Now that the Steel Plate is closed, we are trying Brookland Finest as a potential neighborhood watering hole. The cocktails are good... but I wish the staff were more customer friendly..... nice place all said and done... read more

First impressions are lasting ones and BF is doing it right!

Went to Brookland's on a Friday afternoon for lunch. The service was good, the food as ordered and the server attentive. I had the spaghetti w/ meatballs. The noodles were rather thick (no problem for me) and the dish didn't have enough pasta in my opinion when compared to the size of the meatballs. The meatballs were excellent. Neither tough nor too small, they melted in your mouth. I would definitely recommend them. My friend had the kale salad and the Baltimore Style Pit Beef Sandwich. He's ordered the sandwich previously, so I can only assume he likes it. Fyi the salad is mixed greens w/ dried kale on top, and it's served w/ beets. All in all, it was a quiet lunch w/ good food. They have multiple ice cream types, but no vanilla. Definitely a negative. The service was good, however the restaurant was not busy whatsoever. read more

This was an interesting experience. The restaurant is located in the most random neighborhood, it's far tucked into area that I would not expect to have a good restaurant. Overall atmosphere is nice and staff is friendly. We had two small dishes and a few big entrees and drinks for a group of four. The baby shrimps and grits was amazing (shouldn't be called baby shrimp, they were good size shrimps), it was tasty and cooked very well. Also ordered their mussels which has a unique flavor and cooked very well. The meatball that went along with it really enhanced the taste of the mussels. All of the big entrees were tasty but I find the small dishes to be better. The group had porkchop, burger, fried catfish and sandwich. They were all cooked well but not up to par as the small plates. As for the alcohol, they were strong and good. Definitely get your money worth. Overall, had a great experience there. I would definitely good back one day but may not be that soon because of the location. read more

Owe my i found a gem! Thanks yelp this is an awesome experience! Tasty salmon with very cheesy grits. The spinach is yummy and the pretzels were a welcomed surprise. 5 stars read more

Brookland's finest, from the outside, looks like your typical neighborhood bar & kitchen but their food, is definitely not so 'typical' for a neighborhood joint. This place is one of the best places to go to for a quiet lunch. I read some of the reviews on Yelp and most of them were good so I decided to go there but without expecting anything much. I ordered the seared salmon with grits based on pictures I had seen on Yelp. I was not sure if it was going to be any good, especially with the tobasco beurre blanc sauce that comes with it, since I hate tobasco. But let me tell you, that dish was one of the best salmon dishes I have had in awhile. Oh and the sauce?= perfection. Also, their shrimp Caesar salad was the best Caesar salad I have ever had. The fresh lettuce was charred, which gave it a rich smoky flavor without leaving a bitter after taste. In all, I definitely think I will come back to visit brookland's finest again and to try their pretzel bites and their canolis, which I hear are amazing. Service is great too! read more

Brookland's Finest - Seared salmon with grits and spinach. - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Your to-go presentation is lacking. I ordered this to go and was underwhelmed by its appearance and that it is so small in such a big container. It tastes good just don't feel like eating it now. read more

Brookland's Finest - I haven't started eating - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Amazing food, service, location and atmosphere! I highly recommend the colonel burger and the massive onion rings. So yummy!!!

One of my favorite brunch spots in NE. The offerings are minimal, but literally everything is delicious. The prices are also reasonable and the staff are great. read more

This place is by far one of the best in DC. The food selection it's not overwhelming yet every item will keep you coming back until you've tried them all! The staff is always top notch. They're welcoming ans knowledgeable about the menu and always good for advice (for those who are undecided.) My go-to definitely. read more

food was amazing! A plus for presentation and A plus for flavor! The Salmon sandwich, and there was a special fish taco appetizer with different types of fish and it was literally the best appetizer me and my fiancé ever had. We both agreed and were foodies. Dress code is whatever you want it be most ppl are super casual or like cool date night cute! read more

I really like the atmosphere of this neighborhood place. They have had some good seasonal stuff (love the burrata heirloom tomato salad, and they used to have some sort of a veggie hot pot that I liked in winter). The drinks are great, both cocktails and beer selection. Sitting on the porch on a summer night is delightful, and it's a good place to catch a game in the area (on mute). I've also enjoyed one of the special prix fixe nights where they pair food with drinks, that was delicious and fun and seemed like a good deal. I've also experienced great service. I guess the downsides are that I mostly eat eat vegetarian/gluten-free and it's not as great an option for those types of food. It is also a bit expensive for southern food, and compared to the rest of the neighborhood, but I tend to think most restaurants in DC are overpriced so it may just be me. read more

I had a good time at Brookland's Finest. The atmosphere was nice, the food was good, the service was great, and the drinks are reasonably priced. I will definitely go back again. read more

