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Steve Strack's avatar

Hi John, another information filled feature about an area of DC that I had many experiences in, including eating at both places at least once. Gusti's was going downhill in '64 but seemed like a good place to take my girlfriend when, at 20, I had no idea of where else to go below upper Wisconsin Ave. By 1970 I worked across 19th from Luigi's and had several mouth scalding lunches there trying to down hot from the oven pizza on my half hour time allotment. A couple of years later the 19th and M scene was really jumping with PW's Saloon, The Airplane, The Exchange, The Cave, Goss's Sign of the Whale, and Paradise Cafe. Touch football in the street at 2am.

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John DeFerrari's avatar

Great memories, Steve. Thanks for sharing!

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Elizabeth Manning's avatar

Oh my gosh, John, thanks for your mention of La Salle du Bois. My parents took me there as a toddler when they had the opportunity to dine out. The strawberries served in a "silver" bowl (which I apparently devoured) were a memory we shared all their lives.

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Sherry Lichtenberg's avatar

Thanks for this article. Gusti's was our go to place after high school events.

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Petey Kay's avatar

Fun piece. Thanks John.

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