Three words: Homemade pop tarts. This Capitol Hill retro-style diner churns out freshly made versions daily in flavors such as blueberry cheesecake, peanut butter and bacon, and brown sugar and cinnamon. There are plenty of savory dishes, too — such as the Walk of Shame burrito (sirloin steak, eggs, hash browns, cheddar, and green chile sauce).
Ted’s Bulletin, 505 8th Street Southeast, between E and G Streets (202-544-8337 or tedsbulletin.com).
For less than what you probably spend on your weekly coffee addiction ($34), this Dupont Circle gem serves bottomless mimosas, endless Bloody Marys, and an all-you-can-eat buffet on Sundays. Selections rotate, but expect staples such as biscuits and gravy, corned beef hash, hand-carved steak, and an omelet station.
Beacon Bar & Grill, 1615 Rhode Island Avenue Northwest, at 17th Street (202-872-1126 or bbgwdc.com).
Any bar with a strict canned-beer-only policy is a winner in our book. The brunch, as you would imagine, is nothing fancy. But a talkative waitstaff and come-as-you-are attitude seem to make the breakfast burrito and BLT with a fried egg taste that much better.
The Red Derby, 3718 14th Street Northwest, between Quincy Street and Spring Road (202-291-5000 or redderby.com).
The brunch menu at this Hilton-brother bistro nods to French cuisine with entrees such as croque madame, poutine (scrapple, fried egg, frites, sausage gravy, and cheese curds), and pain perdu (brioche French toast with mixed berry compote). Cocktails like the Kristofferson (wheat beer, strawberry liqueur, bitters, honey, and lemon) make it worth the trek to Petworth.
Chez Billy, 3815 Georgia Avenue Northwest, between Quincy and Randolph Streets (202-506-2080 or chezbilly.com).
Getting a brunch reservation at this Dupont institution is about as difficult as folding a fitted sheet. But the history-rich interior paired with chef Paul Pelt’s dishes — such as fried oysters with cheese grits and pork belly with green onions — are worth the effort.
Tabard Inn, 1739 N Street Northwest, between 17th and 18th Streets (202-331-8528 or tabardinn.com).
Even after seventeen years, this where-everybody-knows-your-name haunt continues to impress. It sits a street away from the hustle and bustle of jumbo slicers on 18th Street, but BBQ bashes during the summer and smoked fish cakes for brunch easily hold your attention.
Cashion’s Eat Place, 1819 Columbia Road Northwest, at Biltmore Street (202-797-1819 or cashionseatplace.com).
For those suffering from French toast fatigue, Sticky Rice offers nontraditional Pan-Asian cuisine. Think chicken, shrimp, or tofu fried rice with vegetables and eggs in a sweet curry sauce washed down with a Sakimosa (orange juice and sweet sparkling sake).
Sticky Rice, 1224 H Street Northeast, between 12th and 13th Streets (202-397-7655 or stickyricedc.com).
Tucked away on a Georgetown side street and accessible only through Cady’s Alley, this delectably distinct European cafe owned by Austrian transplant Anthony Lanier serves brunch options like black olive and sweet onion tarts with manchego cheese and smoked salmon with horseradish cream.
Kafe Leopold, 3315 M Street Northwest, between 33rd and 34th Streets (202-965-6005 or kafeleopolds.com).
This greasy spoon up Wisconsin Avenue caters to meat lovers and hangover sufferers alike. Founded by two refugees from Sierra Leone in 1998, the diner forgoes frills for dishes such as sliced sirloin steak topped with hot country gravy or center-cut pork chops served with farm-fresh eggs.
Osman & Joe’s Steak ’n Egg Kitchen, 4700 Wisconsin Avenue Northwest, at Chesapeake Street (osmanandjoes.com).
Despite its tiny size, this Cleveland Park bistro has a large fan following due in part to chef Nate Garyantes’s pitch-perfect execution and inventive New American cuisine. For $25 you get bottomless mimosas and two courses with dishes such as egg risotto with house-made bacon and Parmesan cheese.
Aredo + Bardeo, 3311 Connecticut Avenue Northwest, between Ordway and Macomb Streets (202-244-6750 or bardeo.com).
Though the rooftop view is enough of a draw, the Sunday drag brunch takes it over the top. The line forms around 9 a.m., and for good reason: Dive into an all-you-can-eat buffet for $24 while queens parade around in their weekend finest.
Perry’s Restaurant, 1811 Columbia Road Northwest, at Biltmore Street (202-234-6218 or perrysadamsmorgan.com).
Much like its namesake in Paris, this Eastern Market brunch favorite constantly bustles with visitors from all walks of life. While people-watching, savor French-inspired entrees like crepe Bretonne (spinach, tomatoes, eggs, and Swiss cheese with cured ham or smoked salmon) and quiche Lorraine.
Montmartre, 327 7th Street Southeast, between C Street and Pennsylvania Avenue (202-544-1244 or montmartredc.com).
This Connecticut Avenue restaurant isn’t much to look at, and chances are you’ve passed it by a thousand times. But it makes up for the lack of ambience with veggie-rich entrees and reasonable prices. To wit: You can get scrambled eggs, tomatoes, green peppers, cilantro, Jack cheese, and home fries for less than $9.
Luna Grill and Diner, 1301 Connecticut Avenue Northwest, between 18th and 19th Streets (202-835-2280 or lunagrillanddiner.com).
We don’t want to tell you how to eat your brunch, but if we did we’d suggest sitting at a table with a built-in keg and ordering the poached eggs and tomato concassé, served with roasted beets, arugula, and fennel vinaigrette. And you’d be wise to save room for sweet potato wedges. No pressure.
Meridian Pint, 3400 11th Street Northwest, at Park Road (202-588-1075 or meridianpint.com).
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