By Caleb Montague
Summer 2013
Since living in the capital, I’ve gained a better cultural understanding of this city through its vibrant neighborhoods and the distinct cuisine representative of each niche within D.C. Of all the dives, eateries, and cafés that I’ve had the chance to experience, my favorite meal came from a small restaurant in Chinatown called Eat First Restaurant.
After visiting the National Portrait Gallery as part of our usual Friday program excursions, the group collectively decided to wander over to Chinatown for lunch. Now for those of you who have ventured to the Chinatown in Boston, the Chinatown in D.C. mimics its charm with some intermittent rough patches, but in a smaller more compact area. The vibrant colored awnings and the flashing signs from the restaurant windows made it almost impossible to decide where to eat. After asking the DC Program Manager, Fabiana, for advice, we chose to try Eat First Restaurant.
A view of the outside of Eat First. Definitely a must-visit for anyone in DC.
When we first walked in, I was slightly hesitant of the quality of the food, seeing that we were one of three groups in the restaurant. While the décor of the restaurant was quite simple and average, the complementary hot tea created an authentic atmosphere and soothed my already growing appetite for Chinese food. I ordered the Kung Pao tofu, as suggested by my good friend Dani, and was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food and the amount of spice packed into that one dish. The tofu was firm and had the perfect flavor profile to make anyone’s craving for a mildly spicy, but savory dish satisfied. Equal parts celery, peanuts, and other veggies were mixed in as well, providing that extra crunch and texture that nicely contrasted with the tofu. Compared to the generous portion size, the lunch price was inexpensive, rounding out a meager five bucks (only slightly higher than my daily commute to work on the Metro). After the meal, I felt adequately full and satisfied, but not overstuffed, as is often the case when I eat Chinese food.
Ever since that experience, I’ve returned to Eat First Restaurant on two other occasions and always leave with the same great feeling of satisfaction. Hands down, Eat First Restaurant stands out as an excellent local eatery that everyone should experience when visiting D.C.
Dani and I
Caleb is a rising senior in the Environmental Analysis and Policy program at BU. He is interning at the Department of Justice- Environmental and Natural Resources Division.
