Despite their high price tags, tasting menus continue to have a home in D.C. The Michelin Guide has reinforced the splurge-worthy movement over the past few years, naming the Inn at Little Washington the region’s first three-star restaurant in 2019 and awarding accolades to a handful of others across the city, from Italian kitchens like Fiola and Masseria to the modern American cooking at Gravitas.
Tasting menus are as much about the experience as they are about the food. At Xiquet, diners can upgrade their evening with indulgent wagyu or uni, and Jônt offers guests a chance to enhance a meal with two tiers of fabulous wine pairings. All that to say, the city’s premier tasting menus don’t come cheap — starting around $75 and soaring to $305 — before drinks, taxes, or gratuities.
With restaurants still recovering from a difficult few years, some of the area’s most acclaimed tasting menus like Komi and Pineapple and Pearls remain on hiatus. And as always, menus and pricing are subject to change as chefs navigate supply and pricing challenges.
These are the area’s essential tasting menus.
Health experts consider dining out to be a high-risk activity for the unvaccinated; it may pose a risk for the vaccinated, especially in areas with substantial COVID transmission.
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