News & Reviews
Find out what everyone's saying about the new kosher bistro in town!
Reviews
I am happy to recommend the Distrikt Bistro...
Aug/2012 - "Kosher" App (Shamash.org)
As a traveler to Washington I am happy to recommend the Distrikt Bistro. Food is very good and the prices are very reasonable. The best thing going is the delivery feature. If you're close... delivery is free if you're not there is a fee but its well worth it.
- Jay A.
Absolutely delicious, creative, tasty cuisine...
June/2012 - "Kosher" App (Shamash.org)
Absolutely delicious, creative, tasty cuisine. We came on a Sunday for lunch and enjoyed the flavorful harira soup, various tapas which included fresh home-made tortilla chips, wraps, and salad. The service was excellent as well. I look forward to going back.
- Dan
The food was so fantastic...
Feb/2012 - Google+ Review
Overall 3 / 3
I am visiting DC from NYC and love Distrikt Bistro. The food was so fantastic that I went back the next night and it was that much better the second time around. There is a great menu. The steak is amazing--as good if not better than any steak I have had in New York. The service is great and Distrikt is a must go!
- A Google User
We were pleasantly surprised...
Aug/2011 - Google+ Review
Overall 3 / 3
We were pleasantly surprised by the food at Distrikt Bistro. One is always wary of new kosher restaurants opening up. This one offers a unique menu with mostly Sephardi foods (Spanish and north-African influence with lots of spices, different fish and vegetarian options too) and some classic American staples steak and burger. However with their own twist to make it their own: The Distrikt Steak comes with a chimmichurri sauce (cilantro, olive oil and garlic) spread right on top of the massive rib-eye and the 1/2-pound Monument Burger sits on top of a crispy French baguette with guacamole and a spicy mayo for the fries. The waitresses are very pleasant and always smiling. The desserts are very unique too, offering up some delicious cakes... Even the vanilla (pareve) ice cream is very tasty and comes with fried plantains (when's the last time you saw that on a kosher menu?!). Overall very impressed. Good luck!
Liked: Food, Service, Atmosphere, Value
- A Google User
Dining at DISTRIKT Bistro… It’s Kosher!
11/30/2011 - GatherTheJews.com Review (Click here to read article on GTJ...)
Sometimes I’m so good I impress even myself. Consider my following experience last night at DISTRIKT Bistro:
The scheduled time of my dinner date: 7:30. My arrival time: 7:35 (I was at a meeting!). The time of my first verbal blunder: 7:42.
Salad Niçoise is pronounced “nee-suaz.” Unfortunately, I let loose a hard c before stopping myself.
To make things worse, my date — a tall Canadian Jew with lustrous dark hair — studied French in school and immediately picked up on my (seeming?) boorishness.
Fortunately, the salad tasted better than my pronunciation sounded, and the rest of my meal at DISTRIKT Bistro tasted just as good.
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DISTRIKT Bistro is Washington, DC’s newest kosher restaurant. It’s inside the DC JCC, which is, conveniently for me, on 16th street between P and Q.
But DISTRIKT Bistro hasn’t completely entered the kosher food circuit yet. Most of the kosher conversations I hear still run along the lines of: ”On Monday nights we get Maoz and then watch our TV show; Tuesday nights we eat in; on Wednesday we go to Eli’s; Thursday it’s catch as catch can; and on Fridays we do a Shabbat meal somewhere.”
Part of this is due to DISTRIKT’s novelty — it’s not a year old yet.
My eggplant cutlet. I should have taken the picture before messing up the presentation. Did you know there are male eggplants and female eggplants? One thing my date taught me.
But the other (and bigger?) part is its price. DISTRIKT’s prices aren’t “every night” prices. Dinner entrees range from $18 (Portobello steak) to $34 (Dijon Roasted Lamb) with most of the other dishes falling in the 20s. Throw in an appetizer, and you’re up to at least $30 a person — considerably more than my milk-and-cereal wallet is used to spending (thank goodness we “make bank” at GTJ — See FAQ #11). So DISTRIKT diners are special diners. My date led me there last night. And the two people dining next to us were there celebrating their fifth anniversary.
Where's the money Lebowski?
