Washington DC raw restaurants?

[rawstrength]

Any good raw restaurants in Washington, D.C.? I am going in two weeks for Powershift (http://www.powershift09.org/splash).

[rawstrength]

bump. . . .. . . .

[GreenVariety]

Hello there!

There is only 1 that I know of in DC. It's called Java Green. They are raw/vegan. The one time I was there they were out of EVERYTHING! But it was mid day on a random week day. They have a website and they have their menu on there! If you go outside of DC there are more options but not many! We are working on getting this area a little more connected so people who want to start restaurants have support and know that "if you build it they will come."

((RAWhugs))

[rawwannabie]

Wow! Sounds like a great time, enjoy yourself!

[RawLibrarian]

Do check out Java Green. Their web site appears to be down for now, but here is the URL:

http://www.javagreen.net

It's downtown; an easy walk from at least two Metro stations. It's at 1020 19th St. NW. They have a brand new location in the Dupont Circle area at 1513 17th St. NW (wasn't clear if this location is actually open yet or not).

Their menu is on this page on a PDF:

http://www.javagreencafe.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=49&Itemid=29

There is a juice bar called Juice Joint, also downtown, and an easy walk from a couple of Metro stations. It is at 1025 Vermont Avenue NW:

http://www.juicejointcafe.com/

Not sure how much of the food is raw, though.

Another place that is under the radar is Senbeb Cafe. It is at 6224 3rd St. NW:

http://www.yelp.com/biz/senbeb-cafe-washington

This is not far from where I live, and is walking distance from the Takoma Metro station on the Red Line. The chef is a guy named Khepra Anu; he is awesome. He leads raw food and yoga retreats in Jamaica and I have really liked everything he has made at his cafe. Thing is, if you go there you should call ahead to see what raw things will be available that day and when they will be ready. The cafe is vegetarian/vegan, with a few raw items. Khepra himself is 100% raw but it would not be possible for him to make a go of a 100% raw cafe in a city like DC. The Yelp reviews are correct--there is really nothing like it in the immediate area, and it really is more of a carry out, but there are a few tables. Directly next door is a natural foods co-op.

Hope this helps; you can e-mail me at eam531@yahoo.com if you want.

Betsy (aka Raw Librarian)

[rawstrength]

Thanks! I'm not sure I'll go to the Java Green Cafe, as I really don't want to patronize a restaurant that serves meat (especially when it claims to be good for the environment?!)
But the Yelps place sounds nice, if I can get there somehow.

[evegan]

Java Green is vegetarian. They serve no meat or eggs. The "chicken" you see listed is soy-based. I ate there a few times in summer 2007 and it was fine.

Mostly I ate at SoHo. See my post http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?p=377955#post377955

[katinka-katinka]

If you do make it to Java Green after all, please let me know how it is! I'm going to be near there for a week next month and would love to know what you think of it.

[RawLibrarian]

Java Green is my cafe of choice when I am in that area (I go to downtown DC once a month or so). I really like the juices and the raw salads. They also have a variety of dehydrated foods for sale.

[LotsaRaw]

Thanks! I'm not sure I'll go to the Java Green Cafe, as I really don't want to patronize a restaurant that serves meat (especially when it claims to be good for the environment?!)
But the Yelps place sounds nice, if I can get there somehow.

They claim to be vegetarian...all "chicken" is faux (soy - blech!)

Am hoping for some real life reviews before mid April when I'll be in town & hoping to check it out...

[RawLibrarian]

There are no 100% raw restaurants in Washington DC. I should know; I live here.

Senbeb Cafe, which I wrote about earlier, is not 100% raw. Java Green isn't either, but they are completely vegan. You might not like faux chicken, but they do not use animal products at that cafe. I posted a link with the menu, and said I liked the juices and the live salads.

Since it looks like only 100% raw restaurants are acceptable, you'll need to go to Whole Foods. or check the organic produce sections at grocery stores like Safeway and Giant, or go to farmer's markets and prepare your own food.

Here's a URL for a list of DC farmer's markets: http://dc.about.com/od/restaurants/a/FarmersMktsDC.htm

[rawlight]

Rawlibrarian, I am going to DC the end of March and these suggestions are really helpful. Thank you for taking the time to post them. I am going with a friend who is not raw or vegetarian, but a foodie who likes to try new restaurants. I think we will do very well!

[rawstrength]

Thanks for the clarification about Java Green. They need to make it clearer on their menu that the meat is soy :) .

[Conscious Midwife]

Check out the YAbba Pot... Chef Skai runs a vegan restaurant with frequent 21 day RAW Challenges. Plus som awesome RAW queens greens and other RAW

You can also contact kephra@mojojuice.com and see where he runs his RAW challenges.

[fruitandveggies]

How I wish there were a raw restaurant here, my life would be complete, haha. Yeah, Java Green is probably the closest you will get, however the Everlasting Life juice bar does make some things (juice, smoothies, salads) raw and they are all vegan.
Here's their webbie:
http://www.everlastinglife.net/juice_bar.htm

[RawLibrarian]

You can also contact kephra@mojojuice.com and see where he runs his RAW challenges.

I gave a shout-out to Khepra's cafe, Senbeb! He's great; such an asset to the raw community in this area.

