DC Metro Dining (aka The Weekly Dinner)

Creative Mexican at Oyamel (Penn Quarter)

Sat, Sep 26 · 6:35 PM EDT

Oyamel, 401 7th St Nw, Washington, DC, US

NEW MEMBERS or 1st TIME EVENT GO-ERS
Before attending your first event, please take a moment to understand how our dinners work and what we ask of members.
→ Learn how DC Metro Dining works
→ Ensure Group Notifications are Setup (Announcements + In on Waitlist/Attending List)

RSVP CUTOFF
The final opportunity to change your RSVP from Yes to No is Saturday, September 26 at 10:00 a.m.

After that point, please do not change your RSVP without contacting the organizer. Last-minute cancellations, no-shows, and failure to communicate may affect future participation.

INTRO: To close out the month, we're heading to Oyamel, José Andrés' creative Mexican restaurant in Penn Quarter.
Oyamel celebrates Mexico's regional culinary traditions through an energetic menu of antojitos, ceviches, tacos, vegetables, and more substantial dishes, along with an extensive tequila, mezcal, and cocktail program.

FOOD: The menu provides a broad range of price points, from individual tacos and vegetable dishes to ceviches, seafood, meat, and larger-format plates. This makes it easy to mix and match, whether ordering individually or sharing several dishes across the table.

Current menu highlights include Ceviche Verde, Ceviche con Cítricos, Atún Pacífico, Aguachile de Camarón, and a variety of tacos such as Cochinita Pibil, Carnitas, Chilorio de Res, Pescado Baja California, and Taco de Lengua. Other options include Queso Fundido con Tequila, Coliflor Frita, Quesadilla de Huitlacoche, Camarones al Mojo de Ajo Negro, and Bistec con Mole Coloradito. The menu also includes vegetarian options and desserts such as chocolate flan and tres leches.

The current à la carte menu ranges from approximately $6–$9 for individual tacos, $11–$23 for many smaller dishes and vegetables, and higher for larger entrée. Menu items and prices may change.

→ Explore OYAMEL's Dinner Menu: https://www.oyamel.com/menus/

-= SPENDING EXPECTATIONS =-
Approximately $45–$75 per person before tax, gratuity, and beverages for a moderate à la carte dinner. Those ordering multiple shared dishes, larger entrées, cocktails, or wine should plan for approximately $75–110+ per person all-in, depending on selections.

SPACE: Oyamel is a very popular, energetic restaurant, particularly on weekend evenings. The dining room has a lively, sometimes boisterous atmosphere, with numerous hard surfaces that carry and amplify the sound.

On a Saturday night, the experience can feel almost like a fun dinner-party or celebratory atmosphere, with animated conversations, a busy bar, and a steady flow of diners. This is part of the restaurant's appeal, but it is worth noting that Oyamel is not an especially quiet or intimate dining environment.

The décor is colorful and distinctive, and the overall setting is polished without feeling overly formal. Come expecting a spirited, social evening rather than a subdued dinner.

→ Visit the restaurant website: https://www.oyamel.com

• Tax/Tip combo is our required 30% tax/tip policy (see the FAQs for more details)
• Limited to 8 slots

See you there,
JoeN

CLOSEST METRO

• Archives-Navy Memorial-Penn Quarter (Green and Yellow Lines). From the station, use the exit toward Pennsylvania Avenue and 7th Street NW. Walk north on 7th Street NW, passing the National Archives area and continuing toward D Street NW. Oyamel will be on the right between D and E Streets NW. 2 min walk.
• Gallery Place-Chinatown (Red, Green, Yellow Lines). From the station, walk south on 7th Street NW toward D Street NW and continue to Oyamel. 6–8 minutes walk.
• For directions using the Metro, try using the Trip Planner | WMATA Rider Tools https://share.google/V5iOWbEbTGTvrqF8T

PARKING: Oyamel is located in a busy downtown area where street parking may be limited, especially during the evening. Several commercial parking garages are available within a few blocks. For advance parking reservations, check SpotHero or Parking Panda.

Attendance Notes

• If you RSVP “YES,” please commit to showing up. With 5,400+ members and limited seating, we can’t afford no-shows. It’s not fair to other members or to our relationship with the restaur
• New Members / 1st Timers: Trying to get a slot? Join the Waitlist and check back frequently: spots (often open up on the morning of the event). You may also receive midweek confirmation emails to reconfirm your RSVP, so please check your Meetup DMs and please respond timely to Event Lead communications.
• Billing Reminder - Add 30% for tax and tip to your food and drink total. This is part of our group’s expectations and helps smooth out service with the restaurant.

Looking forward to dining with you!

JoeN

Afghan Gourmet & Chophouse at Afghania (Georgetown)

Fri, Oct 9 · 7:20 PM EDT

Afghania, 2811 M St NW, Washington, DC 20007, USA, Washington, DC, US

NEW MEMBERS or 1st TIME EVENT GO-ERS
Before attending your first event, please take a moment to understand how our dinners work and what we ask of members.
→ Learn how DC Metro Dining works
→ Ensure Group Notifications are Setup (Announcements + In on Waitlist/Attending List)

RSVP CUTOFF
The final opportunity to change your RSVP from Yes to No is Friday, October 9 at 10:00 a.m.

