved almonds; chilled asparagus and zucchini with goat cheese, olive oil, lemon and micro basil; and jerk’d lamb skewers with charred pineapple and red pepper. The Balcony Room and Tiki Bar will both also be open.
Jardenea Lounge in the Melrose Georgetown Hotel, 2430 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, is mixing up a red, white and blue martini to celebrate Independence Day. Made with blend of American Harvest vodka, Stirrlings triple sec, grenadine, lime and a hint of agave nectar, it is available throughout the summer.
Lil’B Coffee & Eatery, 1515 Rhode Island Ave. NW, is honoring the founding of our nation with red, white and blue cupcakes ($3.25 each), a red a velvet cupcake topped with cream cheese buttercream; a blueberry cupcake with local blueberries and blue vanilla buttercream icing; and a classic vanilla cupcake finished with a red vanilla Icing. Lil’B will be open from 6:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
Occidental Grill & Seafood, 1475 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, with a front row seat to the fireworks from its oversized patio, is serving a grilled Black Angus burger ($19), a blend of short rib and brisket, smothered with guanciale marmalade, blue cheese, tomato jam and leaf lettuce on a caraway seed bun. The restaurant will be open from 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m.
District Distilling is closing its restaurant
District Distilling, 1414-1418 U St. NW, is closing its restaurant on Wednesday, July 4, to focus on the production and distribution of its spirits, which includes gin, vodka, rum, bourbon, rye and whiskey.
A press release said the restaurant, which opened in August 2016, will reopen in September under new management and with a new concept, but did not specify whether that means whether another company will take over or if District Distilling is bringing in new staff. Jason Bittner, formerly of Bar Pilar and Café Saint-Ex, is the executive chef.
District Distilling’s tasting room and bar will remain open on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and the restaurant, tasting room bar and distillery will be available for private events with Rex & Regina Events, an event management firm, overseeing private parties.
“The spirits side of our business … has grown faster than we could have hoped for,” states co-owner Michael Cummings in the press release. “We look forward to announcing our new restaurant partner this summer and re-opening the restaurant this September.”
MXDC to crown a king and queen of tequila
MXDC Cocina Mexicana, 600 14th St. NW, is celebrating National Tequila Month by crowning a king and queen of tequila.
From July 1-24, diners are encouraged to upload a photo to Instagram showing themselves enjoying a tequila-based drink with the hashtag #MXDCRoyalty. Crowns and tiaras are scattered throughout the bar for those who wish to incorporate props into their image.
The man and woman with the most likes before National Tequila Day on July 24 will be crowned king and queen and receive a $300 barrel select Patrón Reposado Tequila dinner with tableside bottle service.
Le DeSales celebrates Bastille Day all month
Le DeSales, 1725 DeSales St. NW, is celebrating Bastille Day with three-course, prix fixe menu featuring classic French dishes for $38 per person from July 2-31.
The meal begins with a choice of curled lettuce with red onion, black sesame and Champagne ranch; duck paté with pistachios, smoked bourbon and pickles; or Almaco Jack with lime, coconut and jalapeño. The main course includes a choice of cavatelli pasta with mushroom duxelle, pine nuts and bacon crumble; corn-fed chicken with pomegranate and brown cauliflower; organic Sapphire salmon with forbidden rice and watercress; or pork loin with carrots and preserved lemon. For dessert, diners can choose from a chocolate tart served in an almond tart shell with espresso gelato; strawberries with vanilla gelato and meringue; or classic crème brûlée with muscovado sugar.
Guests can pair their meal with a 750ml bottle of Domaine du Pas de l’Escalette Coteaux du Languedoc Ze Rosé priced at $36 or opt for the 1.5L magnum bottle for a discounted $48 (regularly priced at $56). Also, a red, white and blue-layered cocktail, Marie Antoinette made from a combination of cherry liquor, Pernod and Curaçao, is $10.
The special is available during dinner service from 5:30-10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 5:30-10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
All Set Restaurant & Bar hosts weekly crab feast
Beginning Saturday, July 7 through Sept. 1, All Set Restaurant & Bar, 8630 Fenton Street, Plaza 5, Silver Spring, host a weekly crab feast from 11:30 a.m. while supplies last on its 52-seat outdoor patio.
Diners can order steamed Maryland blue crabs by the dozen and half-dozen with market prices ranging from $90-$110/dozen for medium crabs, from $100-$120 for large crabs and from $110-$130 for jumbo crabs. All Set’s seasonal menu will also be available.
To go with the crabs, a bucket of five cans of PBR will be priced at $18, five bottles of Corona at $23 and a Dealer’s Choice consisting of five micro and macro brews of the bartender’s choosing for $25.
Editor-in-Chief Mark Heckathorn is a journalist, movie buff and foodie. He oversees DC on Heels editorial operations as well as strategic planning and staff development. Reach him with story ideas or suggestions at dcoheditor (at) gmail (dot) com.