True Food Kitchen is Open, Serving Kale-Ade and Edamame Dumplings

True Food Kitchen has opened its first D.C. area location in the Mosaic District in Fairfax.

The restaurant chain is the brainchild of Dr. Andrew Weil; the foods are all based on his anti-inflammatory diet (similar to the Mediterranean diet. "Above all, the food itself tastes good," said Weil, who was in town for opening day. "A lot of the recipes are mine."

Weil said he often found himself unsatisfied when going to restaurants, particularly if he wanted to eat relatively healthily. "Trendy restaurants all seemed so fussy; I like things really simple."

The Autumn Salad at True Food Kitchen.

The menus for True Food Kitchen are pretty similar across the chain (some might use a particular region's ingredients, Weil said, such as sardines in Southern California). The menus change seasonally. Some of the more popular dishes include edamame dumplings, kale-ade, thin-crust pizzas (accented with a flaxseed crust), fish tacos and lettuce cups. Many options are meatless or seafood, and some items have an Asian influence.

The Mosaic District location seats 142 people inside (it is full service) and 46 on its big patio. There's a bar serving up beer, wine and cocktails like a ginger margarita. They're open for brunch, lunch and dinner.

True Food's Interior (Official photo)

More True Food Kitchens are likely on the way. Weil says he'd like to open one in D.C. by 2016, and Maryland is being considered as well. They've looked at locations in Bethesda and Dupont Circle, but nothing is signed. Status: Certified open. 2910 District Ave., Suite 170, Fairfax; website.

True Food Kitchen: Dinner