Don't Miss These Money Saving Tips for DC Restaurant Week: Acadiana

Restaurant week is one of the funnest weeks in Washington, DC! I can't think of a better time to have fun with friends or your loved one without breaking the bank. This year you can get a 3 course meal during Restaurant Week (RW) during lunch for $22 or dinner $35 at DC, Maryland and Virginia's most expensive restaurants. You can miss out on this deal!

This week I had an opportunity to meet up and talk with friends over lunch for restaurant week and our excellent choice was Acadiana. Acadiana is Chef Jeff Tunk's contemporary take on a Louisiana fish house was named one of "100 Very Best Restaurants" in DC by the Washingtonian. Acadiana also serves brunch. We enjoyed the watermelon salad and the roasted corn and crab soup appetizers, for an entree we had skirt steak, jambalaya, seafood gumbo and for dessert we had cherry bread and pudding and smokes cake. How divine and right on budget! A few tips to keep in mind during restaurant to keep it affordable and fun:

Stick to the RW Menu: The best part of the deal is that most restaurants will have some of their top dishes available. Most entrees normally cost the total amount of the RW bill. So be adventurous and try something different then your norm. This is the time to have fun. If you go off script, you will have to pay full price.
Watch out for up charges- Most items are included in the standard price however some restaurants will have a few items, generally listed on the RW menu, where they will charge you extra for so seafood or high-end selections. If you are on a budget, watch out for them.
Drinks equal dollars- Mixed drinks in DC can get pricey and could cost as much as your RW meal so look and ask about any drink deals. Keep it simple or go for a draft, they generally are pretty reasonable and you can still have a good time.
Check for extensions- Certain places like 2941 in Virginia have extended times and dates for RW. So if you want to miss the crowds, then schedule a time through open table that is a bit earlier or later.