The weather’s gotten a bit warmer, cherry blossoms are in full bloom and people have switched out their heavy coats for green military jackets. Spring is here and with that people are exploring the town. Instead of writing a review of just one place, I thought it would be fitting to give brief reviews of three places everyone should visit when they’re exploring the city and marveling at the sunshine.
Favorite Ice Cream Parlor: Something Sweet
Right on Macomb Street across from Cactus Cantina and 2Amy’s is Something Sweet.
Painted in pastels, the small ice cream parlor and sandwich shop has the best waffle cones in Northwest D.C. Pick from mint chocolate chip (my personal favorite), cookies and cream, vanilla and more, and ask for the handmade waffle cone. It’s big enough for two scoops and sweet enough to be considered a second dessert. It’s best enjoyed outside sitting on the wooden square bench while young families walk around. On a sunny afternoon, it’s perfect. If they don’t have a waffle cone, which happens occasionally, avoid getting the single scoop in a plastic cup. It costs the same, $4.95, but doesn’t have the same quality or effect as a dripping cone.
Something Sweet is at 3708 Macomb St NW, Washington, DC 20016.
Favorite Impromptu Dessert Place: Cafe Deluxe
Last semester a friend and I were walking around the National Cathedral area and had an impromptu desire to indulge in dessert at a restaurant. We weren’t dressed exceptionally and we wanted to get in and out quickly but enjoy our treat. Luckily Cafe Deluxe was right down the street. We asked for a seat at the bar and drank Shirley Temples, very grown up, while eating deep dish apple cobbler topped with cool vanilla ice cream. Coming from an exhausting walk exploring the cathedral, we were both happy to enjoy the neighborhood spring scenery while cooling off with ice cream and delicious cobbler. The air-conditioned setting is also a plus coming in from the heat.
Cafe Deluxe is at 3228 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20016.
Favorite Eat-on-a-curb Place: Julia’s Empanadas
I revisited this hole in the wall after going to a show at the 9:30 Club. My first encounter was after the annual Dupont Drag Race on 18th Street. On both nights I wound up with friends at Julia’s Empanadas, and on both nights we gladly ate our hand-held pockets of joy on the curb looking at cars go by and people gather across the street. The empanadas here are absolutely perfect. They are stuffed with a variety of fillings like chorizo, Chilean beef, Jamaican style beef, spinach and vegetarian options. Each one is handmade and warm at the unbeatable price of $3.59. After an afternoon of walking around in the sun or a night of seeing what Dupont has to offer past 10 p.m., Julia’s Empanadas is best enjoyed on the curb right outside the shop where you can take in the city and the people.
Julia’s Empanadas’ Dupont location is at 1221 Connecticut Ave NW Washington, DC 20036.
Jordan-Marie Smith’s column JM Eats is published every two weeks.
