• 13Dec

    Give Authentic Turkish Style Doner in Dupont Circle a Spin!

    The Turkish Pastries are Imported from Turkey.
    Chicken Shwarma is a New Menu Item.
    Beef/Lamb Doner Handled with Care.
    Doner Also Available on Flatbread or as Platter.

    Capital Doner in Dupont Circle (corner of P and 20th St NW) has been open over a year now, and recently added a second rotisserie; that one is for Chicken Shwarma. You can order your butter-basted Doner or Chicken Shwarma as a sub bread or flatbread, or with rice and French fries as a platter. The platter includes a large amount of food. And, yes, this restaurant is Turkish style (not Berlin style). The food is delicious here and they even have outdoor seating (no heaters). Sandwiches are $15 and platters are $19 for healthy sized portions.

    The pastries are imported from Turkey and exceptionally good. All except one of the pastries include pistachios (one is walnut). And yes, you can wash it down with Turkish coffee.

    I brought a Middle Eastern friend that was visiting from NY here, and he went back to Long Island trying to find doner as good as what we ate at Capital Doner. He hasn’t yet, but you’re welcome to make suggestions for Nassau County or Queens Turkish style Doner in the comments IF you’ve tried Capital Doner (so can make a fair comparison).

    -JAY

    Editor’s Note: We’re taking submissions for guest writers. Drop some article ideas you’d like to pursue (and a writing sample) at jay (at) dcfud (dot) com if you’re interested.

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  • 30Nov

    Brunch as a Turkish Feast in Dupont Circle

    Dupont Circle’s Agora might be one of my favorite places in DC and a bit underrated. Though on a popular strip of 17th Street, this Turkish restaurant seems to be a bit of a hidden gem.  It’s been a few years since I’ve been to happy hour here, and until recently, the same was true of their brunch. However, I’ve now done brunch at Agora twice within a few months, and remember how much I love it.

    Agora’s brunch is a two-hour bottomless food and drink feast. Make reservations; you definitely need those. The menu is meze heavy, with some breakfast classics thrown in. It’s vegetarian friendly, as well. Service has always been good.

    Drinks are your choice of mimosa, Bloody Mary, Champagne, or rail liquor for mixed drinks, which is unusual for brunch, but appreciated. I stick with the Champagne because I don’t see a point in adding juice.

    Your server will start you with fresh, warm pita, but try not to fill up on it, no matter how hungry you are. That would be a rookie mistake. You’ll want to save room for some of my favorites, which, in no particular order, are:

    • Smoked salmon (lox)
    • Hummus
    • Baba ghanouj
    • Goat cheese
    • Feta
    • Grape leaves
    • Kasik (similar to a horiatiki salad)
    • Pide (flatbreads)
    • Baklava French toast

    The hummus and baba ghanouj are creamy and delicious. The cheeses are great, and I appreciate the fresh salad as a respite to the somewhat heavy options. If you love carbs and cheese, Turkish pide is for you, and it ties with the baklava French toast as my favorite offering here. I tend to order the mozzarella and tomato, but the Turkish sausage (sujuk) is also good, as the sausage has a kick of heat. The baklava French toast is sweet, but  not overly so, and super fluffy from the challah.

    The price is very reasonable, and it’s one of the best brunch deals you’ll find in the city. Many of my favorite bottomless brunches have now changed so much that I no longer care for them; I’m glad that Agora has not. Change isn’t always good, and Agora’s brunch offering is fantastic as is, so I hope it doesn’t change too much in the future.

    -LEM

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