After the Rally on Saturday

[OneToughMommy]

Coming down from Baltimore on Saturday for the big rally with a group of 7 - 8 people, including three teenagers, one vegetarian. (Parking at Greenbelt.) Having been to the Mall for big events before (but probably not as entertaining as this will be), I know that there is no point in trying to get on the Metro for the first hour (or two, depending on the turnout) afterwards. Hoping to get some recommendations for a place within walking distance (say, 10 blocks or so) where we can sit together, take our time, and not spend a bunch of $. Was thinking Chinese in Chinatown, but after looking at the boards here, doesn't sound that appetizing. Willing to go north or south (or east or west).

Thanks in advance.

[Insidious Rex]

So did you actually find anywhere you could eat? We walked all the way from the mall up past the convention center and pretty much every restaurant we passed was packed. Some had lines out the door... We wound up just leaving DC and eating in southern Maryland (at Charlie's in Ft. Wash. A hidden neighborhood gem for good Greek/Italian/Pizza).

[reiflame]

I should've posted this but we went to Mitsitam before the rally started (around 10:30 AM) and they grudgingly served us even though they weren't open yet. We got out about 11:30 and were able to walk through a gap in the port o potties and snag a pretty good spot on the mall in front of a speaker/jumbotron.

[yfunk3]

That was a great side-effect of the rally: the increased business of anywhere that served food! Even the tiniest places in Gallery Place were packed. It was sort of heartwarming to see. My sis and I dined at Kushi (which was packed, of course) and walked into Taylor Gourmet afterwards. The cashier at TG told us that they did three times more business (at least) than they usually do on a Saturday night, and they were completely out of the pork for sandwiches by the time we got there (around 6:45ish).

-----
Taylor Gourmet
1116 H St NE, Washington, DC 20002

[msjess]

Interesting! I wonder if the tea party rallies have had a similar effect on DC eateries!

[hamster]

Sadly, they were out of the pork on two separate visits I made to Taylor on just ordinary, non-rally days!!

[katecm]

I think a lot of people will hang around the Chinatown area after. I'd walk southeast, toward the Capital South or Eastern Market metros, and wander a bit. See what appeals, what you're in the mood for.

[OneToughMommy]

Kate - I think that's an excellent point. Are most places down there (particularly towards Capitol South, which looks very officey on Google Maps) likely to be open on a Saturday afternoon?

[nyawira]

My favorite Chinatown restaurant is Burma Restaurant. YUMMY. If you go, be sure to have the ginger salad

[katecm]

Yes, definitely. I checked Hawk and Dove, which is more of a bar, and they'll be open. Sonoma, which is a wine bar and nicer, usually closes in the afternoon, but may stay open. Then if you want even more casual, there's Spike's two joints, We the Pizza and Good Stuff Eatery (the vegetarian will love the mushroom burger). There are other places, too. Basically Pennsylvania from 2nd to 4th SE is a variety of restaurants and bars. If that is still packed, walk to 8th and Pennsylvania, SE. That stretch of restaurants is even longer. I particularly like Molly Malone's.

-----
Hawk and Dove
329 Penn SE, Washington, DC

Sonoma Restaurant
223 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, Washington, DC 20003

Good Stuff Eatery
303 Pennsylvania Ave SE, Washington, DC

[OneToughMommy]

Thanks!

[shorty40cdm]

It's super casual but I like Nando's Peri Peri Chicken in Chinatown. Might have some veg options too. You might have to stalk out a larger table but I think it's do-able.

Jaleo might be fun too--I'd set up a reservation which is probably a necessity for virtually anywhere Sat evening.

[Steve]

Full Kee in Chinatown has long been a Chowhound favorite. Go for the oyster and ginger casserole, duck stuffed with shrimp paste, clams in black bean sauce, chive flowers, shrimp dumpling soup, pan fried pork dumplings.

-----
Full Kee Restaurant
509 H St NW, Washington, DC 20001

[OneToughMommy]

Thanks, I saw some discussion about it on the boards. Food sounded good, but does it really smell as bad as many posters have said?

[Steve]

I've been there many times with groups of fellow Chowhounds and the entire experience has been very fine every time. Maybe that was an aberration or they were having a specific problem, but it is not normally the case.

[hill food]

it's never been stinky when I've been there, it LOOKS stinky, but that's a different matter.