Good vegetarian eats/food in Washington DC?

[Goblinmonger]

I went to several websites and have lists of vegetarian restaurants and offerings in DC. I am looking for some firsthand recommendations. What can't I miss in DC. My whole family (me, wife, 14 year old daughter, and 11 year old son) are going next weekend for 5 days. I will be busy a lot; they will be free to roam. Any local haunts they might miss would be appreciated (they love going to restaurants will good vegetarian options since those are a tad limited in our part of Wisconsin).

I posted this in the vegetarian group, too, but thought I could get some help from the lizards.

[rug]

1. I do not make moral judgments on persons eating vegetables.

[Goblinmonger]

3. Nice.

I like the play on words.

:toast:

[Dastard Stepchild]

2. Lemme think on this...

I went to the 2005 protest/meetup for DU, and then also spent a week there in 2004 and 2006.

There is a place called Harmony Cafe that I thought was quite tasty. Very simple place, very low key, but I remember really enjoying my meal.

Thai Place was good and was pretty, too. I think they had a nice soup there that I liked.

Soul Vegetarian was quite good.

The vegan brunch at Asylum is nice.

Ummm.. and there was a really good Ethiopian restaurant we tried. I wish I could remember all the places we ate at. We took the listing from VegDC and then just tried a whole bunch of places. I have to warn you, though, that I am pretty easy to please when it comes to food, and I am not that discriminating, so people don't always like my recommendations because I am willing to give a pass on some things even if the only good thing about the place is that I had a nice server. :) That said, I don't remember anything being bland or tasteless. Except at one of the Thai places... the pad thai was disappointing because the sauce was rather dull. But the appetizers and ambiance made up for it somewhat. I wish I could remember which Thai restaurant that was.

There are many, many choices in DC. You won't get bored there when it comes to veggie food.

Have fun!

[jilln]

4. Whenever I go, I bring the list from vegdc.com

Don't miss Sticky Fingers bakery!

[Goblinmonger]

8. I do have that list tucked away in a folder

Yeah, I'm a little OCD, gimme a break.

I will make sure we hit the grocery.

[PassingFair]

5. Olivegarden has a "never-ending" salad bowl and breadsticks!

Ever been there?

[Chan790]

6. My brother used to be a server at Olive Garden...

let me tell you...don't do the endless salad and breadsticks. Just don't do that to your server.

Those never-ending salad and breadsticks are the bane of your waitperson. People come in and stay for 2-3 hours on salad and breadsticks and a free refill soda...total of about $6 with tax, tying up a table (each server only has so many tables, in my brother's OG it was 4.) for hours and hours and hours on 6, 7, 8 refills...and then they tip...nothing, 10%, 15%(which is at least standard) to a server who makes less than minimum wage. So...on a busy Friday night it's eminently possible to go home at the end of the shift with not enough money to put gas in the car because some group of assheads tied up one of your tables for the busiest part of the night and tipped you $2.40 on dinner for four after keeping you running constantly for soda, bread and salad for 2-3 hours. Corporate doesn't care...they're getting rich. You'd have to eat your weight in lettuce and bread for them to lose money.

Those people work harder than any other food service people I've ever seen. I ALWAYS tip them at least 100% if that's all I got was salad and breadsticks and a Pepsi. I know, KNOW, they're getting shafted.

[PassingFair]

7. For the LIFE of me....

I didn't think I needed this:

:sarcasm:


Sorry!

[Chan790]

9. No, you didn't.

It's my general OG is a pile of shit PSA. It wasn't for you...it's to dissuade people who think that's actually a good idea. I knew you were being sarcastic. I like to tie any mention of OG to their record of being a shitty employer.

//End of Chan790's anti-Olive Garden PSA.

[Goblinmonger]

10. I was with you.

I got it. I'll try get a picture in front of an Olive Garden and see if I can start a GD shitstorm with it. "Best place I went in DC." :rofl:

[seemunkee]

11. Ethiopian in Adams Morgan is very good

I like Teaism in Dupont circle for a casual lunch or dinner. The Lebanese Taverna is good too.
Looking at vegdc.com I see that Ben's Chili Bowl has vegetarian chili and chili fries. The place is a DC institution and is open late.

If you haven't seen it check out http://www.vegdc.com/restaurants.php

[sbj405]

12. In DC proper or are you willing to drive?

There are some great places slightly out in the 'burbs.
Vegetable Garden in Rockville.
The Great Sage in Clarksville.

In DC, Soul Vegetarian.
If you want something extra nice and want to $pend - head to Nora's in Dupont Circle.

[Goblinmonger]

13. We are hoping to not have to rent a car.

Metro crazy, though.

[seemunkee]

16. My son prefers Yuan Fu in Rockville

The two times I ate at Great Sage I was dissappointed, the only thing I ended up liking was dessert. My vegan son didn't think it was very good either.

[yellowcanine]

14. There are a lot of good Indian restaurants, all have vegetarian selections.

Also if you are in the College Park area, Pita Plus (kosher, if that matters) has great falafal sandwiches which you can get either on traditional pita or laffa. The advantage of the latter is you get to ask for "falafal on laffa" - kind of fun if you are into playing with language.

Pita Plus is on the edge of Univ. of MD campus, around the corner from College Park Bicycles - a fun place to browse if you are into bikes), one street toward campus from the College Park shopping center (which has a Noodles & Company and a Chipotle's - both of which have decent and cheap vegetarian offerings). In general I have found that you can't miss around a college campus for interesting and cheap places to eat. For fancier and a bit more expensive, a little further south on Rte. 1 on the left in the "car dealership district" in Hyattsville there is a place called Franklin's that also is a microbrewery. They have lots of vegetarian offerings, including my favorite, a vegetarian Reuban sandwich which uses dried tomatoes in place of the corned beef.

[yellowcanine]

15. I just saw your post about using Metro - there is a stop at College Park

on the Green Line. Pita Plus and the College Park Shopping Center would easily be doable if it is a nice day for walking. Franklin's would be out though unless you want to use the bus - which wouldn't be a bad solution either but I would recommend getting a bus schedule.