Surfside gets huge bonus points from me for its incredible rooftop deck! There is a lot of seating up here but it can be hard to find a table because, understandably, no one wants to leave once they're enjoying it. I think that alcohol used to be prohibited on the roof, but most people were drinking when I was up there. Either they have gotten the permit, or they just turn a blind eye. Either way, Surfside easily offers the best outside dining option in Glover Park.
I am a longtime fan of Jettie's, Surfside's sister sandwich shop, so I wasn't surprised to see that the annoying (and wasteful) ordering system carried over from Jettie's. You take a half-page ordering sheet for burrito, taco, salad, entree or custom and check options for type of meat, type of beans, etc. Then you give it to the cashier and they give you a Cheesecake Factory-style buzzer and page you when your food is ready. Every time I have been to Surfside it has been very busy, so be prepared to wait for your food, but order some of their chunky, fresh guacamole to eat while you're waiting and you won't mind the wait!
The first time I went here I was very annoyed to find that a vegetarian salad costs the same as a salad with chicken, and the vegetarian salad does not get any additional vegetables (extras are 95 cents each). I have since switched to burritos and am much happier. Everything is grilled to order and their ingredients are extremely fresh and high quality! I am especially a fan of the portabello mushrooms, which are consistently grilled to perfection and add a wonderful texture and smoky flavor to the burrito. The grilled tomatoes are excellent as well.
People who don't eat dairy, take note that their rice is cooked in butter. Also, the small side salad that comes with the burrito is served with a cream-based dressing, although you can request a different kind instead. I indicated on my form that I didn't eat dairy and the staff was kind and accommodating about it.
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Gina G.
Washington, DC
5 star rating
5/20/2009
Ok I admittedly went here when I was RAVENOUS and, like my Grandmother always says, "hunger is a good sauce." I got a mushroom (and other tasty things which I can't recall) quesadilla. It came with a creamy smokey spicy sauce and guac. Perfect complements to the dish. I have had many a quesadilla in my day (even one with black truffels!) and this was damn good.
Originally I was going to share half of my meal with my boyfriend who ordered steak tacos. I really didn't want to share anymore after tasting my meal but I did anyway. The steak was really good! I was impressed. Good marinade although I prefered my quesadilla. We sat on the roof which was chill. No waiters, just busboys aka you do not have to tip anyone for those cheap people like myself.
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133
JuJu S.
Washington, DC
4 star rating
5/2/2009
I don't believe there are any other restaurants that have the same philosophy/mission as Surfside, so for that reason alone it's worth checking out.
Fresh fish and ingredients, pretty reasonable, preppy feel and tasty food. I spoke to manager for a few minutes and seemed very nice and definitely out to please the customer. I had a "make your own" salad with some yummy grilled veggies and the "fish of the day," which happened to be Mahi-Mahi. It was good, not the hugest portion and a little pricey but I would return for a visit to Surfside. I checked out some other people's dishes, and everything looked good. If you are from the West Coast and miss your fish tacos, this is definitely your place.
I hear they have a rooftop!
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2
10
J. M.
Washington, DC
5 star rating
Updated - 5/28/2009
Sometimes I come here twice a week! Last time I had the fish tacos in a flour tortilla with the pineapple salsa, corn and cilantro . . . SO GOOD.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5 star rating
4/3/2009
I was really trying to avoid Surfside. My boyfriend makes fantastic fish tacos and I didn't really… Read more »
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Paul D.
Silver Spring, MD
2 star rating
6/2/2009
The food was fine, at best. The service was not.
Having never been there before, I didn't know the routine. I had my head bit off by the cashier when I hadn't filled out the form correctly. It was too much for the cashier to hand me a cup for my wife's soda, or even mention that I should take one of the cups on the counter. I grabbed a beer for myself, yet there was not a bottle opener to be seen. I asked if the red beans and rice was vegetarian and no one seemed to know.
My wife had gone upstairs to the deck to grab a seat. There were a few empty tables, but none of them had been cleaned up before I arrived a good 5-10 minutes later.
The vent from the kitchen was right next to us for a bizarre smelling, loud and smoky meal.
The food was nothing special.
The guac was disappointing. It seemed more like mashed avocado than guac. The fact they didn't give me enough for the large portion of chips wasn't that big a deal, because it isn't that good.
My burrito entree was fine, but not worth the hassle.
I was disappointed.
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56
Sila D.