After that point, please do not change your RSVP without contacting the organizer. Last-minute cancellations, no-shows, and failure to communicate may affect future participation.

INTRO: This month, we're heading to Afghania, the Masroor family's newest restaurant in Georgetown and their first upscale, white-tablecloth concept.

Afghania describes its cuisine as "Afghan frontier food," drawing on the rugged, meat-forward cooking traditions of Afghanistan's mountainous borders with Central and South Asia. It's an interesting departure from the more familiar Afghan restaurant experience, with a polished setting and a menu that offers both traditional favorites and more contemporary presentations.

FOOD: Afghania offers an expansive à la carte menu as well as its signature Afghania Flight, a nine-dish chef's tasting designed to showcase the restaurant's range. For our dinner, we'll be ordering à la carte, giving everyone the flexibility to mix and match and explore the menu at different price points.

The menu includes traditional Afghan dumplings, smoked meats, lamb, grilled meats, substantial rice dishes, and a wide selection of vegetable preparations. Mantu, smoked meats, and lamb shank are among the dishes that have received particular attention, while the extensive vegetable selection makes the menu accessible beyond the meat-heavy specialties. The cardamom cake is also a standout dessert to keep in mind.

Recent diners have generally responded particularly well to the food, with generous portions and flavorful preparations frequently mentioned. With the menu offering both smaller dishes and substantial entrées, sharing several selections should give our group a good opportunity to sample more of what Afghania does.

The overall feedback on service has also been strong. Recent reviews describe the staff as attentive, knowledgeable, friendly, and willing to explain unfamiliar dishes. There are a few older reviews that were more critical of seasoning and perceived value, so expectations should remain reasonable rather than assuming every dish will be a universal favorite.

→ Explore AFGHANIA's Dinner Menu: https://www.afghaniadc.com/menu

-= SPENDING EXPECTATIONS =-
Spending expectation: Approximately 45–70 per person before tax and the restaurant's service charge, depending on selections and beverages. Given the generous portions, sharing several appetizers or larger dishes can be a good way to explore the menu without everyone ordering a full entrée.

SPACE: Afghania occupies a relatively intimate Georgetown dining space on M Street, with a warm, polished atmosphere rather than a large or highly energetic dining room. The restaurant has two dining rooms, including an upstairs space that can accommodate private groups, along with a main dining room and bar.

Recent diners have generally described the atmosphere positively, with comments ranging from cozy and inviting to elegant and comfortable. OpenTable currently characterizes the noise level as moderate, while one recent July review specifically described the upstairs dining room as pleasant and quiet.

→ Visit the restaurant website: https://www.afghaniadc.com

*Tax/Tip combo is our required 30% tax/tip policy (see the FAQs for more details)

• Limited to 8 slots

See you there,
JoeN

CLOSEST METRO

• Georgetown does not have a Metro station, so Foggy Bottom-GWU is the most practical Metro option for this restaurant.

• Foggy Bottom-GWU (Blue, Orange, Silver Lines). From the station, use the 23rd Street NW entrance at 23rd and I Streets NW. Walk south on 23rd Street NW toward Pennsylvania Avenue NW. Continue west along Pennsylvania Avenue, then follow the Georgetown street network toward M Street NW*. Once you reach M Street, continue west to 2811 M Street NW. Approximately 1 mile and 18–22 minutes on foot. This is a substantially longer walk than the typical Metro access for our downtown events, so please factor that into your arrival time.

• Dupont Circle (Red Line). This is a possible option for Red Line riders, but it is* not a shorter walk to Afghania. From the station, the route involves walking southwest toward Georgetown and ultimately west along the M Street corridor. Approximately 1.2 miles and 23–27 minutes on foot.

• For directions using the Metro, try using the Trip Planner | WMATA Rider Tools https://share.google/V5iOWbEbTGTvrqF8T

PARKING: Afghania is located in the heart of Georgetown, where street parking can be limited and evening traffic can make parking less convenient.
There are commercial garages throughout Georgetown and the surrounding area.. For advance parking reservations, check** SpotHero or Parking Panda.**

Attendance Notes

• If you RSVP “YES,” please commit to showing up & timely responses to Event Lead DMs. With 5,400+ members and limited seating, we can’t afford no-shows. It’s not fair to other members or to our relationship with the restaurant.

• New Members / 1st Timers: Trying to get a slot? Join the Waitlist and check back frequently: spots often open up on the morning of the event. You may also receive midweek confirmation emails to reconfirm your RSVP, so please check your Meetup DMs and please respond timely to Event Lead communications.

• Billing Reminder - Add 30% for tax and tip to your food and drink total. This is part of our group’s expectations and helps smooth out service with the restaurant.

Looking forward to dining with you!

JoeN