Cafe Myth

Metro:
Farragut West

Parking:
Available streetside and Georgetown Mall across the street.

Reservations:
None needed

Service:
Friendly

Food: Bistro
Coffee $1.15 to $2.70
Smoothies $3.75
Soups $3.50
Salads $8.50
Sandwiches $7.00
Pastas $9.95 to $17.50
Entrees $11.25 to $19.95
Sides $4.00
Desserts $4.50
Full dinner with coffee, tax, and tip $12.50 to $30 per person.

Smoking:
Allowed

Credit Cards:
Visa and Mastercard

Being in front of a computer everyday I found Cafe Myth's atmosphere very open ended. I surmise the social environment will propagate during exam week. Students can relax and listen to some smooth music. The cafe is designed for people to walk around, help each other, interact, and be goofy on the Internet. Being walking distance to Georgetown University, and a short cab ride from American, and Geoge Washington Univerisities gives this place a potential to attract a large college crowd.

There are abundant terminals, so don't worry about getting bumped off. For those Net Heads concerned about eye strain, all the monitors have top-of-the-line resolution and the lighting thoughout is excellent. If this place gets busy the administrator should be able to handle the traffic. Cafe Myth has configured a 100 base- twisted pairl LAN (Local Area Network) routed throughtout the walls to support 8 PCs, 3 Macs, and numerous laptops.

The only problem I found was a lack of headsets to listen to audio files. Noise cancelling headphones would be ideal for individuals participating in a web conference or multimedia presentations in a boisterous environment.

To experience the true power of the Web, Cafe Myth offers ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) connection service at a rate of $10 per hour. ADSL is a new modem technology that converts existing twisted-pair telephone lines into access paths for multimedia and high speed data communications. In short, ADSL allows you to access the Internet at speeds up to 126 times faster than a standard 56K modem. If you find that you need more time Cafe Myth has a VIP plan for $100 a month. The plan includes: unlimited access to the internet; and 10% off beverages or bar items, use of their state-of-the-art Laptops, and total support from their computer staff.

What About the Coffee?

If you are looking for an exeptional cup of espresso or cappuccino the coffee bar is dominated by a crème de la crème La Cimbali espresso machine. For the coffee snob, Cimbali is an elegant work of art. It astounds me how this machine captures the unique character of each cup of coffee. It take more than an immortal machine to create a shot of exsresso to hold the tastebuds of cuisine experts. It is a a logical brewing method (full-bodied, bittersweet, low-acid) and a coffee blend appropriate to that brewing method. Eric Skoenigsberg, a.k.a.'The Coffee Lord,' blended a balanced and distinctive expresso with a pleasent kick. I asked Eric what is his favorite coffee served. "The Chaiz is a wonderful mix of coffee and spices with steamed milk." Cafe Myth is also a full service resturant with a generous menu to satisfy those with a hearty appetite.

Sharing A Vision

I had the pleasure speaking with Cafe Myth's co-owners, Rima Agha and Maroun Bechara. Rima is a George Mason University graduate with more than 10 years experience in the information technology industry. She manages the computer services aspect of the business. Maroun is the CEO of Oakton-based Advance Design and Construction firm. He constructed and operates the restaurant. I get a sense that Rima and Maroun are very supportive of each other and more importantly they give customers number one priority.

DC Pages: "Where did you get the vision for Cafe Myth?"

Rima: "The idea of having a place to hang out with technology really got me excited. Geogetown needs a place where people can have access to computers and play games."

Maroun: "We are stressing first class food, top Internet access, a comfortable atomosphere for people to lounge, and have the best cup of coffee in town."

DC Pages: "What crowd are you going for?"

Rima: "People that like a cozy atomsphere, enjoy good food, and want to surf the Internet."

Maroun: "We are passing out flyers at the colleges, using traditional media, and email bursts to attract students and corporate workers. "

If Cafe Myth can get the word out, the owners have a perfect niche in the District economy. This establishment is a powerful way of communicating corporate vision's to Washington's Influentials, a relaxed training enviroment for the non-computer savvy, an informational resource for the neighborhood, a great place to get Bistro style food and a cup of coffee. The synergy of all these elements makes Cafe Myth a dynamic place to hang out at a reasonable price.

Photos by: Axel Martinez