Washington, D.C. New Menu Report: Week Of 12/15/14

Penn Quarter and Three other Locations in the DMV

Still looking for the right gift for a food-loving friend or co-worker? Consider giving the gift of a seafood dinner from Legal Sea Foods. They have your holiday gift giving wrapped up with their Holiday Fishes promotion and, thankfully, it doesn't come in fish wrap. So here's the scoop: When you purchase $200 worth of gift cards from Legal Sea Foods from now through December 31, you can enjoy a lobster dinner at Legal Sea Foods on the house. Their Lobster Reward Dinner voucher is good for a 1–1.25lb steamed lobster with a choice of two sides and you can redeem your award from January 2 through March 31, 2015.  

Glover Park

If you are looking for a new spot to dine that doesn't make you wince when they run your credit card, try Arcuri, an American-Italian restaurant in Glover Park. Executive chef and partner Richard Jones has just announced he is introducing a new "Early Bird" menu that will change monthly to highlight the best seasonal ingredients. This menu series features affordable three-course dinners offered prix fixe for $25 per person (beverages, tax, and gratuity not included), available from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. nightly. December's menu includes lovely specialties like foie gras crostino with pickled red wine shallots on brioche;  squash agnolotti with Amaretto, sage, brown-butter and balsamic vinegar; and smoked heritage pork with winter vegetable caponata and a bacon vinaigrette. If you still haven't made plans for New Year's Eve, be sure to read about Arcuri's special dinner in our New Year's Eve Roundup.

Petworth

If you aren't familiar with D.C.'s hottest new residential neighborhood on the rise, then a trip to Petworth stalwart Andrene's Caribbean & Soul Food is overdue. Owner Andrene Finn has remodeled her carryout spot to offer sit down dining and the neighborhood is buzzing about sold out dinners and authentic food. Soul food options include creamy macaroni and cheese and slow-cooked, tender barbecue ribs and collard greens, and island dishes include oxtails, curried goat, shrimp, and lobster platters.

Cleveland Park and other parts of DMV

Café Deluxe has launched a new cocktail menu that is intended to complement their American comfort food and give busy Washingtonians an affordable and delicious reason to wind down after work. "We played around with housemade infusions and gave some old classics a fresh spin that I think our guests will really enjoy," said Ernie Brice, bar manager at Café Deluxe. Those looking for a drink with fresh fruit will enjoy the Blue Lemonade made with house infused lemon vodka, lemon juice, and blueberries; GT 500 is made with Roundhouse gin, Jack Rudy South Carolina tonic, and club soda; and the Island Cosmo, made with Bacardi Limon, cranberry and pineapple juice, and fresh lemon juice, will make your dream of warm sandy beaches. Prices per cocktail range from $9.95 to $11.95 and are available at all five Café Deluxe locations.

NoMa

NEW RESTAURANT OPENING. Sometimes you go to the mountain, and sometimes, if you're lucky, the mountain comes to you. For barbecue aficionados, chef Andrew Evans — world-class, award-winning 'cue master — is the mountain. His slow-cooked meat is the best Christmas present we could imagine, and his new popup spot at Union Market, The BBQ Joint, is a precursor to a full-time move to D.C. As a brisket specialist, Andrew Evans surprises no one with his menu of ribs, pork butt, and sides like collard greens, baked beans, and cornbread. Loyal patrons of his two restaurants in Maryland already know how great his food is, but as Andrew says, "Bringing the BBQ Joint to the District was a natural move. This is a town that really cares about hand-crafted, flavorful food and celebrates the effort that goes into creating it."

West End

If you just can't wait for New Year's Eve to start popping Champagne corks, Blue Duck Uncorked might suit your fancy. Every Tuesday during December, from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m., Blue Duck Tavern and Blue Duck Lounge are featuring four-ounce pours of rare magnums of Champagne. The selection of fine Champagnes is chosen by Blue Duck Tavern general manager, Joseph Cerione, and the bubbly is priced at $30 per glass. Tuesday, December 16, a Dom Ruinart 1998 will be poured; on December 23, a Gaston-Chiquet Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru is the featured selection, and on December 30, a Dom Pérignon 2004 will be offered. For additional information, call (202) 419 6755.

Palisades

A perfect dessert centerpiece for Christmas and New Year's, a Bûche de Noël cake really puts you in the holiday spirit, and Et Voila! is now selling them to-go. Traditionally, the bûche is made with sponge cake and rolled to form the log shape, but Et Voila! pastry chef Alex Malaise's version is made with chocolate, almonds, Poire William, and crème fraîche. You can enjoy the special dessert in the restaurant, or you can call ahead and place an order to-go from December 11 to December 23, and pick-up dates are from December 15 to December 25, between 1:00 and 5:00 p.m. Two sizes will be available for carryout: a bûche de Noël that that serves four is priced at $38, and a bûche de Noël for six is priced at $48. To place an order, call (202) 237-2300. Be sure to specify the date and time of pick-up.