Washington, DC
5 star rating
4/23/2009
You can never go wrong with this place! it is such a perfect take-out or quick-bite type of place, if you're having one of those nights where you don't feel like cooking but want something filling, and fast.
Surprisingly, their guacamole is actually pretty damn good. The Falklands is my favorite and go-to meal, which comes with flank steak, rice, grilled tomato and mushrooms, with a side of herb chimichurri sauce...how could that not sound appetizing? I have tried a couple of their burritos and haven't been disappointed. The salads are also just as good. It seems as though all of the ingredients in the meals are fresh and they always grill your meat, chicken, fish, etc. to perfection.
I am yet to have a dissatisfying experience at Surfside.
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Becky L.
Washington, DC
4 star rating
4/3/2009
I moved to DC in December and since then I have been scouring the city for a good fish taco. I am buying a house in Glover Park and decided to check out the neighborhood on Tuesday night and while walking down Wisconsin and looking in the windows of restaurants I spotted that coveted food that is the fish taco. I was widly impressed!! The fish of the day was Mahi Mahi and they piled it on! The sauce on top was great and the guac was super fresh. I'll definetly become a regular once I'm all moved in, and now that I know there is a roof deck I can't wait to spend many summer saturdays drinking margaritas here!!!
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JR F.
Washington, DC
4 star rating
3/26/2009
Everyone needs to bump surfside up a star now that you can drink on the roof deck.
Look for the Vegan Coconut Lentil soup to make a return. Probably the best soup I've ever had and I'm a soup snob. I didn't find out it was vegan until well after the fact and could hardly believe it.
This is going to be the place to be when the weather warms. So grab a margarita or refeshing beer (great selection of island brews, Make mine El Presidente and head on up to the roof.
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Tom D.
Washington, DC
3 star rating
4/11/2009
The daily fish was blackened mahi mahi on our last visit. The fish was well prepared and the taco quite good, but the rice and beans left a lot to be desired. They have nightly specials and happened to go with some friends and their son -- and it happened to be kids eat for free with an adult night. Prices were reasonable -- and with some small tweaks I could be a fan.
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18
Laura C.
Washington, DC
4 star rating
3/29/2009
Fantastic, deliciously marinated burritos and tacos. Each dish seems to come with a side - either Mexican rice and beans or a side salad.
We liked the feel of the place, but thought the ordering process was a bit unnecessary. This is how it's done at their sister restaurant Jetties, but you can only put one order on each sheet of paper. Essentially, you just check off the item you want on the menu. Other than that, great great food. True surfside feel despite being in Glover Park!
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3
Tom L.
Washington, DC
2 star rating
5/19/2009
Thoroughly disappointing.
Food, service, prices -- not impressed.
Food: I ordered a burrito with blackened fish. I got a burrito with lettuce and vinegar. Eventually, I did find a tiny piece of fish, about an inch long and a half inch across. Even that wasn't properly blackened. I went back to the counter and asked if that was really as much fish as there was intended to be in the dish. I was told yes, but that next time I could pay for extra fish. Given that I already paid $11 for a rather dainty iceberg salad inside a tortilla, I don't think there will be a next time. Also, as previously mentioned, the rice and beans were terribly bland. Mine had also been overcooked to the point of being dried out.
My girlfriend had a quesadilla with mushroom inside. She was generally happy with it, but all the filling was on the inner half of the tortillas, leaving a three-inch empty ring around the outside.
The chips and salsa were $4 and we were given literally 12 chips. There was plenty of salsa, however, which was good. I used it to spice up my bland burrito.
In sum, there was nothing here that I couldn't have made far better at home.
Service: As mentioned elsewhere, the ordering system there is bizarre. It is like fast food, but really inefficient. The staff was generally friendly, but seemed clueless and was not interested in going out of their way to make sure people were happy.
We ordered two beers, which they didn't open up front. They also didn't have any limes, so I had to go to the bar in back. That wouldn't have mattered much, except that the bartender was out smoking, and I had to wait several minutes. When he did show up, he rather curtly told me that I should have gotten the Corona opened at the front counter. He did open them and give me the limes, though.
They give you a buzzer and you go pick up your own food. The only service we got was someone asking every several minutes if he could take our plates.
The service here was fast food, but without the fast.
Prices: $5 for a can of Tecate? Obviously, this was my mistake, as all the import/microbrews were the same price, but really?
We spent about $40 for two, with one beer each. Had the food been great, that would have been OK (though c'mon, the chips should be free with a $10 burrito or entree). However, the food was not particularly good and the service was nonexistent.
