Restaurants in Shaw DC: Declaration Restaurant

The Sunday brunch menu at Declaration Restaurant is features classic American fare, which means eggs, pancakes, and pizza. You can sample the entire menu for $40 a person, with bottomless mimosas and Bloody Marys thrown in, so come hungry! It’s really convenient for big groups because you all pay the same price and you don’t have to haggle over the bill; hence why I came with my brunch club. We went to town with the menu and ordered almost every dish. First, we started with two salads, a fresh kale salad with cranberries and pistachios and a bright lemon infused dressing, and a Caesar salad with housemade croutons. Next, we went for the savory dishes: a gorgeous mozzarella smothered pizza with basil and parmesan, eggs with biscuits doused in a creamy, silky gravy, and eggs over creamed kale, blanked with shards of Parmesan cheese were the three favorite items.

The brunch menu of Declaration Restaurant also has its sweet side. We sampled pancakes with a fragrant strawberry maple syrup, fluffy ricotta donuts with a fruit jam and biscuit French toast. The pancakes were light and airy, and the donuts were irresistible.

The Verdict: Shaw is winning in every regard. Head to Declaration Restaurant for a classic brunch experience. Staff is friendly and the dining room is bright and comfy. This is a great spot for groups of friends who want to share food and indulge in bottomless mimosas and Bloodys!

Declaration Restaurant, 804 V. Street, NW, Washington, DC, Website

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As a writer for the Dining Traveler, you can imagine that I love to travel largely in order to sample the delicious and authentic cuisines of other countries. Luckily, in DC we have a great deal of fantastic international fare so even if I can’t travel, I can sample the dishes of other countries in my own city. One of the cuisines that the city has been lacking for some time however is good, spicy Chinese food. Yes, there are great spots in Virginia and Rockville, but sometimes you just want to eat close to home.  Luckily for me, right around the time that I was craving a meal of good Chinese food, a new Chinese restaurant opened  in Shaw, Chao Ku. I immediately went for a visit and discovered that I now have a new favorite spot for Chinese food in Washington, DC.

Chao Ku and it is nestled among the row houses lining the 9th Street Corridor. The menu is small but full of gems. Indoors the venue is small but cute, with a casual, low-maintenance vibe. I went with a group of friends, and we vowed to share all our dishes so we could try as much as possible! We started out our meal with a tart pickle plate and a refreshing cucumber salad, to wet our palates, and then, moved on to the real stuff.

First and foremost the veggie dan dan noodles are absolutely essential to your meal at Chao Ku. The handmade noodles come in a spectacularly spicy, sesame oil-infused sauce, then sprinkled with loads of peanuts, shards of radishes, and spring onions. The chewy noodles just soak up the gorgeous sauce, and are a perfect contrast to the crunchy toppings. The dish is just so good. Another highlight is the mapo tofu, brutally spicy and bursting with flavor. The cubes of tofu soak up the sauce and just melt in your mouth. Be sure to eat the tofu with the mound of rice the dishes comes with, it will offset the heat a little bit! A cold beer will help as well, the restaurant has plenty you can choose from. For something with less heat try the Singapore noodles, which have more of a curry flavor than a heat index. Fragrant and warm, with notes of turmeric and cumin, with the addition of sweet, bright, crunchy vegetables like broccolini, it hits the spot.

The Verdict: Chao Ku is officially the new best cheap eats in the city. Reservations aren’t need for now; be sure to go before everyone discovers this spot and there is a line out the door! Note: after Dining Traveler Jessica read this draft, she made the beeline to Chao Ku, she concurs!

Chao Ku, 1414 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001, Website 

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