Eat Up at Metropolitan Washington Restaurant Week, Jan. 13–19

Start making reservations now for Metropolitan Washington Restaurant Week, and find some new favorite DMV eateries.

For one week each winter, restaurants all over the DMV entice new diners with special prix-fixe menus. Lunch and brunch can be had for just $22 and dinners will run you $35 per person. Get started by heading to the official event website and browsing the participating restaurants in Metropolitan Washington Restaurant Week, January 13–19.

You can search by type of cuisine or neighborhood in D.C. and the surrounding areas in Virginia and Maryland. Not all of them have their Restaurant Week menus posted, so you may have to do a little digging.

Bistrot Lepic, cake

Courtesy of Bistrot Lepic

Craving French Food? Bistrot Lepic and Wine Bar (1736 Wisconsin Avenue NW) in Georgetown has a huge dinner menu to choose from. You could have escargots, beef medallions with creamy polenta, and chocolate mousse cake, all for $35.20 per person. Bastille in Old Town Alexandria (606 North Fayette Street) has a $22 lunch menu featuring such favorites as French charcuterie, steak frites, and chocolate profiteroles.

Get your fill of fresh seafood at Brasserie Beck (1101 K Street NW) with their 3-course lunch menu. Start with their famous mussels in white wine sauce before indulging in some delicate poached salmon, and finish with their rich chocolate ganache. You could also head to National Harbor to try the dinner menu at Fish by José Andrés (103 MGM National Avenue). Conch fritters, shrimp and grits, and Mississippi Mud Pie for $35 per person? Yum!

mussels, Brasserie Beck

Courtesy of Brasserie Beck

The thing to remember is that Restaurant Week is known for drawing big crowds. Make your reservations online, and try to dine during slightly off-peak times. You're bound to get better service during a 5 p.m. dinner as opposed to going right in the middle of a 7 p.m. rush. Don't forget to tip your server well; they'll be working extra hard with all of the new Restaurant Week customers.

Will you be trying some of these Restaurant Week specials? What are your favorite spots to try and get reservations? Let us know in the comments!