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Tag: restaurant association of metropolitan washington

  • DC’s winter restaurant week extended through Sunday – WTOP News

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    Looking to expand your palate, or take a break from cooking? You could grab a bite at one of the D.C.-area eateries participating in the winter restaurant week.

    If you’re dug out of the snow, hundreds of D.C.-area restaurants are inviting you to explore their menus with discounted prices through Sunday.

    The D.C.-area winter restaurant week has been extended through Feb. 1. The original restaurant week ended Sunday, with 385 restaurants participating. But more than 200 eateries across the area decided to keep the promotion running a little longer.

    Restaurants extending will continue to feature three-course selections for brunch and lunch for $25 or $35 per person, and dinner menus for $40, $55 or $65, with optional beverage pairings throughout D.C., Maryland and Virginia.

    Below are some of the restaurants participating. See the full list here.

    DC

    • a.kitchen+bar
    • Ama
    • bartaco at Mt. Vernon Triangle
    • bartaco at The Wharf
    • Casamara
    • Ethiopic Restaurant
    • Floriana
    • Hank’s on the Wharf
    • Imperfecto
    • Kyojin Sushi DC
    • Nina May
    • Opal
    • Rania

    Maryland

    • ala in Bethesda
    • Beth’s Restaurant
    • Caruso’s Grocery in North Bethesda
    • Matchbox in Bethesda and Silver Spring
    • The Dish & Dram

    Virginia

    • Alta Strada Mosaic
    • B Side
    • Bellissimo Restaurant
    • Chasin’ Tails in Falls Church
    • Chima Steakhouse
    • Evelyn Rose
    • Heirloom
    • Potomac Social Tavern

    Shawn Townsend, president and CEO of the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington, said 2025 was a tough year for restaurants navigating inflation, tariffs, increased police presence on the streets and widespread government firings. He said if you can get out and support local restaurants, they are very appreciative.

    “We can highlight restaurants, but also, at the same time, encourage folks to get out of the house and not cook for a night,” he said. “And try something new, or go back to one of your favorites and show them some love.”

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    © 2026 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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    Kyle Cooper

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  • Head of DC restaurant association warns 2026 could be another hard year for eateries – WTOP News

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    A record number of D.C. restaurants shut down last year, according to the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington, and 2026 may not be much better.

    D.C.’s thriving restaurant scene took a big hit in 2025, and the head of the city’s restaurant association is warning that 2026 could be another rough year.

    A record number of eateries in the city shut down last year, according to the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington. President Shawn Townsend said 92 restaurants closed in 2025, up from 73 in 2024, and almost double the number of closings in 2022.

    He said it’s no secret why 2025 was such a bad year.

    “Tariffs and inflation and other things that impact the industry — the federal workforce, the increase in law enforcement presence,” he said.

    Townsend said in order to right the ship for the restaurant industry, the priority of city and government leaders must be to create new jobs in D.C.

    “If we don’t find things to replace those bodies, that foot traffic cannot come back,” he said. “We’re facing a new normal here in the restaurant industry.”

    Restaurants openings have also slowed, down 30% in 2025, and Townsend said there will likely be fewer openings than normal in 2026. He said the restaurants that do open will not be what we’ve been used to in the thriving D.C. food scene.

    “We’ll be seeing less full-service restaurants. It’s that middle market that’s being squeezed right now, and I think if things don’t change, we’ll continue to see that middle market vanish,” Townsend said

    Townsend said getting a great meal in D.C. has never been a problem and is hopeful that innovation allows that to continue.

    “We’ve got to figure out how to adapt. We’ve been good at adapting for so long. I think this is just one other phase where we all have to figure out how to move forward,” Townsend said.

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    Kyle Cooper

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  • Summer Restaurant Week extended in DC following announcement of federal law enforcement surge – WTOP News

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    You have some extra time to enjoy summer restaurant week in D.C. as it has been extended an additional week.

    You have some extra time to enjoy Summer Restaurant Week in D.C. as it has been extended an additional week.

    Shawn Townsend, president and CEO of the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington, said August is usually slow for businesses and restaurants in D.C. But this year, with the announcement of the federal surge of officers in the District, it’s been especially slow for some areas compared to last year’s restaurant week.

    “That week after President Trump announced, reservations were down in restaurants pretty significantly,” Townsend said.

    This year’s Summer Restaurant Week was also a week later than last year’s.

    “Our folks are resilient,” Townsend said. “As a result of feedback that we’ve heard from our members, in terms of how slow the foot traffic has been, we decided to extend Restaurant Week by an additional week.”

    It now runs through Aug. 31.

    “My hope is that an extended Summer Restaurant Week gives restaurants an additional lifeline and additional boost that they so desperately need in the month of August,” he said.

    Townsend said 230 of the 380 restaurants that signed up to participate for the first week of Summer Restaurant Week will be taking part in the second extended week.

    “That really shows the value of Restaurant Week,” Townsend said. “We hope that restaurants get back to some sort of sustainability, which normally happens after Labor Day.”

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    © 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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    Valerie Bonk

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