Officina Marketplace

One of the newer additions to the Wharf, this is advertised as a "three level" Italian eatery, but it is actually four. I did take-out from their ground floor marketplace, which has everything from fresh pasta to olives to meat. Half a level up from there is a cafe for a slice of pie (both pizza options were vegetarian) and a drink. Above that is supposedly a mid-range sit-down restaurant and on the top floor is the elegant dining option. I selected from two large rectangular pizzas. They were called pizzas but looked more like oversized focaccia. One was a traditional style -- olive oil, rosemary, rock salt and Romano cheese. The other was covered in plentiful crushed Italian tomatoes with baby basil and the prerequisite olive oil. Both were delightful. The crust appears thick but is actually that fermented dough which produces lots of holes while cooking. The result is a crunchy, crumbly crust which has a touch of tang and doesn't leave you filled up. The toppings were perfect in their flavor and each could be considered a meal in and of itself. If this "first bite" of Officina is any indication, the food here will be great. The "upstairs menus" are not vegetable-forward and look pricey (my downstairs take-out, by comparison, was very reasonable) but one can find meat-free dishes, and, given the nice flavors on the first floor, I'm eager to explore the next level up. Furnishings on the first floor are classy and do a nice job of transporting you to Roma or some other similar venue. As my explorations of the Wharf have not resulted in much success (I was sorely unhappy with Lupo Marino, got sick after eating at Del Mar and found nothing to eat at Kaliwa -- Mi Vida being the only success story), I'm hoping that this gives me a reason to come back.

Marketplace, casual and upscale Italian restaurants, all in the same building
1120 Maine St, SW
https://www.officinadc.com/

Comments

Afghan Bistro

With family members moving to Springfield, it has been a struggle to find good places to eat so far afield. After flirting with some chain restaurants near the mall, we tried a Pakistani restaurant (there are many, many Pakistani restaurants there), but it fell flat. Finally, someone suggested this amazing place. It's a little hole-in-the-wall in a strip mall. With oilcloth table coverings, the vibe seems questionable. For about a minute. Then you are warmly greeted and given menus with a plethora of choices. My party ordered a great number of items and every dish rose above expectations. The staff are eager to please and checked in to make sure everything was okay, from food to drink needs. When a member of my party dropped a piece of silverware on the floor one of the waiters swooped in with a replacement before we could even ask. But onto the food. We ordered the Potato and Leek turnovers, the Aushak (leek and sc...

First Watch

Meant to invite some family members here but a friend beat me to the punch. We compromised and went together. Unfortunately, this is a place where it looks better than it is. Across the board. The funky design scheme makes it an echo chamber and, with the pumping music, very loud. Conversation was difficult. The menu is covered in glossy photos and descriptions of the food but ... I started with the Morning Meditation Fresh Juice, a pretty blend of citrus and beet. Or I tried to. Took three reminders to the waiter and when it finally arrived, halfway into the meal, it was 90% ice and 10% juice. My companions opted for coffee. It was ice cold. Another long wait (about 20 minutes) to get new coffee -- and included a reminder to staff that they wanted fresh cups as well. I ordered the Vegetarian Quinoa Bowl, which was described as having up to 12 ingredients. It had three. The quinoa, an egg, maybe two teen...

RASA

The popular grain bowl trend gets a twist with this Indian-inspired takeout bowl place. Same concept -- a base, greens, toppings, etc., but the options are mostly Indian inspired and the majority of offerings are vegetarian (although not vegan, given the heavy use of Ghee in cooking). My take is mixed. Some of the items were outstanding, some less so. I got the Lemon Tumeric Rice, which was delightful. Fresh and tangy, with a little bite, it was one of the best rice dishes I've ever tried. On top of this I got the Tofu/Cauliflower protein. It was half and half. The cauliflower was perfectly roasted, the roasted onions delightful, and the nuts were a beautiful added crunch. The tofu, however, was watery, and the green and red peppers well past prime. Next, I added sauteed spinach, which was incredibly bland, and the peanut sesame sauce, which was "okay" but forgettable. I didn't do additional toppings, although there were ...

DCVegEats

Search This Blog