Burritos Fast, CVS, Maoz

Burritos Fast
If you haven't seen, Tikal Burritos Fast is back from the dead! With some fresh new table clothes and a missing counter in the front window, a restaurant nearly 100% identical to the one which closed. I have not set foot inside the new place. Have you? Anyone have anything to report? I will try to get over there for a burrito at some point soon. As you may or may not know, I was a fan of the old place if only for the fact that it was close and you got a lot of food for the money.

CVS
The new CVS in Adams Morgan is open. The pharmacy-food-convenience store moved across the street this month, abandoning the cramped and awkward store at 1700 Columbia Rd NW. The new store is adjacent to the newly renovated Safeway at 1747 Columbia Rd NW. It is much, much larger but looks a lot less quirky than the older location with new precast brick and concrete panel sections on the face.

Maoz Vegetarian
I was really excited about the opening on Maoz Veg in Dupont. It finally opened and I've been there several times since. A few lunch visits and lots of after work and a late night or two. In my opinion, the product has gotten better over the weeks. I've always been happy with my meal, but they haven't always been consistently good. The fries have been, but the falafel was sometimes great, and sometimes OK. Have you had similar experiences? Still glad its here and I'll probably go again soon. Maybe today!

Maoz Veg is Open!

Maoz Veg, the European falafel eatery, is open in Dupont. The first U.S. store opened in Phila, PA five years ago.

On a whim I decided to walk on M Street yesterday to check on the progress and my luck!, it was open. The first day. I've been waiting for this day for a long time and they didn't disappoint. The falafel was great and you get a good meal for the money.

Single falafel pita was $4.95; that's five falafel balls crammed into a pita pocket. Perfect salad bar with fixings including beets, cooked cauliflower + broccoli, tomato, cucumber, red cabbage and more. Others on line were ordering one of the four combo meals (combination of falafel pita or salad and drinks plus fries).

Other food choices: salad bowls, Belgian and sweet potato fries, vegan rice pudding, seasonal soups, and three smaller sized pita sandwiches; including a vegan sandwich named the Verde.

There is bench seating inside and 5-6 individual seats outside in a small recessed patio area. I will be going again!

Moaz hours are 11AM-11PM Monday through Thursday, 11AM-3AM Friday + Saturday and 12PM-9PM on Sunday. The address is 1817 M Street NW. Between Farragut and Dupont Metro stations and on the 42 bus route (M Street stop).

Maoz Veg Looks Close, For Real This Time

Wayyyy back in January of this year I was drooling over the prospect of a Maoz Veg falafel restaurant opening up shop in Dupont. I was all ready to take a long lunch to be there when this place opened and stuff my face. But didn't happen. And it isn't open. The storefront sat for months with the coming soon signs teasing me each time I walked by. The address is the basement level of 1817 M Street NW.

There has been a little progress. The permanent signage is up above windows. The window coverings are gone. And Washington Biz Journal is reporting that opening may happen soon. Now in DC, I never trust a reported opening date. But just for fun, I'll pass along that the reported date is November 1. As in next week. I'll take before the year end, but if it's next week, I will be there, too.

Just to recap, Maoz Vegetarian is a European falafel restaurant. We'd be home to either the 7th or 8th U.S. store, depending on opening date. Falafel is what they serve; plus fries, drinks and salad. Here's the menu (PDF). Essentially, all the falafel shops in DC are copies of this place. Without Maoz, there's no falafel shop culture in DC. The OG of falafel shops if you will. Hopefully this place will come through with the quality and top all the others, which have proliferated here over the years.

Maoz Veg in Dupont

Soon to be the best falafel shop in DC. Maoz, a Euro transport, has been in Philly for 5 years and I can't wait for this Dupont location at 1817 M Street NW to open. Apparently on a very flexible opening schedule, Maoz may start serving within the next three months. Or not. I will be visiting soon thereafter. All vegetarian menu. Maoz began in Amsterdam and is surely the inspiration for Amsterdam Falafelshop in Adams Morgan.

Another win for Dupont considering the news about Java Green locating on the other side of the neighborhood later this spring.