I'm not sure if his detoxes are the same as his raw challenges. Check out his website:

http://www.mojojuiceclub.com/home.html

Scroll down the page to "Mojo Juice 2009 Detox Schedule".

[Conscious Midwife]

I gave a shout-out to Khepra's cafe, Senbeb! He's great; such an asset to the raw community in this area.

I'm not sure if his detoxes are the same as his raw challenges. Check out his website:

http://www.mojojuiceclub.com/home.html

Scroll down the page to "Mojo Juice 2009 Detox Schedule".


Cool thanks, missed it and couldn't remember the name of the cafe;)

[rawlight]

I am very excited to try some of these places. Plus I figured out where Trader Joe's and Whole Foods is relative to my hotel. I am leaving on Thursday and will report back!

[Mary Kay]

Darn. Just found this thread AFTER I got back from the Raw Spirit Festival in DC.

I did manage to find Senbeb, because the chef had a table at the the Raw Spirit Festival, and served up the MOST DELICIOUS sandwich and two salads: one kelp and one greens, so I sought out his cafe..

I dragged my kids in the car, then two trains and a bus to Senbeb and was disappointed that they only had one raw item. It was a lasagna with some marinated broccoli (broc was a little too spicy hot though for my wimpy palate) and although t he lasagna was good, it contained frozen corn and peas, which are not raw! Now, I don't mind, I'm like 95% raw but figured someone else may. This dish was packaged in a plastic container in the fridge.

There is no ambience at Senbeb, just a couple tables and a counter from which you order. That was good advice someone gave about calling ahead. I did call, just to get directions and ask them about the raw food, and they should have told me there was only one choice and what that choice was, but they didn't.

Wish I'd have also known about Java. Would have liked to try them both.

Thanks for listening and for those who posted previously.

Mary Kay

[RawLibrarian]

Darn. Just found this thread AFTER I got back from the Raw Spirit Festival in DC.

I did manage to find Senbeb, because the chef had a table at the the Raw Spirit Festival, and served up the MOST DELICIOUS sandwich and two salads: one kelp and one greens, so I sought out his cafe..

I dragged my kids in the car, then two trains and a bus to Senbeb and was disappointed that they only had one raw item. It was a lasagna with some marinated broccoli (broc was a little too spicy hot though for my wimpy palate) and although t he lasagna was good, it contained frozen corn and peas, which are not raw! Now, I don't mind, I'm like 95% raw but figured someone else may. This dish was packaged in a plastic container in the fridge.

There is no ambience at Senbeb, just a couple tables and a counter from which you order. That was good advice someone gave about calling ahead. I did call, just to get directions and ask them about the raw food, and they should have told me there was only one choice and what that choice was, but they didn't.

Wish I'd have also known about Java. Would have liked to try them both.

Thanks for listening and for those who posted previously.

Mary Kay

I was the one who talked up Senbeb. I'm also glad you liked Khepra's food at the Raw Food Festival.

Senbeb has no ambiance, you're right ... but then, I don't think I said that it did. Most folks who get food there get take-out. It's also not a 100% raw cafe--Khepra could not keep the place open otherwise. He himself is 100% raw, though. There usually is only one living food option on the menu; he makes it in the morning and packages it for people to take away or eat on the premises. Apologies for not making that clear.

I support him because I live nearby, I like his food, and he is doing something really terrific in terms of offering healthy vegan food (cooked and raw) for people in the area, specifically the African American community. He's a really good guy, and I'm glad you took the time to visit his establishment.

Java Green is probably more what you were looking for, but even it has very little ambiance. It offers more raw food on the menu, but then, it's bigger and the owners have deeper pockets.

[Blazin'Jane]

I took two of my randchildren to Java Green last spring. It was a good time and the food was good. We bought a pile of raw chocolate treats to take home. I ate most of them, more than the kids did, by a long shot.

[qfmother]

My 10-year old daughter and I went to DC a couple of weeks ago for 4 days, and we went to Java Green once and Soho Cafe & Market twice. Soho is good because there is a nice selection of raw fruits & veggies to choose from, and I had brought my own dressing, avocados, raw crackers, etc. to round out the meal. It was also extremely close to our hotel. We enjoyed Java Green as well, the pizza was really good and my daughter loved the kale salad which I would personally call "chips" rather than salad because it was dehydrated and pretty crispy. I had a raw sandwich which wasn't that great because it was over-dehydrated and very tough. But overall our experience was good and it was nice to have some variety while we were there.

The best part about it was when I went to the counter after eating and asked if they had any raw desserts, and when the lady pointed them out to me and I walked away, the man behind him said "She looks raw..." I didn't turn around and let him know that I had heard his comment, but it made me feel so good!

[Blissed]

I'll be in town for about 10 days starting the 19th to take care of my two nieces while brother in Iraq and sister-in-law gone overseas to take care of her critically ill mother. Sure glad to see this post, just to have a few places that I can go to pick up a few items for variety, beyond what I will take with me and prepare. I'm not sure how their kitchen is equipped, so I'll have to plan simple, and see what Whole Foods has in stock to work with too. It's great to see that there are at least a couple of options to play with.