Cava Mezze, DC

Capitol Hill NE isn't an area I visit often, but there's a few good vegan joints there. Cava Mezze may not be a vegan joint, but they have lots of vegan options and I had the opportunity to dine there on my last trip to the northeast quadrant.

On this particular night, it was a very quiet Monday evening and there was tons of seating. Nevertheless, they sat us at a high top in the bar area. Not my favorite place to sit, but I can deal with it. We started with some mixed drinks, which were really fantastic.

For dinner, we ordered a variety of tapas. The menu online lists everything that is vegan, but the printed menu in the restaurant does not. Luckily, the server was very helpful. We started with the Roasted Vegetables, which consisted of sunchokes, salsify, and rainbow carrots topped with mint. These had a bit too much oil, but were otherwise great.

Next, we had the falafel with tahini. As expected, they sure do know how to make their falafel fantastic.

Lastly, we tried the Brussels Sprouts with olive bread crumbs. These were roasted to a crisp and delicious.

Other items on the menu included hummus, purple cabbage with dill, baby beets with kohlrabi, ancient grains with pumpkin seeds, and tabbouleh with fava puree. As I write this, I realize how much more interesting other items sounded. I was with a non-vegan, so I stuck with safe, simple items, but next time, I want to try the more creative dishes.

The service was pretty good. The tapas were $9 - $13 each so on the high side. And the atmosphere was dark and romantic - perfect for a first date. I'd gladly come back and try more.

Cava Mezze
527 8th Street SE
Washington, DC 20003
(202) 543-9090