Our enviable location in the heart of the Takoma neighborhood means that you’ll have a wide variety of choices when it comes to dining and drinking this holiday season. From breweries to donut shops, you’ll find a wide range of food sure to satisfy your appetite. Here are four local eateries where you can sample holiday treats near The Vale!
A DC staple since 2005, Busboys and Poets is a beloved restaurant, bar, bookstore and gathering place with delicious breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner menus moments away from The Vale. The menu is a mix of elevated American dishes with international influences, and a new addition is the fried catfish plate with collard greens, herb grits and tomato couli sauce. They’re also known for their vegan dishes like vegan nachos, vegan “tuna” salad and the avocado panini. On the coffeehouse side, if you’re in the mood for some holiday flavors, try the thin mint latte with organic mint syrup, chocolate, steamed milk and espresso.
The bubblegum pink paint is enough of a draw to Donut Run, and we haven’t even gotten to the donuts yet. As DC’s first ever vegan donut shop, this place is pretty popular, as you can see by the lines out front on Saturday mornings. The menu at the plant-powered shop changes daily and is posted every morning on the Donut Run instagram story. You’ll find classics like chocolate sprinkles and glazed, alongside seasonal options like apple fritters and Sufganiyots: Israeli donuts stuffed with jelly that are popular during Hanukkah.
Just across the Maryland border is Silver Branch Brewing Company, a taproom and biergarten offering brews inspired by recipes from Belgium, Britain, Ireland, Central Europe and the Americas. The vibe of the space is comforting and cozy, offering a menu of hearty bar food like tacos, oversized quesadillas and freshly baked Bavarian-style pretzels served warm with mustard, butter or beer cheese. On the beer menu you’ll find their flagship offerings alongside a full menu of winter ales, including the Cosmic Winter Double IPA with fruity-piney hops and the Gnome for the Holidays Saison brewed with dark Belgian candi sugar for caramel complexity.
Small-batch coffee company Lost Sock Roasters opened their first retail cafe at the beginning of this year after operating as a wholesale coffee company offering beans sourced from Brazil, Guatemala, Kenya, Ethiopia and other countries. Alongside espresso drinks and pour overs, you’ll find flaky, Argentine-style empanadas, breakfast sandwiches, avocado toast, pastries and lunch sandwiches. On the seasonal side, don’t miss the dulce de leche latte or horchata, a traditional iced Mexican beverage made with almond and rice milk, cinnamon, sugar and vanilla.