The Feed: Farmers Markets
The Crate Escape: Farmers markets get you out of Safeway
(Darrow Montgomery)
Forget about the humidity, the tourists driving the wrong way around traffic circles, and those disgusting, thick-as-your-finger slugs that wallow on the sidewalks after rainstorms. The return of warm weather also brings things to look forward to: dining outdoors, having the city to yourself on weekends, and farmers markets.
Since this is also the time of year when Young & Hungry likes to take a little breather to clean out the gutters and mulch the tree belt, this week’s Feed is an extended sampling of restaurants near area markets. Because not only do you sometimes need to cool your heels after picking through peaches—seeing all those locally produced whole foods can also make you awfully hungry.
You’ll have to find out for yourself whether the ingredients at these places are as fresh as those raspberries you’ve just picked up from that co-op out in Frederick County. Let us know what you think of these or any other area restaurants by registering to be a Restaurant Rater.
Adams Morgan Farmers' Market
Columbia Road & 18th Street NW, Saturdays 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Asylum
2471 18th St. NW, Washington, DC 20009, 202/319-9353
Rater's Score
7.7 food
6.9 service
7.6 ambience
$$$$
Raters Say:
Asylum is a strange entity. It’s a biker bar that’s known for its brunch and for its veggie and vegan options. “While certainly not for everybody, the food in this ‘biker bar’ is excellent, the decoration and entire atmosphere is unique, and the staff is very friendly. And all that for a low price.” “Asylum is a terrific find for vegans. A biker bar, it has wonderful food and a friendly, counterculture sort of ambience that makes it a great place to linger over coffee.” So much for tough guys. But brunch will turn anyone into a softie. “Asylum had great mimosas—great bang for the buck. The huevos rancheros were great too, but my veggie omelet was only mediocre. It was lacking a bit in flavor. The bloody mary was only mediocre too. So get the huevos and a mimosa and you will be happy.” The service, on the other hand, maintains the biker image: “The wait staff, bartenders, and even the owner are horrifyingly rude and unpleasant.” Or not: “The waiters and bartenders are always really friendly.” Either way, “the music rocks.” “Rock on!”
• Dinner: DailyDaily; , Brunch: Sat & Sun, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Happy Hour: Mon-Fri, 5-9 p.m., Open Late: Daily to 1 a.m. • Major credit cards accepted, Carryout, Full bar, Vegetarian-/Vegan-friendly
The Diner
2453 18th St. NW, Washington, DC 20009, 202/232-8800
Rater's Score
7.0 food
6.5 service
6.8 ambience
$$$$
Raters Say:
The Diner is fine. In fact, everything at the Diner is so fine that I imagine the restaurant was dreamed up somewhere in Northern Finland by a mad scientist bent on creating food that elicits neither complaint nor praise, food that will absolutely satisfy you but to which you'll never have to give a moment's thought once you've ordered it. Here's a rundown on some of the menu items. Burgers: fine. Chicken cheese steak: fine. Veggie burger: fine, if a little crumbly. Kids' chicken strips and fries: fine. Kids' hot dog: Better than fine, but not as good as Five Guys'. Milkshakes: fine. Omelets: fine. Croque Madam, Croque Monsieur, and Croque and Dagger: fine, fine, and fine. Various grilled cheeses: fine, especially the Plymouth Rock. Pies: fine. Blackened Tuna Sandwich: I get this 4 times out of 5, and I can't think of a single thing to say about it. Coffee and ice tea: both fine. I've eaten more at Diner than anywhere else in D.C., probably because when it comes to choosing where to eat, it's hard to argue about food that's this consistently OK. Not fine: The room's boomy, so if they decide to play, say, some Zeppelin, that plus the patrons' collective roar means you'll be asking your tablemates to repeat every other freaking word. And sometimes you have to wait awhile to be seated. But really, in the aggregate, that's fine.
• Breakfast: DailyDaily; Lunch: DailyDaily; Dinner: DailyDaily; , Open 24 Hours • Major credit cards accepted, Carryout, Full bar, Wheelchair-accessible
Alexandria Farmer's Market
301 King St., Alexandria, Saturdays 5 - 10:30 a.m.
Fish Market Restaurant
105 King St., Alexandria, VA 22314, 703/836-5676
Rater's Score
7.6 food
7.6 service
7.0 ambience
$$$$
Raters Say:
Most raters give solid marks to Fish Market Restaurant, which “reminds you of being in an old fishing town enjoying the catch of the day” and is touted as “a great place to take those out of town visitors who want some great seafood!” One diner expresses a preference for the wings, but as another puts it, “[t]he seafood is the focus here, so don't go if you're looking for some kind of interesting fusion cuisine or inventive side dishes.” While one diner complains of a “skimpy” fish sandwich, most seem to agree that Fish Market’s seafood menu has plenty to recommend. Soft-shells and the “delicious” crab-cake sandwich draw praise; the raw oysters, which are dubbed “the best in town, fresh, sweet and perfect.” Though one rater, who describes an atmosphere that is “loud, packed with noisy children,” complains of inattentive service, others who mention the service tend to be complimentary, describing staff as “excellent,” “very reliable,” and “attentive.”
