In search of vegetarian fare? Don’t overlook some pho restaurants, which offer veggie versions of the typically meaty Vietnamese soup . One we recommended in Thursday’s chat: Stylish Pho D.C., above. (James M. Thresher/For The Washington Post) In Thursday’s Got Plans? chat, we delved into vegan and vegetarian dining in the area as readers asked our guest, Erica Meier of Compassion Over Killing, where they can find great dishes. Other questions to the Gurus included a request for ideas for a great night out with a pregnant gal pal.
Check out some of the highlights below, be sure to join us Thursday at 1 p.m. for this week’s Got Plans? with guest Chris Jenkins of The Root D.C. We’ll be talking about our story of eight sights to see during Black History Month. Submit your questions early.
Q. Is there any place to get pho with vegetarian broth in the area?
Erica Meier: Have you tried Pho 14 on Park Road? It’s a local favorite for vegetarians and vegans.
Lavanya Ramanathan: I’ve found veggie pho at Pho D.C. near Chinatown too! Also, it’s not pho, but Toki Underground’s veggie bowl is the real deal, too -- no meat. And one more: Pho 88 in Falls Church also offers veggie.
Q. Hi All Knowing Gurus, A friend of mine wants to do a fun girls outing as part of her birthday celebration on Saturday night, Feb. 11th. She’ll be about 20 weeks pregnant, so I’m trying to think of something creative and fun besides just dinner, that doesn’t center around drinking (wine tasting or clubbing don’t seem to fit here). She is fine with there being some drinking (by the guests of course, not her!), but wondered if you all had any ideas for celebrating this fab mom-to-be? Thanks so much!
Fritz Hahn: How about a chocolate tasting? Both Co Co. Sala and Artfully Chocolate offer tasting classes -- with wine-pairings for the non-preggers ladies -- that would seem to fit the bill. A non-drinking happy hour and cocktail tasting at PS 7’s would also be an idea high on my list. I was off drinking for a couple of weeks earlier this month, and I have to say (again) that PS 7’s non-alcoholic cocktails were among the best in the city.
Ramanathan: There’s a new chocolate place, too, that does adorable classes -- the old Biagio spot in Adams Morgan is now Cocova. And since it’s Valentine’s weekend, there are lots of great dinners out there and events you could do, too, including Speakeasy DC’s “Sucker for Love” storytelling night.
Q. I know there’s a vegan focus today, but I’m actually looking for a good prime rib without going to the Prime Rib or a chain steakhouse. Boyfriend wants to go around Valentine’s Day and we’d like a better atmosphere than some of the stuffy steakhouses around. Any suggestions?? Thanks.
Hahn: Ray’s: the Steaks is still king for me. I’ve taken dates there, friends with visiting siblings there, college buddies -- we all love it. Amazing cuts of beef, fantastic wine service and so cheap without all the usual Prime Rib trappings.
And while I haven’t been, friends (and Tom Sietsema) report good things about the steak at Lost Society. I usually just go for the late-night DJs and cocktails.
Q. My in-laws keep kosher, which means we can’t cook food for them at home in our non-kosher kitchen when they visit. They are willing to eat at vegetarian-only (no meat on the menu) restaurants, but there seem to only be a few sit-down veggie-only spots in the city (All Souls, Cafe Green, Nirvana Express). Are there any spots I’m missing?
Meier: Be sure to check out VegDC.com -- there’s a listing of the all-veg spots in the D.C. area and there are over two dozen of them. Try vFalafel, Vegetable Garden, Yuan Fu, Loving Hut or Elizabeth’s Gone Raw. Oh, and Soupergirl is an all-veg eatery right on the D.C./Takoma line that is also a certified kosher restaurant.
Q. The dance documentary Pina by Wim Wender (which was just nominated for an Oscar) comes out this weekend, but I cannot seem to track down in any way possible if it is showing around D.C. A preview of it was at the Georgetown theater this past week. Would you be able to track it down for me? A million thanks.
Ramanathan: So many “Pina” obsessives this week! So, we just got word that it will not open here in Washington until Feb. 3. When it opens, it will be at AMC Loew’s Georgetown and AMC Loew’s Rio in Gaithersburg.
I had 24 freakin’ awesome vegan courses at Rogue 24. Just a tip for our vegan daters!
Meier: That’s great! Thanks for the tip. We’ll look into adding this on VegDC.com.
Q. My husband and I are somewhat of connoisseurs when it comes to veg restaurants. We’ve been to most veg- and veg-friendly places in D.C. and many around the country. We are always looking for more, though. What can you suggest as sort of unexpected veg finds or places that have a random delicious veg entree? We love: Great Sage, Sticky Fingers, Everlasting Life, Soul Veg, Veg Garden... and many others but would love any new suggestions.
Ramanathan: I love the random delicious veggie entree -- that’s actually one of the things I like to look out for: I’d put Blackbyrd’s amazing vegan gyro on that list (housemade seitan!); and the barbecue sandwich at the new Smoke and Barrel; I love to chow down at the soon-to-reopen Bar Pilar, which has amazing beet salad and roasted potatoes; and I’ve found more vegetarian offerings on the menu at El Centro D.F. The veggie burger at BGR is a favorite, too.
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