Apr 17

Apr 17 The lighter side of Takoda's menu

DC, Food, Hungry in DC, Restaurants, Feature

It’s been a few months since I talked about Takoda when they first opened. I loved their creative take on American classics and their fantastic happy hour – a solid addition to the neighborhood that has a creative but familiar menu, a great selection of beers, cocktails and a huge whiskey list!

There are days when I just want to eat their chicken and waffles with a side of the rosemary parmesan tots, but there are other days when I can really do with eating a bit lighter. For those latter kinda days, I'm happy to see some menu additions and changes just in time to prep for summer.. I tried some of these new additions recently, and am happy to report that they still keep the excitement to the taste buds and allowing me to make better choices.

I’ll start with the beet hummus. Now, I’m almost always disappointed with hummus and tend to think my money is spent better on other dishes at restaurants. However, I was convinced by our server that the Takoda hummus would change my mind about this, so I went ahead and got it. The roasted beet hummus, which comes with a spicy kale pesto and a hefty side of toast is first and foremost a gorgeous plate! I did enjoy the creaminess and light sweetness of the hummus, which was complemented well by the spicy kale pesto. A hearty dish too! I’d get this again.

Roasted Beet hummus - gorgeous + delicious! (Photo credit Takoda)

The cranberry kale salad is another light but tasty option. A salad is not a meal (for me), but I enjoyed having a few bites of the kale + radish + pecan combination.

Let’s go to the veggie burger. I’m ALWAYS on the hunt for a good veggie burger that does not involve black bean! I will never understand why there can’t be more creativity in veggie burgers- for example, using more veggies! Anyway, the version at Takoda is made with quinoa, barley, lentils and chickpeas and is fairly tasty, but what takes this burger over the hump is the addition of whole grain mustard and a healthy but not overly decadent dollop of pimiento cheese. Either way, all those calories and fats saved on the beef have to come from somewhere, right? Right. It also comes with a side of tots so you can get your indulgence there as well.

Pro Tip: A prix fixe, three-course menu is another new addition here and is available Sunday through Thursday during dinner. Select a salad, an entrée and a dessert for a special price of $28 per person. Great deal!

These were some of the highlights of my meal, but they have other options too including a pan seared fish, a veggie flatbread, and more healthy options. They do change up their menu based on what’s available in season, but I am pretty sure Chef Damian will have a creative take on whatever he finds seasonally!

Whether you are a full-fledged healthy eater or just looking for something new to try, I do think these offerings at Takoda are bound to appeal. Give them a try, you can always make up for it with fried oreos for dessert!