Olazzo

Cozy Italian In Downtown Bethesda

by Kara Deniz

Olazzo is a classic Italian restaurant, featuring all the staple dishes of a traditional Italian meal. The meal starts with hot and crusty bread. The waiter shows off his flair in pouring olive oil and balsamic vinegar as a dip. Salad is included as a starter to the meals. From fettucini alfredo to lasagna bolognese to eggplant parmesan, Olazzo offers familiar favorites in this cozy downtown Bethesda location, as well as at another location in Silver Spring. Owned by two Italian-American brother ... Continue

Cava Mezze

On Tapas In Arlington

by Kara Deniz

Cava Mezze opened in the Clarendon neighborhood of Arlington to much fanfare over the summer. There are still long waits on the weekends to dine at this tapas establishment, which also has locations in Capitol Hill and Rockville. With new restaurants and bars opening up in Clarendon on what feels like a weekly basis, a mature, ethic restaurant was still sorely needed. Unfortunately, the lure of Cava Mezze is its trendiness more than the taste. The roasted eggplant dip had a thick mayonnaise cons ... Continue

Cafe Istanbul

Afiyet Olsun

by Kara Deniz

Cafe Istanbul is easy to miss, mixed in with office buildings in the city's Foggy Bottom neighborhood. The restaurant serves up lunch and take-out customers with heaping portions of traditional Turkish and Mediterranean specialties. From beef kabobs to falafel and kofte (grilled lamb meatballs), Cafe Istanbul offers a filling and delicious meal, although the doner platter was a tad too dry. The restaurant is casual and ordinary, except for the vintage blown-up photographs of Istanbul and its den ... Continue

The Swiss Bakery and Cafe

Fanta Fantasies

by Cathleen Richards

Despite the fact that it's located in a strip mall, Swiss Bakery envelops you with all things Bavarian as soon as you set foot in the door. There is a background din of Swiss-Bavarian music (think lederhosen as you traverse the Alps), and even gazebo-like structures inside evoking Alpine architecture. They serve breakfast and lunch items (a mix of Swiss/Bavarian specialties and healthy American options) alongside a long case of cookies and pastries with about 20 fresh bread options. In addition, ... Continue

One Lounge

Place To Be

by Kara Deniz

Dim lighting, brick pillars, comfortable modern couches, and background beats provide the perfect chill-out atmosphere at One Lounge, a cocktail bar and restaurant located just steps from the Dupont Circle metro. The feel here is more New York cool than Dupont Circle watering hole. Service is quite accommodating; in fact, the chef came out to our table, bringing with him not one, but two free dessert samples--strawberry crepes drizzled with chocolate sauce and whipped cream, followed by fresh st ... Continue

St. Joseph's on Capitol Hill

Peaceful Political Respite

by Kara Deniz

St. Joseph's Catholic Church on Capitol Hill was built in 1891 and still stands across the street from the Congressional buildings, a place of worship for our nation’s political leaders and neighborhood residents. The beautiful building with stained glass windows provides tranquility and faith, in a part of town rooted in good intentions, but oftentimes adulterated by political maneuvering. St. Joseph's helps its members focus on helping through volunteering in the community. Members of the admi ... Continue

Crumbs Bake Shop

Cherry On Top

by Kara Deniz

Washington's famed cherry blossoms are so unpredictable. One downpour or gust of wind and the fragile flowers are all gone. However, in honor of the Cherry Blossom Festival, you can enjoy a cherry blossom cupcake all month long at Union Station's recently opened Crumbs Bake Shop. The oversized confection is vanilla cake filled with cherry preserves, topped with vanilla cream cheese frosting mixed with cherries and a candied cherry. Whew! That's a lot of cherry! Sweet, but not overpowering, the c ... Continue

Parkway Deli

Hidden Family Cooking

by Magda Nakassis

Considering its out-of-the-way location (just north of Rock Creek Park, tucked into a residential neighborhood), it's hard to believe that Parkway Deli is the spot. In fact if you weren't in the know, you might mistake it for a convenience store. But Parkway Deli is so much more... It's three generations of Gurewitz family cooking. It's house-made corned beef and top-notch chopped liver. It's a complimentary pickle bar. It's a windowless dining room in a suburban shopping center. But one that co ... Continue