My Appetite is Penta-Gone

The Pentagon is a lovely place to visit, but I sure don't want to eat there.

It's like a better-armed Smithsonian. There are some wonderful displays on NATO, various weapons systems, the USO, artifacts from several wars. And, as the building is so massive, there are plenty of dining options - McDonald's, Sbarro's, KFC, some sandwich places, etc... It practically covers the whole range of chow from "fast food" to "microwaved."

At least there's plenty of little coffee shops around. You'll definitely stay awake while going hungry. There's an Au Bon Pain, but not a full-service location, meaning some bagels and coffee. Un très petit Au Bon Pain, s'il vous plait. An Au Bon Pain at 1/8th scale.

If fried meat is your thing, then the Pentagon has your back. Besides having more fast food places than a Midwestern truck stop, the Pentagon features Dominic's of New York. Dom's offers cheesesteaks, burgers, sausages and paninis, but can also leave you (and your G.I. tract) wondering "why did I eat there?" for hours afterwards. At least their breakfast biscuits rock, but I think I read that man can not live on bread alone. Probably from Dr. Atkins or something.

All this does is make the restaurant park at Pentagon Row look that much better. Thaiphoon, Champp's - heck, even the international foods section at World Market - somebody, anybody, help!

Pentagon employees and contractors - what say you? Where do you dine? Slap on the running shoes and make a bee-line to the Blue Line to a Breadline? Some secret little kiosk tucked away in a hidden corridor? Brown bag? How do you do it?