Foodie visiting from Toronto

[sbug206]

Hi, will be visiting DC next weekend for the first time (not really but last time was 20 years ago). I'll be staying at the Four Points New Carrollton. I have no idea how hard it is to drive
around DC but prefer to stay close if possible. I don't have a huge budget so I would like
to keep most meals under $20 and possibly splurge for one good one. I would like to go
for "unique" dishes that I probably haven't tried in Toronto. Although Toronto is a huge multicultural city so that may be hard. But definitely no chinese or japanese as that's well
taken care of back home.

Suggestions??

Thanks.

[Steve]

If you want unique experiences, great CHowhound-only meals, and low prices try these, all of these in the neighborhood of the U st/Cardozo Metro Stop:

Oohs and Aahs, tiny soul food kitchen, maybe four stools, get the grilled shrimp, greens, and rice with gravy. A revelation. The lemon pepper wings as a backup. You cannot get this experience in Toronto.

Thai X-ing: Tiny place also, a basement apartment converted into a small space, unbelievable cooking. Get the tofu soup and the red curry salmon.

Queen Makeda, Ethiopian, just ask for a variety of dishes, yebeg alicha, red lentils, gored gored, shiro. Completely family-run.

All of these are five-star eating at reasonable prices.

-----
Oohhs & Aahhs
1005 U St NW, Washington, DC 20001

Queen Makeda
1917 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001

Thai X-Ing
515 Florida Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001

[Ericandblueboy]

DC area has good middle eastern cuisine - Afghan, Moroccan, Lebanese, Persian, etc. DC also has good Ethiopian. DC is not really southern. Vietnamnese and Korean can be found in the suburbs. Is there anything you really want to try? Southern as in shrimp 'n grits or southern as in soul food?

[technosailor]

Agreed on the Metro suggestion. Your hotel is across the street from the New Carrolton Metro termination point on the orange line, if memory serves. If not, it's close. Orange line to Gallery Pl/Chinatown gives you some nice asian places. Transfer there and head up the green line to U Street puts you in walking distance of Adams Morgan for good nightlife.

Been to Toronto many many times, btw.

[Teddybear]

Orange line does not go to Gallery Place -- need to transfer to either the Red or Yellow

[ktmoomau]

Or get off at metro center and do the block walk.

[ktmoomau]

Go to Creme Cafe on U st. Or Levi's Port Cafe in SE for some good southern food. Both metro accessible.

[sbug206]

Yep definitely southern food. Cameron's seafood seems cheap and relatively close too. I'd love to try the crab bomb at Jerry's but $35 is a too much when it's not even a complete meal. I saw the thread about pit beef, what about in DC?

[Hal Laurent]

I don't know why you'd want to be hanging out in the suburbs when visiting DC (you do know that New Carrollton isn't in DC, don't you?), but I also don't know why you'd consider the crab bomb to not be a complete meal. It's got ten ounces of crab meat in it, and comes with two sides.

[sbug206]

I have to stay close for job purposes. Have an early start Saturday morning and I don't want to get stuck in traffic or get lost. Didn't know the crab bomb came with sides as the photo on their website just showed a crab bomb all by itself on a plate. Still for that much I'd rather spend the same amount and get a more "complete" meal elsewhere.

[ChewFun]

From New Carrollton, you can take the Metro into town. Go to Oyamel for Mexican (try the Tacos de Chapulines if you dare). Have crabcakes someplace. Try Ethiopian food.