Eastern Market is a tasty midday getaway

Capitol Hill lunch-goers looking for a laid-back, casual place to
grab a bite to eat might do well to remember that Eastern Market is not
just a place to buy groceries on the weekends.

{mosads}With counter after counter of fresh produce, cold cuts, sweet treats and even a full-service café, the market is an oasis from the hustle and bustle of Pennsylvania Avenue, just a block-and-a-half away. Diners at the market range from tourists to businessmen in suits, all looking for a fresh meal at a reasonable price.

The café at the end of the market serves hamburgers, French fries and other classic sandwiches, as well as coleslaw and potato salad. The hamburger, for the price, was a tasty and satisfying meal. Diners who don’t want red meat in the middle of the day can order the grilled chicken sandwich, a hefty-sized chicken breast cooked to order and served with lettuce, tomato and pickles.

A full meal will cost well under $10, but make sure to bring cash, as many vendors in the market, including the café, don’t take credit cards.

Café diners can choose to sit inside at the butcher-block bar, which has rows of stools lined up on either side. If the weather’s nice, they can head outside to a set of picnic tables.

Those not looking for a full meal can pick up a piece of fresh fruit at one of the produce stands inside an afternoon snack or a healthy treat. The fruit stand is stacked high with cartons of fresh, ruby-red strawberries, oranges and other seasonal fruits all ready for purchase. Further into the summer, look for juicy plums and peaches, which many vendors will cut up and let you taste before purchasing.

There’s also a cheese stand that serves a variety of gourmet wares, including intricately marbled wedges of blue cheese and large hunks of sharp cheddar. Many of the cheeses would be perfect paired with an apple from the nearby fruit stand.

Lunch-goers with a sweet tooth can pick up a cupcake or cookie from the bakery stand located at the end of the market. You can’t go wrong with the red velvet cupcake, which will set customers back only $1.50, much less expensive than cupcakes from the trendy stores around town.

A final bonus of a midday trip to Eastern Market is the people-watching; elderly couples dressed in casual clothes linger over the meat case, picking out fresh beef to cook at home, while others hurry in dressed in business clothes, looking for a quick bite during the lunch bustle. Still others are simply browsing, taking in the sights and smells of the indoor, European-style marketplace.

Eastern Market is located at 225 7th St. SE, between C Street and North Carolina Avenue.