Sweet Leaf Cafe

With its wide selection of fresh ingredients for salads, grain bowls, and sandwiches, Sweet Leaf is the perfect spot for a healthy and convenient weekday lunch. Similar to other fast-casual salad places like Sweetgreen or Chopt, you can either choose from their chef-curated selections or build your own. A few favorites from their curated menu are the Tofu Tango (basically a vegetarian take on a harvest bowl with roasted tofu, sweet potatoes, quinoa, romaine, kale, apples, goat cheese, and a balsamic vinaigrette) and the Salmon + Wild Farro Bowl (replacing the farro with quinoa if you're gluten-free). They have a decent selection of vegetarian mains, including their roasted tofu and baked falafel. Their falafel is by no means traditional, as it has a much softer outer shell, but it's a tasty plant-based addition to your bowl. I also love adding their roasted vegetables (zucchini, yellow squash, red peppers) and, if available, roasted brussel sprouts with pear. If you're looking for a side to pair with your new salad or grain bowl or sandwich, Sweet Leaf has a decent selection of chips and baked goodies (mostly different variations of brownies and cookies), as well as warm soups and fresh smoothies. Just like the rest of their menu, you can either choose from a curated selection of smoothies or make your own concoction. I'm a big fan of their Berry Blanco (blueberries, coconut, granola) and Green Cure (strawberry, avocado, kale). Their smoothies are on the sweeter end, which I didn't love, but they're still delicious and a great mid-day pick-me-up! With its wide selection of bowls, sandwiches, and snacks, as well as its downtown DC location, Sweet Leaf is a convenient spot to drop by and pick up lunch in the middle of the workday. The service is friendly and efficient, and you can also order online to make your pick-up process a bit quicker (and, if you're anything like me, so you don't have to feel bad about being indecisive). They do have a couple of tables inside, as well as one or two outside, but it's generally pretty crowded and loud.