I hate to say it, as I am a lover of locally owned restaurants and of good Mexican/Tex-Mex/Baja ... but this place lags way behind even Chipotle in food, service, and value.
Surfside needs to step up its cost-to-quality ratio significantly. It could do this by lowering prices, but I'd much rather it did it by improving the food and the set-up of the service.
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Sophie U.
Washington, DC
5 star rating
3/9/2009
Three stars? Really? I was thrilled with MY experience!
I loved the layout, it had a great atmosphere, and the staff was friendly.
Em... okay, so I forgot what I had to eat, but believe me when I say that I was delicious (I understand if you don't find that helpful).
No complaints.
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Shawn H.
Germantown, MD
4 star rating
1/3/2009 1 photo
I am quite shocked that there are so many negative reviews of what I found to be a fantastic dining experience. There were four of us and we were all quite happy with the food and the service although I got a sense of attitude from the person who took the orders and the money, but then again, I wouldn't want to do that job (but she was a little unfriendly with me). Whatever.
The place itself has a great atmosphere and the food was fantastic. I read one review that went on about bad guacamole. Ours was some of the best I have had on the east coast. My fish tacos were also unmatched even by some I had living in San Diego. The cheese with the chips and cheese is absolutely the best I have ever had.
I can't wait to try some of the other entrees at this place. I've walked by it dozens of times and had no idea. I will be back!
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3
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J R.
Washington, DC
5 star rating
Updated - 3/26/2009
I was there again two weeks ago. I still think that this is a really good lunch place.
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5 star rating
1/31/2009
This place is really good for a lunch spot. I gave it 5 stars to hopefully bring up the average… Read more »
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Elite '09
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168
Lesly S.
Washington, DC
3 star rating
12/14/2008
After reading the multiple negative reviews on Surfside I was totally worried about having dinner here--I trust my fellow Yelpers to never steer me wrong! But I was with a group, our friends had been raving about the place since it opened, AND I love tacos. So we checked it out on a recent Saturday and it was delicious!
I nearly caused a mini-riot because I got the last bit of shrimp of the house for my quesadilla, so everyone in line behind me had to change their orders. The food arrived instantly (although the ordering process is a little weird for the uninitiated, and that whole beer run scenario from one end of the restaurant to the other is ridiculous), and it was awesome. I had the shrimp quesadilla as I mentioned, and loved the salsa, sour cream, and yes even the guac.
Surfside loses a star for completely mangling my picky-eater hubby's order. He really enjoyed it once he picked off the stuff he didn't want, but my man shouldn't have to do that, now should he? Luckily he wasn't upset about it, and we both are looking forward to going back soon. Its like a little taste of the beach in the middle of winter.
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Elite '09
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108
Catherine M.
Washington, DC
4 star rating
11/20/2008
One of Surfiside's greatest advantages is that it adds a unique dining option to the menu. They serve sit-down restaurant-style food in a super casual, waiter-less environment. The flexibility that it offers in terms of what you want out of your dining experience is a gem.
Speaking of gems, I might mention the food here. The salads are gorgeous and fresh, the fish cooked to perfection.
In fair weather, the beachy upstairs deck is precious.
Given the casual environment, I can understand why so many people seem miffed by the prices, but the quality of the food more than merits them. And further on the up side -- no waiters equals no tip. Just sayin.
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5
Bryan G.
Washington, DC
1 star rating
3/22/2009
VERY questionable food handling processes...
They say insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. I have been to Surfside 6-7 times since they opened and the past four have been very negative experiences. I have finally vowed never to return...The food was so good at first, but I fear they have become a victim of their own success.... I know its really just a taco joint and I should not expect white glove service, but when you go to a restaurant, ask specific questions about food allergies, are assured that the dish in question is free of the offending item, then when finding the item in the dish bring it back and are (shockingly) given a dirty look, and on on one occasion, even asked to pay additionally for a replacement... Examples: shellfish, cucumbers, corn, chicken, beef, name your poison - it could end up in any dish regardless of what you order.
To be specific - at this place they store limes, fish and other ingredients together with the shrimp. I and a number of my friends have pointed this out to workers (and management) and the problem continues. I know of at least three people who have independently confirmed this. If you have even a mild shellfish allergy, DO NOT EAT HERE. I encourage the management to take this seriously not only to preserve product quality, but to avoid liability.
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Elite '09
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Erika S.
