One of my favorite things to do in DC is eat (let’s be honest, eating is one of my favorite things to do, period, but DC also has some great places to eat). And one of my favorite meals to eat is weekend brunch. I’m a hardcore brunch supporter because it’s the perfect way to meet up with your friends who you don’t see during the week. It can be extremely difficult to make plans to see friends during the week due to schedules, events people have to go to, and the unpredictable hours of working in politics. So the weekends are really the only time to reliably make plans that won’t get cancelled. And since you all already know I’m a fan of the girl’s night in, brunch is the ideal time on the weekend to get together. Bonus points if you plan it at the right time.
I’m a firm believer in the 11am brunch time. Any later in the day and I’m going to need to eat beforehand to make sure I’m not grouchy and that’s just a bummer. 11am gives me time to sleep in or time to get ready if we’re doing that kind of brunch. Which leads me to the other ideal thing about brunch: you can choose whether you want to actually get dressed for the day and look cute or if you want to show up in athleisure clothing. Because everything is acceptable at brunch and it’s perfect.
Okay, now back to the point. DC has wholeheartedly embraced brunch and most places do Saturday AND Sunday brunch (as well as holiday Monday brunch which is just the best). Everyone who lives here has their favorite go-to brunch spots but I’ll just share a few along with some reasons why I’m a fan.
Tyber Creek. One of my favorite restaurants in general and the brunch is just as good as everything else here. The cast iron skillet cinnamon rolls are an absolute necessity to order for the table and the brunch cocktails are fascinating and delicious. They offer bottomless mimosas for pretty cheap as well as bottomless rosé on tap which I’m very into.
Founding Farmers. Okay–my endorsement of this restaurant only applies to the DC location of Founding Farmers. Call ahead and make a reservation or you’ll be sorry you didn’t when you’re waiting an hour for a table. Order the beignets for the table or you’ll see someone else get them and really wish you had. Everything I’ve ordered here is delicious and they tell you where the ingredients come from if you’re interested in that. (Shoutout to Lara because this is her favorite, hence its inclusion on this list.)
Ted’s Bulletin. First, Ted’s doesn’t take reservations and is hugely popular so call ahead to put your name on the list so you can “get in line” before you’re there. The wait time is usually around an hour during peak brunching times so this is a spot to hit up early. Ted’s has its own bakery and you absolutely have to order their homemade Ted’s tarts–homemade poptarts that come in seasonal flavors. Get extras to take home. My personal favorite dish here is the chicken n biscuits because the biscuits are so amazing. The Bloody Mary’s are excellent and I’m always happy when I can choose my own spin on a drink.
Mission Dupont. Whew, buckle up if you’re coming to Mission for brunch because you’ll be here a while and don’t make any serious plans for after brunch. 10/10 recommend doing the bottomless brunch–this is totally worth it. The bottomless brunch is bottomless chips, salsa, and guacamole; a brunch entree; and bottomless drinks–you can choose between Bloody Mary’s, mimosas, margaritas, or beer (and switch between them) and then finish with a shot of tequila. Like their menu says, it’s a marathon, not a sprint, and it’s one of the most fun places I’ve been for brunch. This is the perfect brunch to do when it’s nice outside so you can sit on the patio and drink margaritas for breakfast in the sun. Call ahead if you’re going during peak brunch time–especially if it’s Sunday and the Farmer’s Market is there.
Honorable mention goes to Orange Anchor, which is now closed, probably for the exact reasons why I loved it. Orange Anchor was a dive-ish, affordable brunch spot in Georgetown (that probably brought down the class level of the area and got kicked out). They had bottomless mimosas, beer, or Orange Crush drinks and surf shack type brunch food. The entire vibe was so hilarious it felt like they wished they were in California, which sold me immediately. RIP Orange Anchor.
Please let me know what your go-to brunch spot is because I’m always down to try new places!
xoxo,
J
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