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Every morning it's the same routine. To offset your guilt for yet again hitting snooze and skipping the gym, you vow to eat a good breakfast and pack a healthy lunch for work. Between leftover pizza and days old takeout in the fridge, your odds of following through are about as good as snagging a seat on the metro during morning rush hour.
Give guilt the old heave ho and stop by Organic To Go, the Seattle-based green cafe chain and USDA-certified organic retailer that recently expanded into D.C. It’s a one-stop shop for grabbing quality breakfast, lunch and snacks throughout the workday. With two locations already open at Metro Center and McPherson Square, Organic To Go offers up delicious café fare made not only of organic and natural ingredients, but without antibiotics, growth hormones, pesticides or other harmful chemicals. More than just eco-friendly (all plates, bags and food containers the company utilizes are either biodegradable, compostable or recyclable), Organic To Go is out to prove that grabbing a quick bite doesn't mean you have to compromise quality, taste or your health.
Whether you're craving a breakfast burrito on the way to the office or looking for a casual spot to spend your lunch hour, vegan, vegetarian or carnivore will all find something to satisfy. Hot and cold sandwiches, salads and soups dominate the menu (the average plate runs between $5 and $9), but don't think for a second that the organic label means you can't indulge in comfort foods. Dispelling the myth that organic food is simply crunchy and healthy, this café has a solid offering of hearty pizza and pasta dishes like BBQ chicken pizza and pasta carbonara.
If you have time to spare, or are one of the few working souls nowadays who will actually eat lunch away from their desk, the café sports a modern and cozy dining area includes oversized chairs, bistro tables and a trickling waterfall that can make even the speediest lunch feel peaceful. In the event the office could very well crumble in your turkey club-eating absence, you'll be pleased to know they offer free Wi-Fi.
For those in a rush, Organic To Go's market atmosphere is ideal for a quick bite. With its refrigerated cases filled with everything from ready-to-go salads and sandwiches to lighter fare such as hummus and pita wedges, yogurt parfaits and fruit salads, you can grab a fast meal you won’t regret an hour later. Got a hankering for a mid-afternoon snack? Peruse the market's impressive selection of traditional yet organic snacks like chips, cookies, trail bars and chocolate treats.
For you Northern Virginians and Marylanders, you won’t be out of the loop for long, additional locations are expected to open soon in Rosslyn and Bethesda, the latter of which plans to be more of a lifestyle market that offers beer and wine.
Truth be told, it's nice to see a healthy, green café available downtown that offers not only a good menu and a casual vibe, but that’s also competitively priced. Move over Au Bon Pain and Cosi, you've got some company.
Organic To Go also offers catering services in the D.C. Metro area, utilizing a fleet of hybrid Prius and gas-efficient Scion vehicles, of course, for small and large corporate gatherings with a menu that includes among other things freshly made, home-style dishes like pot roast, meatloaf, lasagna and stir fry.
