From Halloween to Thanksgiving, fall will set in and holiday fare will take center stage at local eateries. Here are a few suggestions:
El Centro D.F. (1819 14 St. NW, 1218 Wisconsin Ave., NW) is hosting parties on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 30 and 31, starting at 9 p.m. in Georgetown and 10 p.m. on 14th Street with spooky decorations, classic Mexican cocktails and a costume contest. The two winners of the contests from each restaurant will receive a $75 gift certificate exclusive to that location.
Masa 14 (1825 14 St. NW) will celebrate with a Mexican Halloween brunch on Oct. 31 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Guests are encouraged to dress up for a chance to enter the restaurant’s best costume contest. Two winners will be named on Monday, Nov. 2, and receive $75 gift certificates.
On Halloween, a costume party starting at 5 p.m. will be held at Pizzeria Paradiso (3282 M Street NW). Halloween-themed drafts and cocktails will be served, along with an “Orange, White & Black” pizza. Prizes will be given for best dressed and beer-themed costumes.
Republic (6939 Laurel Ave. Tacoma Park) celebrates this Halloween with a “Three Headed Monster Weekend.” On Friday, October 30, the restaurant hosts the “Final Friday” music line-up, featuring, among others, grungy pop punk band Lilac Daze. Music starts at 10 p.m. and will run until closing.
On Saturday, the restaurant brings back its annual Halloween costume contest starting at 11 p.m. The winner will receive a $250 gift certificate, with two runners up receiving $50 gift certificates. A Day of the Dead Hangover Brunch is scheduled for Nov. 1 from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Macon Bistro & Larder (5520 Connecticut Ave. NW) is hosting a Porktail Party on Sunday, Nov. 8, from 5 to 9 p.m. Chefs Daniel Singhoven and Jenna Pool will transform a whole hog into 10 dishes. The $65 dinner price includes cocktails, beers and wines complementing the hog. Reservations are required.
R & D Supper Club, a pop up at various locations throughout the area, premieres on Sunday and Monday, Nov. 8 and 9 p.m. at 6:30 p.m. at DGS Delicatessen (1317 Connecticut Ave. NW). Dinner will include oysters, empanadas, pheasant, goat and dessert sourced from local farms, for an all-inclusive price of $125. Tickets are available at supperclub-dc.com/supper-club-tickets/.
Espita Mezcaleria, a Oaxacan-inspired restaurant scheduled to open in Shaw in December, will preview its menu during a four-course Mole & Mezcal Tasting Dinner at Dolcezza Gelato Factory & Coffee Lab (550 Penn St. NE) on Monday, Nov. 9, with seatings from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and from 8:15 p.m. to 10:15 p.m. Dinner is priced at $75, all inclusive, and tickets can be purchased at molemezcaldinner.eventbrite.com.
The 2015 vintage of Beaujolais Nouveau will be available on Nov. 17 at Slate Wine Bar (2404 Wisconsin Ave. NW). Slate’s owner/sommelier Danny Liedo will lead private at-the-table tastings of four vintages — the 2015, one from 2014 and two from 2013 — on Thursday, Nov. 19 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The 21st Oyster Riot will take place on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 20 and 21 at Old Ebbitt Grill (675 15th St. NW). Each evening between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m., and on Nov. 21 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., thousands of oysters will be consumed along with gold medal winners of the International Wines for Oysters Competition. Tickets for each session are $140, available at Ebbitt.com/calendar.
Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab (750 15th St. NW) is featuring fresh Alaska king crab, available only for a short season, caught, processed and shipped overnight to Washington. The crab is priced at $84.95 for 1 pounds shelled tableside, or as an appetizer of 6 ounces for $21.95.
Et Voila (5120 MacArthur Blvd. NW) is hosting its annual pre-Thanksgiving “Stretch Your Belly” special on Wednesday, Nov. 25, from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Mussels with lobster cream and Belgian fries, or coq au vin with pasta, and a glass of wine are offered for $29.95.
Many restaurants feature three and four-course prix fixe menus on Thanksgiving. Check with your favorite restaurants for their specials.
The Bombay Club (815 Connecticut Ave. NW), Rasika West End (1190 New Hampshire Ave. NW) and Rasika Penn Quarter (633 D St. NW) will add a variety of Indian specials to their a la carte menus.
Blue Duck Tavern’s (24th and M Streets NW) “brunch into dinner” three-course meal, priced at $110, will be served on Thanksgiving from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Blue Duck’s meal to go for 6 or 8 includes a 10 to 12 pound turkey, breads, sides and pies for $350. Orders must be placed by Nov. 12 at 11 p.m., with pick-up on Nov. 25 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., or on Nov. 26 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Acadiana (901 New York Ave. NW) will prepare a take-out “Thanksgiving Dinner for Eight” including a roasted or fried Cajun-style turkey, four sides, a pumpkin or pecan pie and biscuits with house-made pepper jelly for $175, or just the bird for $105. All items are available a la carte. To order, call 202/408-8804 before 5 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 19. Pickup is between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day.
Bayou Bakery, Coffee Bar & Eatery (1515 N. Courthouse Rd., Arlington, 901 Pennsylvania Ave. SE) offers Louisiana-style fixings with pies starting at $20 and savory sides starting at $12. To order, call 703/243-2410 or 202/664-5307 before Monday, Nov. 23. Final pick-up is Wednesday, Nov. 25. Early birds who order sides (pies not included) by Thursday, Nov. 19 receive a 10 percent discount.
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