Celebrate Father's Day 2017 With A Special Meal In Washington, DC
The Italian novelist Umberto Eco once said "I believe that what we become depends on what our fathers teach us at odd moments when they aren't trying to teach us. We are formed by little scraps of wisdom." If you feel that way about your dad and want to celebrate Father's Day with him in style, we can help you find just the right location.
We've compiled a list of places that would be perfect for a special meal to celebrate Dad, have included a few Father's Day specials you can snag to save a few bucks, and included a place to buy all the fixings you need to cook Dad a gourmet meal at home.
Note: Unless otherwise noted, prices do not include beverages, tax, or gratuity. Father's Day weekend is a busy time of year, so we recommend you assume reservations are required, and please verify the menu and pricing when you make your reservation. And search the list of places offering special menus on Open Table for a more exhaustive list.
Posh Options
The Jefferson Hotel
If your dad is used to the finer things and adores expensive restaurants, then take him to The Jefferson Hotel for an excellent meal. The Jefferson is celebrating Father's Day this Sunday by serving The Green House Restaurant's brunch inside Plume, the hotel's Michelin-starred dining room. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. you have the option of choosing the Father's Day Grill Plate for $42, which features prime beef entrees, sausages, and other substantial dishes or you may choose a la carte from the traditional brunch menu; however you roll, you have to make reservations online.
If your Dad is old school and can't live without a good cigar and a well-aged single malt Scotch, The Jefferson Hotel has that covered too. Just head to Quill, (this plush bar is like a mini private gentlemen's club in London) for a special pour of The Dalmore Cigar Malt Reserve ($50) created with cigar enjoyment in mind. And the featured smoke? La Gloria Cubana Serie R from the El Credito Cigar Factory in the Dominican Republic, which is a secret blend of Dominican and Nicaraguan tobacco aged to create just the right flavor notes.
Kingbird at The Watergate Hotel
Most days, this upscale hotel's fine-dining room serves exceptional haute cuisine, and Father's Day is no exception. Kingbird Restaurant and The Next Whisky Bar have created two distinct menus Dad will love. In Kingbird, brunch costs $30 per person and features a special barbecue menu, and just this Sunday, that menu includes a choice of grass-fed burgers served with Cheddar, a salmon burger, or a black bean burger with Gruyere. In addition to usual accompaniments like French fries, pickles, lettuce, etc. you can add unique topping choices like duck confit, braised short rib, caviar Remoulade, and caramelized onion.
For Happy Hour, pull up a comfy chair in The Next Whiskey Bar from 5 to 7 p.m. and sample a whisky trio that includes a burger promo. Or taste a trio of rye, bourbon, and single malts whiskeys, or take advantage of half-priced cigars from Davidoff, Ashton, Montecristo, Padron, and Nat Sherman Sterling.
Good Eats
14K Restaurant and Lounge
Dads can skip the heat (and the mess) and enjoy a fun BBQ inspired brunch buffet at 14K Restaurant and Lounge at Hamilton Hotel. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the talented chef Nezzar Battle is offering up ribs, smothered barbecue chicken, grilled lamb t-bone, and chimichurri skirt steak along with a seafood bake and a bounty of side dishes and sweet treats. The buffet is $45.00 per adult and $19.99 for children under 12. For some added indulgence, Dad can build his own Bloody Mary for $9 or enjoy endless glasses of Champagne cocktails for just $15. Reservations can be made by calling 202-218-7575 or going online.
All Set Restaurant & Bar
All Set Restaurant & Bar is feeding dads for free. In downtown Silver Spring, the New England-style seafood restaurant will give each dad a complimentary entrée when an additional entrée of equal or greater value is purchased. Some of the tasty options are BBQ ribs with Boston baked beans, house cut fries and coleslaw; the Lobster Roll with drawn butter or Tabasco-lime mayonnaise, chives, served with house-cut fries; and the NY strip with creamed spinach, house-cut fries, and horseradish cream. The special Father's Day offer is good during brunch from 11 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. and dinner from 4 to 9 p.m. For reservations or additional information, call 301-495-8800 or go online.
