Maketto

Reviews 5

AL

Alice Wang

Is it a restaurant? A café? A hipsters shopping paradise? Maketto encompasses all those elements in one gorgeous space. Located just a few stores down from Erik Bruner-Yangs very popular Toki Underground on H Street, Maketto dishes out Asian food like Cambodian pork noodle soup, pork and leek buns, Cambodian sandwiches (num pang), and soy milk and you tiao (Chinese doughnut/cruller/fried "oil stick"). The menus vary for lunch and dinner. For dinner, they serve up American wagyu tartare, scallion pancakes, Khmer tamarind salad, a whole fried fish, curry soup, and the most expensive thing on their menu at the moment - American wagyu bao platter for $32. The first floor is where you order your grub. Theres also a bakery bar with Frenchies pastries and desserts (that transforms to a bar that serves distinctive Asian-influenced cocktails like Canal Street Manhattan which has pu-erh tea infused kaoliang), a dining area, a Durkl showroom that sells menswear like shirts and jackets, old-school Chucks and hats, and hip leather bracelets, and an al fresco long communal table located just in front of the kitchen in an outdoor courtyard. The stools are a bit too high for the table; I had to arch my back a little more than Im used to in order to sip my noodle soup. A flight of stairs next to the communal table takes you to the upstairs coffee bar, run by Vigilante Coffee, where you can sit and sip your coffee and eat some croissants. They have the usual drip brew, pour over, cappuccino, tea, and chai latte, but they also have Siphon coffee which looks like a cool chemistry gizmo. There are also sundries to be purchased upstairs like foreign fashion books, coffee drip kettles, coffee drip scale/timer, grooming kits, backpacks, and candles. Granted, most of the stuff is fairly expensive, but its pretty neat walking around and checking out everything. Next to the java bar is an unique vending machine that sells everything from lucky cat charms to iPhone cables to Sharpies for $5 (is anyone seriously going to buy a Sharpie for $5? I guess if you have some desperate Sharpie need). Theres even a deck thats currently home to free yoga on Sundays at 4pm. I came here for lunch with friends and ordered the Cambodian pork noodle soup and both the pork and leek buns. The pork noodle soup was tasty but not exceptional. Its got a nice kick and I like the whole chicken leg because it reminds me of noodle soups my mom makes. The leek buns were also just alright, but Ive been spoiled by delicious and authentic pork and leek buns in their mainland. Id like to come back for dinner and try some of their other signature dishes like the wagyu bao platter, as well as head on to the coffee bar for some Siphon coffee. The space is really, really beautiful. Its minimalistic with big open spaces, high ceilings, and natural light. I love how there are different concepts going on but they all flow from one to the other, making each experience here truly different.

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KA

Kathryn DiMenichi

I thought I was in the wrong place at first because the first thing you walk through is a retail store. The staff was quick to clarify what was going on without being pretentious and continued to be kind and gracious throughout the meal. I began and ended with the pork buns because they were so good. The tamarind heirloom tomato salad was juicy fresh and well balanced. Scallion pancake is very satisfying (better to share if you want to try a lot of the menu). Get the fish crudo. Fried oysters are atop something that I wished I had asked about. I have no idea what it was but it was tasty. Pie! I make pie quite a lot and Im usually disappointed with other pie offerings in the word. Here, the filling wasnt overly sweet and the crust was crispy even on the bottom. The pie was topped with vanilla cream cheese whip stuff that was really sweet but you could control the ratio of sweet to tart, I appreciated this. I think that the wok noddles could have used some texture and temperature contrast. This dish has great flavor but the noodles sauce and accompaniments have equal texture. It longed for cold, crunch and acid. But remember everything else thats great about this place. The service is attentive and kind the menu is just big enough with wonderful options. Ill definitely be back. Lillian was our server, go give her some dollars, shes great.

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SC

Scotty ST

Everything you have heard about Maketto is true. The entire concept of this place is amazing. Maketto is a destination, you come here for food, coffee, relax and to shop. I came here today and fell in love. I walked pass Maketto thinking it was a clothing store. I quickly learned that the restaurant also has a store aspect to it. The store has nice clothing and bags, which you can purchase. There are multiple rooms to eat and drink. The first floor is where you can order coffee and good Cambodian soups and bao. The second level is mainly the coffee shop and has plenty of indoor and out door seating. In the back there is the kitchen area which has seating. The food was amazing. I had the Cambodian noodle soup and pork bao. The bao was amazing, some of the best I have had in DC. The soup is delicious and very filling. The service was excellent. Jason and Jeremy were amazing! Our one waitress was very nice about one request and fixed the order in seconds. Everyone was accommodating and friendly. I would love to have an event here as there is a lot of space to roam around. I highly recommend coming here for coffee or eating.

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NI

Nikki Hayes

Um, I friggin love it here - thats the long story short! I LITERALLY have spent ALL DAY here, because YOU CAN! I like that they call it "Your Home" because it really is! I had some studying to do so I started off early in the AM with my laptop and notebook in the cafe (upper level). I had a latte and a little breakfast treat. :) If I needed a break from studying they have tons of coffee table books for sale that I could skim through - and its good for people watching also. Before I knew it, it was time for lunch so I went downstairs and had some ramen. YUMMERS and well priced. :) Later for dinner a friend and I split the cambodian fried check which if youve never had, YOU NEED TO ADD THIS TO YOUR BUCKET LIST FOR SURE. Delicious! Its a top contender for DCs best fried chicken for sure - and as a proud, self-proclaimed fried chicken connoisseur, I know what Im talking about, here. :D The only thing I havent done at Maketto yet is shop the retail, but Im sure thats coming. :) If youre looking for a quick retreat, definitely put this place in your plans. Its like an artsy foodie amusement park. :)

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AU

Austin Graff

Mark my words. Maketto will be the next hot spot in DC. It opened Friday and on day 5, its already hopping. Maketto is three things in one- a retail store with trendy, cool products from magazines like Kinfolk to shoes to notebooks, a coffee shop and a restaurant. You walk in and the restaurant is on the first level. Its a modern, simple design thats super inviting. The food is Cambodian Chinese food and they offer the BEST bad Ive had in the city. The curry soup is out of this world, but note its spicy! The service is good and the staff attentive. They also offer sparkling water on the house. The upstairs is the coffee shop with amble seating, free wifi and one of the best lattes in the city (You have competition, Peregrine). There is outdoor seating and a rooftop for events. A solid 5 stars....Go now before it gets too popular!! AND a huge plus that they close at 10PM. Most coffee shops with wifi close at 8 or 9PM. Maketto will always get my vote for late night studying/working.

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