This post was written by Hatchet staff writer Tim Palmieri.
Fall food specialties beyond the infamous PSL and your standard fare of pumpkin-spiced treats are popping up at eateries across the District.
Check out our guide to this year’s fall-themed menu items for a holiday twist on everything from a pumpkin-infused cocktail to apple cider donuts and a sandwich that packs Thanksgiving into every bite.
Foggy Bottom
Autumn eats at Founding Farmers
Hopping on the fall flavor bandwagon is Founding Farmers, which recently debuted an exclusive fall menu. Try the Farmer’s Autumn Chili, Butternut Squash-Mascarpone Ravioli or the fried green tomato burger, just a few of the many enticing seasonal additions. Tip: The restaurant also offers a pre-set $35 Thanksgiving menu, offering the quintessential three-course holiday feast including skillet cornbread, traditional roasted turkey, and an array of pie slices for dessert.
Founding Farmers, 1924 Pennsylvania Ave NW. Fall entrees range $12-$16. Thanksgiving pre-set menu $35.
Thanksgiving to-go with “The Bobbie” at Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop
If you’re looking to get an early start on the Thanksgiving festivities (and by this, we mean the food, of course), order “The Bobbie” at Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop. This hoagie is stuffed with turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing and mayo, evoking Thanksgiving in every bite. Did we mention this is Joe Biden’s favorite hoagie? (He always adds hot peppers on the side.)
Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop, 1800 M St. NW. Order: “The Bobbie,” $7.99 for a 9”
Adams Morgan
Sip the “Jack Skellington” cocktail at Jack Rose Dining Saloon
If you’re a fan of the character Jack Skellington of the holiday classic “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” make sure to get a sip of this cocktail that lives up to the pumpkin king’s name. Jack Rose’s “Jack Skellington” is a pumpkin lover’s paradise in boozy form, combining actual pumpkin, gin, spices, Absolut Elyx, fresh lemon, apple bitters, syrup and Jerry Thomas Decanter bitters. Whether the numerous ingredients justify the $13 price tag is for you to decide.
Jack Rose Dining Saloon, 2007 18th St. NW. Order: The Jack Skellington, $13
Nosh on pumpkin mac & cheese at The Black Squirrel
If you’re sick of swarming Capmac and shoving your plate full of comfort food at the Whole Foods hot bar, add a twist to your cheese addiction with pumpkin macaroni and cheese. Enter the Black Squirrel, a bar and restaurant currently serving a skillet loaded with macaroni, béchamel sauce, five cheeses, oven-roasted pumpkin, sweet potato puree and pumpkin spice. The dish is available for a limited time only, so make sure to go back for seconds – or thirds.
The Black Squirrel, 2427 18th St. NW. Order: Pumpkin Mac & Cheese, $15
Eastern Market and NE Washington
Apple Cider and Pumpkin Spice flavors at District Donut
As if we needed another reason to crave the donut delicacies of D.C.’s new District Donut, the dessert heaven has now added fall flavors to their rotating lineup of sweets. Be sure to stock up on the Apple Cider or Pumpkin Spice seasonal donuts before they’re gone for good.
District Doughnut, 749 8th St. SE. Order: Apple Cider, Pumpkin Spice donuts, $3 each
Fall in affogato form at Dolci Gelati
While gelato is a treat on its own, when added to espresso to make an affogato, the dessert takes on a whole new flavor. Couple your usual midday espresso with fall-themed gelato flavors like sweet potato pie, gingerbread cookie and caramel apple. You’ll need the caffeine anyway, so you might as well add ice cream, right?
Dolci Gelati, 5766 2nd St NE. Order: Affogato with fall-flavored ice cream, $5
