Fresh Grounds: Leopold's Kafe & Konditorei

There are meals that satisfy the stomach, others that charm. While both can be fantastic in their own right, occasionally there are those times where delicious food combines with perfect weather and picturesque settings to create a truly memorable dining experience.

Last Thursday I was thusly blessed when I decided to stop by Leopold's Kafe & Konditorei (which, for obvious reasons, will henceforth be referred to simply as Leopold's). Found out in Georgetown just beyond the intersection of M and 33rd, Leopold's is actually located down a little alley on the south side of the street. This placement just off of the main drag is fantastic because it affords the cafe the convenience of Georgetown, without the oft unavoidable Georgetown affectedness. To be honest, as it is a cafe faithfully in the Austrian tradition, one would not be remiss to forget mid-meal that the little square was in Washington DC rather than some quaint European village.


The service is excellent, the restaurant itself is spectacularly decorated, and the food was delicious. I only went there for breakfast, so I cant speak to the rest of the menu, but if the Joghurt Musli (Yogurt-parfait granola with fresh berries) that I enjoyed is any indicator, than I assume you would be hard pressed to go wrong at Leopold's. The prices on some of the entrees can be a bit on the steep end, but for breakfast my friend and I paid about 20 bucks total for two coffees and two food items.


If you haven't gathered, this place is awesome, but to be honest words could never do the place justice. You owe it to yourself to check it out, so on that note I'm going to wrap this up, and you should make your way over to Leopold's Kafe & Konditorei.

Check it Out: Goody's Corner Eatery

Loyal readers, in my search for the best meals in DC, sometimes it possible for me make a mistake. Overlooking a place in favor of extolling the virtues of another. But in the name of quality, and all things delicious, I am not too proud to admit it; in fact with this post I plan on doing just that. A month or two back, I reviewed the restaurant Alberto’s, even going so far as to declare it my favorite pizza in the district. Well friends, while Alberto's still serves up a mean slice, I would be remiss not to tell you that I have found a new favorite in the form of Goody's Corner Eatery.

Located literally right next door to Alberto’s, Goody's is a recent upstart on P Street. In fact I wandered in a number of weeks ago searching for a sandwich and was disappointed to learn that they only serve pizza. After a less than satisfactory experience at Alberto’s however, I had promised myself that the next time I craved pizza Goody's would be my destination.


I held true to my word, and as pizza cravings are certainly not an infrequent affliction of mine, it was this past weekend that I first experienced the goodness that is Goody's. While the pizza was amazing, Ill get back to that, because people were mores. Angelina, the woman behind the establishment greets you the moment you enter with a smile and a warm personality that makes you feel as if you had instead walked into the kitchen of your favorite aunt. She is one of the most wonderful people I have met in all my experiences with DC restaurants, but not only is she is friendly, she's serious about her pizza too. This 30 year kitchen veteran loves her customers and pulls out all the stops to make sure they walk away happy.


And walk away happy you will. The pizza is amazingly fresh (hand-tossed and made with top-notch ingredients) and the portions are more than generous. A quarter of a pizza will run you no more than $5. It is light and cheesy with a delicious crust, and unlike at Alberto’s next door, you can sit and enjoy it in-house.

Pizza is best when it is made with love, and at Goody's that is the main ingredient. Next time you find yourself in Dupont, take a chance on Goody's and their wonderful pizza, you won't find disappointment anywhere on the menu.

P.S. Tell Angelina I sent you.

The Sunday Dinner: Lime Time

A day late on this one, but last monday I had some friends over for a meal I think that you might like to try out yourself:

Curried Chicken Skewers with a Lime-Apricot Glaze and Lime-Scented Rice




I was drawn to the recipe in the first place, for no other reason that that I like limes, and as the names might suggest these dishes have them in spades. Throw an apricot glaze into the equation (how could something cooked in any sort of fruit glaze not be good?) and the deal was sealed.

Ideally the chicken ought to be cooked on a grill, so as to give it that perfect caramelized taste, but if you're like me and lack access to such things, the broil setting on the oven will suffice.

