A gorgeous three-course dinner in DC for just $55, and a stunning setting to go with it? Consider this your sign to plan a girls’ night out! Dirty Habit’s pre-theatre prix fixe over in Penn Quarter brings together some seriously nom eats right inside the Kimpton Hotel Monaco, and it made the perfect start to our evening before we walked over to Broadway at the National to catch a show.
My faves were the cavatelli, the beet salad, and the farro risotto, and I LOVED the Passion Infusion and their espresso martini. Full disclosure, Dirty Habit’s a NOM Digital client and they kindly hosted our meal, but you guys know I’m always going to give you my real take, and my real take is that this one’s a steal for what you get. If you’ve been looking for a date night or girls’ night spot downtown that feels special without a wild bill, this is it.
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What Makes Dirty Habit So Special?
Dirty Habit sits inside the Kimpton Hotel Monaco, which is housed in the historic 1841 General Post Office building, so the room already has that grand, film-noir-meets-downtown feel before a single plate hits the table. The whole concept leans cocktail-forward and globally inspired, so it’s the kind of place you’d normally expect to pay a premium at.
What sets it apart for me is the pre-theatre prix fixe: three courses for $55, with a real choice at each one, right in the heart of the theatre district. The National’s a short walk away, so you can have a proper sit-down dinner and still make curtain without rushing. That combo of setting, price, and location’s genuinely hard to beat anywhere downtown.
What to Order at Dirty Habit
The move here’s the pre-theatre prix fixe, which is $55 for three courses with a pick at each stage. Here’s what stood out to me from the meal.
Beet Salad
This was one of my favorites of the night. A beet salad’s a classic way to open a meal like this, light and fresh before the bigger plates land, and it earned its spot as one of my picks. If you’re a beet person, don’t skip it!
Farro Risotto
The farro risotto was the other dish I keep thinking about. It swaps the usual rice for farro, a heartier, nuttier grain, so it’s a little more interesting than your standard risotto, and it’s a great pick if you want something cozy and satisfying. It held its own as an entree.
Cavatelli
The cavatelli was my top dish, full stop. Cavatelli are those little hand-rolled pasta shapes with a ridge that’s built to hold onto sauce, and this was the one I’d build my whole order around. Just note the menu rotates here, so check what’s available the night you go.
The Drinks
On the drinks front, I LOVED the Passion Infusion and their espresso martini, which is exactly what you want to kick off a night out. And for anyone who doesn’t imbibe, they’ve got some great non-alcoholic options too, so nobody at the table gets stuck with a sad glass of water. For a cocktail-first night, this spot more than delivers, and if you want to keep the drinks going after, Allegory is my pick for the best cocktail bar in DC.
Dinner and a Show: The Perfect Pre-Theatre Activity
The reason this spot works so well is the whole evening it sets up. We had our dinner, took our time, and then it was just a short walk over to Broadway at the National for the show. It was my first time seeing it (my friend’s third), and I absolutely LOVED it, easily one of the best musicals I’ve seen in a minute.
I was genuinely fighting tears at the end, lol. Having a relaxed, gorgeous dinner first and not stressing about the clock made the whole night feel like an occasion, which is exactly why I’d send you here for a celebration or a girls’ night.
The Vibe and Experience
The setting’s the other half of the appeal. It’s dramatic and moody in that film-noir way, with a grand dining room inside the historic building and a tucked-away courtyard patio with a fire-pit lounge if you want to post up outside. It reads upscale and date-night ready, so it works for a celebration dinner, a group girls’ night, or drinks with someone you’re trying to impress. It’s the kind of room that makes a regular Tuesday feel like you’re doing something.
Good to Know
- 📍 555 8th St NW, Washington, DC 20004, inside the Kimpton Hotel Monaco in Penn Quarter.
- Hours: Mon-Thu 7AM-10PM, Fri 7AM-11PM, Sat 9AM-11PM, Sun 9AM-9PM.
- The pre-theatre prix fixe is $55 for three courses, with a choice at each. Perfect before a show at Broadway at the National, a short walk away.
- Reservations are easy to grab on OpenTable or Resy, and I’d book ahead on show nights.
- Valet parking’s available through the hotel with discounted validation for diners, and there are public garages nearby. Gallery Place-Chinatown Metro’s right around the corner.
- They’ve got solid non-alcoholic options, so it works for non-drinkers too.
Is Dirty Habit Worth A Visit?
Yes, and ESPECIALLY for the pre-theatre prix fixe. Three thoughtful courses for $55 in a setting this gorgeous, steps from the National, is a genuine deal downtown, and the cavatelli and beet salad alone would bring me back. It’s my new go-to rec for a girls’ night, a date night, or dinner before a show in Penn Quarter. If you want to make a full DC day of it, pair it with something sweet from my roundup of the best desserts in DC.
So if you’ve got a show on the calendar or you just want an excuse to get dressed up and treat yourself, Dirty Habit’s a yes from me! Have you guys been yet, or is it going on your list? Let me know in the comments, Nomsters, and save this one for your next night out downtown.