Washington, DC
2 star rating
Updated - 12/2/2008 1 photo
Sorry, Surfside, I have to downgrade a star. The last time I got chips and guacamole, it was more like avocado soup than guac. Seriously, it was chunks of avocado swimming in oil. Disgusting. I hope that was just a fluke, Surfside, because I don't stand for shitty guac.
Although the scallops do look delicious...
EDIT: Like an idiot, I went to Surfside yesterday and the guac was still avocado soup, they gave me the wrong order, and I think the chicken was undercooked and I felt sick the rest of the day. One more star knocked off. Sorry Surfside, you're off my lunch list.
One more edit, 2/17/09: Today, my boss got sick from eating at Surfside as well. I'm pretty sure they don't cook their food properly.
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1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4 star rating
10/19/2008
The food is good, but the service is a little sub-par. I'm a big quesadilla fan, and theirs are… Read more »
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Jonathan C.
Washington, DC
2 star rating
10/28/2008
I feel like this place should be called "I so wish I knew how to make Baja style Mexican food, but I obviously used to work at a Greek restaurant and am not sure about how to get the spices correct, so why don't I just make Mediterreanen style wraps, call them burritos, and name my restaurant Surfside to add that Baja essence"
Guacamole was good though, but really expensive. 4.95 for literally two tablespoons.
Oh and their ice is good, very crunchy.
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17
125
Bubble H.
Washington, DC
2 star rating
11/2/2008
I got excited when I heard about surfside because I thought i could get THE Fish Taco .. or some kind of GOOD quality seafood- mexican or baja style.
Well.. the price range was not like Chipotle .. so I just have to expect something BETTER than chipotle or baja fresh.
The fish was fresh, properly cooked and presentation of taco or quasadilla was good, but the flavor.. oh no... this was SO Disappointing... because there was NO flavor ..
bean and rice was just unbearable.. not tasty at all.. this is something so basic you can make it tasty.
Seasoning sauce thing they put on.. well..I don't know what to say..
Anyways.. I just tried to think I got freshly grilled fish.. but I was sure that I could have gotten same thing with all other side-dishes at tackle box and I would have much more satisfied...
One good thing about surfside is .. closer to my house than tackle box, outdoor seating, plenty of in-door seating and roof-top seats.
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Elite '09
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Kathleen M.
Atlanta, GA
4 star rating
8/27/2008
I've been waiting for a place like this. I've been waiting for a long, long time.
My requirements for a 4-star lunch spot:
-both healthy and not-so-healthy options (for when you're in varying moods)
-fountain diet coke
-outdoor seating
-a decent sized meal for under $12 (unfortunately under $10 just doesn't happen around here)
-a quick and easy order/receive food process
You wouldn't think this would be so difficult to come by, but in Glover Park it's near impossible. I was totally stoked (like my surfer lingo?) to see that Surfside had extended their hours through lunch and I hope they continue with it!
The space is gorgeous: super high ceilings, bright yet calm colors, and a good casual vibe. I liked the feeling there, and expect to spend many a lunch hour plugging away at my crossword at one of their tables. The staff was friendly (a shocking change from co-owned Jettie's!) and the ordering process was identical: circle what you want and they'll ring you up, then call your name when it's ready. Easy peasy, no tip needed. Hooray.
I was a bit perplexed by the menu, as they have themed names for each category. "Waves" are tacos, "Hurricanes" are wraps, "Typhoons" are salads, and "Cyclones" are entrees. It took me way too long to figure this out: I think they could have made the various distinctions much more clear, you know, by using the actual words.
I ordered a Martinique which was a shrimp wrap. It was pretty tasty, with 5 or so grilled shrimp, red beans, rice, avocado, and a really tasty lime cream sauce. They had also added roasted tomatoes, which I usually adore, but the pieces they had used were waaay too big: like, half of a tomato. I ended up taking them out entirely. The accompanying salad was also good but too spicy for me (I'm a total spice weenie).
Is the food good? Well, it's good enough. Nothing mind blowing, but I'm definitely interested in coming back to sample some of their other options. The atmosphere of the place, combined with the lack of other options in the area means my return visit will be sooner rather than later.
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David K.
Washington, DC
3 star rating
8/16/2008
We stumbled across the opening last night and had to go in. My jaw dropped as I walked through the extra-tall doorway and looked up and up to find the ceiling. I had been in the building's previous incarnation only once and it was cramped and small. Now you walk in to a very high ceiling and a very spacious feeling.
