What's the best brunch in DC right now?

[hppyheather]

Ah -- summer is here and with summer comes the weekend brunch routine. I am wondering if anyone has any good recommendations for brunch right now in DC? Anyone know of anything fabulous or unique right now? Anyone had a really stand-out brunch lately?

Prefer the city proper, but would be interested if there is something fantastic out in the suburbs.

[dpan]

Garden Cafe d'Italia at the National Gallery of Art.

[hibye]

I favor places that make most things in-house and use local,high quality ingredients. There are two brunches that fill the bill:
Palena Cafe in Cleveland Park makes wonderful breads and donuts. I like their whole wheat pancakes.
Black Market in Palisades also makes most things in-house. I like their egg dishes, granola and homemade jam. They specialize in seafood and have wonderful crabcakes.
Blue Duck Tavern is good if you want an over-the-top, gorge yourself buffet brunch. Pricey.
Leopold's in Georgetown also has very good food and wonderful people-watching to boot.

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Palena
3529 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008

Blue Duck Tavern
1201 24th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20037

[David W]

How tough is it to get a table for 2 at Palena Cafe on a Sunday, and it that parking I see on the map next to the place? Thanks.

And I would second Blue Duck Tavern-we had lunch there on a Saturday on our last visit and really enjoyned it (though it's true, it is not cheap.)

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Palena
3529 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008

[Jeserf]

pay by the hour parking is available next to Palena. Can't attest to the wait, as I haven't been. But there is parking!

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Palena
3529 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008

[ktmoomau]

It's easy to get into Palena for brunch, little to no wait.

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Palena
3529 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008

[David W]

Thanks to you both.

[katecm]

Rustik in Bloomingdale as $10 bottomless mimosas and bellinis, plus the sausage gravy and biscuit is reallllly good.

[pyatachok]

We love Zaytinia and Cafe Atlantico.

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Cafe Atlantico
405 8th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20004

[crackers]

Cafe Atlantico is closed. No more Latin dim sum brunch.

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Cafe Atlantico
405 8th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20004

[Elyssa]

Personally my favorite brunch in DC right now is the brunch at Masa 14. They have a pre-fix all you can eat and drink menu for around $30. An AMAZING deal and you literally can order from the entire menu. I went with some friends and we were there for close to 2 1/2 hours just drinking, eating and chatting. So much fun! The highlights were the ancho chile grits---seriously good. But really almost every dish we had was great. You can also order ala carte.

I also am a fan of Tabard Inn's brunch when it is warm out. The courtyard out back is incredibly charming.

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Tabard Inn
1739 N St NW, Washington, DC 20036

Masa 14
1825 14th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20009

[DCLindsey]

Online, it says $35. Did they seem to mind you guys lingering? I think it would be a great long day drinking brunch, but would probably like to linger more than typical

[doodle79]

Do they have outside seating at Masa?

[Elyssa]

Yes they have some outdoor seating.

They didn't truly mind us lingering...they weren't outwardly rude. But the waiter was super chatty and cute at the beginning and by the end I think he was ready to turn the table over. But I'm sure they are used to it.

[Steve]

What I've had from the alsatian-inspired Lyon Hall in Clarendon is a cut well above what you'll find in general. Plus it's reasonably priced.

I recommend the the croque madame, the bacon poached eggs, shortrib frankfurter and sauerkraut, frisee salad with egg, bacon, figs, and pig feet galette. All $8 - $10.

[Jeserf]

my favorite brunch, though not lately because it's so gluttonous, is CoCo Sala. Amazing.

I'd check out Dino and Palena as well - especially dino as the summer produce starts really coming in.

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Palena
3529 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008

[woodleyparkhound]

I had an excellent brunch at the Tabard Inn recently. I especially loved their homemade doughnuts and their thick-sliced bacon.

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Tabard Inn
1739 N St NW, Washington, DC 20036