Residents East of the Anacostia River have been active and adamant in their requests for more food options in terms of both delivery and sit-down restaurants, and there has been a great deal of progress thus far. Thanks to a campaign created by Latoya Watson, Caviar, Postmates, and Doordash have expanded their reach to Wards 7 and 8. While this is a victory and several steps in the right direction, there is more to do and always more progress to be made. In the Southern Marketplace Shopping Center frequented by residents in Oxon Hill, MD for Tiger Market, Joy’s Kitchen, and more is La Ceiba.
La Ceiba is a low cost sit-down Latin restaurant with strong Guatemalan influence. The owners, Mary and Noe Romero, pride themselves on using fresh ingredients to produce authentic high quality dishes at a low cost. They even make their own tortillas. Also, breakfast is served all day. A meal with two eggs, salsa, beans, and sausage costs $6.95. Jambalaya, a dish that is usually approximately $15 or over in most DMV sit-down restaurants is $12.50 at La Ceiba with no sacrifice of quality. Residents have been requesting more low cost food options like La Ceiba in their area, but what Mary Romero has noticed is that many of her customers are used to certain kinds of food, this being the reason why La Ceiba is among the ranks of hidden gems.
What La Ceiba offers is a combination of both the familiar and the new. While customers have the carry-out option that they do at Joy’s Kitchen, they can also dine in and sit at a table with a bright red floral tablecloth among equally bright and sunny decor. While customers can enjoy chicken dishes or mac & cheese, they can also try a shrimp quesadilla with homemade guacamole or a cheesy vegetable papusa. Even for creatures of habit, there will always be something at La Ceiba to fit a person’s tastes, and that’s one of many elements that makes La Ceiba stand out as a diamond in the rough.
Interestingly, while people east of the river have been seeking more dine-in options in addition to delivery options, La Ceiba has mostly taken carry-out orders. If more people are aware of all of what La Ceiba has to offer as opposed to its smaller components, it is more likely that they will see its inherent value and utilize it to its full potential. The full scope of their identity cannot be summed up in a few short sentences, but it can be tasted in their food.
-Guest Blogger, Anna Brailow
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Update: I am the author of this piece, and I must give a last minute update. La Ceiba will only be in business for the next three months as a pop-up restaurants. The center is currently looking for creative chefs to fill the space after three months.