DC Cheap Eats: Adams Morgan

Adams Morgan gets a bad rep. It's usually associated with drunk college kids hopping (stumbling, crawling...) from one watering hole to the next, grasping for the elusive brass ring of cheap beer and attractive members of the opposite sex.

And while those views definitely have merit, it's not always like that. I'm in the neighborhood, so it's easy for me to pop over on a weeknight, when 18th street is, you know, kind of normal. No enduring sharp elbows to the side as people clamor for cheap jello shots or getting pushed off the sidewalk to make way for the throngs of stumbling bachelorette parties, teetering in their heels.

If you can look past the discarded beer cans and empty pizza plates featuring tell tale signs of last nights greasy Jumbo Slice, there are some good and affordable places to grab a bite in this part of town. Just be sure to get in and get out before another group of rowdy underage GW fraternity boys stagger down the street...

Astor
1829 Columbia Rd NW
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 745-7495

Around the corner from most of the action on 18th street, Astor is a little bit of an off the beaten track place to grab a quick bite to eat. The menu features a bunch of Middle Eastern specialties that you can carry out or eat on one of the tiny tables in the restaurant or right out front. The service is a bit slow, but worth the wait. You can't go wrong with any of the menu items, but personal favorites include a heaping (and I mean heaping!) Greek salad, velvety hummus, a tangy chicken schwarma sandwich and the vegetable pizza overflowing with fresh produce.

So's Your Mom
1831 Columbia Rd NW
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 462-3666

Nestled in between Astor and the snaking line for the Bank of America ATM is So's Your Mom, a tiny deli and gourmet food store that often gets lost in the shuffle of Adams Morgan. The petite space is filled with gourmet meats and cheeses, bottles of unique salad dressings and mustards, and fancy bakery pastries. In addition to the grocery offerings, you can get big fresh sandwiches made to order with Boar's Head cold cuts and New York-style bagels with a variety of cream cheeses. Head around the corner to Kalorama Park with a copy of the Washington Post, your So's Your Mom bagel and a cup of coffee and you have my preferred way to spend a lazy weekend morning!

Toledo Lounge
2435 18th St NW
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 986-5416

Toledo Lounge is a laid back, grungy oasis in the midst of the madness that is Adams Morgan. With its glaring orange neon sign and duct taped vinyl booths, the place won't win any awards for atmosphere, but the drinks are cheap, there are usually seats on the patio, and the service staff is prompt and attentive. They've got food specials throughout the week and on Wednesday night, they offer half-price grilled cheese. It isn't any fancier than Kraft singles on plain white bread with a heaping plate of fresh cut fries, but it's a cheesy, buttery comfort food hug. All for less than $10 bucks, including tax, tip and a few beers to help wash it all down.