True, DISTRIKT is a bit more expensive than Eli’s, but it’s also more ornate. It’s not everywhere — kosher or non-kosher — that you can order Eggplant Cutlets as an appetizer and have it presented to you with the balsamic dressing artistically drizzled around the edge of the plate. Nor is it everywhere that you get such good service. There weren’t many people in the restaurant, but even so, the waitress kept up with my water-chugging habits and other idiosyncrasies as if she had known me all my life. I haven’t been to Eli’s enough times to fairly compare the service, but judging by the fact that Eli’s owner Manny hasn’t paid GTJ for his advertisement — despite repeated requests — in 10 months, it wouldn’t surprise me if Eli’s was sometimes a bit slow on its food too.
The biggest conventional downside to DISTRIKT is its location. Being on 16th street is great, but most people find being on the ground floor of the JCC to be a bit off putting. How fancy does that Dijon Roasted Lamb seem when you’re watching sweaty basketball players enter and exit the building? I personally get a kick out of it because I get to see at least four friends every time I eat there, but I can understand where the negative sentiment comes from.
As for other dishes, my date had Morroccan Harira soup and the entree special: chicken marsala and rice pilaf. I was assured both were delicious. I’ve also heard good things about the lunch sandwiches and desserts.
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All in all, very good food, a bit expensive (the tragedy of kosher dining?), good service, and questionable atmosphere. I highly recommend DISTRIKT for kosher eaters looking to treat themselves to something nice, or if you want to break out of the M/N streets mold.
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As for my date… Great conversationalist, very interesting, very smart, but I think we’ve both agreed that it works best as a friendship.
P.S. I know it’s a bit rich for somebody with extremely bizarre eating habits to review a restaurant… But… it was fun!
- Stephen Richer, GTJ Co-Founder
...Waitstaff are unfailingly friendly and professional.
10/10/2011 - Yelp.com Review
Discard your preconceived notions of a kosher restaurant - you will not find a shred of pastrami or even a hint of a matzoh ball in the place. With Pomegranate gone, this is the only white-tablecloth kosher restaurant in DC.
The restaurant is in a section of the ground floor of the DC Jewish Community Center. Unfortunately, we live in times where a metal detector is de rigeur at prominent Jewish institutions. Don't be put off by this.
The waitstaff are unfailingly friendly and professional. They know the menu, don't hover, clear away what needs to be cleared away, and leave you alone unless you need them.
The food is excellent. Even if you don't keep kosher, you'll find a great deal to love in the Mediterranean-influenced menu. Since I keep kosher, eating a steak in a restaurant is a treat for me, but I also highly recommend the farfalle grilled chicken.
- C S.
Actually tasty kosher food.
7/09/2011 - Google Maps Review
Actual tasty kosher food. Service is awesome! Six stars! I wish I traveled to DC more, I'd eat here even if I wasn't looking for kosher. Eat here now before it gets popular and you can't get a table.
- rzrnaz
Bravo, Distrikt Bistro!
6/05/2011 - Herndon, VA
Recently, I had a dinner delivered to my home from Distrikt Bistro. Delicious kosher food, ample portions, and a very reliable delivery service! The restaurant has a creative and varied menu. It was a wonderful way to entertain guests at my home when I was working all day and did not have time to cook. Bravo, Distrikt Bistro!
- Susan L.
I've eaten there 5 times now and tried all different sorts of dishes...
3/22/2011 - Yelp.com Review
As somebody who is used to the usual options in the DC area, I was expecting more of the same when I heard a new kosher restaurant was opening in DC but I didn't let my apprehension get in the way of trying the food. And boy am I glad I did! I've eaten there 5 times now and tried all different sorts of dishes. The soups are excellent, the burgers are too big even for me to eat and the chicken wings are the best I have ever eaten! The menu is mediterranean rather than some generic Israeli/burger joint and there are so many healthy options I may just have to return for food choice number 6. I do feel that the restaurant should be separated from the JCC foyer by some sort of screen, but the food more than makes up it. All in all, kosher or not, this is the best food I've had in this price range.
- Amy C.
In a word, Distrikt Bistro is delicious.
3/16/2011 - Yelp.com Review
In a word, Distrikt Bistro is delicious. It's a Spanish / Moroccan kosher restaurant that tastes like fine dining, not typical kosher restaurant food. Distrikt Bistro is the first kosher restaurant I feel confident to bring my non-Jewish friends to who are used to eating in fine restaurants.
The restaurant is located in the lobby of the JCC. The ambiance is very much that of a fine hotel or quiet museum with a cafe interspersed amongst the columns. I ate during lunch time. There was a steady stream of people eating and the atmosphere was lively, but not noisy. There's a piano nearby that I understand will be played to add to the atmosphere.