The open kitchen and ordering is up front, though it is not readily apparent where to queue up to place your order. (You can order food and soft drinks up front, but you'll also find a bar in the back. I didn't have a chance to explore their options there.) Once you find that (walk past the table/bar built into the floor to the far end of the kitchen/order counter. Pick up a printed menu and a sharpie and mark your order and your name on the sheet.
I ordered the Cabo San Lucas, which is listed as "Grilled flour tortillas with sliced flank steak, grilled poblano peppers, grilled red onions, cilantro, avocado and lime sour cream." It was delicious, served with a seared(?) half lime on the side.
My wife had the Nevis, which is two grilled shrimp tacos with corn tortillas, yellow rice, pineapple-jalepeno salsa, cilantro, avocado and lime sour cream. Also delicious.
Unlike most quick-casual spaces they serve your food on ceramic plates. After you order you find your table and they call your name when the food is ready. I'm not sure how that works for those enjoying the roof deck, but I look forward to trying that out verrrrry soon.
This is a great new addition to Glover Park, enhancing the beauty of living here and extending the convenience of being able to walk to so many good things.
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5
Heather S.
Washington, DC
2 star rating
3/18/2009
I went here to grab bit to go on my way home. I had some bland fish taco wrap---so bad I can't even remember the name. If you're looking for flavor this isn't really the place unless you want to heap on the hot sauce yourself.
On the other hand, this place always seems to have customers, so I don't know if it just didn't meet my requirements for taste or what--baked fish and bad rice aren't enough. I won't be back
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Jessica D.
San Francisco, CA
4 star rating
9/29/2008
I would like to preface this by saying that I got take out from Surfside and it was brought to me - so I cannot comment on the service of the staff.
The food, however, was great. My wrap traveled 5 miles to get to me (in a styrofoam container) - yet was fresh and delicious when I dug in. I typically find that food gets soggy (and salads too) - when in styrofoam and slightly warm - but this was not the case.
I ordered the Andros wrap. The side salad was really tasty (the charred corn was a delight.) I also subbed the cucumber-yogurt sauce for the lime sour cream (which I prefer more.) It was soo good. My steak strips were medium rare - and the only complaint I'd have is that it could get difficult to eat since biting into the steak wasn't that easy. The meat was tender enough - but in wrap form was harder to eat.
I'd like to go back and try out more menu items. I hope the service improves (reading the reviews' of others) and hope they continue to get better now that they've been open a bit.
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Abbey A.
Chevy Chase, MD
4 star rating
9/19/2008
I was very excited to have another lunch spot open in Glover Park - there is a severe lack of options - but somehow, I just now managed to make my way up the street this afternoon.
I debated for awhile, but finally decided on the Belize Quesadilla. I wasn't out of this world, but was quite tasty and certainly hit the spot. I know that other reviewers have commented on portion size - I really disagree. My quesadilla was plenty big and came with tasty guacamole and other topping options... the 9 bucks that I paid for it was really reasonable.
The staff wasn't overly courteous, but I also didn't have a bad experience. If you go in expecting 4star restaurant service, you're going to be disappointed - but if you go in knowing that this is a casual, order at the counter kind of place, then you'll be set.
I think what I enjoyed most was the wonderful roof deck - it was a fabulous tranquil spot for a Friday lunch. Overall, I enjoyed my visit and look forward to exploring the menu at future lunches.
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Jessie K.
Washington, DC
3 star rating
10/13/2008
I've been to Surfside twice, once with a larger group, and once with just one other person. I find the ordering process really strange, with the circling of just one item per sheet of paper. This seems like a huge waste of paper for somewhere that went to the effort of having biodegradable straws.
I think the flank steak tacos are delicious. The grilled meat, fresh tortillas, and guacamole are delicious. What really makes the tacos good though, it the grilled lime juice squeezed over them. MMM...it almost makes my stomach growl just thinking about them. The fact that the meat isn't overcooked and is easy it bite makes the tacos four stars in my mind. I hate having to gnaw meat in a public place. I found the rice and beans fairly lackluster, and never finished eating them, and I am usually a proud member of the clean plate club.
Once Surfside addresses the alcohol issue that other reviewers have mentioned, and hopefully changes its ordering process, I think reviews will become more positive.
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29
Julia F.
Washington, DC
2 star rating
9/29/2008
I was torn between giving this place 2 or 3 stars, but finally settled on 2. I came here excited to try the shrimp and fish tacos which I had been hearing a lot of (non yelp) buzz about. It was Saturday afternoon. We ordered at the counter and the ingredients looked very fresh, so I had high expectations. When the food was ready it still looked delicious-- the shrimp tacos came with a ripe looking pineapple salsa and yummy looking guac. Unfortuantely, the shrimp was pretty tough and the taco as a whole wasn't spectacular. My friend said she also had high hopes for her fish taco, but that it was more oily than anything else.
