BY LANNA NGUYEN | @EATDRINKDC
The tell-tale signs are everywhere. Never ending streams of tourists, bipolar weather and cherry trees in full bloom can only mean one thing: spring has arrived in DC. You could elbow your way to the tidal basin or you could head to these bars and restaurants to celebrate Cherry Blossom season with themed food and drink specials. Pro tip: do the latter.
| Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken Get your hands on Astro’s cherry doughnut: cherry filling inside a vanilla doughnut decorated with a vanilla bean cream cheese glaze with a cherry blossom design of buttercream flowers piped on. $3.25 per doughnut, available at the DC and Falls Church locations. |  Astro's Cherry Doughnut |
Chaplin’s
The Japanese restaurant and cocktail bar will have a Cherry Blossom Bomb through April 17. The $5 drink combines Kirin Ichiban beer with a shot of the aptly colored pink Sakura Emaki Rose Sake. Other speciality drinks include the Bread Soda (Kirin, bourbon, lemon, maple-ginger syrup) and Honzo’s Steel (gin, Japanese plum cordial with a honey, orange blossom and Kirin sauce).
Maki Shop
The fast-casual sushi spot on 14th Street will feature a cherry blossom themed version of its sushi hand roll. Made with tofu, pickled watermelon radish, cherry-infused vinegar seasoned rice, mitsuba and wrapped in a pink soy sheet, it will be available through May.
The Japanese restaurant and cocktail bar will have a Cherry Blossom Bomb through April 17. The $5 drink combines Kirin Ichiban beer with a shot of the aptly colored pink Sakura Emaki Rose Sake. Other speciality drinks include the Bread Soda (Kirin, bourbon, lemon, maple-ginger syrup) and Honzo’s Steel (gin, Japanese plum cordial with a honey, orange blossom and Kirin sauce).
Maki Shop
The fast-casual sushi spot on 14th Street will feature a cherry blossom themed version of its sushi hand roll. Made with tofu, pickled watermelon radish, cherry-infused vinegar seasoned rice, mitsuba and wrapped in a pink soy sheet, it will be available through May.
Spring Blossom Hand Roll
Round Robin Bar at Willard InterContinental
In celebration of the Cherry Blossom Festival the Round Robin Bar will be offering a trio of specialty drinks: Sake Blossom (Sake, Chambord, Yuzu Juice and simple syrup), Matsumoto Manhattan (Yamazaki Whiskey, Carpano Antica, apricot jam and brandied cherry) and the Kyoto Cocktail (Shoshu Rice Liquor, grapefruit juice and Peychaud’s Bitters). Pair them with Japanese inspired bar bites like the Japanese Crab onigri with sweet and sour sauce served with a seaweed salad and the Kukuni pork belly sandwich served with Asian relish and spicy teriyaki glaze on a Japanese bun. Specials are available through April 17.
In celebration of the Cherry Blossom Festival the Round Robin Bar will be offering a trio of specialty drinks: Sake Blossom (Sake, Chambord, Yuzu Juice and simple syrup), Matsumoto Manhattan (Yamazaki Whiskey, Carpano Antica, apricot jam and brandied cherry) and the Kyoto Cocktail (Shoshu Rice Liquor, grapefruit juice and Peychaud’s Bitters). Pair them with Japanese inspired bar bites like the Japanese Crab onigri with sweet and sour sauce served with a seaweed salad and the Kukuni pork belly sandwich served with Asian relish and spicy teriyaki glaze on a Japanese bun. Specials are available through April 17.
| Off the Record Located in the basement of the Hay-Adams Hotel, this classy establishment will have a speciality cocktail called Off the Record Blossom, made with Hendrick’s gin, maraschino liqueur, lemon juice, Creme de Violette liqueur and garnished with a limoncello marinated cherry. Every day of the festival, guests can enjoy complimentary chocolate and cherry cupcakes in the hotel lobby. Free cupcakes? Sign me up. |  Off The Record Blossom |
Takoda
Shaw’s newest restaurant and rooftop garden will have a special dessert and two cherry-blossom inspired cocktails during this year’s festival. Guests can enjoy a slice of cherry pie topped with vanilla ice cream or opt for the Takoda old fashioned (with High West bourbon, house-made beer syrup, bitters and citrus peel, garnished with house-made maraschino cherry) and the Aviation (with Tanqueray, Luxardo maraschino liqueur, Creme de Violet and garnished with a house-made maraschino cherry).
Shaw’s newest restaurant and rooftop garden will have a special dessert and two cherry-blossom inspired cocktails during this year’s festival. Guests can enjoy a slice of cherry pie topped with vanilla ice cream or opt for the Takoda old fashioned (with High West bourbon, house-made beer syrup, bitters and citrus peel, garnished with house-made maraschino cherry) and the Aviation (with Tanqueray, Luxardo maraschino liqueur, Creme de Violet and garnished with a house-made maraschino cherry).
