TenPenh October 2009

Update: It has come to my attention that TenPenh has closed :(

Friday morning started our first full day in DC.  We knew that we were going to do the Discover DC Safari with Segs in the City at 2:30pm, so we planned lunch for TenPenh at 1pm in order to be directly across the street from where the Segway tour began.  (On a side note, it was awesome and our tour guide, Adam, was full of interesting tidbits of information I’d never heard before.  It was a great way to cover quite a bit of ground in the city!)  We dined at TenPenh earlier in the year and I was eager to try out their lunch menu.  Art cheated a few months ago and went there with a coworker for lunch, so it wasn’t new to him anymore.   

We had a great table by some large windows, so I was able to get some good light for my photographs.  Apparently lunch is the best meal as far as lighting goes, too bad I can restrict myself to that meal!  

As a pre-meal munchy, we were given a bowl of steamed edamame in shells.  I’d never had these before and was pleasantly surprised with the flavor.  They’re a bit nutty!

Art and I both ordered a glass of lemonade with ginger.  While I found the drink to be entirely too tart and sweet, Art was happy enough to drink both our glasses.

Stir Fry Minced Chicken Lettuce Wraps Shiitake Mushrooms, Pine Nuts, Mustard Sambal

For an appetizer we shared these lettuce wraps.  The sauce was rich with peanut butter and just a little on the hot, spicy side of the spectrum.

Ahi Tuna Burger Wasabi Aioli, Pickled Ginger and Asian Slaw

My entrée was the Ahi Tuna Burger, rare.  It was, indeed, rare.  The slaw was very spicy as was the aioli.  I put all of it on top of my burger, sort of like a Rueben, and was in seventh heaven with all the flavors going crazy in my mouth.

TenPenh Vegetarian Pho Seasonal Vegetables, Tofu, Rice Noodles

Art was nursing a bit of a cold, so he opted for the Pho.  The smell was amazing when it was brought to the table and had accoutrements of basil, hoisin, jalapenos, and sriracha.  The taste was great, he was kind enough to share a taste with me, and it did wonders for his throat.  He tried to lick the bowl but was unsuccessful.

Saigon Cinnamon Sugar Dusted Donuts Dark Bittersweet Chocolate Pudding

We opted to share a dessert and the only one that really called to me was the donuts.  It’s the same dessert I had the last time I was at TenPenh, but some things are irresistible.  Warm, freshly made donuts are among those things.

With our check, we received two coconut bibingka.  These are a Phillipine sweet made from rice flour and other good stuff.  The taste was very reminiscent of coconut macaroons.  Which I love.  So I loved these too!

My second experience with TenPenh was as lovely as the first.  Even having been there two times, I’m still eager to go back for more.  

Total price, including tip: $55.99.

TenPenh Restaurant
1001 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC

Reservations:  202.393.4500