Restaurant Review: DC Cafe in Washington, D.C.

It has long been my position that a tiny, independent restaurant with no décor to speak of is probably going to have superior food to a bright, shiny chain restaurant. These little places are usually family owned and the food is cooked with family pride. I was thinking this a few weeks ago when I saw the D C Café, a Greek eatery few blocks off of Dupont Circle in Washington, D.C. Even so, I was hesitant to give it a try. I was hungry, and I love Mediterranean food, but "hole in the wall" doesn't do this place justice. I'm one of those horrible tourists that feel most comfortable going to places I'm familiar with, but I'm really trying to curb that impulse. So instead of turning around and running to the Subway across the street, I took a deep breath and went in.

The interior of the D C Café could best be described as claustrophobic. It's tiny, it's dark, and, while they do have a few tables, I can't imagine anyone choosing to eat in that room unless there was hail and sleet falling from the sky. But the guy behind the counter was nice and the food in the display case looked good. The menu was pretty large, with lots platters and sandwiches, including some dishes I'd never heard of (fried eggplant wrap, anyone?), but then again I don't claim to be an expert on Greek food. I chose a falafel platter and my husband chose a gyro platter, and then we escaped onto the patio.

The patio was much better than the inside, although the fact that the weather was heavenly could be swaying my opinion a little bit. The table and chairs were just standard plastic lawn furniture, but they were comfortable enough, and most of them had umbrellas. There were a few nice tall plants to give diners some privacy from the street, and overall what could have been a stark concrete space actually had a good bit of atmosphere.

And then came the food, and I was really glad I had stuck with the 'tiny restaurant equals good food' theory. The pitas were thick, soft and hot. The hummus was creamy and rich. The falafel had a lovely little kick to it that I enjoyed but can't really describe, and it was paired with a lovely cucumber and yogurt sauce that was perfect on a warm summer day. I also sampled my husband's gyro, and it was tender and flavorful. In short, the food was great.

If you're in the Dupont Circle area, give D C Café a try!

Details: 2035 P St NW (between N 21st St & N Hopkins St.), Washington, D.C. 20036. Phone (202) 887-5819.