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A Neighborhood Guide to Dining in Van Ness

Van Ness is a neighborhood on the rise

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For many years, Van Ness and the immediately surrounding area was a neighborhood of questionable restaurant choices, dominated by apartment buildings and outdated retail spots. The only mainstays were Marvelous Market, Buck's Fishing & Camping, and a Burger King.

But things started changing in 2013 with the formation of Van Ness Vision Committee, an organization which worked to attract locally based businesses to the evolving community. It is through those efforts that places such as Bread Furst opted to open in Van Ness as opposed to putting down roots in other up and coming areas. Change was also spurred by the replacement of retail heavy Van Ness Square with a new mixed use residential building.

With the change in ownership of other properties in the area, including the buildings that house Calvert Woodley Fine Wines & Spirits and Potbelly, it seems that this is just the beginning of more interesting restaurants and dining options in Van Ness.

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Acacia Bistro

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Acacia Bistro features a pasta and seafood-heavy menu, as well as a variety of Italian and Spanish-cured meats. Those who have celiac disease also have several gluten-free entrees and desserts to choose from.

Bread Furst

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Primarily focused on sandwiches and bread, Bread Furst also serves up salads, quiche as well as breakfast sandwiches in the morning. Be sure to pick up donuts, cookies, and cakes for a sweet ending.

Jamie Liu

Buck's Fishing & Camping

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Buck's Fishing and Camping has been a mainstay of Van Ness for almost 15 years. Even though the menu format and chefs have changed over the years, the restaurant has always incorporated local and seasonal ingredients, as well as wood-grilled meats and seafood.

Comet Ping Pong

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Even before Comet Ping Pong became embroiled in #pizzagate, it was a great place to grab pizza with sauce from Toigo tomatoes and local gourmet toppings, enjoy a beer while playing ping pong, or catch a late-night rock show. Stop by in the summer for a fried soft shell crab and melted leek pizza brightened by lemon.

Laliguras Indian & Nepali Bistro

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In addition to Indian curry standards like vindaloo, korma, and makhani, find a variety of Nepalese dishes at Laliguras. Look for momos – dumplings filled with chicken or vegetables.

Little Red Fox

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Little Red Fox is the formidable replacement for the original location of the now-defunct Marvelous Market. The market offers a variety of ready-made foods, local dry goods, and growlers for takeaway. But it's worth settling in for one of the hot sandwiches, and pourover coffee. The owners also co-operate The Den coffeehouse and wine bar a few doors down in Politics & Prose Bookstore.

Pho 14

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Pho 14 opened its first location in Columbia Heights, and expanded to two additional locations in Adams Morgan and Van Ness. Though Pho 14 specializes in pho, it also brings banh mi, vermicelli, rice dishes, and bubble tea to the neighborhood.

Sfoglina

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When it was announced that award-winning restaurateur Fabio Trabocchi would be setting up shop in Van Ness, there was much excitement for a new upscale restaurant in the neighborhood. Sfoglina offers a variety of pasta dishes as well as a $26 lunch special featuring two courses.

Soapstone Market

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This sandwich shop and market comes from the same folks behind Broad Branch Market in Chevy Chase. In addition to sandwiches that include crab cake, BLT, and pastrami, pick up items from local favorite Bullfrog Bagels.

Thai Pad

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Thai Pad opened in 2015 as a collaboration of four families. Along with the usual curries and pad thai, find a variety of noodle soups, including khao soi and the four brothers noodle soup chock full of roast meat and fish balls.

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Acacia Bistro

Acacia Bistro features a pasta and seafood-heavy menu, as well as a variety of Italian and Spanish-cured meats. Those who have celiac disease also have several gluten-free entrees and desserts to choose from.

Bread Furst

Primarily focused on sandwiches and bread, Bread Furst also serves up salads, quiche as well as breakfast sandwiches in the morning. Be sure to pick up donuts, cookies, and cakes for a sweet ending.

Jamie Liu

Buck's Fishing & Camping

Buck's Fishing and Camping has been a mainstay of Van Ness for almost 15 years. Even though the menu format and chefs have changed over the years, the restaurant has always incorporated local and seasonal ingredients, as well as wood-grilled meats and seafood.

Comet Ping Pong

Even before Comet Ping Pong became embroiled in #pizzagate, it was a great place to grab pizza with sauce from Toigo tomatoes and local gourmet toppings, enjoy a beer while playing ping pong, or catch a late-night rock show. Stop by in the summer for a fried soft shell crab and melted leek pizza brightened by lemon.

Laliguras Indian & Nepali Bistro

In addition to Indian curry standards like vindaloo, korma, and makhani, find a variety of Nepalese dishes at Laliguras. Look for momos – dumplings filled with chicken or vegetables.

Little Red Fox

Little Red Fox is the formidable replacement for the original location of the now-defunct Marvelous Market. The market offers a variety of ready-made foods, local dry goods, and growlers for takeaway. But it's worth settling in for one of the hot sandwiches, and pourover coffee. The owners also co-operate The Den coffeehouse and wine bar a few doors down in Politics & Prose Bookstore.

Pho 14

Pho 14 opened its first location in Columbia Heights, and expanded to two additional locations in Adams Morgan and Van Ness. Though Pho 14 specializes in pho, it also brings banh mi, vermicelli, rice dishes, and bubble tea to the neighborhood.

Sfoglina

When it was announced that award-winning restaurateur Fabio Trabocchi would be setting up shop in Van Ness, there was much excitement for a new upscale restaurant in the neighborhood. Sfoglina offers a variety of pasta dishes as well as a $26 lunch special featuring two courses.

Soapstone Market

This sandwich shop and market comes from the same folks behind Broad Branch Market in Chevy Chase. In addition to sandwiches that include crab cake, BLT, and pastrami, pick up items from local favorite Bullfrog Bagels.

Thai Pad

Thai Pad opened in 2015 as a collaboration of four families. Along with the usual curries and pad thai, find a variety of noodle soups, including khao soi and the four brothers noodle soup chock full of roast meat and fish balls.

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