Le Pain, Downtown

975 F Street NW, location of DC's newest Le Pain Quoidien

The last time I had dinner at Le Pain Quotidien was a few months ago. If I remember correctly, I had a stacked polenta and vegetable dish in a tomato-based sauce. I loved the dish, the communal table, open layout of Le Pain, and the plethora of vegan options on the menu. I've only been to the Dupont location of the chain, which originated in Brussels more than 20 years ago. There are four other stores in the District and others in suburban Maryland and Virginia.

The downtown location will be in a 2,800 square foot, first floor space at 975 F Street NW. There will be seating for 75. 

Over the past few years the 900 block of F St between Metro Center and Penn Quarter has also seen the opening of Cowgirl Creamery, Amorini Panini, District of Pi (yesterday!), Co Co Sala and more. Food, food, food. And lots of it. And downtown isn't done. More stores and restaurants are on the way. 

I don't know when this Le Pain is opening, but count me in for breakfast and lunch when it does. Vegan food downtown, always a good thing. I'll pass on any more news as I hear it via @The42BusDC.

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Where to Eat Vegan at Union Station

Sunrise Caribbean has several vegan options 

[UPDATE:  YO! Sushi has closed. Big Bite (now open in the lower level food court) has one vegan hot dog, made of the Field Roast Italian Sausage Link.]

[UPDATE 2: Sunrise Caribbean, Aditi Kitchen, and Vittorio's have all closed due to the construction of a Walgreens store in the food court area. Sunrise has an on again/off again kiosk at Union Station, but has also opened a full service restaurant at 5329 Georgia Avenue NW. Dangerously Delicious Pies also closed up shop. They have a nearby-ish store at 7th and I NW in Chinatown]

About to board a train or bus for a long trip? Waiting for the MARC or VRE to take you home? Just around for lunch? Here are some vegan-friendly spots to grab a bite at Union Station before or after your travels.

[NOW CLOSED]1. Sunrise Caribbean Cuisine: Hands down, this is the best option in Union Station. About half of the rotating daily menu is vegan. The collards, cabbage, and veggie rice are amazing as stand-alone dishes, but typically people get them as sides to the main dish. I order the vegan jerk chicken (#1) or the vegan bbq steak (close second). No joke, the jerk chicken will make you invent reasons to come back to Union Station. A main dish + two sides costs less than $10.

2. Le Pain Quotidien: First of all, they make a pretty good soy latte to take away if you're on the run. The best part is the standing-room-only tables, which are great if you want to sip on coffee for just a minute without being seated. The menu is partially seasonal, but is very similar to the other area locations. Try a vegan tartine, steel cut oatmeal, or ask for the vegan organic soup of the day with one of their vegan breads.

3. Roti: Really only one option at this Mediterranean fast casual spot, but it is consistently tasty: the falafel rice plate. You get three sides. I like the cous cous, cucumber/tomato salad, and roasted vegetables. FYI - the pita bread is not vegan, so go with the rice plate, not sandwich.

[NOW CLOSED] 4. YO! Sushi: Limited selection, but the vibe is fun and the staff is great. Stick with the miso soup, cucumber maki, vegetable yakisoba, and seaweed salad. The avocado rolls aren't vegan off the belt, but you can special order them vegan for no additional cost.

5. Chop't: Make your own vegan salad or go with the Vegetarian Powerhouse. There are several vegan dressings; 5 Flavor Asian and Spa Sesame Asian are the best. 

[NOW CLOSED] 6. Aditi Indian Kitchen: This Indian restaurant is located on the downstairs food-court level. Half of the 4-6 daily offerings are vegetarian, and usually vegan. Ask to be sure, as some contain dairy. I stick to the aloo gobi (potatos and cauliflower), string beans porial, vegetable samosas, and bhajias (aka pakoras). If they're serving it and you ask nicely, you can get the vegetable biryani as a base instead of white rice.

7. Chipotle: Order the vegan black bean burrito with fajita vegetables and guacamole. BONUS: Chipotle is slated to begin testing its vegan sofrito burrito at DC stores TODAY. 

OTHERS: 

[NOW CLOSED] Dangerously Delicious Pies: If they have a berry pie on the menu, it's likely vegan, just ask. Good coffee.

[NOW CLOSED] Vittorio's/Mama Ilardo's: They have dairy-free sorbets.

Union Station Ups Retail Game

Over the past two years, Union Station has revamped parts of its physical infrastructure as well as its retail and restaurant offerings. The West Hall on the street level is now a fast casual mini-food court with Chipotle, 

YO! Sushi, Chop't, Roti, Potbelly, and Starbucks. They've also added Crumbs Bake Shop, Pret a Manger, Le Pain Quotidien, and Jamba Juice. Those are in addition to the 20+ restaurants in the main food court on the lower level.

The retail options have been updated as well. H & M recently opened in the a large space previously occupied by Barnes & Noble bookstore. MAC Cosmetics opened last week and is just a few doors down from the Art of Shaving, which always has a client in the chair when I walk past. Lots of options for residents and those passing through.

Leica Camera, F Street NW

F Street NW keeps adding quality tenants. We learned last year that 977 F Street NW will house a Leica Camera store. The store will be about 1,800 sq ft. By comparison, the Le Pain next door is just under 2,800 sq ft.

There are dealers that sell and service Leica cameras products, but there are no official Leica stand alone stores in the United States. This will be the first. This particular store has a new Twitter account and I saw workers headed in and out of the space yesterday, busily working. No word on the opening date, but I'll venture a guess: May 1. That's totally unofficial. Just a guess. Get excited photographers!