Honestly this sounds like something where you get something that is good as takeout and/or comfort food (e.g. Italian) that will reheat nicely vs. something fussy.

OP - The Roses Luxury group could provide everything at your relative's house. It's pretty luxurious but for a special life event, it sounds perfect.

https://extrafancy.com/dinner-parties

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks everyone! Great ideas. We are going to go with takeout from Rasika, which our relatives have never had. High end food, but take-out and reheating friendly.

Never tastes as good reheated. But good luck.

It will still probably be better than OP’s other options, though

Anonymous wrote:Thanks everyone! Great ideas. We are going to go with takeout from Rasika, which our relatives have never had. High end food, but take-out and reheating friendly.

Never tastes as good reheated. But good luck.

Thanks everyone! Great ideas. We are going to go with takeout from Rasika, which our relatives have never had. High end food, but take-out and reheating friendly.

Anonymous wrote:It's not DCUM fancy, but it is a favorite -

NYT Chicken Shawarma, especially paired with a good wine, fresh bread to dip in the sauce.

Great suggestion- and I have found almost any 5 star NYT recipe paired with a great wine is a crowd pleaser. I think the only paid subscription service I have is the NYT cooking subscription.

1310 Kitchen in Georgetown on Wisconsin Ave NW does nice take home meals

It's not DCUM fancy, but it is a favorite -

NYT Chicken Shawarma, especially paired with a good wine, fresh bread to dip in the sauce.

Sushi platter with steamed edamame.

What do they like?

Anonymous wrote:Just bring over some Maggiano's or Olive Garden. You're welcome.

Ew no don’t

Joe's stone crab does something like this and stone crabs are a treat for a lot of people.

Just bring over some Maggiano's or Olive Garden. You're welcome.

Ris in the West End does take home meals.

We want to take a fancy meal to a relative's house to celebrate a big birthday. Another relative has a chronic illness, so we do not want to go to a restaurant. We had planned on taking Rose's Luxury's take-home meals to them, but it looks as though the restaurant doesn't do those anymore. With those 3-4 course meals, you would pick up the package and then do all the last-minute prep and heating at home. It was a little different and fancier than takeout.

Any ideas for what we could do instead? Hoping the hivemind might have some creative suggestions. (Take-out is our back-up, of course.)