Johnna’s Pick of the Week: Lunch DC

Johnna’s Pick of the Week’s are getting tough. It has become hard for us to find a restaurant that leaves a lasting impression on our palate. It’s funny because the only meals that seem to be leaving us with a longing for our next visit have been lunch spots. Over the past few weeks we have had the opportunity to visit Againn, Taylor’s Gourmet Deli and Red Rocks. Great selections. Our expectations for Againn (*pronounced “a-g-uin”), we must admit, were the lowest. Attempting British pub cuisine is not an easy task despite the misconception that it is basically fish and chips. We can’t seem to shake the brussel sprouts with bacon and the cheesie toast (*The egg topped cheese sandwich did it for us) which was more than what should be consumed during the lunch hour… The service was like a new relationship, hopefully this isn’t too good to be true.

Taylor’s is a cool deli tucked in the growing 5th and K st. neighborhood. Situated in what looks like it could be someones garage, Taylor’s offers an airy space with super high ceilings and funky light fixtures. We weren’t a fan of the bread but the ingredients inside the tough skin were fresh and a reminder that the deli is not dead.

Red Rocks is the perfect place for lunch. The small pizza haven is not filled to the brim with patrons because it’s off the beaten path of the downtown chaos and there’s plenty of parking in the area. Nice, simple, fresh. Those three words sum up our experience at their afternoon lunch. Since the spot opens at 11 am, when you get there you are literally getting the first dibs on the wood fired pizza. For $16, you can a delicious pizza alongside a glass of wine rounding out the perfect lunch…for us anyway…

Dinner used to be our favorite meal of the day but it looks like lunch in the District has made some serious upgrades. No more looking forward to a boring house salad and some soup (*this doesn’t mean we don’t love a good trip to Panera, but…), you can have a one of kind experience. Is it lunch already??