Dining during the Holidaze

It was a challenge to get the five of us to dine this week. In the end, there were three.
We headed downtown and took a quick little adventure down 42nd Street off J. If you are in need of some holiday spirit, as I was, take a drive to look at lights. On these streets in the Fabulous 40’s, it looks like mandatory participation. What a delight it was to see the trees lit up from trunk to tops. I love it! The adjacent streets were decorated and brought oohs and aahs from our vehicle.

For dining, we chose The Cafeteria on 15th and L Streets. We went to valet parking rather than fight the Nutcracker crowd. It was easy. The dining room was festive and bright. The white lights and fixtures sparkled in the room. Our service was excellent. The food was really good. And, we had a mayor sighting to boot!

We started with the fries, a combination of BBQ, Sweet Potato and Garlic accompanied by three sauces of ketchup, an aioli with a bite and a cool creamy version. The dips complemented the fry flavors. We thoroughly enjoyed all aspects and combinations created with the fries and dips. We probably owe an apology to the busser who attempted to remove the tray before we had eaten every morsel. We may have raised our voices to say, we aren't done yet!

The spicy pulled pork sandwich was spicy. It was also moist and flavor filled. The Grilled Cheese Sandwich was a combo of parmesan and sharp New York white cheddar on white bread with a golden toasted crunch. The sandwich could have been served warmer. It came with a tomato soup that did warm the body from the inside with a strong tomato taste and a little kick. The combination of the strong cheeses in the sandwich and the dark red soup made a delightful pairing. To top it off, we all had mixed greens in light vinaigrette to compensate for our attack on the fries.

The overall view from where we sat was cosmopolitan. The modern glass and bright color upholstery were warmed by the wooden floors. Looking through the garage doors and the windows made the room feel big and bright. I loved the light fixture made from a crate the hung over the table behind us. Very creative and whimsical.

The restrooms are big and the three sided sink is interesting until you notice that you can see men in their room and they can see you, only at the hand washing area…a little strange but hey, kind of fun too!

Which brings me to an issue I struggle with. Why does a glass of wine have to cost nine or ten dollars? Two glasses cost more than an entrée. Give me OneSpeed and their little wine glass for $3.50 any night. I have no desire to purchase a bottle, just a glass or two. Both the wines we were served can be purchased locally for less than $15 a bottle.

Overall, a very nice cafeteria with many upgrades and a few surprises.
I recommend you try it. Happy Holidaze!