Duck Breast

Maydan is on every list imaginable, and it should be on your list too. This Middle Eastern restaurant is more than just mezze–it is warm and inviting and friendly. And while most of the dishes are mezze (small plates to share), do not let that deter you. Maydan means “town square,” and in a way, it truly feels like you are in a town square.

You’ll want to make reservations, which open 28 days in advance, at midnight (pro tip: set an alarm). You can also dine at the bar, but that is where the open hearth is, so I don’t recommend it for the heat sensitive. Everything is gorgeous, from that beautiful hearth to the tile detailing in the restrooms. Service was great.

A friend and I shared the halloumi, m’tabbal (Swiss chard, tahini, garlic), duck breast, shrimp, and eggplant. We also ordered ezme, toum, and zhough as condiments. Everything was fantastic. Our favorite, by far, was the halloumi. Served with peanut dukkah and Egyptian honey, it was the best version I’ve had, anywhere.  M’tabbal, the Swiss chard spread, was also addictive, especially with the fresh pita they bring around. The eggplant, which is served with walnut sauce and molasses, is another must-order. It was perfectly charred and not too sweet. The ras-el-hanout seasoned duck was tender and flavorful. The shrimp, chosen on a whim because of the Asian seasonings of tamarind, dried lime, and chile was a nice complement to the other dishes. I love toum, which is a whipped garlic, oil, and lemon condiment, and this one was super garlicky. I could not stop dipping my bread into it. I thought the zhough, another favorite of mine, could have been spicier. The ezme was complementary to the heavier flavors in both the condiments and dishes we chose.

I did not care for the desserts (no menu; only two choices of whatever the chef decided to make) and my one drink of a za’atar martini was a bit boring and did not leave me wanting to order another drink, which is usually not the case for me.

I’ve been to many of the Middle Eastern restaurants in this area, and Maydan outshines them all. It is definitely my new favorite D.C. restaurant.

-LEM

Mocha

Consider this more of a preview, or first look, post if you will. Yes, I know the The LINE DC has been open for a while now, but there are several places on my lists, and I cannot always get to them as quickly or frequently as I would like. However, I have done coffee, lunch, and drinks at The LINE, and I quite enjoy it.

The LINE DC is an Adams Morgan hotel/hot spot. It features five food and drink options, including:

• A Rake’s Progress
• A Rake’s Bar
• Brothers and Sisters
• Spoken English
• The Cup We All Race 4

I’ve had coffee and a muffin at The Cup We All Race 4, lunch at Brothers and Sisters, and drinks at A Rake’s Bar and everything has been excellent.

I recommend going to The Cup We All Race 4 early, as by 9:30 on my recent visit, most pastries were gone. My mocha latte with oat milk was one of the better lattes in DC and has become a new favorite drink. I did try the butternut apple muffin, which was perfect for fall, and quite good–I can only imagine their other pastries are delectable as well. This cafe is in the lobby of the hotel, and there are couches and long tables for seating if you walk just beyond it.

At Brothers and Sisters, my lunch of a duck consomme and the knife-cut pasta was a fantastic choice. The duck consomme had chile oil, scallion, and huge duck wontons. It was delicious and not too heavy. The knife-cut pasta, which came with pork sausage, broccoli rabe, greens, and plenty of Parmesan is definitely the dish to order. The portion is well-sized and the wide noodles were perfectly cooked. All of the flavors worked really well together. Service was great. Seating is a bit confusing as it is near the cafe seating with no clear delineation.

A Rake’s Bar is the bar area next to A Rake’s Progress restaurant, which is upstairs. You must check-in for the bar; if there is no room, you must wait (this isn’t Sign of the Whale). No reservations are accepted for the bar. We were there early enough on a Saturday evening (roughly around 6) that we were able to be seated at the few remaining bar seats. We asked the bartenders to concoct drinks for us; the drinks were strong and flavorful.

I look forward to returning not only to the three restaurants I’ve been to, but also to the other ones. In theory, you could spend all day at The LINE and be perfectly happy, and I hope try that and see how it works as well. But whether you want your morning Joe or an evening nightcap, The LINE DC has you covered.

-LEM

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

Soi 38 offers fantastic Thai cuisine in a somewhat obscure downtown location (21st and L). I’d never heard of it until  I started working nearby. I always thought I was spoiled for Thai food, living in the same neighborhood as Thai Square and Bangkok 54, and not too far from Rabieng and Duangrat’s. But Soi 38‘s creative, unique Thai food is amazing and a cut above the usual.

I visit fairly often, and so far, have had a variety of dishes, almost excellent. The focus seems to be a bit more northern Thai, with staples such as Nam Prik Ong, Khao Soi, and Kha Moo. I’ve tried the Kha Moo, Ped Roti, Yum Ped Yang, Pad See Eew, Ped Krob, Khao Soi, and Kanom Jeen.

The Ped Roti (duck roll) and and Yum Ped Yang (duck salad) were probably the dishes I would not order again. Something seemed to be lacking in both of them. The duck was excellent though. My favorites are definitely the Kha Moo (stewed pork leg with pickled mustard greens and Chinese broccoli), the Ped Krob (crispy duck with basil), and the Khao Soi (noodle curry with chicken). The Kha Moo is a new dish for me, but it is delicious; the meat is tender with a flavorful sauce and unique vegetables. Ped Krob is always a favorite of mine, and both the basil and duck are super crisp in this version. Khao Soi (egg noodles, chicken, curry) is pure comfort food and the curry is on point. Pad See Eew (wide rice noodles, vegetables) is another comfort dish and the vegetables and noddles were perfectly cooked. Kanom Jeen (noodles, green curry, bamboo), another new-to-me dish, included my Thai favorites: eggplant, noodles, and bamboo in a tasty green curry.

I still need to try dessert, along with their happy hour, which I hear has some great offering. Service can be a bit brusque; no one is all that friendly, save the hostess, but everyone is polite. If you’re ready to stop ordering Pad Thai, I’d head to Soi 38.

-LEM

Pups on the Patio Thursdays 4:00pm to 6:30pm!

We recently had the pleasure of dining at the new Silver location at Cathedral Commons (3404 Wisconsin Ave., NW)  and speaking with Executive Chef Ype Von Hengst (TV Food Network Chopped Champion and Unwrapped winner). I’ve met Ype previously and dined at various Silver Diners, but this was my first time at either Silver (bistro) location. Silver’s menu is definitely a few steps above Silver Diner (by design).

Other than whichever cocktail I happened to order, we enjoyed everything. But, while everything was good, the absolute standouts (that we would order again in a heartbeat):

Lamb Meatballs (appetizer)

Brussels Sprouts (appetizer)

Green Giant (fresh pressed juice containing kale, spinach, cucumber, and apple)

Four Berry Pie

They also did a great job with both the Mahi Mahi, but I enjoyed it more than my dining partner. It’s possible she just isn’t a Mahi Mahi person.

Silver has a great looking Menu. Items that we are excited to try if we find ourselves back at Silver include the Shrimp & Grits, Local Lamb with Cappelinni (because they did a great job with the meatballs), the Cauliflower Mezze, and the Vegan Lemon Tartlet (in addition to more Four berry Pie). 

-JAY