Washington, DC New Menu Report: 10/07/15
October is a month that makes it OK to celebrate Oktoberfest, don a costume, and still be cool. This week, you can sample wiener schnitzel with a Croatian twist paired with Bulgarian wine, sip Halloween-themed beer and martinis, and indulge in burgers with a German attitude — and it's all available in the District.
Ambar
Ambar, D.C.'s cool Balkan eatery on Capitol Hill, is now serving lunch and they're launching the new menu with a Halloween-themed sandwich. It's available Oct 6 to November 1 and is just as affordable ($6) as it is adorable. Its jack-o-lantern motif is fun, vegetarian, and healthy, made with gluten-free bread, organic slaw, roasted pumpkin, and smoked Gouda cheese.
Ambar
The food of Germany, Austria, and other parts of Eastern Europe shares branches from the same culinary family tree, so it's no surprise Ambar's chef, Ivan Zivkovic, has created a new fall menu that any Bavarian would appreciate. To celebrate the new fall line-up, Ambar is hosting a special five-course menu and pairing it with Bulgarian wine. The fun is this Sunday, October 11, and includes two dining times: the first, is from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., and the second runs from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. The price is $75 per person, all inclusive, and includes hearty, meaty fare such as stuffed cabbage with pork belly, Vienna schnitzel, steak and frites, and more. Be sure to reserve a spot, seating is limited.
Burger, Tap & Shake
October's a tough month for foodies, do you go for the Oktoberfest menus or try some spooky Halloween dishes? We suggest a bit of both because sometimes a darn good burger is a thing of beauty. And for a twist, try Burger, Tap & Shake's special burger for October: the Oktoberfest. It's made with their handmade beef patty, a split and grilled bratwurst, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and beer mustard, for $9. It's dynamite paired with October's special milkshake the Tart Apple made with vanilla ice cream and apples.
Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar
Rum may be a headlining spirit at Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar, but they make a mean cocktail, whatever the occasion, and their special Halloween martini is no exception. It's called the Candy corn and is made with vanilla vodka, butterscotch schnapps, crème de cacao, fresh orange juice, and garnish with — what else? Candy corn! At just $10 we think it lets you feel like a kid while drinking a very grown up cocktail.
Station 4
Real Oktoberfest aficionados don't let little things like calendars spoil their fun, so Station 4 is offering Oktoberfest and Halloween brews the entire month of October. Priced at just $7, $5 exclusively on October 31, look for: Great Lakes Brewing Company's Oktoberfest on draft, plus bottles of Dogfish Head Brewery's Pumpkin Ale, Bell's Brewery, Inc's English Brown Ale, and Evil Genius Beer Company's Trick or Treat.
Summer Whitford is the D.C. City Guide Editor at The Daily Meal and the DC Wine Examiner. You can follow her on Twitter @FoodandWineDiva.