How to hack restaurant week like a pro

A record number of DMV dining spots are participating in Summer Restaurant Week , which runs Aug. 12-18.

The big picture: The high participation rate (over 350 spots!) plus some elaborate, exciting menus suggest local restaurateurs and chefs are all in on restaurant week this year — and you'll need a strategic plan to find the best meals and deals.

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State of play: As a food writer in D.C. for over 15 years, I've covered a lot of restaurant weeks. And things have definitely changed.

• For one, the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington (RAMW)'s restaurant weeks — the biggest in the area — are larger and more expensive .
• The association introduced more pricing options last year to accommodate a range of dining budgets and to encourage a wider swath of restaurants to participate. Everything from casual $25 meals to $65 fine dining dinners.

But there's also a shift in attitude.

• Pre-pandemic, it wasn't uncommon for industry folks to openly hate on restaurant week (not without reason ). Downgraded, airline-style menus (chicken or fish?) were common.
• Now with a stressed dining economy and tons of competition, chefs are upping their restaurant week game to get diners in the door and create repeat customers.

How it works: The major RAMW promo includes multi-course lunches and brunches for $25 or $35 per person, and dinners for $40, $55, or $65.

• Alexandria Restaurant Week starts on Friday, with dinners set at $27.50, $40, or $50 per person plus some cheaper fast-casual offerings.

Fun fact: The restaurant week concept was launched in NYC by dining guide guy Tim Zagat as a " goodwill gesture " to reporters covering the 1992 Democratic National Convention.

• Journalists got an affordable meal, restaurants got publicity, and it worked so well that it became a national phenomenon.

Crane's restaurant week lunchtime bento. Photo: courtesy LeadingDC

Here are some golden restaurant week rules I dine by:

Snag the best deals at lunch and brunch

• You can spend $25 at Sweetgreen these days. A $25 or $35 meal at glitzy seafood restaurant Fiola Mare , sister Spanish spot Del Mar , or Japanese-Spanish Cranes feels like a gift.
• Brunch is the best bet for drink deals. Imperial includes their terrific espresso martini and other bevs in the $35 brunch. Others offer discounted pairings, like at Cucina Morini ($10 drinks!) or Chaplin's , where an extra $15 includes two cocktails.

Pick pricey places

• A $65 prix-fixe menu isn't a big bargain — unless you'd usually pay double. Several Michelin-starred tasting rooms fit the bill, including modernist Colombian spot El Cielo , wood-fired Spanish restaurant Xiquet , and mod-French Bresca (the latter two are extending restaurant week through the end of August).

Don't overlook older restaurants

• It's fun to try a new hotspot . But classics like Rasika and Bombay Club , Sushi Taro , and Central have dealt many hands in the restaurant week game and may provide an expert experience.

DIY pan con tomate at Casa Teresa. Photo: courtesy Casa Teresa

Decode menus

• A good sign: Lots of crossover with the regular menu, like at Convivial , where you can pick any two ($47) or three ($55) plates. Also, places that offer signature dishes, like Casa Teresa 's DIY pan con tomate.
• Or on the flip side, super creative fare like at Wafu Japanese restaurant Tonari , which is doing a five-course summer menu with new creations ($55 including a cocktail).
• I also look for quality ingredients without a surcharge, like at upscale Korean steakhouse Ingle , where the generous $65 lineup stars wagyu cuts.

Set expectations

• Restaurant week is, ideally, mutually beneficial — restaurants get a boost and diners get a deal or an experience in a restaurant they might not afford or try otherwise. It's not business as usual, and it's not designed to be. A little patience and kindness go a long way all around.

And remember: Just because the menu is discounted doesn't mean tip less.

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