Masa 14 - U Street
If you’re looking for a fun restaurant with great cocktails and food, definitely bring your friends to Masa 14. You will love the small plates of Latin-Asian fusion from the kitchen of Antonio Burrell (See his BLD picks here). It’s so much easier to order for a crowd when each person can pick a few dishes to share. Although, if you have a few of their spiked strawberry lemonade cocktails, you may not care what is in front of you, as long as it is fried. While the Salt & Pepper Calamari is good when served fresh out of the fryer, you should not miss the Smoked Wagyu Brisket or the Carne Noodles, two of my favorite dishes on the menu. Overall, Masa 14 is a great spot if you want to go out with a group of friends for some drinks, a light dinner, and a great atmosphere.
Carmine’s – Penn Quarter
Carmine’s serves heaping portions of Italian favorites such as spaghetti and meatballs, cheese ravioli, and chicken parmesan. The restaurant itself is huge– boasting 20,000+ square feet of space, 9 private rooms, and the ability to seat over 700 customers at a time which makes it a perfect pick for groups or large parties. Not to mention each monstrous dish that comes out from the kitchen serves 3-4 people easily… maybe even 5-6 in my opinion.
I recently had a great experience at Carmine’s with a group of 10 friends for a bachelorette party where we rented out the Bernini Boardroom and arranged for a fixed menu in advance that included pitchers of beer, red and white wine, two appetizers, two pastas, two chicken entrees, and a dessert sampler. At the end of the night our group was satisfied and felt we got a great deal for the amount of food we had coming in at around $55.00 per person. Some of my favorite things on the menu are the rigatoni bolognese and the penne alla vodka which I discussed in my review as hard to resist. I also had the chance to try the Carmine’s Salad on my last visit there which was delicious and included iceberg, arugula, watercress, chopped salami, olives, mortadella, romano and provolone cheese, red onion, celery, cucumbers, pepperoncini, tomatoes, radishes, and red peppers tossed in an olive oil and red wine vinegar dressing. It is a hodgepodge of vegetables and goodies thrown in there, but it’s meaty and a nice start to a pasta-heavy meal. Some of my other recommendations include the fried zucchini appetizer which is topped with fresh parmesan cheese and the tartufo dessert which is traditional with cold ice cream in the center and a hard chocolate shell on the outside. And if you go with a fixed menu for a group, you’ll likely opt for the dessert sampler plate which includes the best of everything including chocolate cannoli, tiramisu, bread pudding and the tartufo. No complaints on that one!
Carmine’s is the kind of place that has an expertise in handling crowds. It is what they do best and there is no need to be concerned if the group might get a little loud and rowdy since it is a bustling and exciting atmosphere. Call ahead, arrange for a private room, and just indulge in the mammoth plates full of pasta and you are guaranteed to have a good time with your friends.
Zaytinya – Chinatown
Zaytinya is probably one of the top three restaurants I list off when people ask me for my favorite spots in the city. The food is consistently delicious, the menu is always updated to include fresh new dishes, and the atmosphere is beautifully colored in white and blue which makes me fell as though I have stepped into Santorini for a quick minute. But, the best aspect of Zaytinya is their shared plates or “mezze” which offer a wide range of options that come from Turkish, Greek, and Lebanese cuisine. I have so many favorites that it is hard to pick just a few, but some of the best on the menu include the hummus, crispy brussel sprouts with coriander seeds, barberries, and garlic yogurt, the seasonal mushrooms with dates and toasted almonds, spanikopita, sea scallops in a yogurt dill sauce, crab cakes, and the lamb chops and short ribs.
Zaytinya recommends that you order 3-4 dishes per person and they bring the dishes out as they are ready along with hot pillowy pita that is constantly being refreshed throughout the meal. I love the ability to order so many things across the multiple categories of the menu including spreads, salads, vegetarian, seafood, and meat and poultry. Further, it makes it a great place for people of all eating persuasions because there are options for everyone. My family always chooses Zaytinya for special occasions and one thing we love is starting with a few dishes and the ability to order more things to share as the evening goes on depending on the appetites of the group. It’s a great spot for a group with a high level of sophistication and some of the best food you can find in Washington.
Ping Pong Dim Sum- Penn Quarter
Anyone who knows me is aware that I am a big fan of Ping Pong Dim Sum. In fact, I have written about it before on EatMore DrinkMore as it is one of the places I selected for my “Dining out in DC on a Shoestring” guide. It is the ideal setting for a group of friends or a special occasion because of its modern and trendy atmosphere, delicious dim sum which is ideal for sharing, tasty and inventive cocktails that are sure to please any crowd, and because it is incredibly affordable and delivers a great overall experience. In fact, Ping Pong’s General Manager Sherry Abedi shared that the name of the restaurant is actually based on the movement of the ping pong ball and how it goes back and forth in the same way that food is to be shared at the table as it is passed back and forth. This place is made for groups, and it provides the ultimate sharing experience.
I really enjoy some of the old staples on the menu such as the chicken puffs, the char sui buns, and the scallop and shitake dumplings, but I was lucky enough to attend a preview of the updated menu last week and try some of the newest additions in food and drink. Some of my favorites included the chicken potstickers, the crunchy golden dumpling, and the black prawn dumpling which is colored with squid ink and has generously sized pieces of shrimp packed inside making for a satisfying bite. And for dessert we were able to sample the crispy banana spring rolls with a hot chocolate dipping sauce which are a wonderful addition to the menu (however those chocolate buns are still to die for).
When it comes to cocktails at Ping Pong there are so many great options, but I particularly love the St. Lemongrass Sangria which is light and enjoyable and ideal for group settings as it serves two people. The sangria includes St-Germain elderflower liqueur, white wine and soda served in a carafe with fresh lemongrass and lime. I also had the chance to recently sample the Tangerine Mojito which was lovely and not too sweet, as well as the newest popular addition to the menu which is the Vanilla and Chili Sidecar which includes Martel, Cointreau, lime juice, and vanilla sugar with chili. The Sidecar is a strong statement, and it might just be a little too strong for my taste, but the mixologists let us know it is a hit during happy hour and I can say it is a unique mixture that is definitely spicy (in more ways than one!)
Ping Pong Dim Sum should be on your short list of places to call for birthdays, office functions, or just a night out with a group of friends. The round tables, delicious cocktails, and focus on sharing create a fun and lively experience with high quality food. And they even have special party and groups menus which makes planning your next group night out as easy as pie… or dim sum.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
How much per person are these places? I know Zaytina is a bit pricier. What about the others? What places would you suggest for a group on more of a budget? It’s always a challenge to find good meetup spots (esp. on the weekends) for large groups 30-60 (besides Busboy & Poets) and not break the bank.
Zaytinya is probably the most expensive of the bunch, but if you skip the alcohol it isn’t crazy. Carmines can come in around $50ish per person but that includes alchohol and a TON of food (more than one needs to be honest). Ping Pong is definitely the best bet, I would say you can do it up pretty well there for around $35 a person. Also, check out my “Dining out in DC on a Shoestring” picks because I think Vapiano is another good choice for a large group at a very low cost (probably in the $20 range per person with alcohol): http://eatmoredrinkmore.com/2010/08/26/dining-out-in-dc-on-a-shoestring/. Hope this is helpful!