Observer photo by Robin Bravender
Hooters deep fried pickles, $4.99.

‘On the Green Line’ crew hits up Gallery Place-Chinatown

by KATE WINSTON and ROBIN BRAVENDER

The Gallery Place-Chinatown stop on the Metro’s green line can get rowdy on Friday nights. In the spring, hockey fans flood the streets after games at the Verizon Center. Capitol Hill staffers wander among the neighborhood’s plethora of pubs and bars featuring happy hour specials, and eager shoppers swarm the shops that line the streets. We waded through the crowds to find the lesser-known treasures of Chinatown. On our adventure, we discovered some wonderful Indian cuisine and, oddly enough, our troop of five female explorers finished the evening at Hooters.

$-inexpensive
$$-moderate
$$$-expensive

**Mehak**

817 Seventh St.
Washington, D.C. 20004
(202) 408-9292

Price Rating: $$

Metro Proximity: Less than one block

Slant: Mehak offers traditional Indian fare that’s reasonably priced. Just steps away from the Gallery Place-Chinatown Metro station, this would be a great spot to grab a meal before a hockey game, or to relax after touring the local hotspots, like the International Spy Museum or the National Portrait Gallery.

Crowd: We were the only customers at Mehak when we walked in around 6:30 p.m. on Friday, but the dining room quickly filled up and nearly all the tables were full of hungry tourists and Hill staffers before we left.

Pick: The butter chicken, barbecued chicken cubes with tomato sauce, peppers and onions ($14.95), was a favorite at our table. Mehak has a variety of nan (Indian flat bread), including cheese nan ($3.50), and Peshawari nan, stuffed with coconut, almonds and raisins ($3.50).

Ups: The food was wonderful and the service was friendly. The portions were big enough to share, and Mehak had an interesting selection of Indian mixed drinks, like Tamarind Margaritas and Mango Lassis with Bacardi Rum.

Downs: Our servers were a little slow and forgot one of our beers, but they were quick to retrieve it once we reminded them. This may not be the best place to eat if you’re in a hurry, but it’s perfect for relaxing with friends on a weekend.

**Hooters**

825 Seventh St.
Washington, D.C. 20004
(202) 962-0965

Observer photo by Robin Bravender
Hooters’ blended margaritas, $7, packed a punch, but didn’t
overwhelm us with too much tequila.

Price Rating: $

Metro Proximity: One block

Slant: Very short shorts and very tight tank tops, on the waitresses that is. For anyone who has never visited a Hooters restaurant, it lives up to its motto: “Delightfully tacky, yet unrefined.” The wooden floor and country music made the Idaho native in our group feel right at home, and the simplicity of the menu has a certain appeal. Deep-fried everything!

Pick: These were the best darn deep-fried pickles ($4.99) we had ever tasted. Okay, they were the only deep-fried pickles we had ever tasted, but what is not to like about pickles, fat and salt?

Ups: No need to worry about keeping your tie tied at this unpretentious joint. Have a beer or margarita, sit back and relax.

Downs: Our margaritas would not melt as fast as we could drink them, but adding a little more salt took care of that.