Our History
Since opening in early 2005, Domku has offered DC residents and tourists a unique dining alternative to the hurried and glitzy offerings of downtown DC. The eclectic menu of mostly Slavic and Scandinavian fare has brought pierogis, borscht, goulash, Janssen’s Temptation, and pickled herring into the everyday language of DC diners. Our menu stays as true to the foods of the region as possible but journeys, on occasion, to other former Soviet bloc regions such as Hungary, Bulgaria and the Caucasus. Perfect for cold weather months, the food is light and healthful enough to enjoy all year long.
The type of food you will be able to eat here cannot be found anywhere else because it is prepared by the original Slavic recipe and it is made by professional chefs who were specially trained and educated to prepare this food the right way. We are essentially offering you an experience that you cannot get anywhere else and that you will never forget because the Slavic cuisine is unique. Not only we have the traditional Slavic dishes, but we also offer the original Slavic drinks that are coming directly to our restaurant just to give you the entire experience.
Located in historic Petworth in northwest Washington, DC, Domku provides comfort and sustenance in a relaxed setting where locals mix with travelers looking to experience something off the beaten path. Housed in a former hardware store, Domku retains the rough and ready feel of the building’s former years. Combine that with the exposed brick and retro furnishings and you’ve got a modern but unpretentious place to hang-out with friends over cocktails or enjoy a quiet Sunday morning coffee and breakfast.
Going Green(er)
Every day restaurants, including self-designated organic ones, generate tons of food and material waste and send out harmful pollutants into the environment. Did you know a restaurant can generate tens of thousands of pounds of garbage each year? They also can also use in excess of 300,000 gallons of water, which re-enter the environment polluted with toxic chemicals from industrial strength cleaners. The tremendous amount of waste we produced on a daily basis is usually created by unnecessary “luxuries”, which come at an environmental and financial cost that gets passed on to the customer.
DOMKU is committed to doing its part to generate less waste, save energy and water, improve indoor air quality and keep the costs for our customers as low as possible, but it means understanding and support on the part of you, our customers.
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOUR SERVICE
TAKE OUT ORDERS
First and foremost, styrofoam products will be banned from the restaurant.
Plastic straws will only be provided if requested (although we prefer not to use them at all).
Plastic bags for to-go orders will only be provided if requested. We will also stop providing plastic utensils unless requested.
Once the existing inventory of plastic and styrofoam products are used up, we will use only biodegradable, compostable, or reusable packaging for carrying out items
GLASSWARE & WATER
Water will only be provided when requested. We’ve noticed that about 75% of you who ask for water end up not drinking it, or you just drink a couple of sips of it. This not only wastes water, but it increases dishwashing requirements. Besides, did you know that the body’s 8 glasses of water minimum were just a myth?
Fresh glassware will be provided only when requested after an initial drink order. This will reduce the amount of dishwashing required, which not only sucks an enormous amount of energy and water but also means more chemicals going down the drain. And if you don’t request a glass with your bottle of beer, it won’t be automatically given.
UTILITIES
- While we already use energy saving lights where we can, we will keep most lights off when there is sufficient natural light.
- Air conditioning in summer and heating in winter will be kept to the minimum needed for comfort, and the door will be propped open whenever weather and insect conditions permit.
PAPER
- We know our floors are not smooth, but we ask that you do not use a wad of paper napkins to stabilize wobbly tables. Please ask the staff for assistance to address the problem. We have a stash of wooden chips for this purpose. If there is a spill, ask the staff for clothes rather than taking a stack of paper napkins from the bar.
- We use recycled paper products as much as possible.
FOOD WASTE
- We compost ALL food and paper waste so that whatever came from nature goes back to nature.
- We take our responsibility for the environment very seriously, and we understand that, as a result, service may not be what you are used to or what you consider to be “good”, so we truly appreciate your support in this joint effort.
Clean Eating Magazine
Diigo
