Cheap Eats 2007: Teddy's Roti Shop

Reviewed by Todd Kliman , Ann Limpert , Cynthia Hacinli , Michele Kayal

Teddy's Roti Shop

7304 Georgia Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20012
Phone: 202-882-6488

Cuisines:
Caribbean

Opening Hours:
Mon,Tue,Wed,Thu,Fri,Sat,Sun:
General: 09:00 AM - 09:00 PM

Wheelchair Accessible:
No

Nearby Metro Stops:
Takoma

Price Range:
Inexpensive

Dress:
Informal

Noise Level:
Chatty

Reservations:
Not needed

Special Features:
Kid Friendly

Website:
Click here to open in new window.

Best Dishes
“Bussup shut" (shredded roti with goat or chicken curry); goat or chicken roti; stewed oxtail with rice and red peas; callaloo (collard soup); house-made fruit drinks including ginger-pineapple, sorrel, and peanut punch.


 

Reader's Rating:
1 out of 5

Delia Nagar is as bossy as she is nosy—she sees everything and misses nothing from behind the counter of this West Indian walk-up. Seeing a customer about to toss a not-quite-empty bottle of house-made pineapple juice into the trash, she upbraids him: “Drink up! Don’t leave my drink.” A customer wanders in for a plate of channa, the long-cooked chickpeas that Nagar’s place specializes in, explaining, “I’m too lazy to cook for myself.” Nagar snaps back, “Don’t you go bragging.”

All of which might seem overbearing if this weren’t some of the best West Indian cooking around. The specialty is buss up shut—so named because after the flat fry bread called roti is smashed up with two spatulas on the griddle to make it easier for tearing, it resembles a busted-up shirt. A version with a bone-in chicken curry is superb, and the goat curry is not far behind. Each comes with the rib-sticking channa and another side of curried potatoes. To wash it all down? A bottle of the nutmeggy Irish Moss or any of the wonderful juice blends.

You’re not likely to finish it all—a fact that Nagar is sure to point out.

Open daily except Sunday for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Reader ReviewsWrite your own review
 
Terrible Teddy is Freddy
donny789 — June 8, 2009 4:38 PM
DO NOT FREQUENT FREDDY's Roti Shop. It is a Nightmare on Georgia Avenue. Freddy--his real name is not even Teddy it is Dave apparently--has provided terrible service DC for the last time.
The prices are not what they say. I went in to purchase a More ...
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