• Lunch: DailyDaily; Dinner: DailyDaily; , Happy Hour: Mon-Thu, Sun 4-7 p.m., Open Late: Mon-Thu, Sun to 11 p.m.; Fri & Sat to midnight • Major credit cards accepted, Carryout, Full bar, Outdoor seating, Live Music: Fri & Sat, 9 p.m.- midnight
Overwood
220 N. Lee St., Alexandria, VA 22305, 703/535-3340
Rater's Score
6.4 food
6.0 service
9.0 ambience
$$$$
Raters Say:
Cooking with wood, if you ignore the sophisticated exhaust regulations, exudes a certain primal, Neanderthals-around-the-fire vibe; the current wood-burning trend, in fact, might even say something about our fears of processed food and our desire for simplicity.The folks at Overwood in Old Town seem to embrace this back-to-basics concept, not only in their kitchen but also with their entire approach to the neighborhood bar and grill. The owners, like with their preferred cooking method, bow to the past here with a brick-and-wood interior that warmly accents their historic home in the Crilley Warehouse. Even chef B. “Rami” Errami’s menu is stocked with American classics. The lunchtime barbecue sandwich is a pile of deeply smoked and sweetly sauced shaved beef, so good you’ll want to eat it straight, no bun or slaw. The massive entrée salads prove more problematic, whether a chicken version that barely hints of smoke or a salmon salad in which the under-seasoned filet has been seared to a crackly, dehydrated state. But the craft brews on tap, not to mention the toothsome fried green tomatoes appetizer, will make everything better. The latter is a leaning-tower of sliced-and-battered tomatoes accented with spicy cheddar and jalapeno aioli. It’s not really a wood-grill item, but it’s smokin’.
• Lunch: Mon-Fri, Mon-Fri; Dinner: DailyDaily; , Brunch: Sat 11 a.m.- 3 p.m.; Sun 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Open Late: Fri & Sat to 11 p.m. • Major credit cards accepted, Carryout, Full bar, Smoke-Free environment, Wheelchair-accessible
Clarendon Farmers Market
Clarendon Metro station, Arlington, Wednesdays, 3 - 7 p.m.
Harry's Tap Room
2800 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington, VA 22201, 703/778-7788
Rater's Score
7.7 food
7.1 service
8.0 ambience
$$$$
Raters Say:
Situated “in the heart of the nouveau riche Clarendon,” this “[h]alf hipster lounge, half avant garde chophouse” seems to offer prime people-watching opportunities. The business-suit set commingles with the polo-and-jeans crowd, one rater notes, “without any appearance of strangeness”; the bar’s “comfy sofas” and “roaring fire place” are “sure to draw singles on the prowl,” another offers. The dishes recommended by raters include the “enticing” baked brie, the turkey burger, an oyster po’boy featuring “plump” oysters and tricked out with “intoxicating” remoulade, and a Ceasar salad that’s termed “a good bet.” Brunch gets high mentions, too, on the strength of dishes like the steak Benedict (which includes filet mignon) and the bananas Foster waffles. Depending on who you ask, service can vary from terrible to “ready to bend over backwards to take care of your every need….”
• Lunch: Mon-Fri, Mon-Fri; Dinner: DailyDaily; , Brunch: Sat & Sun, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Open Late: Fri & Sat to 11 p.m. • Reservations accepted, Major credit cards accepted, Full bar, Smoke-Free environment, Wheelchair-accessible, Outdoor seating
Dupont Circle Freshfarm Market
20th Street between Massachusetts Avenue and Q Street NW, Sundays 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Bistrot du Coin
1738 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20009, 202/234-6969
Rater's Score
7.3 food
5.6 service
6.9 ambience
$$$$
Raters Say:
The neighborhood restaurant Bistrot du Coin mostly lives up to its motto of “French, fun, and friendly.” The menu is certainly French, from its moules to its foie gras, and at bistro prices. “Good place to eat, real French bistro food not too much elaborated but always tasty.” “The Steak Maison was tender and perfectly seasoned; the crisp frites were some of the best I've had in the States, and the béarnaise sauce was downright sinful (I had two servings). The classic steamed mussels could be a meal in themselves...nested in a delicious garlic broth, which perfectly enhanced the plump seafood.” “I had a tartine with vegetables and black olive spread and that was very good even if there was too much oil on it. My husband had a great piece of meat, an 'onglet,' which was really excellent and a quite big piece of meat actually!” While the Dupont restaurant is often “raucous,” there is at least “great eye candy in terms of clientele” to distract you: [It] made the wait for our prime sidewalk seating less painful.” “If you're a relaxed diner who enjoys a spirited atmosphere and staff, I highly recommend.”
