As I mentioned on Saturday, I am starting a new mini series here on the blog where I quickly share any new-to-me DC restaurants worth trying. This series was inspired by my real-life dinner club with two friends I met in college—we meet on a monthly basis and take turns picking a new restaurant to try. DC has an awesome food scene and I want to make sure that’s better reflected in the Washington, DC content I produce here for the blog. So, whether you’re local or coming into town and in need of a restaurant rec, hopefully this series is helpful!
On Friday night, we met for our January dinner club meeting—we had pre-dinner drinks at Rappahannock Oyster Bar and then did restaurant week at Officina. Both places are at DC’s new(wish) Wharf development and are conveniently located right next to each other, making it the perfect one-two combo for a night out.
Our reservation at Officina was on the later side, so we stopped in for a glass of wine at Rappahannock Oyster Bar. I enjoyed a sauvignon blanc while we sat a the bar. The atmosphere was perfect for a chilly night—because the bar was a long rectangle surrounded by windows with luscious plants hanging from the ceiling, it felt like we were in a greenhouse.
Rappahannock Oyster Bar opened its first outpost in DC at Union Market, and then opened this location in the historic oyster shed building at the Municipal Fish Market (which is the oldest fish market in the US!) on the edge of the Wharf. It’s definitely a destination in its own right, and I would totally eat there next time—diners around us were enjoying oysters, crab cakes, po boys, and other delicious seafood options!
We then headed over to Officina for DC restaurant week, which offers the special of three courses for $35. We were seated in their third floor dining room, right next to their terrace bar. In the winter, they tent the terrace and bring out plenty of heaters, so it would be the perfect spot for a night cap!
We each ordered a different appetizer and shared them—we ordered the burrata, the calamari, and the arancini. They also brought out wonderful bread and olive oil. The burrata was my favorite, but I am sucker for burrata anywhere! For dinner, I opted for the cheese tortellini and closed out the meal with a cannoli.
I really enjoyed the food at Officina! The room we were in was on the stuffier side, so I’d love to go back soon and enjoy a drink at one of their bars or eat in the Trattoria or the Salotto. You can snag a reservation here!
