True Food Kitchen, a health-minded chain with locations in Santa Monica and Denver, among other cities, debuts today in Merrifield. Chef Michael Obermeier oversees the menu inspired by Dr. Andrew Weil‘s “anti-inflammatory” diet, which sounds more intense than the eating habits it espouses. A food pyramid emphasizes larger portions of veggies, fruits, whole grains and pasta, healthy fats, and seafood, along with smaller doses of treats such as red wine and dark chocolate.
The Mosaic District eatery embraces many of the popular wellness catchwords—the menu is friendly to vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and Paleo diets—and sources many of its ingredients from within 125 miles. Despite the holistic themes, the lunch, brunch, and dinner menus don’t read like rabbit food. Dishes include wild-mushroom pizzas, grass-fed steak tacos, and grilled salmon with smoked-onion quinoa. A children’s menu is also available, with options such as chicken teriyaki and brown rice bowls and turkey sloppy Joes.
Both virgin and boozy drinks are also mixed with well-being in mind, including a riff on an Arnold Palmer with matcha green tea and honey lemonade, or a more fortified ginger margarita spiked with St. Germain. And yes, there’s even dessert.
2910 District Ave., Suite 170, Fairfax; 571-206-2761. Full hours: Open Monday through Thursday 11 to 10, Friday 11 to 11, Saturday 10 to 11, Sunday 10 to 9. Saturday and Sunday brunch 10 to 4. Find Anna Spiegel on Twitter at @annaspiegs.
Anna Spiegel covers the dining and drinking scene in her native DC. Prior to joining Washingtonian in 2010, she attended the French Culinary Institute and Columbia University’s MFA program in New York, and held various cooking and writing positions in NYC and in St. John, US Virgin Islands.