Still, what really pushed the score over was the rice. It came out tasting old, with stale beans and just completely flavorless. The tacos might've been OK, but the rice was inedible.
I haven't visited the rooftop and they seem to have good ingredients for a salad, so if I lived or worked around there I would give it another try. Or maybe you won't be so dissapointed if you come in with lower expectations...
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Micah M.
Washington, DC
3 star rating
4/15/2009
first thing you should know -- the service at surfside ranges from ineffective to downright hostile. they have these little pagers that are supposed to alert you when your order is ready, but the system has yet to be perfected. my order got mixed up once, but i opted out of going through the agony of getting it corrected. the saving grace is the food. ingredients are fresh, and the dishes have some nice flavor combinations. i've tried the porabello burrito and the spinach quesadilla, both of which were a-okay. but skip the guacamole (over-priced and under-seasoned).
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12
25
Heather G.
Washington, DC
3 star rating
9/2/2008
I work in the area, and I am so excited to finally have a new place to go! It was pretty good - I got the shrimp tacos, and they were good. I wish you didn't order at the counter - that it was more of a restaurant, but that isn't a deal breaker. All in all, I'm pleased.
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2
3
Omer D.
Washington, DC
5 star rating
2/3/2009
This is a great casual weekday dinner spot. Service is fast and the food is great. Two people can share a burrito and salad and both be full by the end of the meal. You'd be hard pressed to show me a better $10 recession proof dinner.
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Elite '09
13
69
Tia K.
Arlington, VA
2 star rating
8/27/2008
Nice neighborhood place. Food wise, nothing outstanding but decent. As other reviewers have mentionned the portion sizes are too small given the price. Also, there is very little "ambiance."
I stopped by for dinner on a Tuesday night with some friends. Surfside was busy but not packed. We found seating no problem.
I had a tasty chicken salad with fresh mixed greens and cilantro peanut dressing. I also tried the pineapple shrimp tacos which I thought were OK but could have been more spicy (they were too sweet for my taste.)
If Surfside gets zoning approval to let patrons drink outside I think this will really help them. They have a petition sheet addressed to the local ANC for people to sign who are in favor of the zoning change.
Overall, I wouldn't go out of my way to go here but it's a fine option if you are in the area and want a light dinner.
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Tyler A.
Washington, DC
1 star rating
2/7/2009
I cut my neighborhood joints a lot of slack but when I think to places like Wahoo's or even crappy Rubio's, then I know surfside is a crock. It's not mexican, it's not baja, it's not surfer guy's tacos, what are you trying to be? Beans are bad, rice is bad, unseasoned fish tacos for 10 bones, get out. A burrito with mostly rice and beans for 10 bones, get out. I know we don't have wahoo's out here but you can get the most fabulous grilled fish tacos for 6 bones. Grilled fish tacos should be served with shredded cabbage, white sauce, and cheese. All of you who somehow think this place is good, you need to take a trip out to Cali. (Even Baja Fresh in Cali also serves grilled fish tacos - which isn't out here for some reason - and they are way better than these for half the price) I don't know what is going on, is the rent in Glover Park that high that we have to pay such a premium even without the flavor profile?
Oh and they waste so much paper! Each person uses a half a sheet of paper to order a single item? Seriously? Surfers are conservationists, don't you know that? Why are you called surfside, really?
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9
11
Maria Q.
San Cristobal, NM
1 star rating
9/6/2008
I TRIED to eat dinner here last week... I live close by so after picking up my dry cleaning, I decided to order out.I knew it was early (4:45pm) but I was STARVING so, I knocked on the door and asked what time they would open. The staff vacillated and reached the consensus of 5:30pm. I said "OK" and told them that I'd be back just to take out. They didn't respond and shut the door.
I continued to run my errands as my stomach growled and finally at 5:30pm, I left CVS to go back to Surfside. Much to my horror, the place was still not open. I knocked on the door and the staff ignored me for about 5 minutes. Finally, the same person who answered the door previously came over and opened the door. He said, "we don't open until 6pm" and just closed the door and locked it with no apologies. So, I took my famished self to an old favorite, Rocklands, where I should have gone in the first place.