Another great aspect of the dish is that, as the chicken is skewered, its is a great way to feed a big group. Just pass around a plate of skewers and everyone can grab one or two. Same goes for the rice (which is awesome by the way).

To go along with this symphony of powerful flavors you're going to need a wine that can hold its own. I paired mine with a bottle of Dr. Jebediah Drinkwells Meritage (which for those of you who don't know is a blend of 5 different red varietals) and it packed more than enough punch to keep from getting swallowed up by everything else. It hails from Paso Robles, California, but you can score a bottle at the Trader Joes on 25th.

Check it Out: Kotobuki

Sushi. Some love it and can’t get enough, while others just can’t get past the idea of eating raw fish. Me, I fall into the former category (though I’m not trying to pull a Jeremy Piven here, no thanks mercury poisoning). As such, a few weeks ago I was thrilled to discover my new favorite sushi place in DC: Kotobuki.

Located at 4822 MacArthur Blvd., NW, Kotobuki is only a short walk from George Washington’s Mount Vernon campus, and offers amazingly fresh sushi at a reasonable price.

While Kotobuki is the upstairs neighbor from upscale Makoto, a rather high-end, intimate Japanese joint, Kotobuki has a decidedly more laid back and casual vibe. Just as you walk upstairs you get your first treat (for me at least), because playing over their sound system is music exclusively by The Beatles (early Beatles to be precise). I went with a friend and we waited for less than 10 minutes before being seated.

I was extremely hungry so I ended up ordering a miso soup, and two maki rolls (splitting a 3rd maki roll). The food was prepared quickly, and it was all delicious. The miso soup (not usually my favorite) was incredibly light and flavorful. And the sushi itself was overwhelming. Every roll that I tried was excellent, but I’d have to say my favorite was the Spicy Tuna. Generally one of my favorite rolls, Kotobuki did it to perfection. The food was delicious and it wasn’t outrageously expensive. Two and a half rolls, a miso soup, and a Sapporo ran me close to $20, but I was full and satisfied.

If you’re tired of settling for sub-par DC sushi make the journey to Kotobuki, its a trip you won’t regret.

Fresh Grounds: Bourbon Coffee

All things considered, I'm probably more of a "tea person", but there is just something about coffee shops that transcends the beverage around which they are built. Whether its their haloed place in the American morning routine, or their inexplicable knack (Starbucks excluded) for pulling off the cliched "coffee shop" ambiance time and time again, there really is no denying their allure. Even more so is this the case in a city, where their warm atmosphere and inviting armchairs often constitute the closest thing in town to reading around the fireplace.

While I had passed Bourbon Coffee a handful of times over the summer, I managed to resist dropping in for a cupa until about a week ago, when my partner-in-coffee finally made it back to DC for the semester. It always looked like a neat spot from what I saw in the windows, and now I am pleased to be able to say, that in this case, looks are not deceiving. Located on L Street, between 21st and New Hampshire, Bourbon Coffee is (from what I understand) the first, and at the moment, only, US location of what was originally a Rwandan chain. Opened in late 2008, Bourbon offers five varieties of "crop to cup" African beans (as well as a litany of other coffee shop staples) in a comfortable open atmosphere, replete with a fantastic assortment of handmade African art.

I had a cup of their Virunga coffee, aptly named for the Virunga Mountain Region from which it originates, as well as a blueberry scone. As one could assume, the coffee was terrific, and I was pleasantly surprised to find the scone to be the perfect combination of chewy and flaky as well.


Foggy bottom really only boasts a smattering of solid coffee joints, so next time you're feeling the need to take a break from the grande carmel mocha-somethings, I highly recommend Bourbon Coffee as a quality local alternative .

Check it Out: Thai X-ing

Have you ever had a dining experience, where merely obtaining your meal was such a complicated and involved process, that you began to wonder if “this meal could possibly be worth all this hassle”? Well folks, a few weeks ago, I had just such an experience. My patience was tested, my hunger too. In the end though, it all paid off, and the results were phenomenal. It didn't hurt either that the cuisine was Thai (one of my all-time favorites). The scene of the crime: one Thai X-ing.