DBGB Kitchen and Bar
Some dads live for legendary burgers, and if that's your dad to a "T," he will love the meaty burger at DBGB Kitchen and Bar, chef Daniel Boulud's causal French-American restaurant at CityCenterDC. Take him there for The Frenchie, a meaty 7 oz beef patty topped with confit pork belly, Morbier cheese, and tomato-onion. And order him a chilled, frothy beer, the restaurant has 15 craft beers on draught plus 30 more in bottles. For the grand finale, order the restaurant's famous baked Alaska prepared with fresh blueberry sorbet and brown sugar ice cream flambéed tableside with a shot of vanilla infused vodka. Bon appétit!
Empress Lounge Garden
Huge 22 oz. Certified Angus beef tomahawk steaks are the pick at Empress Lounge Garden, located in the Mandarin Oriental. These yummy grilled steaks are being served from noon to 2 p.m. with a variety of sauces and side dishes for $60 per person. Also, dads can enjoy tastings as part of the meal from Woodford Reserve, Gentleman's Jack, and Peroni Beer. Reservations can be made online.
Ghibellina
Some dads like to be in the thick of things and enjoy a crowd so why not take him to Ghibellina on 14th Street NW. Who can resist a hearty Italian meal, whether it's brunch or dinner this restaurant has it going on. Brunch is always popular and is from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., but dinnertime (served from 4 p.m to 1:30 p.m.) is when Dad can go for a meat lover's feast. Just for Father's Day, Ghibellina is serving bistecca alla Fiorentina for two featuring a 45 oz grilled porterhouse steak for $90, and disossata alla grgiglia, a flavorful cut of aged ribeye rubbed with porcini that's grilled to perfection. Mangia, mangia!
Ruth's Chris Steak House
If dining out for your dad means steak you might want to try and get a reservation at one of the local Ruth's Chris Steak Houses. They are serving surf and turf specials for Father's Day across the DMV and have a unique gift for Dad the entire Father's Day weekend: all dads that dine at Ruth's Chris during the weekend receive a $25 dining card they can use later on.
Succotash
If you are a fan of Top Chef and want to dine at a cheftestant restaurant that serves fantastic food, you will adore Succotash at National Harbor. The food and bar are worth the drive. A mashup of Korean and Southern culinary traditions, Succotash is offering a Taste of the South menu for Father's Day that celebrates classics smoked chicken wings fried green tomatoes, mac and cheese with collards, kimchee and ham and hands down the best cocktails, especially the Old Fashioned made with Maker's Mark 46.
TapaBar
Chef Alonso Roche at Bethesda's TapaBar is serving his personal Father's Day dream brunch dish – surf, turf, and eggs. He is combining pan seared culotte steak, herb and garlic lobster tail, with two fried eggs and a serving of TapaBar's signature home fries for $30. The dish is in addition to the regular brunch options served from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Dads might also want to consider adding bottomless Bloody Mary's or Mimosas for just $12. Reservations can be made by calling 240-483-4004 or going online.
On the Go
Et Voila! And French Market
If you are a budding cook and want to impress Dad with your prowess in the kitchen, then head to Et Voila's French Market. The restaurant will be serving brunch (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.) and dinner (5 to 9:30 p.m.) on Father's Day but the owners have also just opened their gourmet market. This classic Old World shop in the Palisades is perfect for discerning dads so browse the shelves for upscale butter, cheese, charcuterie, and excellent ingredients. It also sells a line of prepared foods for those too lazy to cook or as Plan B if your masterpiece goes awry.
Look for classic dishes like boeuf Bourguignon and macarons or the Father's Day special basket of goodies (from June 12-June 18) for $25 that includes:
- 17 oz bottle of Taggiasca olive oil
- 9.52 oz container of authentic Italian Taggiasca olives
-
7oz Salchichon, a Spanish summer sausage
Summer Whitford is the D.C. City Guide Editor for The Daily Meal. You can follow her on Twitter @FoodandWineDiva, on Facebook at FoodandWineDiva, and on Instagram at thefoodandwinediva. This article includes contributions from Troy Petenbrink.