Winter Dining

Many area restaurants are offering great holiday specials for those who plan to stick around the Washington area this holiday season. Here are some of the best of what D.C. has to offer. ’Tis the season for eating!

Matchbox

Matchbox, the popular Chinatown restaurant that serves the infamous mini-burgers, opened a second location on Capitol Hill Friday, expanding its chain despite the economy.

“We’re not fine dining; you can really get a good value for an average check of $22 to $27,” said co-owner Perry Smith in an article from the Washington Business Journal. “Capitol Hill is really in need of a place like us.”

Matchbox’s new location is 521 8th St. SE. For more information on the restaurant, visit www.matchboxdc.com.


Locanda

A noteworthy holiday cocktail to try at Locanda is the winter seasonal cocktail, the Ginger-Cello, using Jamaican ginger beer, Capri Limoncello and Grey Goose, along with fresh-squeezed lemon juice and crystallized ginger to garnish.

On New Year’s Eve, the restaurant plans to have a traditional Italian celebration. The first seating at 6 p.m. offers a four-course meal for $85 and the second at 8:30 p.m. includes five courses and a complimentary glass of Prosecco for $120. Locanda is located at 633 Pennsylvania Ave. For more information on Locanda, visit www.locandadc.com.

BLT Steak

BLT Steak’s special holiday dishes can make for a meal to remember. If you’re in the downtown area this holiday season, stop by and try these pairings:

First course — Butternut squash soup with toasted hazelnuts and sage
Second course — Spice-rubbed venison with porcinis, roasted pear, chestnuts

Dessert — Eggnog Semifreddo with housemade gingersnaps and butterscotch sauce
Wine pairings — Sommelier Nicole Saladyga suggests hot buttered rum or Muscat de Frontignan, Klein Constantia, “Vin de Constance,” 2002, Cape Peninsula, South Africa

Also, BLT’s winter raw bar is a great way to kick off a meal while the snow is falling outside and the temperatures whip everything and everyone around.


Mio

Mio is planning on a New Year’s Eve celebration as well. It is offering a four-course dinner at $70 with various seatings from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. for those looking to be cozy at home to ring in the New Year.

For those looking to eat a little later for $85, Chef Nicholas Stefanelli is busy preparing a holiday-worthy meal. There will also be a champagne toast at midnight and a party that plans to continue well into the morning at the bar.

For more information on Mio, call 202-955-0075 or visit 111.miorestaurant.com.


Old Ebbitt Grill

Old Ebbitt Grill is hosting a New Year’s Eve party from 8 p.m. until 1 a.m. For $125 per person, you get to play blackjack, poker, craps and roulette and dine on various delectables, including a raw oyster bar, crab cakes, lamb chops and more, in addition to an open bar. For more information, visit www.ebbitt.com.