• Lunch: DailyDaily; Dinner: DailyDaily; , Brunch: Sat & Sun, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Open Late: Mon-Wed, Sun to 11 p.m., Thu-Sat to 1 a.m. • Reservations accepted, Major credit cards accepted, Full bar, Cigars/Pipes allowed, Wheelchair-accessible
Kramerbooks & Afterwords Cafe
1517 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20036, 202/387-1462
Rater's Score
7.2 food
6.4 service
6.5 ambience
$$$$
Raters Say:
Kramerbooks & Afterwords offers a little bit of everything, for both before and during a meal. “It's great that the waiting area is a bookstore—you'll never get bored even if you have to wait a while.” “This is really a great restaurant for just about any occasion: date, dinner with friends, dinner with parents, anything. I've been for brunch, dinner, and dessert, and all were fabulous!” “Always dependable, Kramerbooks/Afterwords does a fine brunch in a wonderful location.” For dinner “I ordered the butternut squash ravioli with goat cheese—yum! Another dish was a jumbo crab cake over pasta with an Old Bay cream sauce.…The best dish by far was the Cafe Tagines with lamb—I don't usually eat much meat, but this lamb was wonderful.” “Afterwords entrees are hit-and-miss. But at $18 for three appetizers, getting the appetizer tray is a super bargain.” “And the portions are the perfect size—you'll have just enough room for dessert (and you'll definitely want it when you see what's in the display cases).” For those who want to stop by this Dupont Circle spot but don’t have an appetite, “They have some spectacular alcohol concoctions and a rather decent wine list.” Plus “the staff is very friendly.”
• Breakfast: DailyDaily; Lunch: Mon-Fri, Mon-Fri; Dinner: DailyDaily; , Brunch: Sat & Sun, 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Open Late: Mon-Thu & Sun to 1 a.m., Fri & Sat 24 hours • Major credit cards accepted, Full bar, Wheelchair-accessible, Outdoor seating
Silver Spring Freshfarm Market
Ellsworth Drive between Fenton and Cedar Streets, Saturdays 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Austin Grill
919 Ellsworth Drive, Silver Spring, MD 20910, 240/247-8969
Rater's Score
8.2 food
7.5 service
7.8 ambience
$$$$
Raters Say:
Silver Spring’s link in this local chain seems to keep raters pretty happy. The Grill’s charms were enough to win over one rater who’s admittedly “reticent” about dining at chain restaurants. “The ambiance was typical faux-hip-Mexican,” she writes, “but it wasn't overwhelmingly obnoxious.” The food proved good enough that she and her boyfriend “left with our stomachs and our wallets full.” Other raters recommend the grilled veggie burritos, nachos, and the fajitas, though one calls the salsa “diluted.” Live music and “bustling bar” prompt one rater to caution that it’s “not a good place to go if you want to hear yourself think,” but another likes the “[v]ery friendly and laid back atmosphere.”
• Lunch: DailyDaily; Dinner: DailyDaily; , Brunch: Sat & Sun, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Open Late: Mon-Thu, Sun to midnight; Fri & Sat to 1 a.m. • Major credit cards accepted, Carryout, Full bar, Outdoor seating, Live Music: Daily
Eggspectation
923 Ellsworth Drive, Silver Spring, MD 20910, 301/585-1700
Rater's Score
7.5 food
6.2 service
6.8 ambience
$$$$
Raters Say:
With a name like Eggspectation (which “looks like a cross between Outback Steakhouse and Austin Grill; lots of unfinished wood planking, hefty booths and cement floors.”) one has to assume that brunch is a busy time at this Silver Spring restaurant. “I went to Eggspectation with a group of three for brunch one Sunday. Because it was brunch, the restaurant was crowded (as expcted) and we had to wait a little bit for a table (which we didn't mind). The food was better than expected, and the Bloody Marys and mimosas were great. The portions were a nice size, and there were tons of options on the menu. My only problem with this place is the service…. I would probably go back again for the food, but for the next visit, I'd choose a different time.” “My friend was happy with her Benedict (fyi, there are tons of interpretations of this standard, all festively heart-clogging, but then again almost everything comes with some type of cheese or sauce), while I ordered the 2 Eggs Meat, substituting the hash browns for a fruit salad.” “Overall? It's a decent enough place to grab…brunch that while doesn't provide anything new and different, still manages to deliver quality ingredients in even their most basic options.”
• Breakfast: DailyDaily; Lunch: DailyDaily; Dinner: DailyDaily; , Happy Hour: Daily, 4-8 p.m. • Major credit cards accepted, Full bar, Wheelchair-accessible