My friend and I ordered the champinons al ajillo (ajillo mushrooms served over french bread) and eggplant and tomato as appetizers. Both tasted excellent. For main courses there's cuisine for a range of tastes. My guest and I ordered a chicken wrap and chicken with pasta farfalle and mushrooms. These dishes were delicious. They use just the right amounts of oil, spice, etc. to accentuate the natural flavors of the ingredients.
Service at Distrikt Bistro is friendly and prompt. I will try the plantains when I return for another meal, though I didn't try the dessert on my first visit.
Distrikt Bistro is a credit to kosher food and shows how good it can taste when prepared properly.
- Rich M.
Distrikt Bistro-Kosher Restaurant is Amazing
3/13/2011 - PotomacJewish.com
We went to the JCC in dc today to try the new kosher restaurant, Distrikt Bistro. It was such an amazing experience. Everything from the appetizers, main course, dessert to the friendly staff was perfect. We enjoyed food that was not your typical "kosher" fare and was pleasantly surprised. We sampled a lot of food - guacamole and chips, french fries with a spicy mayo sauce, hot wings, chicken caesar salad, soup, hamburger on a fresh baguette, steak, chicken tenders, and house pasta. Everyone was thrilled with their selections. We dined on beautiful plates and flatware and had a lovely time (it is also kid friendly). We strongly encourage you to support this establishment and they have catering with delivery to the DC area. www.distriktbistro.com
- Brooke A.
This is a must-try (and frequent) establishment...
3/13/2011 - Yelp.com Review
This is a must-try (and frequent) establishment. Conveniently located at the JCC, my family of 5 stopped in on our way to the DC sites. The appetizers were fresh and delicious - guacamole was clearly a home-made delicacy, the chicken wings were to-die-for (both for Dad and the 8-year old) and the fries with the spicy mayo were a treat (mostly for the kids).
The main courses were soup, caesar salad with chicken and a Monument Burger for the adults, and the kids had chicken nuggets and pasta. The soup was spicy and delicious. The chicken caesar was terrific and the croutons are from out of this world. The burger, with guacamole on the bun, was as good as it gets. And the children were happy! Ice cream with chocolate sauce was dessert and there was not a bite left.
The venue was tasteful, respectful, but also kid-friendly. The service was "aim-to-please" fast, yet deliberate in making sure that the meal was enjoyable. Friendly and knowledgeable staff-owners make it even more special. Ambience was really nice and the bill was absolutely reasonable. Apparently they cater as well (free delivery to many DC offices, or a small delivery charge for farther). Two thumbs up.
- Adam A.
I had a late lunch here with a friend...
3/10/2011 - Google Maps Review
I had a late lunch here with a friend and we both ordered the Monument Burgers. They were delicious! Will definitely come again to have steak. Friendly and personable manager and chef. And also a great location! (:
Liked: Food, Atmosphere, Value
- Aisha
If I could give Distrikt Bistro more than 5 stars, I would...
3/09/2011 - Google Maps Review
If I could give Distrikt Bistro more than 5 stars, I would without hesitation! The minute I walked in I felt like this was a place I wanted to return to.. From the friendly chef to the warm staff to the accommodating manager, this restaurant is the start of something great! The menu has such a wide variety it appeals to every kind of craving and the food i ordered came efficiently and tasted out of this world! I look forward to eating at Distrikt Bistro often in the future!
Liked: Food, Service, Atmosphere, Value
- SR
New Kosher Restaurant Now Open in DC – Distrikt Bistro
2/28/2011 - YeahThatsKosher.com
I'm really excited to hear about the new Kosher restaurant that just opened in Washington, DC. Not long ago the JCC in DC had a restaurant called the JCC Cafe, which was more of a sit down restaurant than a cafe. In their absence, only Eli’s remained as the only way to have a Kosher meal out in DC.
Thankfully, Distrikt Bistro, located in the lobby of the DC JCC, has a very eclectic meat menu with numerous Spanish inspired dishes, with a wine & beer menu to boast as well. You now have an option to have your business lunches to. I can’t wait to try it. Check out the recent article/review below.
- Dani
For your reading enjoyment, please feel free to also read:
- Review of DB by Stephen Richer of GatherTheJews.com: "Dining at DISTRIKT Bistro… It’s Kosher!"
- Washington Jewish News article about DISTRIKT Bistro: "Cafe with Mediterranean Flair..."
- Our press release on 2/21/2011: "DISTRIKT Bistro to Open at the DC JCC..."
1529 16th Street NW | Q Street Entrance | Washington, DC 20036
To reserve your table, call 202 777 3209
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