The Surfside staff was SERIOUSLY RUDE, disorganized and unfriendly. A simple apology for the wrong time estimate or a coupon would have solved the problem. They need to get a clue on customer service...
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3
hj b.
Washington, DC
1 star rating
1/6/2009
My husband and I have been to Surfside twice. Both times we found the food to be bland (with too many heavy sauces and/or too spicy), overpriced for the type of establishment ($30 for two burritos and chips), and the service mediocre and unfriendly. The ordering system is pretty annoying as well. Baja Fresh and Chipotle have far better food and offer a better value....
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5
Catherine S.
Washington, DC
4 star rating
1/8/2009
I don't know what everyone's complaining about, Surfside is one of the best neighborhood restaurants I've been to in a while! I've never had any of the problems anyone's mentioned, the food has always been great and I've been there tons of times!
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68
amy p.
Washington, DC
3 star rating
8/25/2008
Solid 3 stars.
My friend Beth and I were itching to sip some margaritas on the roof of the newest restaurant in the GP so we headed to Surfside last Saturday night. Sadly, because of zoning in the area people are not allowed to drink outside. You can drink in the back of the restaurant, but not on the roof, which was incredibly sad. The margarita was $7.95, decently strong, and about 1 1/2 servings of a Cactus Cantina marg (uh... this is the margarita that I measure all other margaritas by, size wise).
Beth had the shrimp burrito and I had the shrimp tacos. The burrito was quite small but tasty, and served with a side salad. Since Beth wasn't looking to eat a TON of food, it worked out; however, if you had a huge appetite and wanted something filling the burrito would not be a good choice. My two shrimp tacos were tasty. Each had about 4 shrimp in it, with pineapple salsa that had jalapeños which made for a tasty mix of salty and sweet. The red beans and rice were GREAT! I was very impressed.
A few things prevented this from being a higher star rating:
- I had to wait about 15 mins for my food. This place is set up like Chipotle, with all ingredients in a line, so I really don't understand why it took so long. However, I feel that this might just be a problem due to the fact that this place just opened, so I will look for improvement in the future.
- There just aren't enough seats in the place. Since you can't drink outside, that leaves precious few tables inside for all drinkers and all those who just want to sit inside. I am curious/worried to see what's going to happen in the winter time when no one wants to sit outside.
- The burrito was ridiculously priced for the size it was. I mean, the side salad was delicious and nice looking, but to charge 9.95 ($10.95 after tax) for something that small was just sad. My tacos were good, but charging $9.95 ($10.95 after tax) for this platter when Cactus Cantina is giving more food for less money up the road might mean the death of this restaurant.
- I thought the menu was going to be more of a mix of flavors, sort of like Tackle Box junior. It is mostly Tex-Mex themed, with some strange-ish other dishes (e.g. shrimp on top of orzo... "Greek" inspired dish). While I really love Tex-Mex food, I think that Cactus Cantina has the market locked down in this area and that any other restaurant is going to have a hard time surviving on Tex-Mex alone. Maybe people will go for convenience... but Austin Grill never made a killing in the neighborhood either, and it had a more extensive menu than this place ever will.
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A. T.
Washington, DC
2 star rating
10/16/2008
BF and I went last night for the first time. It's a nice place, I mean decorated nicely with a pleasant atmosphere, I just want to comment on two things:
1. Service -- the people were nice enough, but the ordering system is stupid. First, if you're going to have a weird ordering system with sheets of paper for every type of item on the menu, you should have instructions on how to order things. "Custom taco" makes it sound like if you want a taco on the menu, you go order and if you want a custom taco, you fill out the form. This is not the case -- for each item (every single item) you order, you have to fill out a sheet of paper. This is a waste of paper and completely pointless - I mean, if everyone from taco bell to Cactus Cantina can use computers to relay orders, why can't Surfside? I don't mind going to the counter to order and then picking up my food, but the paper thing is such a waste.
2. The food was bland, soooo bland. As an appetizer, we ordered the cheese dip. Generally, one cannot go wrong with a bowl of queso - I mean, melt some velveeta, throw in some tomatos and peppers, and you're good, right? Not so much as Surfside. This was the absolute worst bowl of cheese dip that I have ever had. I couldn't even taste any cheese, it was more like some grainy flour-based sauce. It was disgusting, we had two bites each and gave up. For our meals, I had the chicken with mole and BF had the fish of the day (mahi mahi), I forget the actual names of the dishes. The mole sauce was good, but the tacos were tortilla + chicken + carmelized onion + mole and it really needed some more vegetables. BF's fish tacos had tons of veggies, but very little taste. Not even the cilantro-lime sour cream, grilled lime, or tabasco on the table could save those tacos.
