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Photo: Missy Frederick/Eater.com

7 Days of Food Specials at D.C. Restaurants

by Tim Ebner
View as Map
by Tim Ebner
Photo: Missy Frederick/Eater.com

The ritual of eating dinner can quickly turn into an all-out obsession. And theme nights or specials of the week can draw a particular following from regulars and devotees. Sometimes they're coming for a good deal; sometimes it's just because it tastes so damn good.

Eater wanted to know what dishes keep the regulars coming back for more, so we put together a new map in the tradition of our 7 Days of Happy Hours map. This time, food is the focus, where the combination of a reliable special and a comfortable atmosphere result in a cult-like following.

So whether Mondays mean "pig out" night or Fridays are Bouillabaisse day, pick a day, pick a dish and start your weekly devotion.

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Monday: Pete's Diner

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This is House Speaker John Boehner’s usual breakfast spot. But, this Capitol Hill diner also pulls a crowd on Bulgogi Mondays. The traditional Korean dish is a nice surprise from the restaurant's diner fare.

212 2nd St SE, Washington, D.C. 20543
(202) 544-7335
(202) 544-7335

Also featured in:

Monday: The Pig

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On Monday and Sunday nights, pig out at The Pig with a platter of pork. Chef Michael Bonk prepares a dish that can be split with two or more. He calls it “the pig out.” The platter is a heavy helping of four cuts of pig: pork belly, shoulder, loin and hot links, plus four sides, three barbecue sauces and cornbread. This small feast costs $39.

1320 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20005
(202) 290-2821
(202) 290-2821

Also featured in:

Monday: The Pinch

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When you have a surplus of duck bacon leftover from weekend brunch, what do you do? Make Quack’n’Mac. Every Monday night, The Pinch in Columbia Heights adds duck bacon to their mac’n’cheese with a side of sautéed string beans for $10.

3548 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20010
(202) 722-4440
(202) 722-4440

Also featured in:

Tuesday: Dogwood Tavern

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Seafood lovers can sample a boatload of options on the cheap at Dogwood Tavern on Tuesday nights. It’s all about the raw bar from 4 p.m. to close. Try a half-dozen oysters or clams for $4, a half-pound of shrimp for $4, a dozen sautéed mussels for $4, or two snow crab clusters for $8.

132 W Broad St, Falls Church, VA 22046
(703) 237-8333
(703) 237-8333

WednesdayS: The Black Squirrel

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Skip the beer garden on Wednesdays and head to the Black Squirrel in Adams Morgan instead. An oversized bratwurst platter and a liter of Hofbrau beer goes for $20 on Wednesday nights.

2427 18th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 232-1011
(202) 232-1011

Also featured in:

Thursday: Society Fair

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Every Thursday is French steak night at Society Fair in Alexandria. Choose from a New York, rib eye or filet with sides, a salad and dessert for $45.

277 S Washington St, Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 683-3247
(703) 683-3247

Also featured in:

Thursday: Bourbon

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Aside from a great bourbon whiskey selection, this Glover Park restaurant serves a mean happy hour food special on Thursday nights. Fried chicken with biscuits and mashed potatoes goes for $7 a plate.

2348 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20007
(202) 625-7770
(202) 625-7770

Also featured in:

Friday: 2941 Restaurant

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How about a date night special on Thursday or Friday night? 2941 Restaurant in Falls Church offers a five-course tasting menu prepared by chef Bertrand Chemel for $68 per person. The five course tasting menu changes routinely with what’s in season. Just be sure to save room for pastry chef Caitlin Dysart’s sweets.

2941 Fairview Park Dr, Falls Church, VA 22042
(703) 270-1500
(703) 270-1500

Also featured in:

Friday: Le Diplomate

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To end a long week at the office, head to Le Diplomate on Fridays. This is their Bouillabaisse night. The briny seafood stew goes for $29 a plate.

1601 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 332-3333
(202) 332-3333

Also featured in:

Saturday: Brookland's Finest Bar & Kitchen

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New and extended bar hours keep Brookland’s Finest open until 3 a.m. on Saturdays. That goes nicely with their recently released late night menu, which includes a variety of bar bites and sandwiches. But, what about late night cannolis? For something sweet and surprising, go for the dessert bites, like cannolis ($6) and snow cones ($5).

