WASHINGTON DC: Tasty Pre-Theater Options in DC for Dinner before The Show

In keeping with the DC's theater season, area restaurants are offering up tempting three-course tasting menus to give guests a great opportunity for exceptional dining before the show.

First up, The Oval Room, located at 800 Connecticut Avenue, NW, 20006, offers a three-course prix fixe sophisticated American menu created by Executive Chef John Melfi.  This special dinner is priced at $38 per person (excluding tax and gratuity), and is served from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. nightly.The Oval Room offers valet parking for $8 nightly with dinner validation.  Guests must first choose from tantalizing appetizers including Baby Kale Salad with honeycrisp apple, fennel, hazelnuts and cider vinaigrette; House Made Linguine Pasta with vegetable “bolognese”, pecorino gran cru and fresh basil, as well as Butternut Squash Soup with honeycrisp apples, cranberry and toasted pumpkin seeds.  Next the entrée course offers three selections: Crispy Skin Salmon with roasted beets, frisée, horseradish and grapefruit labneh; Pan Roasted Amish Chicken with whipped potato, beech mushrooms, wax beans and bacon ravigoté, as well as Pumpkin and Goat Cheese Risotto with Asian pear, pecorino gran cru, sage and pumpkin seed brittle.  For dessert, options include La Bête Noir with white chocolate mousse, vanilla braised cherries and pistachios and Chilled Passion Fruit Soufflé with sesame honeycomb and pineapple consommé.  Menu items are subject to change and availability.

For reservations or more information, please call (202) 463- 8700 or visit http://www.ovalroom.com.

The award-winning Rasika Penn Quarter and its sister restaurant, Rasika West End offer a three-course, pre-theater menu priced at $35 per person (excluding tax and gratuity).  The menu at both Rasika Penn Quarter and West End is available Monday through Thursday, from 5:30 PM until 6:30 PM, and Friday and Saturday, from 5 PM to 6:30 PM.  Rasika West End is also open Sunday evenings from 5 PM to 6:30 PM.  Prepared by Group Executive Chef Vikram Sunderam, guests can expect to see standout dishes such as Palak Chaat, crispy baby spinach, sweet yogurt, tamarind and date chutney; Sev Batata Puri, crispy biscuits, potatoes, raw mangoes, gram flour vermicelli and chutney Tandoor Salmon with Kashmiri chilies, cinnamon and black pepper; Chicken Tikka Masala, and the Gobh Mattar, cauliflower, green peas, cumin and ginger.  For dessert, guests can choose form options such as Gulab Jamun with ice cream; Carrot Halwa with saffron sabayon, or Rice Pudding.  Dish preparations vary at both locations.  Rasika Penn Quarter is located at 633 D Street, NW, 20004, and offers validated valet parking with dinner service for $8.  Rasika West End is located at 1190 New Hampshire Avenue, NW, 20037.  Valet parking is available during dinner service for $8.  For reservations or more information, please call either the Penn Quarter location at (202) 637-1222(202) 637-1222 or the West End location at (202) 466-2500(202) 466-2500 or visit http://www.rasikarestaurant.com.

nopa Kitchen + Bar, located just steps from the Verizon Center at 800 F Street, NW, 20004, offers a three-course, pre-theatre menu prepared by Executive Chef Matt Kuhn.  This special dinner is priced at $35 per person (excluding tax and gratuity), and is served Monday through Friday, from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM, and Saturday and Sunday, from 5 PM to 6:30 PM.  Standout dishes include Celery Root & Parsnip Soup with lobster, tarragon and smoked olive oil; Farro & Black Quinoa Risotto with kuri squash-pumpkin seed pesto, cipollini onions, fingerling sweet potatoes and sottocenere; Skuna Bay Salmon with roasted sunchokes, spiced chestnuts, guanciale and apple mustard, as well as Beef Coulotte Steak “Frites” with baby lacinato kale, crispy fingerlings and truffled red wine crème fraîche.  For dessert, guests have a choice of Sticky Toffee Pudding with candied Benton bacon, spiced toffee pudding and pumpkin ice cream, or the Autumn Spiced Cake with brown sugar butter cream, cranberry compote and salted caramel ice cream, or Chef's Daily Selection of Sorbets.  nopa Kitchen + Bar offers valet parking for $10 per car with dinner validation.  For reservations or additional information, please visit www.nopadc.com or call (202) 347-4667(202) 347-4667.

