“The usual spot” has been increasingly difficult to adopt when another restaurant or bar seems to open in the Washington, DC area every week. When the alternative involves the new hot opening, it’s difficult to consider returning to an old favorite.

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Country Rillette

On our most recent visit to Red Light DC, one of our previous favorites, we found 5 new reasons to keep going back:

1. The cocktails have gotten better. Across the board the beverages are more unique and innovative than they were on our first visit. You might even see a flame being used. The Peep Show and Just Peachy get the nod from us.

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2. The patio is where we’ll be sitting. Located along the busy 14th Street Corridor it allows for either a memorable quick visit before or after dinner, while also lending itself to a more extended evening.

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3. It’s hard to imagine not ordering one of the Rustic Flatbreads. They might not be the centerpiece of the menu, but they are something we’ll return for. We recommend the mushroom, taleggio, and white truffle oil or the bacon, caramelized onion, and blue cheese.

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Mushroom, Taleggio, and White Truffle Oil Flatbread

4. Guess what- it’s OK to visit Red Light DC twice in one evening. Even with small bites on the menu stopping in for a happy hour cocktail and then returning after your dinner, for dessert, is completely acceptable.

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5. Nutella S’mores and Indian Rice Fritters need to be ordered for dessert. S’mores immediately take me back to spending the summers around bonfires. When I hear “rice pudding” I get mixed feelings. There’s no childhood memory of  walking into my mother’s kitchen and smelling rice pudding, so this option is tricky to immediately fall in love with. As they say, “you can’t always judge a book by it’s cover”, and this is a perfect example of that saying. Some in the kitchen will admit this is secretly their favorite dessert.

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Nutella S’mores

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Indian Rice Fritters

Even with those new restaurants opening up, Red Light DC is offering several reasons to continue stopping in. We’ll definitely be back to the patio in the coming months.

Cheers!