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.
Must 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.
Address: 801 O St NW, Washington, DC 20001, Washington DC
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.
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.