A Washington institution, 701 Restaurant offers modern American cuisine created by Executive Chef Benjamin Lambert.  Located at 701 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, 20004, guests can enjoy a three-course, pre-theater menu priced at $36 per person from 5:30 PM to 6:45 PM Monday through Saturday, and from 5 PM to 9:30 PM on Sunday.  Guests have the choice of Roasted Beet Salad with labne, pecans and pomegranate vinaigrette; Chestnut Soup with duck confit jam and foie gras powder; Green Circle Chicken with parsnip puree, Brussels sprouts and chermoula; Skuna Bay Salmon with mustard spaetzle, pecans, pomegranate and broccoli, as well as Root Vegetable Pot au Feu with oat dumplings and caramelized onion broth.  For dessert diners can choose from House Made Ice Cream Trio, Sorbet Trio, or the Butterscotch Pudding.  701 will offer complimentary valet parking for those who show their theatre ticket stub after dining at the restaurant, Monday through Saturday. For reservations or more information, please call (202) 393-0701(202) 393-0701 or visit http://www.701restaurant.com.

Station 4, situated in the Southwest Waterfront at 1101 4th Street, SW, 20024, offers a three-course, pre-theater menu Tuesday through Sunday, from 5 PM to 7 PM, with fare that offers a Mediterranean twist on Modern American cuisine created by Executive Chef Orlando Amaro.  The restaurant is just steps from Arena Theater and the Waterfront Metro, so guests can enjoy a three-course menu for only $35 per person (excluding tax and gratuity) and walk to the performance.  Standout dishes off Station 4’s pre-theatre menu include Braised Pork Belly with quince rose-petal emulsion and pickled scallions; Beet & Goat Cheese Salad with pistachios and mint; Pumpkin Carbonara Spaghetti with crispy pancetta and parmesan-reggiano; Vegetable Farrotto with toasted watermelon radish, mushrooms, pumpkin, butternut squash and pecorino romano; Southern Fried Chicken, sous-vide in buttermilk with pickled okra, collard greens, pork belly and sundried tomatoes, as well as Seared Salmon with puttanesca sauce and saffron potatoes.  For desserts, guests can indulge in sweet treats such as a Sorbet Duo or the Valrhona Dark Tart with and coconut sorbet.  For those too full for dessert, Station 4 allows guests to return and enjoy their desserts course after the show.  Guests who decide to order off the a la carte menu before heading to a show will receive 10% off their entire check (does not apply to pre-theatre menu).

For additional information and reservations please call (202) 488-0987(202) 488-0987, or visit www.station4dc.com.

Macon Bistro and Larder, the French and Southern-inspired bistro in Chevy Chase, located at 5520 Connecticut Avenue, NW, 20015, offers a $35 per person three-course pre-theater, pre-homework, prix fixe menu available nightly, from 5 PM to 6:30 PM.  Guests have the choice of Sweet Potato Bisque with roquefort crumble or Local Artisan Greens with winter vegetables, sherry vinegar and EVOO followed by a choice of Rainbow Trout with braised lentils, seasonal greens and almond cream or the Fried Chicken with ‘mac’-on cheese and collard greens.  For dessert guests can choose from sweet treats such as Chocolate Party Cake or Coconut Pecan Pie.  Changes to Macon Bistro's pre-theater, pre-homework, prix fixe menu are made daily.

For reservations or additional information, please visit www.maconbistro.com or call (202) 248-7807(202) 248-7807.