Vapiano and OSU!

Julia decided -- The Ohio State University! In honor of the school's colors--we chose Vapiano for dinner. It was yummy. We each got the same salad--shrimp and steak. Busy weekend with Botball and coffeehouse performance. It is a nice relief…a major weight lifted. Congratulations, Julia--especially on the academic and merit scholarships!

Restaurant info: www.vapianointernational.com/vapiano/

Recommendations: Salads, pastas, pizza… known as fast-food Italian.

Pho Viet & Grille: Taste of Vietnam

Open since August 2013, Pho Viet & Grille is a welcome addition to Georgetown. Everything we had was delicious. The atmosphere is cozy and trendy; the service is friendly and quick! We would definitely go back and happily grabbed the take-out menu on our way out the door.  Tonight we recapped the plan for applications… just one more, University of Wisconsin. We are on pins and needles waiting for Penn State. And speaking of Penn State, CONGRATULATIONS, Chris on your acceptance!

Happy early birthday to Steven… turning 45 on Monday.  :)

Recommendations: See plates below!

Restaurant info: 1639 Wisconsin Avenue, Washington, DC 20007, 202-333-0009, www.PhoVietGrilleDC.com

Egg rolls with fish sauce (two rolls missing from pic)

Fried tofu with Sriracha and hoisin sauce

Salad with grilled pork

Grilled salmon with  with mixed vegetables

Lump crab meat, fried rice with eggs and onions, topped with shredded chicken

Shrimp and beef fried noodles with mixed vegetables

Surfside: Glover Park

Surfside is a favorite that we have frequented with guests often…and speaking of guests, we should now call Emmie a regular. We are happy she is back in town!

Surfside is the perfect neighborhood hangout. The vibe is relaxed, island happiness; the food is inspired by the "beach cuisines of the world." We sat inside on the main floor; in the nicer weather, they have a great rooftop deck worth checking out.

Steven enjoyed the Tahiti tacos, with (barely seared) rare ahi tuna, wasabi cream, sesame salad, and rice. Julia, Emmie, and I devoured build-your-own salads with shrimp, grilled veggies, and salmon. Yum!

We got updates from Emmie on her brothers, Sam and Nick, juniors at Williams and UVA respectively. Also, we chatted about Emmie's recent bedroom renovation and upcoming plans for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Recommendations: Get the Bermuda Triangle to start; chips with guacamole, queso fresco, and salsa. The seafood--as you may be clued in by the name--is fresh and done right; try it!

Restaurant info:
Surfside is located in Glover Park
2444 Wisconsin Avenue, between N. Calvert St. & N. Observatory Lane
Washington, DC 20007
info@surfsidedc.com
www.surfsidedc.com

Das: Ethiopian Cusine

This was our first visit to Das on the east end of Georgetown and we were not disappointed. The food was amazing! Our server was helpful with her recommendations and we walked away very full and content.

We ordered the Shrimp Tibs and the Das Combination Vegetarian Entree Sampler, which included Ethiopian harvest vegetable specialties, split pea kik alicha, red lentil miser wot, collard greens gomen, and cabbage and carrot with ginger and garlic. 

We also ordered the Das Combination Chicken and Beef Entree Sampler; this featured chicken doro watt, beef kaey watt, beef alicha, and beef cubes segana gomen.

Yikes, after listing it all out--that was a lot of food. The injera (unleavened bread) was delicious, especially after it soaked up the sauces. There is no forks, knives, or spoons; you use the injera to scoop up the food with your hands. 

Tonight's conversation was focused on Penn State. I brought the application overview print out and we quickly ran through it. Julia is confident that she can reuse most of what she is already preparing for the common application. First priority is the SAT Math 2 subject test next weekend, then finishing those essays. Go Julia, go!

Das

View from our table of M and Penn.

Bright inside, we were early so there are some empty tables.

Das Combination Chicken & Beef and Das Combination Vegetables

Recommendation: Highly recommend the chicken doro watt (great red pepper sauce), shrimp, and beef segana gomen. We would definitely go back. 

Restaurant info: 1201 28th Street NW, Washington, DC 20007, 202-333-4710, www.dasethiopia.com.