With its frozen margaritas, reggae soundtrack, and wooden roof
deck, this Glover Park hangout makes you feel closer to the beach than any
other place in town. The Cali-Mex menu reads like it’s laid-back, too, but
David Scribner is a serious chef who pays attention to the little things.
There’s not a trace of fake cheese in the warm queso dip, and tortilla
chips are freshly fried. Shrimp tacos feature plump, grilled crustaceans
topped with house-made pineapple salsa and lime-infused sour
cream.
Even the healthy stuff—ultra-fresh salads with toppings such as
grilled salmon and grilled pineapple—is satisfying. For dessert, we like
the chocolate-iced vanilla cupcakes from the bakery Something Sweet, run
by the wife of Surfside owner Bo Blair.
Also good: Guacamole and chips; steak and
veggie quesadillas; carnitas tacos.
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.
