AS COVID-19-RELATED QUARANTINE AND SOCIAL DISTANCING RESTRICTIONS LINGER INTO SPRING AND EARLY SUMMER, HERE ARE 15 OF THE BEST WASHINGTON, D.C. RESTAURANTS OFFERING TAKEOUT AND DELIVERY
COVID-19 has had an enormous impact on our day-to-day lives. It has limited our movements. It has changed where and how we work. How our kids learn. How we play and socialize and celebrate the most important moments in life.
What the pandemic hasn't changed, though, is our appetites and the need to find small comfort in our favorite dishes from our favorite restaurants.
Even as many of The District's best establishments have struggled in these times of uncertainty, many more have adjusted to our new normal. They've gotten creative and kept their teams employed and committed to ensuring hungry Washingtonians find pleasure in their most-beloved meals.
From Palisades to Capitol Hill, D.C.'s dining scene remains vibrant and ready to serve even if that’s accomplished via takeout and delivery.
Below we explore 15 of the finest D.C. establishments that are open for business and ready to deliver the best tastes of the city.
ALL-PURPOSE SHAW & ALL-PURPOSE PIZZERIA
Shaw - 1250 9th Street, NW
Pizzeria - 79 Potomac Avenue, SE
What better place to start our list than with the most tried-and-true of takeout and delivery food—the pizza joint. Two to be exact. The original All-Purpose Shaw has an extensive menu of Italian dishes and artisan pizzas. The Pizzeria's more nimble menu—focusing on the pizza side of the business—doesn't mean it's any less delicious. In the face of COVID-19, both restaurants are strictly takeout and delivery only.
BISTRO ARACOSIA
5100 MacArthur Boulevard, NW
Regularly recognized as one of D.C.'s top restaurants, the Afghan-inspired Bistro Aracosia is a unique affair. This non-traditional chophouse has also been praised as being one of the top restaurants in the U.S. for vegetarians. Fortunately for those with unconventional tastes, the bistro's complete menu is available for no contact pickup and delivery (including beer, wine, and cocktails). Want the full dinner experience? You can order their early bird three-course family dinner for $18.95 per person or the $75 three-course dinner for two with a bottle of wine.
CALL YOUR MOTHER
Park View - 3301 Georgia Avenue, NW
Capitol Hill - 701 8th Street, SE
One of the more overlooked dining establishments during the COVID-19 pandemic has been coffee houses and lunchtime delis. Unsurprising, considering more people are working from home and their regular morning and midday routines have been completely upended. Park View staple Call Your Mother—home to fabulous coffee, bagels, and sandwiches—was no different. After closing its doors in the midst of the pandemic, this self-proclaimed Jew-ish deli is serving with a limited menu for pickup only, while their recently opened Capitol Hill location is doing the same.
THE CAPITAL GRILLE
601 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Yes, we realize that unlike most other restaurants on this list, The Capital Grille is a national chain. However, it's worth being included on this list thanks to its quality and popularity. Its D.C. location, which is within walking distance of the U.S. Capitol Building, features an abbreviated takeout menu—with plenty of steak entrée options—and three family-style dinners crafted with four people in mind—all offered with curbside pickup.
THE DABNEY
122 Blagden Alley, NW
One of the more creative ways that both local and national restaurants are keeping their kitchens open is through prix fixe meals. Michelin one-star eatery The Dabney is one such establishment. Their three-course offering includes an appetizer, entrée, and dessert for $45 per person—you can also order beer, wine, and cocktails—and is available for pickup. For delivery, order through Skip the Line. Orders are taken from 11:00 AM to 2:30 PM for that evening, but get yours in early as they sell out fast.
ESTADIO
1520 14th Street, NW
While closing up a dining room is never a good option for any restaurant, it particularly hurts those that have cultivated a popular and festive atmosphere. While the main doors may be closed at Estadio's Logan Circle restaurant, you can at least recreate its contemporary Spanish vibe at home. Their carry out menu features a limited daily menu of paella and tapas as well as wine, beer, and sangria.
FEDERALIST PIG
1654 Columbia Rd, NW
Regardless of the reason you seek comfort, few foods help you find it better than barbecue. Adam's Morgan favorite, Federalist Pig, continues to serve slow-smoked greatness—chicken, brisket, ribs, and an array of sandwiches—with contact-free delivery (through Postmates) and pickup. Inspired by the main store's excellent handheld creations, the pit team has also created Fedwich, a pop-up operating from Kramerbooks in Dupont Circle (1517 Connecticut Ave, NW) that’s offering the same contactless convenience.