Located on 5th and Georgia NW, in a townhouse basement, this tiny, and I mean tiny (only 13 customers can eat-in at any one time) gem of a restaurant is the very definition of a "hole in the wall". The first time I stumbled across it, I had been on the hunt for a late night dinner and inadvertently wandered into this basement restaurant. My attempt to order dinner was met with the news that I needed to call back tomorrow between noon and four. Confused and feeling a lot like a tourist I backed away and pledged to unravel the mystery of Thai X-ing.


With a renewed sense of purpose, the next day I called back and finally (after getting a busy signal about 20 times) was able to leave a message with my order and the time I wanted to eat. Slightly perplexed, but still intrigued, I began to wait, until about an hour later I finally received a call back. I wanted to pick up my food around 7 but was told that that time would be no good and that 8 was better. Again this amused me, but by this point I was beginning to learn that this sort of waiting game was par for the course at Thai X-ing, so when I arrived at Thai X-ing later that night around 8:15 and was told to come back in half an hour I just rolled with it. At 8:45 I came back and waited yet another half an hour, this time I was permitted to wait inside the restaurants "lobby", and from there I was able to observe the owner / chef of the establishment preparing my food in the kitchen not 15 feet away. The tantalizing aromas wafting from the depths of the basement were becoming almost too much to bear, when at long last (now an hour after I had arrived) my food was ready and I could take it home.

When I got home I was curious. This food better be more than good (more than great for that matter) after all the trouble I went through to get it. And when the time finally came for me to eat it ,much to my relief, it was amazing—beyond amazing. I ordered a Shrimp Himalai--Stir-fried shrimp with cashews, celery and snow peas, which was delicious. The ingredients were fresh, flavorful, and each bite was full of delicious vegetables and juicy shrimp. The portions aren't enormous, but for $11 it wasn’t too expensive either.

Despite the hassle, the food was totally worth the wait. With Thai X-ing patience certainly is a virtue, so if you have a day to commit to getting amazing Thai food, Thai X-ing is well worth the adventure.

Check it Out: Cafe La Ruche

As far as certain types of restaurants are concerned, stereotypes are all but unavoidable. When I say rib joint, (I'm guessing) your first thought is not lace tablecloths and oyster forks, nor does the mention of a sushi bar conjure up an image of self-serve, buffet style dining. To the extent that this is true though, no cuisine carries more baggage than that of the French. Perhaps it's a little self inflicted, perhaps its entirely unfounded, but in the mind of the masses, pomp and pretension go with French food like peanut butter goes with jelly.

There is nothing wrong with that of course, a little refinement never hurt anyone (or any meal for that matter), but there is also something to be said about a warm, "eating in the company of friends" kind of atmosphere, and to an extent, the two aren't mutually exclusive. Located in Georgetown, south of Wisconsin, on 31st street, Cafe La Ruche is a shining example of that fact. As the name might suggest, it is in fact a purveyor of French cuisine, but surprisingly (to me at least) the atmosphere was anything but stodgy. From the walls bedecked with Parisian street signs, to the flags hanging from the rafters, the vibe is much more local watering hole than anything else. That, coupled with the presence of apparent regulars reading books while waiting for their meal, or shooting the shit with the friendly proprietor, is enough to make one believe that they are off at some tavern in the French countryside rather than sitting squarely in the heard of urban Washington.


As far as the food goes; for starters, it being a French restaurant, I enjoyed a bowl of onion soup (a personal favorite of mine), and then as an entrée I had a pork chop. Both were hearty, delicious, and most importantly unencumbered by any frivolity or over-the-top presentation. Good food; nothing more, nothing less. The prices aren't all that awful either (especially for Georgetown) so if your looking for a nice spot to spend a night out, head on over to Cafe La Ruche for a meal that ought to satisfy your soul as well as your stomach.