Tried out Zengo for the first time on a Thursday evening before a Caps game.  They have a gluten-free menu, so I was already a fan before I stepped through the door.  It was a little crowded, probably because of happy hour, but I made reservations so we got a table right away.  Trendy decor, dimly-lit, and loud, but it’s a hotspot in DC so I wasn’t expecting anything different.  We were greeted promptly by our server, Rudy, who turned out to be awesome.  Drink prices were not as awesome, but still we ordered a couple of their signature mojitos.  I’m not sure they were worth $12 a pop, but when I go back I’ll probably get the cucumber mojito again because it was pretty damn tasty and not too sweet.

I ordered the Peking Duck daikon tacos and the gluten-free versions of the Zengo fried rice and the Angry Zengo sushi roll, which they serve up a side of gluten-free soy sauce (tamari).  I normally bring packets of my own, just in case, but I was happy to not have to use it.  It’s really nice to find places that cater to people with gluten sensitivities!

The food was fantastic and the portions were generous.  The fried rice seemed Thai-inspired, with cilantro and bean sprouts.  It was delish and they didn’t go cheap on the meat.  The Angry Zengo roll had a nice spicy sauce and tasted fresh.  I really don’t have words for the fabulousness of the Peking Duck tacos.  On their own, the duck was too salty, the daikon and apple were plain, and the sauce was sweet; put them together and it equaled heavenly bites of perfectly-balanced crunchy goodness.

Kudos to the staff for clearing empty plates quickly, offering clean plates as new dishes rolled out, and getting us in and out in time to see the puck drop.  I loved it, and will definitely be going back.

-KPG (Katherine)

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