How about lunch?
Since you helped with dinner decisions ... how about lunch?
Want to see the pandas. (The zoo still has pandas I hope..China didn't take them back) Where to have lunch after pandas. I noticed on another post that there was discussion of hills in relation to restaurants near the zoo. Please minimize hills in your suggestion. No ethnic eats, except pizza is okay due to a nut allergy. Is Open City down the hill or up the hill?
Suggest 2 lunch places near the mall.
Suggest a place near Capitol hill.
And maybe a Georgetown spot.
Thanks again
meinNYC
Nov 21, 2008 07:42PM
Hills are relative and aren't really much of an issue unless you have mobility issues or are considering wandering Rock Creek Park.
Slopes are probably a better term. steeper and more common than most in NYC, yes, but largely avoidable.
the panda cubs are most active in the AM. and nearby at I think around 10 AM the macaques(?) go nuts with vocal challenges to the neighboring enclosure. very amusing. do go early and catch the feedings if you can (Back on Topic! Yes!) In the Ape house observe how the keepers stash bits of food around the enclosures in odd niches of trees and change access randomly to keep the inmates engaged.
Zoo food sucks - had to have a nauseous lie-down after an ill-advised hot dog this Spring - I was hungry...
There is a stretch of likely places just a few blocks below the Zoo on Conn near the Metro station. Below as in South more than elevation. Open City is a block West off that stretch.
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That's terrific. Husband is a monkey fan and will visit macaques at 10AM as per your suggestion. When you say "metro station on Conn" does it have a name? Thanks
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The macaques don't vocalize, I think hillfood must be thinking of the gibbons (small apes), who may call several times a day (or may not), (but not to challenge other animals). Howler monkeys (at the small mammal house, which is where your husband needs to go) sometimes call too -- but you can actually hear the gibbons from my neighborhood, they're amazing. A lot of animals don't go out when it's this cold (you probably won't get to see the orangutans on the o-line, which is the coolest thing ever). I always recommend the 11:30 training demo with the sea lions -- which does involve some food, to, yes, get back on topic, sorry.... I could go on and on about the zoo, it's so wonderful having it as my back yard.... (Ok, one more thing on monkeys, the macaques live in the "Think Tank" building; it's a very small, aging group with some mild health problems, so they're not always on view these days. There are also free-range monkeys in Amazonia, but I've hardly ever spotted them in there [it's a nice exhibit anyway]. Small Mammal House is your best bet but I also definitely second the Great Ape House, especially in the afternoon.)
Hillfood was referring to the Woodley Park metro station, and Open City is a good suggestion -- but be warned that on weekends it's super popular for brunch and the wait can be more than an hour. It's not really special food, but it's a nice place. If you'd be up for something even more casual, there's a little cafe, I think it's International Cafe?, that's just fine and comfortable (not waiter service or anything), across Conn from the station. I don't know for sure if Lebanese Taverna is open for lunch, but it's on the same block.
There's better quality restaurants in Cleveland Park. The zoo is about halfway between the Cleveland Park and the Woodley Park metro stations. From the zoo to CP is pretty level, from the zoo to WP is slightly downhill. I probably make too much of the hill/slope, because you get used to feeling sorry for families lugging strollers, children, etc, from the WP metro up to the zoo, who probably didn't realize it would be ten-minute or so walk. A lot of locals, and I believe if you call the zoo, too, recommend using CP for getting to the zoo and WP for leaving -- but hill food's right it really doesn't make a difference unless you have trouble walking, and the zoo is a lot of walking once you get there, too.
Oh and, right across Connecticut from the zoo is a starbucks and a sort of dive bar, I've never had the food there.
(Sorry for the long post, I'm having a very lazy Saturday afternoon -- hope it's helpful a little.)
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I'm back, because despite my long post, I didn't read yours quite carefully enough -- so some other lunch suggestions:
On the Hill (and near the Mall), Market Lunch at Eastern Market (I think would be okay with the allergy, it's classic DC and a great area to walk around). The cafeteria at the Museum of the American Indian is where to go on the Mall, I imagine it would have pretty serious standards re allergies, considering how many people they feed there. Any suggestions in Penn Quarter/Chinatown are also convenient to the Mall. I like Teaism (8th and D NW) more for tea and cookies than lunch, but it's good to know about. In Georgetown, others know better, but I like Leopold's Cafe, although it seems a little expensive for what it is.
I'll leave you alone now -- have a great trip.
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I like Teaism for lunch, but I don't know if it would be ok under "no ethnic foods".
For a Capitol Hill spot, I'd suggest Le Bon Cafe.
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I defer to mselectra on the simian species - all I can say is they are smallish primates in nearby pens screeching around early brunch. despite any party claims to the contrary I must admit no degree in zoology. and that bit about a stint with Goodall - just rubbish. I always wondered what the neighboring neighbors must think about the sound. The O-line is indeed cool (overhead opportunities for O's)
IIRC seal and sea lion feeding were shortly after that and are also very gratifying.
some people dump on Taverna, but I found it to be very straightforward Mid-East fare, if a little hectic on a weekend night.
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metro stop for the zoo is called woodley park - zoo, on the red line northwest of metro center: http://www.wmata.com/metrorail/system...
oh, now i see msselectra addressed this: "The zoo is about halfway between the Cleveland Park and the Woodley Park metro stations. From the zoo to CP is pretty level, from the zoo to WP is slightly downhill.... A lot of locals, and I believe if you call the zoo, too, recommend using CP for getting to the zoo and WP for leaving."
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Near the mall, the Native American Museum actually has some decent food, Matchbox has good pizza (although that is a bit uphill) you could also do the Wolfgang Puck cafe in the newseum.
Near Capitol Hill Johnny's on the half shall, Taqueria Nacionale, Eastern Market- Market Lunch.
If you are near the White House during the week Breadline.
In Georgetown Tacklebox has good low key seafood. It is also near Georgetown Cupcake :)
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Capitol Hill: Jimmy's on East Capitol near 4th is an institution, but if you're more than 4 you'll have a wait esp. on the weekend. another fave dive (of mine) is the Tune Inn on Penn. Neither is "foodie" in the least, but comforting.
Hat Boy from last season's Top Chef has a burger joint on Penn that gets mixed comments here (haven't been myself).
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I'm a Top Chef fan, but don't know who you mean by "Hat Boy". Can you give a better description? Did he last till the end?
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Spike Mendelsohn now of Good Stuff Eatery. Lots of discussion on board.
http://www.goodstuffeatery.com/
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