FIOLA MARE
3100 K Street, NW
If you've spent any amount of time in Georgetown along its waterfront, no doubt you've experienced the sleek, refined environs of Fiola Mare. While its one of a kind luxury dining experience is on hold, you can still sample the immaculate cuisine of this Michelin one-star standout through no-contact pickup and delivery. You can opt for a prix fixe meal from four four-course chef's tasting menus or choose à la carte options from antipasti, pasta, entrées, and dessert menus. There are even pantry staples available to aid your best at-home Fiola Mare recreations.
KINSHIP
1015 Seventh Street, NW
Another of D.C.'s famed Michelin-starred establishments, the New American Kinship has given the word new meaning with their freshly-created "In the Spirit of Kinship" takeout menu. Featuring your choice of one of three appetizers, three entrées, and five desserts, make sure to keep a lookout for special menus and additions—grilled Maine lobster pops up now and again. Contact-free pickup is available from Wednesday through Sunday.
LE DIPLOMATE
1601 14th Street, NW
Le Diplomate is another famed D.C. restaurant that temporarily shut its doors in response to COVID-19. Thankfully, this French-inspired eatery is serving its delectable pastries and cheeses and exceptional entrées—albeit from a limited menu—from Tuesday through Sunday. Order pickup or delivery from Caviar and DoorDash.
MAYDAN
1346 Florida Avenue, NW
There're plenty of authentic, international flavors in the D.C. dining scene, but when it comes to capturing the tastes of their native inspirations, few can match the Middle Eastern-inspired, Michelin-starred Maydan. Its limited menu features many of Maydan's most popular options, including kebabs and lamb. Takeout is available from Wednesday through Sunday. Place your order from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM for 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM pickup.
NEIGHBORHOOD RESTAURANT GROUP
Bluejacket - 300 Tingey Street SE (D.C. pickup location)
A prime example of pooling one's resources, the 20-restaurant strong Neighborhood Restaurant Group has responded to the pandemic by merging its roster of eateries together. The newly formed Neighborhood Provisions offer both pickup and delivery of meals, ready-to-cook foods, pantry items, and even alcohol—no need to anguish over missing a particular favorite! Dishes from the most popular NRG establishments are all well-represented, including those from Bluejacket, Hazel, Iron Gate, and Red Apron.
OLD EBBITT GRILL
675 15th Street, NW
District mainstay Old Ebbitt Grill has shifted their focus to their Ebbitt at Home online menu, which is available on Caviar. Options include traditional appetizers, sandwiches, entrées (even Maine lobster), and desserts. You can also get a bit of grocery shopping done through the Ebbitt Market Pantry. Select from a variety of items such as milk, pancake mix, Bloody Mary or mimosa kits, ready-to-grill steaks, and, yes, toilet paper. Make sure to add a few Old Ebbitt Grill-patterned face masks to your order as proceeds go towards their Employee Assistance Fund.
ROSE'S RESTAURANTS
Rose's Luxury - 717 8th Street, SE
Little Pearl - 921 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE
Rose's Restaurants is another service industry group aiming for creativity in these uncertain times. In an effort to keep their dedicated teams employed and their passionate patrons satisfied, this Micheline-starred collection of eateries created Rose's at Home. Offering a three-night, three-course, prepare-at-home menu (including instructions), Rose's at Home delivers within 20 miles of Capitol Hill.
The one-starred siblings of Rose's Luxury and Little Pearl also feature takeout options from Tuesday through Saturday. The former has a four-course dinner with no-contact takeout, while the latter has a no-contact takeout or delivery dinner package including wine and cocktails. Unfortunately, the Michelin two-star Pineapple and Pearls is on hiatus until at least mid-May.
UNCONVENTIONAL DINER
1207 9th Street, NW
What else to expect from an establishment with “unconventional” in its name than the Stay at Home Supper Club? Unconventional Diner has condensed its menu into six comfort food dinner options—think fried chicken, meatloaf, and chicken parmesan—that’s perfect for two people. Place an order for pickup between 2:00 PM and 8:00 PM or choose delivery through Postmates.
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