Birthday dinner?

[baliset]

My husband and I are both turning 30 this August, and want to go out for a fabulous dinner to celebrate! Can anyone recommend a fabulous place to go to celebrate a milestone birthday? We love pretty much all kinds of food, especially Asian and French.

Comments

[unbleachedbrun]

French is my favorite "celebration" cuisine, and there are several fine options in D.C., depending upon your budget and your interests. First, consider Citronelle for some amazing nouvelle cuisine, but keep in mind that the tasting menu is $150 per person. Nearby is La Chaumière, which is much more traditional old-style D.C. French restaurant, and the prices are much more affordable. Or, if you want something a little more modern, I really like a little place in upper Georgetown called Bistrot Lepic. They can be especially fun if you tell them in advance you're celebrating.

Sticking with the continental theme, you might also consider Marcel's, expecially if you're also doing a concert or play at the Kennedy Center-they provide transportation over, then pick you up and bring you back for dessert. Still continental but more American is 1789, which is not as fabulous as it was in its glory days, but it's still one of the best places in town. 1789 also has a $35 prix fixe theater menu that can help control your costs.

It also occurs to me that you might want to go to Restaurant Eve in Old Town Alexandria....their birthday cake is worth the trip alone. Eve is sort of two restaurants in one, with a top-flight tasting room that gets rave reviews and a more casual bistro. My personal preference is the tasting room; the bistro room is good, but their prices are too influenced by the tasting room.

[baliset]

I *love* Citronelle! We went a few months ago and it was insanely good. I completely forgot about Restaurant Eve, thanks! I've been meaning to try it, every time I look at the sample tasting menus, I really want to go.