Conversation is usually at a roar in these all-over-the-culinary-map cafes. The enormous menu has lots of what has come to be known as light fare, which draws a cross section of diners seeking a festive meal at minimal expense.
What to get: Many plates suffer from too much sauce, breading, or seasoning, but signatures such as Roadside Sliders (mini-burgers with grilled onions and pickles), fire-roasted artichoke, fried calamari, house-made soups, made-to-order guacamole, and classic sour-cream-topped cheesecake are reliable.
-March, 2008
Ann Limpert joined Washingtonian in late 2003. She was previously an editorial assistant at Entertainment Weekly and a cook in New York restaurant kitchens, and she is a graduate of the Institute of Culinary Education. She lives in Petworth.
