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| Smoked Tomato Soup |
Little Red Fox may not look like much; but don't let its simplicity fool you. There's value to be had, not to mention variety and good quality food. Owner Matt Carr and chef Anne Alfano seem to have a tasty recipe for success on their hands; and so far, most of upper Connecticut Avenue, NW appears to agree with me.
Previous tenant Marvelous Market failed to impress, relying on a relatively tiny selection of sandwiches and breads to "satisfy" its loyal clientele. Not so with Little Red Fox, who earns kudos for made-to-order sammies (breakfast and lunch) and a unique "take away" dinner service that starts at 3 PM. There's room for more (especially on the retail side) but service is friendly & impressive. Seating is limited: There's a community table inside, and a few tables outside... but I was able to squeeze in, and devour a generous cup of Smoked Tomato Soup and a pair of Lamb Meatballs (sold individually) for a mere tenner.
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| Lamb Meatballs |
Meatballs are served with Greek yogurt, cumin & cilantro, inside a bowl of rich housemade tomato sauce. It's a unique presentation, and ultra affordable ($2.50 per meatball.) The lamb is tender and well-seasoned. All that's missing is a wedge or two of crusty bread to sop up all that extra sauce.
As good as the meatballs are, they don't hold a candle to LRF's lush Smoked Tomato Soup ($3.75, a bowl costs just $5.) If not for a heavy hand of olive oil, this could be one of the top two or three soups in the DMV. The combination of flavors is nothing short of spectacular; and leaves a strong aftertaste, that leaves you dreaming of your next cup/bowl.
Sadly, I haven't been back since; but the Portlander (fried egg with housemade apple butter, gorgonzola spread, and arugula on ciabatta bread) is literally crying out my name for an early AM sprint up the Avenue. Should I sleep in, the playfully named Cool Hand Cuke (cucumber, feta, hummus, pickled red onions, spinach, tomato & tzatziki on ciabatta) sounds like a wonderful consolation prize. Word has it, their coffee is pretty good too.
Bonus: They also sell my favorite dark chocolate bars by local vendor Undone Chocolate. Options, options!
