I met up with my girl Michele of
Squirrels-n-Sweets for a long overdue dinner. Her
baking and cooking blog is so ADORABLE. Her personality just shines through her writing. She explains her recipes very clearly and honestly, and finds the coolest angles for her pics.
We decided on
Teaism for a
casual Asian-inspired meal. There are a few benches out front, but no tables for actual dining. There is always limited street parking, so take the metro to Dupont Circle on the red line and exit towards Q St.
This small place has a cute, Japanese, hippie feel to it.
Very calm and relaxing on the inside. What makes the experience casual is that you order at a register, pick up your food when your number is called, find a seat, get your own utensils and bus your own plates.
This location has
two floors. This is pretty much the only seating on the ground floor, where we ate. Upstairs has a few more tables, but it's definitely not a place to go with a large group.
Their Asian-inspired dishes appear healthier and simple. Many dishes
offer brown rice, grilled items and vegetarian options. You can see Japanese, Indian, Thai, Vietnamese, Middle Eastern and Chinese selections on the menu. The
price range is $8-10. They also offer a variety of drinks, loose teas and desserts.
It has been hot in the DMV, so we both sought after the perfect thirst quencher. The
Ginger Lemonade ($2.25) hit the spot. I could always go for more ginger than most places add, but nevertheless, it did its job.
Michele ordered the
Thai Chicken Curry (yellow curry with chicken, coconut milk, jicama, carrots, green beans & brown rice) for $9. It was a pretty good portion because she couldn't finish it. I ate some and thought it was pretty good! The brown rice and extra veggies made the dish taste healthier. The curry also appeared more watery than I'm used to but still had the right amount of spice.
Before I ordered the Palak Paneer, Michele reminded me that I don't need to write about it for the 10th time. True! I decided to try the
Buffalo Burger (grass-fed buffalo, with lettuce, tomato, onion & BBQ sauce on focaccia bread & Asian slaw) for $9. It was interesting eating a burger on focaccia bread, but it was good! The meat, veggies and sauce worked well together and tasted very healthy. I didn't care for the slaw though it was very fresh.
Overall, I thought the place was cute and had
healthier versions of popular dishes. Once again, not a place to come with a group because of the lack of space/seating. I don't think I'll ever crave the items we had, but I'd be curious to try their other dishes. If you prefer more "authenticity", these healthier (while tasty) dishes might not be for you.
2009 R St NW
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 667-3827
www.teaism.com
