Going to the cherry blossom festival in DC-what to eat?

[Zeze]

We will be there April 5 (Sat) & 6 (Sun)... this is bit early for the projected peak bloom (8-12th) of this year, but what can you do.

1. Anything particular I MUST check out while checking out the festival?

2. Some MUST try food in the DC / Georgetown area? I could go for nice pho, as well as any must-try local places.

3. Anything else?

 

[shortylickens]

Sushi.


They were a gift from Japan, remember?

 

[Jeeebus]

Go down to the waterfront/seafood market and get some fresh steamed blue crab and shrimp in a heavy coat of old bay. Delicious.

 

[Zeze]

Go down to the waterfront/seafood market and get some fresh steamed blue crab and shrimp in a heavy coat of old bay. Delicious.

Whoa whoa, where is that? Walking distance from the cherry blossoms?

Google shows Maine Avenue Fish Market, is that it? This doens't seem to be waterfront.

 

[Jeeebus]

Whoa whoa, where is that? Walking distance from the cherry blossoms?

Google shows Maine Avenue Fish Market, is that it? This doens't seem to be waterfront.

It's accessible via the metro - I want to say the waterfront stop but hell if I know after a few years of not living in DC. We used to drive in from Virginia and it was off Maine Ave. It's a fun experience.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Don't come anytime soon...we're still in deep winter. Who knows how the cold will affect the blossoms this year. I would also warn against coming on the weekend.

Best case scenario: blossoms are at near- or full-bloom, beautiful weather, and a weekday!

As for food, I can't recall anything interesting associated with the festival itself.

I can list my favorite restaurants in the city...

Zaytinya ($$$$, Mediterranean)
Rasika ($$$$, Indian)
SEI ($$$$, Sushi)
Little Serow ($$$$, Thai)
Estadio ($$$$, Spanish)
MatchboxDC ($$$, Pizza)
Pizza Paradiso ($$$, Pizza)
Old Europe ($$$, German/French)
Kafe Leopold ($$$, German/Austrian)
District Chop House ($$$, Steak)
Bus Boys & Poets ($$, American)
Sakuramen ($$, Japanese Ramen)
Hill Country ($$, Texas BBQ)
Boundary Stone ($$, Irish & Spirits)
Amsterdam Falafel ($, Falafel & Fries)
Kokeb ($, Ethiopian)

Best Beer:
Dacha Beer Garden (7th & Q NW)
Church Key DC
Meridian Pint
City Tap House

 

[mnewsham]

Don't come anytime soon...we're still in deep winter. Who knows how the cold will affect the blossoms this year. I would also warn against coming on the weekend.

Best case scenario: blossoms are at near- or full-bloom, beautiful weather, and a weekday!

As for food, I can't recall anything interesting associated with the festival itself.

I can list my favorite restaurants in the city...

Zaytinya ($$$$, Mediterranean)
Rasika ($$$$, Indian)
SEI ($$$$, Sushi)
Little Serow ($$$$, Thai)
Estadio ($$$$, Spanish)
MatchboxDC ($$$, Pizza)
Pizza Paradiso ($$$, Pizza)
Old Europe ($$$, German/French)
Kafe Leopold ($$$, German/Austrian)
District Chop House ($$$, Steak)
Bus Boys & Poets ($$, American)
Sakuramen ($$, Japanese Ramen)
Hill Country ($$, Texas BBQ)
Boundary Stone ($$, Irish & Spirits)
Amsterdam Falafel ($, Falafel & Fries)
Kokeb ($, Ethiopian)

Best Beer:
Dacha Beer Garden (7th & Q NW)
Church Key DC
Meridian Pint
City Tap House

I'd add "BLT steak" to the list as well. Better steaks in my opinion than district chop house.

Also "Annie's" down by DuPont circle is nice if you don't mind a more gay atmosphere.

 

[Jeff7]

I see I'm not the only one with plans for this.

I'll be in Brooklyn though.

 

[kage69]

Don't come anytime soon...we're still in deep winter. Who knows how the cold will affect the blossoms this year. I would also warn against coming on the weekend.

Best case scenario: blossoms are at near- or full-bloom, beautiful weather, and a weekday!

As for food, I can't recall anything interesting associated with the festival itself.

I can list my favorite restaurants in the city...

