Metropolitan Washington Summer Restaurant Week is back next week, giving D.C. diners a rare excuse to finally book that restaurant they have been eyeing for months.
From Monday, August 24th through Sunday, August 30th, participating restaurants across the District and surrounding DMV will offer special three-course prix fixe menus at set prices.
That means this is one of the best times of the summer to try acclaimed and typically expensive dining rooms without paying full à la carte prices.
And with menus ranging from $25 to $65, there are deals for everything from a casual weekday lunch or a decadent brunch, to an ambitious date night at some of the region’s most celebrated restaurants.
What deals are happening during Metropolitan Washington Summer Restaurant Week?
Metropolitan Washington Summer Restaurant Week will feature special three-course prix fixe menus priced at $25, $35, $40, $55 or $65, depending on the restaurant and meal.
Participating restaurants are offering brunch, lunch and dinner options, creating plenty of opportunities to experience a new dining room for considerably less than a typical full-price meal.
Some of the standout Downtown D.C. deals include:
- $25 lunch at China Chilcano, the José Andrés restaurant in Penn Quarter.
- $35 lunch or $55 dinner at Seven Reasons, making the acclaimed dining destination a particularly tempting Restaurant Week splurge.
- $65 dinner at Moon Rabbit, one of the most exciting options for diners looking to experience a high-end restaurant at a fixed price.
- $65 dinner at Ristorante Tosca, offering a special occasion-worthy Italian meal without navigating the restaurant’s usual à la carte pricing.
- $35 lunch or $65 dinner at Zaytinya, another José Andrés favorite with a particularly popular Downtown location.
The key is to check each restaurant’s individual Restaurant Week menu before reserving.
Menus are being added and updated, and the available prices and meal periods can vary by restaurant.
6 of the best restaurants to try during Metropolitan Washington Summer Restaurant Week
With so many restaurants participating across the DMV, narrowing down the options is the hard part.
For diners looking to maximize the value of Restaurant Week, the best strategy is often to target a restaurant that would normally feel like a bigger splurge.
Here are six especially notable spots to consider, including several restaurants recognized by the Michelin Guide:
- Moon Rabbit — A standout destination for inventive Vietnamese cuisine, with a $65 Restaurant Week dinner offered in Downtown D.C.
- Rania — One of the more ambitious and exclusive dining experiences participating in the event, especially appealing for diners who have been waiting for the right occasion to try it.
- Seven Reasons — An acclaimed destination known for its creative approach to Latin American-inspired cuisine, offering a $35 lunch and $55 dinner.
- Ristorante Tosca — A polished Downtown D.C. special-occasion restaurant offering a $65 dinner, making Restaurant Week an ideal time to experience its upscale Italian cooking.
- Zaytinya — José Andrés‘s celebrated Mediterranean restaurant is offering a $35 lunch or $65 dinner.
- Central Michel Richard — A D.C. classic offering a $35 lunch and $55 dinner, giving diners a more affordable route into one of the city’s most notable dining rooms.
Pro tip: The biggest Restaurant Week bargains are not always the cheapest menus. A $55 or $65 prix fixe dinner at a restaurant where a normal multi-course meal would cost significantly more can be one of the best values of the entire week.
When does Metropolitan Washington Summer Restaurant Week end?
Metropolitan Washington Summer Restaurant Week runs for one week only, beginning Monday, August 24th and ending Sunday, August 30th, 2026.
Because the event includes some of the DMV’s most popular restaurants, diners should consider making reservations early—particularly for prime dinner times and the more exclusive dining rooms.
Restaurant Week menus are already available to browse, with additional menus continuing to be added.
So whether you’ve been waiting to finally try an acclaimed D.C. restaurant, planning a date night or simply looking for an excuse to eat somewhere usually out of your budget, next week may be the time to do it.
