Restaurant Week: Mie n Yu

My last stop on the restaurant week tour was Mie n Yu. I will say it from the get go, I love this restaurant. The concept and decor are fantastic. The food is consistently delicious. And who can complain about the communal Turkish bathrooms where your hands are washed for you. I typically will choose one restaurant during Restaurant week that I already know and love. I have been to Mie n Yu a few times in the past. While it has never failed to please, I am typically forced to stick to the small plates menu due to the price. This week gave me the opportunity to really try a full sampling of the menu.

The notion behind the restaurant is a travel down the ancient Silk Road, the trade route stretching from the Mediterranean to Asia, passing through the Middle East and North Africa. I started out with the Afghan mantu; basically beef and scallion dumplings. They were a tasty way to start out a great meal. For the main course I chose a Moroccan beef dish. It was delectable and fantastically tender. My dessert was the pumpkin cheesecake, delicious yet light enough for a three-course meal. The food, as always, was quite good. The service, even given the fact that it was a Friday night during Restaurant Week, was likewise great. However, the reason I was first attracted to Mie n Yu, and the reason that I continue to return is the atmosphere. This evening in particular reflected in the belly dancer that visited our table. Of course my friend told this dancer it was my birthday (facetiously), so the period between dinner and dessert was filled by me stumbling around with a belly dancer in the middle of the restaurant. It is hard to imagine a better evening than one filled with good friends, great food, and surrounded by the allure and spice of the silk road.


Ultimately, another expensive but fantastic opportunity to sample some of DC's best restaurants has come and gone. I can't say I regret any of my choices, though likely will be making different ones come August. I hope you all made the most of this week and I would urge you to look into many of the restaurants (Mie n Yu included) that have extended their Restaurant Week specials until the end of the month. Until August then, happy dining.