3128 12th St NE, Washington, DC 20017

Also featured in:

Sunday: Red Derby

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Seafood Sunday is a thing to relish at Red Derby. All seafood dishes are half-off, including the fried po-boy sandwich or the foot-long fish dog with fries (each just $5 on Sundays).

3718 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20010
(202) 291-5000
(202) 291-5000

Also featured in:

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Monday: Pete's Diner

212 2nd St SE, Washington, D.C. 20543

This is House Speaker John Boehner’s usual breakfast spot. But, this Capitol Hill diner also pulls a crowd on Bulgogi Mondays. The traditional Korean dish is a nice surprise from the restaurant's diner fare.

212 2nd St SE, Washington, D.C. 20543
(202) 544-7335
(202) 544-7335

Monday: The Pig

1320 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20005

On Monday and Sunday nights, pig out at The Pig with a platter of pork. Chef Michael Bonk prepares a dish that can be split with two or more. He calls it “the pig out.” The platter is a heavy helping of four cuts of pig: pork belly, shoulder, loin and hot links, plus four sides, three barbecue sauces and cornbread. This small feast costs $39.

1320 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20005
(202) 290-2821
(202) 290-2821

Monday: The Pinch

3548 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20010

When you have a surplus of duck bacon leftover from weekend brunch, what do you do? Make Quack’n’Mac. Every Monday night, The Pinch in Columbia Heights adds duck bacon to their mac’n’cheese with a side of sautéed string beans for $10.

3548 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20010
(202) 722-4440
(202) 722-4440

Tuesday: Dogwood Tavern

132 W Broad St, Falls Church, VA 22046

Seafood lovers can sample a boatload of options on the cheap at Dogwood Tavern on Tuesday nights. It’s all about the raw bar from 4 p.m. to close. Try a half-dozen oysters or clams for $4, a half-pound of shrimp for $4, a dozen sautéed mussels for $4, or two snow crab clusters for $8.

132 W Broad St, Falls Church, VA 22046
(703) 237-8333
(703) 237-8333

WednesdayS: The Black Squirrel

2427 18th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

Skip the beer garden on Wednesdays and head to the Black Squirrel in Adams Morgan instead. An oversized bratwurst platter and a liter of Hofbrau beer goes for $20 on Wednesday nights.

2427 18th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 232-1011
(202) 232-1011

Thursday: Society Fair

277 S Washington St, Alexandria, VA 22314

Every Thursday is French steak night at Society Fair in Alexandria. Choose from a New York, rib eye or filet with sides, a salad and dessert for $45.

277 S Washington St, Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 683-3247
(703) 683-3247

Thursday: Bourbon

2348 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20007

Aside from a great bourbon whiskey selection, this Glover Park restaurant serves a mean happy hour food special on Thursday nights. Fried chicken with biscuits and mashed potatoes goes for $7 a plate.

2348 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20007
(202) 625-7770
(202) 625-7770

Friday: 2941 Restaurant

2941 Fairview Park Dr, Falls Church, VA 22042

How about a date night special on Thursday or Friday night? 2941 Restaurant in Falls Church offers a five-course tasting menu prepared by chef Bertrand Chemel for $68 per person. The five course tasting menu changes routinely with what’s in season. Just be sure to save room for pastry chef Caitlin Dysart’s sweets.

2941 Fairview Park Dr, Falls Church, VA 22042
(703) 270-1500
(703) 270-1500

Friday: Le Diplomate

1601 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

To end a long week at the office, head to Le Diplomate on Fridays. This is their Bouillabaisse night. The briny seafood stew goes for $29 a plate.

1601 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 332-3333
(202) 332-3333

Saturday: Brookland's Finest Bar & Kitchen

3128 12th St NE, Washington, DC 20017

New and extended bar hours keep Brookland’s Finest open until 3 a.m. on Saturdays. That goes nicely with their recently released late night menu, which includes a variety of bar bites and sandwiches. But, what about late night cannolis? For something sweet and surprising, go for the dessert bites, like cannolis ($6) and snow cones ($5).

3128 12th St NE, Washington, DC 20017

Sunday: Red Derby

3718 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20010

Seafood Sunday is a thing to relish at Red Derby. All seafood dishes are half-off, including the fried po-boy sandwich or the foot-long fish dog with fries (each just $5 on Sundays).

3718 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20010
(202) 291-5000
(202) 291-5000

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