A Light Lunch at 2fifty, Riverdale Park, Prince George’s County, Maryland

I’ve recently posted about a couple of the restaurants included in the New York Times list of Washington’s 25 Best Restaurants Right Now, Crisfield and Lechon Belly. (I’d posted on Rasika before the list came out.) Here’s another restaurant from the list, this one an old friend, 2fifty.

I discovered 2fifty, aka 2fifty Texas, early in 2020 when it was just a Sunday pop-up in a pizza parlor, and I could barely contain myself. Here’s my first report, updated many times as the restaurant grew, and there have been more posts through lockdowns, the introduction of whole hog and slow-smoked lamb to the area, and their opening of a second spot downtown. 2fifty had been at the top of my list of the best barbecue places in the Washington area since my first visit, and on Thursdays they offer the best pastrami sandwich in the area — and one of the best anywhere (he notes cautiously.)

Nancy and I detoured over to 2fifty and stopped in for a light lunch. I just ordered a brisket sandwich “deconstructed” (so I could have the slaw on the side) and Nancy got some smoked turkey and a side of roasted vegetables. We’d ordered ahead for pickup at 11:45 am, and drove up to their place at 4700 Riverdale Road. We’d intended to pick up the food and take it home, but the outside seating was so inviting

that we grabbed a table and ate there. Here’s Nancy’s turkey (she got a half pound to have some for later).

She’d helped herself to a slice so it’s shaped rather like a turkey. And here are the roasted vegetables.

Nancy said the turkey was “excellent, as aways” and she enthused over the roasted vegetables. They tasted much better than she expected, with good seasoning and some nice caramelization.

Here’s my light lunch. As I mentioned, I ordered it deconstructed so that I could have the slaw on the side. That meant I had to put the meat and bread together. Here’s a view in progress.

So good! And here’s the hastily reconstructed sandwich.

I was sort of sloppy assembling the sandwich for the photo, as I often am. I was in a hurry to eat it. I get that way at 2fifty, and for good reason. What a sandwich! I honestly can’t remember a better brisket sandwich anywhere. So tender, so lovingly kissed by the smoke from post oak. This was outstanding brisket. And with 2fifty’s usual attention to excellence, it came on a very good bun, one that was light but able to handle that stack of juicy meat, while adding its own good flavor. I wonder if they got it from Manifest Bread, my favorite local bakery, whose rye 2fifty uses to make the best pastrami sandwich in the Washington area.

Every time I go to 2fifty, I like it more and more. It’s a good 45 minutes from our house, but I go there more often than any other restaurant. I need to focus on their specials, many of which I haven’t tried, but it’s so hard to pass up that exquisite brisket. And the sausages and … so on. If you haven’t been, go.

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