*Skinny Seal*
There is a plethora of good Greek food in Washington D.C., particularly mezze, small plates meant to be shared at the table. Some of my favorites are Neyla and Zaytinya. However on a recent trip to the capital I found a new excellent mezze restaurant called Cava. I have never been to this part of Capitol Hill. 8th Street is lined with little restaurants and bars and a younger crowd, eating and drinking.
Cava does not necessarily stand out from the others for it’s looks, but everything I ordered was definitely a standout in itself. Baby octopus was grilled and so tender and fresh, I felt like I was in Greece. Opa Opa Shrimp were served in an ouzo sauce with dill, cream and tomatoes that gives them tons of flavor with out being too heavy. Lamb skewers were tender with a nice crispiness from the grill and served along side French fries (unfortunately they have no ketchup, so keep in mind when ordering fries). Grilled scallops came with a mushroom risotto and were perfectly prepared. Another favorite was the eggplant stuffed with raisins, pine nuts and caramelized onions. The humus was simple and basic, but the eggplant dip did more for my palate. Endless pita comes to the table but try not to fill up on bread as so many of the dishes are truly delicious. An extensive wine list gives you so many choices, but I recommend sticking with a Greek wine. The Santorini whites are usually a safe bet and pair wonderfully with the food.
The atmosphere is nothing spectacular but they do offer nice patio seating and I do recommend this as its rather loud inside. Prices are fair and again food is excellent…highly recommended!
Cava 527 8th St. SE (202) 543-9090
Wow, such a great review. The skinny critic is amazing!
Posted by: Louis F. | July 20, 2009 at 01:49 PM