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Himitsu in Petworth has more accolades than it has seats, making dining there a challenge because it doesn’t take reservations. That’s about to change, at least once a week.
On Aug. 6, the modern, Japanese-inspired restaurant known for its raw fish dishes and Japanese-style fried chicken will launch Monday supper club dinners. Customers will be able to reserve a table for twice nightly seatings. The set menu will have a specific theme that changes every two months, according to chef and co-owner Kevin Tien.
The purpose of the supper club dinners are two-fold: experimentation and a chance for guests to guarantee a seat.
“We’re using it as an opportunity for the kitchen to play on different themes so we can break out of our box a little bit and experiment with our cooking style,” he says. “For the past year and a half, there have people who are upset that we don’t take reservations. We’re trying to offer more for everybody.”
Beverage director and co-owner Carlie Steiner adds, “I have a ton of friends who have children, so we’re excited to provide the opportunity for them to make reservations. I’m excited to see a lot of new faces who have wanted to come for a long time.”
The first theme celebrates dim sum, one of Tien’s favorite ways to spend a Sunday. And one of his favorite dishes is eggplant that’s stuffed with shrimp. “We have a dish that’s a take on that,” he explains. “We make a smokey eggplant puree with shrimp poached in olive oil.”
He says the restaurant will also put a “Himitsu spin” on “typical things you’d get at Hong Kong Pearl or Da Hong Pao on a Sunday.”
The price will range between $80 to $100 per person (before drinks) depending on the theme.
Steiner will offer three tiers of wine-pairings in a range of price points. Expect the pairings to span a breadth of options including sherry and other fortified wines as well as a natural, organic, and biodynamic wines. Guests will be greeted with a welcome cocktail and Steiner says she’s also working on a non-alcoholic beverage pairing that will launch a few weeks after the Monday supper club evenings begin.
Reservations for the first date, Aug. 6, will go live on July 16. Look for the reservations button on the Himitsu website.
Himitsu, 828 Upshur St. NW; himitsudc.com