DCVegEats

Must be my week for "Little" things.  Hit The Little Beet after checking out a new observation tower in the area.  Selected it because one of our party really likes beets and wanted to treat her a bit.  This counter-service restaurant gets a lot of props.  Interesting and slightly unexpected menu which has a large number of items appropriate to both vegetarians and vegans (not to mention dairy-free, soy-free, gluten-free and nut-free).  One of those "pick from a column" menus, you select a base, two veggies, a protein and toppings.  To their credit there were two veg options for proteins, which is not always the case.  I got the quinoa bowl with warm veggies kale and sweet potatoes, along with a beet falafel patty, pickled onion, tumeric almonds and chipotle sauce.  The seasonings were all subtle yet unique and somewhat delightful.  Price points were great with each meal coming in just over $10.  The downsides included:  1.  ...

Yeah, not really into chain restaurants but have to say that Subway got me through my 20s and Grad School.  This is the closest I come to fast food.  Really appreciate the variety of breads (which now includes wraps) and the effort to cater to vegetarians.  Back in the old days it was just a veggie sub, but now they have veggie patties, as well.  These six inch subs are affordable, on the healthier side, and fairly yummy depending on what you add -- and there are a ton of options.  The options also change with the times.  These days one can find an avocado topping as well as Chipotle and Sriracha dressings.  Calorie postings and "fit" eating choices are highlighted both in store and online.  So, yes.  If I need a meal quickly or am trapped in a mall with my meat-eating relatives, Subway it is. Counter-service sandwiches and salads Multiple locations https://www.subway.com/

Critic favorite Little Sesame got a visit this week and lived up to expectations.  The bright, warm interior made you want to stay while the gentle middle eastern tunes transported me from downtown DC.  The food is equally delightful ... and filling!  On this simple menu you have two choices -- a hummus bowl or a hummus pita sandwich.  I opted for the sandwich, getting the Roasted Eggplant with Green Schug (an herb mix), Tahini and Red Cabbage.  The two-fisted sandwich had weight when I lifted it and left me feeling stuffed for a good six hours.  DO use napkins, as the yummy goodness comes out with every bite.  Of particular delight to me were the dipping sauces.  Readers of this blog know that I like my sauces.  There was a tangy, almost sweet tomato sauce and a tart/spicy green sauce at every table.  While they did add a great zing to the dish, the layered flavors in the sandwich made them almost unnecessary.  Almost!  Warm...

Affordable dumpling place (10 for $10) which is very veggie friendly.  There was a line out the door when I arrived today, which was easy to understand after sampling the fare.  Of the eleven dumpling options offered there were four vegetarian selections.  Additionally, the menu includes a vegetarian noodle salad and shumai, a kind of "open" dumpling.  Again, one of the shumai options was vegetarian.  First and foremost, call ahead or be prepared to wait.  You can get the dumplings pan-fried or steamed.  If you ask for steamed they say it is a 15-20 minute wait.  On this visit the dumplings were a solid 20+ minutes given the large number of orders being handled by the kitchen.  The wait is worth it.  The little dumplings are exquisite.  I mixed it up and got the Kale, Edamame/Taro and the Squash with Cheese.  I even forgave them the lack of dipping sauce (two packets of soy sauce don't cut it) as the seasonings were delicate ...

Finally!  A wharf restaurant I really liked, and one I would go back to.  This upscale Mexican restaurant had a 45 minute wait time last time I showed up.  This time I hit it right at the lunch opening.  It filled up fast.  It is easy to understand why.  The expansive menu has symbols for vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options.  The twists and reimaginings of traditional Mexican fare made for palate pleasing delights.  I had the Tatanachos, which had a wide number of subtle and spicy flavors nicely mixed.  I also had the Ensalada de Nopales, which was delightfully different and sweetly tangy.  Big difference from Lupo Marino, where $28 got me a teeny bowl of pasta.  Here, $25 (with tax and tip) got me two dishes ~and~ I took a doggy bag home.  Service was outstanding.  The only downside was fairly loud music (yes, the Wharf restaurants are all about a jazzy nightlife, but this was 11:30 in the morning).  Could br...

First and foremost, DO go to the museum.  Two years after opening you are finally able to get in without timed passes on some days and the crowds are significantly more reasonable.  One of the best and most thoughtfully laid out museums, you could spend days here.  My companions tired out after about two hours but you could spend four or more and feel like there are still things to see. That being said, opted for a late lunch at the Sweet Home Cafe, which features African American foods from different regions of the country.  This being a weekday not all the stations were open, which was one issue.  The other was that the overall menu isn't what you would call "light".  On the day we visited there was the fried chicken station and the barbecue station.  Each had interesting vegetarian sides one could order but they weren't what I would call "health food".  There were any number of fried items (onion rings, fried green tomatoes) and slaw type d...

