Cafe Salsa’s Mojitos: Recommended. (Alejandra Owens)
FRIDAY UPDATE: Cafe Salsa has closed its doors, according to the Prince of Petworth. We will have another restaurant profile from Alejandra soon.
From Alejandra Owens, One Bite At A Time
We’re starting something new here at Borderstan: restaurant profiles. Here’s how it will work. We will throw out the basics (where, when and how much) and you help us flesh out the details with reviews and comments.
Want us to go somewhere? Leave suggestions in the comments section and we’ll give it a try! Please keep your suggested eateries in the Dupont-Logan-U Street area.
Cafe Salsa
Where Am I Going: 1712 14th Street NW (just north of R Street, west side).
When Am I Going: Sunday-Wednesday, 11:30 am-11 pm; and Thursday-Saturday, 11:30 am-midnight.
Paycheck Pain: $7-$30 for appetizers to entrees to desserts and drinks.
Say What?: Happy hour got a bit loud at the bar, but you can still hold an easy conversation.
What You’ll Be Eating: “Nuevo Latino” which is to say, a mish-mash of all types of Latino foods from all countries and regions. Mojitos are a specialty and musty-try here.
Happy Hour: Their website specifically names Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4-7 pm for happy hours, but I have a hinting suspicion deals can be had all days of the week at the same hours.
Here’s how a recent happy hour visit went for us. It started with a Mojito and then there was a steak quesadilla or two (a friend wanted more)… and then there were spinach empanadas… finished by another Mojito (we’ll admit these were especially tasty).
After the Mojito came steak quesadillas. (Alejandra Owens)
Spinach empanadas came after the quesadillas. (Alejandra Owens)
Here are some suggestions of things to do during the weekend in Borderstan, really close by or in the city. Remember that Arts on Foot is this Saturday in Penn Quarter (7th & F NW) and that it is Adams Morgan Day on Sunday.
Commissary DC at 1443 P Street NW (Photo: Luis Gomez)
La Frontera Cantina at 1633 17th Street NW. (Photo: Luis Gomez)
Cafe Salsa at 1712 14th Street NW. (Photo: Luis Gomez)
Commissary, located at 1443 P Street NW, has become a great neighborhood restaurant with excellent prices. Inside it has a wonderful casual atmosphere and is a perfect place for any occasion. Commissary offers an incredible brunch during the weekends. The outdoor patio facing P Street NW is always a good spot to watch people during the summertime.
La Frontera Cantina at 1633 17th Street NW is your basic Tex-Mex restaurant with all your favorites. It will never disappoint you unless you are looking for a real Mexican flavor. It has had very mixed reviews; some people consider it wonderful, others quite poor.
Cafe Salsa Grill at 1712 14th Street NW is a new addition to the neighborhood and is always a good bet. Their food is inventive and keeps its Latin roots. We have eaten there twice: once for dinner and it was great; and recently for breakfast with an even better.
The first-floor dining room and bar of Cafe Salsa at 1712 14th Street NW. (Photo: Luis Gomez, Luis Gomez Photos.)
The upstairs of Cafe Salsa will have several intimate dining rooms and a lounge in the front overlooking the street. (Photo: Luis Gomez.)
Good news in Borderstan restaurants. Cafe Salsa opened its doors Friday evening at 1712 14th NW, just north of R on the west side.
Luis and I happened to notice it was opening and got the last table in the first seating, at around 8:15. I am happy to report that we had a great meal.
The menu is eclectic Latin American–“Nuevo Latino Cuisine”–and similar to the owners’ first Cafe Salsa in Old Town Alexandria. Luis had a seafood dish… tuna, calamari and shrimp over mashed plantains.
