Where to brunch in Washington DC: morning rooms worth the queue.
Where to brunch in Washington DC. the morning rooms worth the queue, and the kitchens still doing it right at noon.
Le Diplomate brunch in Washington DC is Stephen Starr's 14th Street brasserie's weekend service, the city's most-booked brunch reservation since 2013, with the croque madame as the headliner.
Order: The croque madame with a glass of Sancerre is the editorial brunch order.
Tip: Book the patio at 11:00 for the warm-weather window; the bar takes walk-ins on weekday brunch.
Founding Farmers brunch in Washington DC is the Pennsylvania Avenue farmer-owned cooperative's weekend brunch, the city's best-known boozy brunch in the federal-zone with a deep cocktail program.
Order: The fried chicken and waffles with apple butter is the most-ordered brunch dish.
Tip: Reservations book out a week ahead; the bar takes walk-ins, and the BYOMimosa carafe is the brunch deal.
Maketto brunch in Washington DC is the H Street NE Cambodian breakfast service, an Erik Bruner-Yang dining room with bai sach chrouk grilled pork on rice and num pang sandwiches.
Order: The Cambodian breakfast plate with bai sach chrouk pork and rice.
Tip: The courtyard bar runs walk-in brunch; the dining room takes Sunday reservations.
Tail Up Goat brunch in Washington DC is the Adams Morgan Mediterranean Michelin-star room's Sunday brunch, with house-baked breads, shakshuka and a lamb-shoulder hash for the table.
Order: The shakshuka and the house-baked focaccia plate.
Tip: Reservations open 4 weeks out via Tock; the lamb-shoulder hash is family-style and feeds three.
Ted's Bulletin brunch in Washington DC is the 14th Street art-deco American diner's all-day brunch, with the in-house adult pop-tart line and the all-day breakfast menu as the signature.
Order: The homemade strawberry pop-tart and the milkshake; the all-day breakfast headliner.
Tip: The weekday brunch is the easier reservation; the Sunday morning slot fills by 09:30.
Convivial brunch in Washington DC is Cedric Maupillier's Shaw French-American dining room's Sunday brunch, with the coq au vin pot pie and a deep crepe-and-eggs Benedict menu.
Order: The coq au vin pot pie at brunch is the heartiest French-American brunch order in DC.
Tip: The corner banquette is the brunch best seat; the bar counter runs the full menu for walk-ins.
Kramers brunch in Washington DC is the Dupont Circle bookshop-cafe's weekend brunch since 1976, a quiet all-day breakfast room with a crab cake Benedict and the bookshop wandering hours.
Order: The crab cake Benedict with hollandaise and Old Bay.
Tip: Sunday brunch with a stack of newspapers and the bookshop is the city's quietest morning ritual; walk in at 09:00.
Lapis brunch in Washington DC is Shamim Popal's Adams Morgan Afghan dining room's weekend brunch buffet, an all-you-can-eat $25 Afghan brunch with mantu dumplings, ashak and kabuli pulao.
Order: The all-you-can-eat $25 brunch buffet with mantu, ashak and kabuli pulao is the editorial value.
Tip: The buffet is the value pick; the brunch endless mimosa option adds $15 for the table service.
Old Ebbitt Grill brunch in Washington DC is the city's oldest saloon's weekend brunch service, with Chesapeake Eggs Benedict, oyster Happy Hour preserves and a power-table federal-worker crowd.
Order: The Chesapeake Eggs Benedict with crab cake substituted for ham.
Tip: Sunday brunch at 10:00 fills quick; the Old Bar takes walk-ins and runs the full menu.
Peak food season in Washington DC is year-round.
Local dining hours: lunch around 12:30, dinner from 19:30.
service is typically included; small extra is welcome but not expected.
Ask the next local you meet what they would order. Washington DC rewards trust.