New lunch option around Farregut/Dupont: Sweet Diablo and others

[hamster]

So many new places opening lately, it's hard to keep up, but this one caught my eye:
http://www.princeofpetworth.com/2012/08/sweet-diablo-soft-opens-this-morning-at-19th-and-m-st-nw/

I will report how it is.

Also intrigued by Bean & Bite further east:
http://www.beanandbite.com/

A second location of G Street Food on 19th Street, and this new po boy place!
http://dc.eater.com/archives/2012/08/...

Add the new location of Paul right at Farregut, and the duplications of Pret a Manger and Chopt, and that neighborhood has become positively spoiled! Finally!

[Bob W]

Didn't know there's a Paul at Farragut!

I tried the one on Pennsylvania Ave a few months back -- the set-up is infuriating but the food was really good. I haven't had a coffee eclair like that since I used to go to the French Pastry Shop in Providence as a kid.

[VaPaula]

Agree with the comment re the setup at the Pennsylvania Ave one.

I went to the Farragut location shortly after it opened, and boy, did they have some service kinks to work out. I went early to avoid lines. When I walked up to order, I heard one of the counter employees whisper to another one and say, "Ask her what she wants." No lie. I haven't been back since, but just out of a convenience/time factor. It has to be better!

[Bob W]

I'll give it a try in the morning next week. I can always use the extra walk to work! Surely they can give me a croissant and a coffee without too much trouble, right? Right???

[Dennis S]

Going to be down here today and tomorrow for lunch. Any recent reports on the Po Boy place? Also, I see that CF Folks has a crab cake as a special today. Anyone had it recently? They used to have the best one in DC, imo, but when that chef left late last decade it went downhill (while the other specials were still good).

Anything else I should strongly consider? TIA

[Dennis S]

Just for notes, I went with Po Boys for lunch. Their special was meatloaf (and CF Folks had meatloaf as a special as well). So I got that since I've been to CF Folks.

Very little seating when it's cold at PB, but I got there early enough and most people seem to take out from there. The food was good - just a little spice to the meatloaf (I could've gone for more), and the mash and greens were solid - nothing otherworldly, but certainly not bad. It was a LOT of food for $8.95. Felt a bit odd to eat at a place like that and not have something to dump hot sauce on, but that could've made for an unpleasant afternoon!

Tomorrow I'll probably go CF Folks, but still wonder if the crab cake - if they have it on special again - is anything near like what it used to be. I'm also open to other suggestions.

Edit: Breakfast places around there are welcome suggestions too. My mtg starts around 9:15 and could be done by noon or could last a few hours longer...

[Dennis S]

Again just to add notes, had Founding Farmers for breakfast and it was magnificent (had never been before). The jelly was the kicker, even though I only had a smidge. Did see Paul across the street.

Lunch happened late and on my way home, nothing there. Still wondering if CF Folks' crab cake is anything near what it used to be.

[VaPaula]

Thanks for posting this - this is my 'hood when I work downtown.

Let's not forget the new Taylor Gourmet at 19th & M.

[hamster]

Yes! Yet another gem.
Have you checked out the new "street food" Sala Thai where Maoz used to be on M? Is it any different than the standard mediocre Sala Thai's?

[Elyssa]

There is also a new Sweet Green (SO much better than Chopt in my book) in that area.

[katecm]

It really is better. No comparison.

[Elyssa]

Thanks for sharing this---I work in this area and hadn't heard of the Bean and Bite place.

I walked by the Sweet Diablo place today as well. They are claiming to have the best chocolate cake in the world.....

[MikeR]

I wonder if Sweet Diablo is going to get sued by SweetGreen. Apparently they thought Sweet Leaf was too close to their name, though I guess there's not a lot of confusing between chocolate cake and salad.

[Jeserf]

One of the things I loved about living in Denmark...you had to have scientific research to back up claims of, "the best". Hence why Carlsberg is probably the best beer in the world :)