Zaytinya ($$$$, Mediterranean)
Rasika ($$$$, Indian)
SEI ($$$$, Sushi)
Little Serow ($$$$, Thai)
Estadio ($$$$, Spanish)
MatchboxDC ($$$, Pizza)
Pizza Paradiso ($$$, Pizza)
Old Europe ($$$, German/French)
Kafe Leopold ($$$, German/Austrian)
District Chop House ($$$, Steak)
Bus Boys & Poets ($$, American)
Sakuramen ($$, Japanese Ramen)
Hill Country ($$, Texas BBQ)
Boundary Stone ($$, Irish & Spirits)
Amsterdam Falafel ($, Falafel & Fries)
Kokeb ($, Ethiopian)

Best Beer:
Dacha Beer Garden (7th & Q NW)
Church Key DC
Meridian Pint
City Tap House

Damn skippy, love that place, was a regular destination of mine for awhile, along with a few others that weren't stuck up about Korean items.

Almost hit Kokeb up once but everyone with me voted no. Your link indicates a restaurant in Seattle though, not the Kokeb on Georgia Ave in D.C. Just fyi...

 

[GTaudiophile]

Fixed the link.

My favorite Pho in DC.

 

[kage69]

God damn I want ramen now!

 

[GTaudiophile]

Re: Saku

I like to get their spicy miso with bulgogi. Next time I'm going to heat level 15.

(Official levels are 1-10. I've done 12 but need more. 20 is as high as they go.)

 

[kage69]

Fixed the link.

My favorite Pho in DC.

You ever venture up around Bethesda, College Park, or Silver Spring? A huge variety for restaurants there too, and where I would usually go when I was in the mood for Korean or Vietnamese food.

Now I can't stop thinking about the Lebanese Taverna in Arlington. That's it, I have to go eat something now. I hope you're happy!

 

[GTaudiophile]

Work/live in the Chinatown area. Don't own a car. So Bethesda, College Park, and Silver Spring are like 1-2x / year adventures for me

Heck, Georgetown is like a 1x a year deal too.

 

[mnewsham]

Lebanese Taverna

There is one in Silver Spring, and I think Rockville. Though maybe it was Bethesda... it's a blur sometimes.

 

[shortylickens]

Actually I still like Union Station the best. Lots of good shit. Although last time I visited I think only about one third of the places were still open.

 

[bolomite]

Ben's Chili Bowl

 

[EvilYoda]

Drop by the Columbia Room for a nice and private drink.

 

[release213]

Go to Maine Avenue Fish Market (Anthony Bourdain also went there if you're interested in watching his DC trip episode)

Not sure if prices have risen, but that place used to be a good place for cheap seafood eats when I lived in DC

 

[EvilYoda]

Go to Maine Avenue Fish Market (Anthony Bourdain also went there if you're interested in watching his DC trip episode)

Not sure if prices have risen, but that place used to be a good place for cheap seafood eats when I lived in DC

Nice place for fresh seafood - just be prepared to eat sitting on a curb or walking somewhere that you can find a table.

 

[vshah]

Founding farmers. If the DC one is too packed try the Rockville one.

 

[Jeeebus]

Also, I would seriously recommend checking out the cherry blossoms in Kenwood, a neighborhood in Maryland that is very close to DC. Much less crowded, you park on the street and walk. Amazing.

 

[Zeze]

We changed the trip date to April 12, it'll be right at peak time, YES!

Tell me more about seafood market.... Wife loves that kind of stuff- steamed crabs, etc.

 

[kage69]

There is one in Silver Spring, and I think Rockville. Though maybe it was Bethesda... it's a blur sometimes.

The one in Silver Spring was "mine," I had a good report with the staff. Been to the one in Rockville once, don't know about Bethesda. I hear ya, although my blurs usually involve Fells Point a tad bit to the north.


Which reminds me Zeze, if the Mrs is into crabs and such a trip up to Howard County might be in order. Canton and Fells Point should be able to hook you guys up with a steamy feast, with plenty of Old Bay to work into your crab shell wounds.

 

[Jeeebus]

We changed the trip date to April 12, it'll be right at peak time, YES!

Tell me more about seafood market.... Wife loves that kind of stuff- steamed crabs, etc.

Not much to tell. It's an open-air market with rows of fish vendors trying to get you to buy from them. Fun just to walk around and see all the different stuff being sold. We used to buy stuff like conch and octopus there as you couldn't really find it elsewhere. On one 'side' of the market is where they are steaming stuff up - crabs and shrimp from what I recall. You get a paper plate and get to fend for yourself. Find a piece of asphalt to sit on or walk a few feet to the wood deck over the water and plop yourself down there.