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.
Must 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.
Address: 1601 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20009, Washington DC
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.
