D.C.'s Best Brunches

From its humble beginnings at the corner of 11th St. and Florida Ave NW in 1944, DC’s oldest soul food restaurant has welcomed longtime residents, tourists, transplants, as well as sports, entertainment, and political figures made evident by the scores of framed photos behind the counter. Devour heaping portions of southern staples such as chitterlings, spicy half-smokes, scrapple, buttermilk biscuits, buttery grits, and hot breakfasts and brunches such as the “Special Three-Egg Omelet” and the “Miss Bertha’s Breakfast Special” which include hot cakes topped with cinnamon and sugar.

Like its sister restaurant Founding Farmers, the Georgetown Waterfront restaurant evokes Americana, farmhouse tradition, and seasonality in both menu and atmosphere. The weekend buffet-style brunches are a keeper that includes breakfast tacos, garden fresh salads, thick-cut bacon, stuffed French toast, and house-baked cinnamon rolls. Enjoy the Bottomless Bloody Mary bar for $10 or share a brunch cocktail bowl with friends.

Sunday brunch at Perry’s is not your usual run-of-the-mill affair. Yes, there is an all-you-can-eat buffet bar filled with typical brunch fare. Yes, there are the usual boozy drinks to go with your brunch meal. Yes, there is music piped over stereo speakers. But this is far, far, far from an ordinary brunch because it has fabulous drag queens to entertain you while you eat! Perry’s Drag Brunch is among D.C’s most loved institutions. There are two seatings each Sunday and they don’t take reservations. The line forms outside around 9am for first seating which is at 10am. Make sure you’re in that line. As soon as the doors open, ask to be seated toward the center of the room—the bad seats are on the periphery. A split second after you get to your table, throw your stuff down and RUN to stand in the buffet line. After you get your food, then flag your waiter down to get your drinks. At about 11am, the show will begin. The drag show features queens that are campy and witty, and the show is raunchy and HILARIOUS! Perry’s Drag Brunch is definitely not for the timid, though! You may get called out, and next thing you know you’re a part of the show. Whatever happens, you can be certain your friends will have captured the moment on their smartphones and before the red blush leaves your face, they will have already posted it up on Facebook! It’s all in good fun! Just remember to bring along a wad of $1 bills for tips. The ladies do work hard for the money!

This longtime Eastern Market counter restaurant draws neighborhood residents and visitors every Saturday morning with their “Bluebucks.” Long queues are the norm to get a stack of three light and fluffy blueberry buckwheat pancakes slathered with butter and maple syrup as well as “The Brick,” a hearty breakfast sandwich stuffed with bacon, egg, cheese, and...potatoes. Line up early, but be sure to hit the ATM beforehand as it is cash-only.

Brothers Mark and Ty Neal built Ted’s Bulletin as an homage to their father, who loved to feed his family, his friends, his neighbors, and random passersby. The restaurant is a comfortable 1930s-style American diner serving up classy takes on popular comfort foods such as burgers, tomato soup, grilled cheese sandwiches, and pasta and meatballs. Here’s where the menu gets more interesting: You can order six flavors of house-made pop tarts, milk shakes (boozy or not), and breakfasts like the “Big Mark” (three eggs, two sausages, two slices of bacon, hash browns, toast, and a pop tart). Weekend brunches tend to be busiest, usually with hour-long waits; reservations strongly recommended.

Washington, D.C. natives Matt and Jena Carr and chef Anne Alfano opened this coffeehouse and market to pay homage to the Portland, Oregon, hangout Little Red Bike Café. Not only did the Carrs replicate the café's concept, but they also copied its egg sandwiches—toasted ciabatta or brioche topped with gorgonzola, homemade apple butter, a fried egg, greens, and bacon (optional). Little Red Fox highlights locally grown and made products, so whatever you order is sure to be tasty.

Sandwiched between the White House, the U.S. Treasury Department, and the Willard Hotel, this legendary spot since 1906 has catered to visitors, power brokers, celebrities, sports icons, and literary figures with its stellar food and service. Inside, frames upon frames of such individuals surround the restaurant. The outdoor dining area feels cozy amidst the hustle and bustle of Pennsylvania Avenue. Brunches are relaxed and feature a wonderful blend of starters, entreés and sides such as fluffy crab omelette, salmon tartar, shrimp n’ grits, and poached eggs in sausage.

This French brasserie located in Clarendon gives off a comfortable atmosphere with cozy tables, a bustling café and bar, and handsome black-and-white photos adorning its walls. French and German cuisine from the Alsace-Lorraine region dominate the menu, which includes house-made sausages, charcuterie, steak, shanks, and bellies from rabbit, veal, and duck. Brunch is also exceptional, highlighted by house-made donuts and croissants, poached eggs, brioche French toast, and the “Man-Mosa” cocktail.

This split-level Clarendon tavern and upstairs dining room puts a creative spin on modern American cuisine with its rustic seasonal menu and well-priced wine and beer lists. Breads, pasta, sausages, and desserts are made in-house, and many ingredients—including beef, pork, and cheeses—are regionally sourced. Weekend buffet-style brunches are best and feature the “Tavern Classics": house-smoked salmon, sautéed mussels with white wine cream, marinated hanger steak, parsnip and apple soup, fried chicken, and mulled apple cider.