Address:
3333 M St NW
(between N Bank St & N 33rd St)
Washington, DC

In this age of the Toyota Prius, Whole Foods and the ubiquitous Nalgene bottle, it’s hard not to see words like “green” and “organic” as anything more than marketing ploys and fashion statements. There are those however, for whom the glitz and glam of green movement chic take a back seat to humble, fresh, goodness. One such establishment is DC start-up and Georgetown staple, Sweetgreen.

Wandering down M Street past swank shops and the beautiful people, one comes across what looks like an awfully out of place green and white ski chalet. Inside warm wood tones and a slightly intimidating array of leafy greens and salad toppings, make one feel all the more fit and balanced for having walked in. The salads available range from the hardcore vegan “Sabzi,” with baby spinach, white beans, raw beets and other unique veggies tossed in a carrot chili vinaigrette, to the more carnivore friendly “Santorini” featuring grilled shrimp, feta cheese and grapes in a yogurt dressing. Sweetgreen also offers a responsible take on desert with their mildly sweet and tart frozen yogurt, easily hidden beneath a pile of healthy looking fruity toppings. Pick up an organic juice and a biodegradable fork, and you have a gourmet experience in social statement form.

Instead of parking yourself by the noise and crowds of M Street, I’d suggest taking your salad across the street and behind Dean and Deluca. There you can sit barefoot on the wall overlooking the C&O canal, take in the river breezes and multi-million dollar condos, and flick wasabi peas to the eager fish below.


Written by Alex Becker
Alex Becker is a writer, photographer and political commentator based in Washington DC. A DC native, he enjoys exploring both the political and social culture of the city. He also publishes a popular political blog at www.roosevelt-island.net.