Store Tour, Q&A with Fast-Casual Litestars

With a menu featuring “tartlets” and “soupdrinks,” Litestars is far from your average quick-service restaurant. The Washington, D.C.–based fast casual, which opened in October 2010, carries the motto “Healthier, Fresher, Tastier” and offers a choice of menu items boasting lower fat, cholesterol, sodium, carbohydrates, and sugar contents.

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In addition to the concept’s signature soupdrinks and tartlets, the Litestars menu also features gourmet salads, fresh fruit smoothies, frozen yogurt, specialty teas, and both wine and beer.

French native Annie Leconte, who runs the business alongside her husband, Didier, and son, Eric, debunks the concept’s unusual menu offerings.

What are soupdrinks?

Just as they sound, they are an on-the-go drink full of vitamins and nutrients. I actually discovered them in my own kitchen. All of them are gluten free. We carry three savory soupdrinks in the summer (such as the Cold Emerald, a tropical blend of pineapple and cucumbers) and seven hot soupdrinks throughout the year (such as the Mayan, which mixes black beans, jalapeño, and red peppers).

What's a tartlet?

It’s our signature dish—a lite cuisine, such as salmon or zucchini, on an individually sized crust. Think of it as a lighter, healthier version of a quiche. It’s high in fiber and we bake them fresh daily.

What makes Litestars "the bistro of the future"?

We’re on trend with our healthy menu as well as our décor, which is both sleek and comfy. Plus, we’ve incorporated technology, like our digital menuboards, to be modern.

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