This was a return trip to a favorite Georgetown location.  Bangkok Joe's manages to make a kind of nouveau Asian fusion cuisine which never fails to delight and uplift the palate.  There is bravery here, mixing non-Asian flavors like Sriracha into the overall mix.  Today's selections included dumplings (options included crispy chive dumplings or a winter squash pot stickers), Radish "Tater Tots" and Panang Curry with wide flat noodles, spinach and tofu.  It is rare that I get the chance to use the word sublime, but it definitely applies here.  Bangkok Joe's gets big creds for taking the usual Asian offerings, turning them on their head and creating something fresh and unexpected.  The dumpling offerings change periodically, allowing for seasonal ingredients.  The Radish Tater Tots were awe-inspiring in their mix of flavors and textures, and the Panang Curry light and rich all at the same time.  The restaurant is additionally bright and attractiv...

This new strip-mall addition to south Arlington began as a food truck and has morphed into a fast casual spot featuring a blend of Korean and Vietnamese fare.  Like others of this type, the menu involves picking a base (soft taco, sandwich, rice), then protein, slaw, sauces and toppings.  There is also a poke option for the pescatarians in the group and a limited number of sides "coming soon." Like many newer restaurants, they have issues in planning and prep.  The only veggie protein is the Organic Lemongrass Tofu, which had to be "made" when I ordered it (not sure how tofu is "made" but the attendant offered me a free drink for the unexpected wait).  I chose the kale and broccoli slaw with "peanut/hoisin" dressing.  It turned out to be kale and carrots with little to no dressing.  I also got a sweet chili sauce, cilantro, green onions and sesame seeds (black and white mixed).  The result wasn't exactly what I expected but wasn't bad...

Time to talk about one of my most favorite spots in DC.  The original Julia's, in Adams Morgan, has been there a long long time and it is my #1 go-to for fabulous cheap eats.  I've never had anything other than the empanadas, although they do have soups and salads.  Let's talk empanadas, though.  Every day, they have one vegetarian and one vegan empanada on the menu, which rotates from time to time to offer seasonal selections.  One will sate an average hunger, two will leave you stuffed.  The fillings are delightful -- creative, zesty, sometimes spicy.  The price point is amazing -- $5 a pop.  Make this one a "must visit" place for your list. Counter-service empanadas, soups & salads Three locations in the city, with the original at 2452 18th St., NW http://www.juliasempanadas.com/home.html

Curious about this odd hybrid, I stopped by for some bakery treats mid-afternoon.  At that time of day it is mostly an anti-Starbucks hang-out, with free wifi, mellow tunes, salads, sandwiches, coffee and tea.  I only got two scones and one cookie (to eat over a couple of days).  They were hands-down amazing.  The scones were large and fluffy, rich in flavor.  The cookie was fall-apart soft and layered.  Honestly it might be the best bakery treats I have had for a good long while.  The dinner has a limited menu and difficult to get reservations, so I will probably stick to the daytime menu. Bottom line:  Absolutely worth it.  Will stop by again for a real meal. Cafe, Bakery, Restaurant, Bar 3221 Mt. Pleasant St., NW https://www.eatatelle.com/

This new offering along Georgia Ave. has been open about a month.  It has some strengths and some minuses.  The counter service restaurant had two people working there when I arrived, with one patron waiting for take-out.  The big plus is that the food was pretty good and the staff friendly.  I could see a return trip.  The bad news are the kind of things which can be worked out over time.  I got the Coconut Chickpea Curry (which comes with rice and beans and slaw) and a side of fried bananas with avocado.  I also got the "mellow ginger" drink.  The curry sauce was kind of amazing.  There weren't many chickpeas in the curry, however.  It was mostly potatoes and carrots, which was fine but was indicative that first thing in the day they were missing a good deal of ingredients for dishes they were offering.  When I ordered the callaloo green drink they were out of callaloo, when I ordered the ginger drink they were out of something ...

As Tazza Kitchen, the food here was very very good.  Taken over by local chain Delia's the food is sometimes good but the restaurant remains plagued with minor issues which impact the overall experience.  Twice, I have gotten pizzas which are just "too well done" and have dark, almost burned crusts. The first time, when I ordered the classic "Delia" pizza, I was twice asked if "that was all" in an attempt to upsell extras.  Word to the wise, if a featured pizza isn't good enough as is, why feature it?  (PS, it wasn't)  The second time I visited there were few patrons and the affable waiter presumably used this as his excuse not to write down the orders.  The result was getting things we didn't ask for and being charged for things we didn't get.  On the most recent visit I had the Ricotta and Herb Ravioli with Fava Beans, Charred Eggplant, Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Corn Creme.  The pasta was homemade and the fresh green fava beans quite n...