We're both totally willing to give surfside another try, I mean maybe we just happened to pick the two most boring items on the menu, but I'm certainly not itching to go back.
Oh, almost forgot to mention that after we left, we were stopped by someone from the Washingtonian who asked some questions for their video review - I don't think we'll be featured though b/c we had very boring answers about how boring the restaurant was. I'm curious about what other people had to say.
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6
lucy p.
Washington, DC
3 star rating
9/10/2008
I live right near Surfside and I have been there four times now.
Shrimp Tacos: delicious, the pineapple jalapeno salsa is amazing, so juicy and the perfect contrast, the shrimp tasted fresh and the guac is a great texture. my biggest complaint with these (both experiences and once when I got fish tacos) has to be that the tortillas are dry, they don't taste fresh and they break from the weight of the food. If this doesn't improve, sadly, I don't think I'll be ordering their tacos anymore
The Acapulco quesadilla with chicken and mushroom is DELICIOUS. The cheese doesn't taste cheap, which sometimes it does with "fast food" quesadilla's- the mushrooms have a savory marinate, as does the chicken, and these tortillas do taste good.
The chips and guacamole are delicious-again the guac is soooo good, the salsa is not my favorite because it is smokier than I prefer. I think the chips/guac. should be cheaper-this might deter people from trying.
They also have paper straws which get bad in the fountain drinks, they start to crush and you can't sip your drink.
It might sound like I'm being nit picky but its really because the place is so new, I hope they read this and make some improvements because for the most part Surfside has GREAT potential. Since my first time there they made some improvements (using buzzers to pick up your food when ready was a big one) so I'm still gonna keep going back. A great addittion to the neighborhood for sure!
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Megan C.
Washington, DC
2 star rating
9/2/2008
In a nutshell, the food was alright, but the service was poor. I really wanted to like this place. Aside from the use of flour rather than corn tortillas, i felt the menu and atmosphere were spot on. A couple critiques of the food:
-salad was mostly cilantro with way too much dressing
-the lemonade was unsweetened and the iced tea was hot
My tacos were tasty, as was the rice. However, my big problem with our visit was the way I was treated. My dish didn't come with our order, so I waited a few minutes, and went up to check on it. The guy manning the hot plate stopped me from looking at the tickets waiting to go out and asked what I was looking for. When I explained what had happened, he said there was nothing he could do and I should wait a while longer. So I did.
Several minutes later, I asked again, and suggested that my order had gone astray. At this point I was extremely hungry, so when his response was to accuse me of trying to scam free food, I was nonplussed. I went back to my table and sent my boyfriend up with our receipt. The tacos came out shortly after.
We won't be going back.
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Dana P.
Washington, DC
2 star rating
9/11/2008
I'm temporarily reserving complete judgment because all new restaurants have growing pains to work though. However, I've been there twice and have this to offer:
Food: I really like their grilled shrimp options- both times it was flavorful and fresh. I LOVE their shrimp tacos/waves- very interesting and pleasing combination of flavors. I had a steak burrito/hurricane which was pretty good, although it comes with this flavorless, condense yellow rice which takes away from the flavors. I also had a steak -fajita taco, which didn't have a lot of flavor and I'd pass on next time. I liked the side salad that comes with the 'hurricanes' and wish it were an option to get on its own or as a side with other dishes instead of red beans and rice- all of their salad options are entrée salads.
Service: It was great the first time, so-so the second. The first time I went, it wasn't crowded so the service was a little different. While the ordering menu states something to the effect of "one item per page," it didn't make sense to me to walk up there with a stack of papers for two entrees and an order of chips & guac. The woman at the cash register said I could put my chip order & entrée order on the same menu; but the second time, all had to be separate. It's not like Jetty's where you pick & choose options to put together; here you just check off the one item you want. I guess I am confused why a place would have paper straws for environmental purposes (that get soggy and need to be replaced), then use an extraordinary amount of paper for ordering. It is also a hard system to manage if you get an entrée and a second dish (like chips & guac)... the plates are large and heavy, so one person cannot carry their main dish, chip plate and drink in one trip. They do have service staff helping to clean- I'd prefer it if they utilized them to help customers get their food to the table.
My final thoughts: We're going to call ahead and do take-out from now on. It'd be much easier than dealing with the difficulties of ordering and dining in the restaurant.
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