I work in the area and when I heard of a new dining spot opening I was ecstatic! There are not a lot of genuine/ non-chain restaurants over here, leaving students and other people who are in this area to frequent the same dining establishments. I was amazed when I walked in the door about this hidden gem. The decor is industrial looking, but with a home-like feel with the wooden planks on the ceiling and HVAC duct exposed. I was greeted by two lovely servers and was told about the lunch menu and specials for the day. I was pleasantly surprised when the food arrived (I had lox/salmon with arugula on a toasted bun, the special for the day) about how nice the presentation was and how much food was on the plate. The food tasted better than I expected and I would like to suggest to everyone to get the pretzel bites as an appetizer. The food was fresh and the chips provided with my sandwich were home made. The other person who I ate with had a beet salad, and everything on her plate looked amazing as well. I will definitely be back. I unfortunately wasn't able to sample any of the drinks at the bar, but based off what I have tried so far, I would be inclined to think that they are of the same quality as the food. I definitely think this bar/restaurant is a great addition to the Brookland neighborhood and wish them all the best in the future! read more

LOVED: Mac & cheese Burger BLT Ambiance service Location HATED: Flies Iced tea I would definitely give 5stars but please figure something out about the flies. read more

I wish there was an option to do more than 5 stars! We organized a surprise baby shower for a co worker and despite not taking reservations when I called and spoke with Craig he was more than accommodating for a very large party. We pre-ordered our food and had the whole back wall to ourselves. Our waitress, Claudia was amazing; you would have thought we were a table of two not 22 with the ease in which she handled us. I can not say enough good things about the staff. The menu was large and we all were members of the 'clean plate club' after our lunch. The space itself is wonderful with art on the walls and the outdoor dining area was amazing. I will be back at Brookland's Finest and as a Catholic staff member it is so wonderful to have a fine establishment like this just around the corner. Thank you, thank you! read more

Great spot. Food was excellent and a great neighborhood ambiance. This is a very nice casual neighborhood restaurant. We like exploring the city and this was a great find. read more

Brookland's Finest - Great bar - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

We've just moved from Petworth to the Brookland area and had a neighbor tell us about this spot. Have been twice now: once was a foodie dinner with by business partner, the other for apps with my husband at the bar. Both times we enjoyed the food. It was consistently good, fresh and a very inventive menu. We just were not blown away by that or the service. Some of the food tasted a little greasy (not sure pretzel bites should taste like oil) and we sat for long periods without attention or had a surly someone helping us. I'd probably give it closer to 3.5 stars. We will continue coming back to try different things and look for opportunities to give a better rating next time. read more

Everything you'd want from a neighborhood bar. Good food, great beer and cocktail selection, and friendly service. Loved my burger. Cooked as I ordered, which is tough to find, and topped with pickled onions, which added a pleasant bitterness to the sweetness of bacon. I will be back. read more

I have been twice and the food is really tasty. They also acknowledge birthdays with a complimentary dessert. Service was great and ask for Alyssa as your server. She was so sweet and made sure our food was perfect! read more

Brookland's Finest - Salmon and grits with spinach! - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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This is the definition of a DC neighborhood hideaway. It's tucked away nicely and I wondered where I was going because Brookland's Finest lives on the corner among residential housing. There is street parking available and I didn't have any trouble finding a spot on a Friday night. The place was pretty live. The menu is what i would call eclectic in regards to both cocktail and food options. I like the decor and vibe. Our service was good throughout, consistent attention and water refills. I tried a couple of the cocktails as well as had an appetizer. Starting with the cocktails, I had the Cool J and tasted the Bustin Loose. The Cool J is a gin based that was very smooth and minimally sweet. The tartness from the lime juice and cooling from the cucumber was in the forefront. The gin was actually very subtle. The Bustin Loose was a much more flavorful cocktail and had a little sweetness to it but the Rye still stood out. They serve their cocktails on crushed ice which does water down your drink much faster than a singular large piece of ice but you may be able to ask for less ice which might bring out the flavors in your cocktail a little bit more. I had the salmon pate bruschetta which was very good. I also tried one of their stuffed blossoms which was delicious. I can't remember the cheese(s) that they used but it was fantastic. As far as neighborhood bars go this is a dope spot that's worth checking out. read more

First time exploring D.C. and came here on a date. Everything was spectacular (as far as brunch can be spectacular). I had the Finest Breakfast Burger, he had the chicken and waffles. We also drank quite a bit... ::cough::. My burger was delicious, well constructed and quality ingredients. His chicken and waffles were also good. Drinks were more champagne than not (score). Really had no complaints. Date is a regular here and said he's never had anything that wasn't well made. Really no complaints, looking forward to coming back when it is warmer out and sitting outside. Service, cleanliness, "ambiance" were all good. Definite must try. read more

Came here on Easter Sunday with my boyfriend and my dog to enjoy the beautiful weather and let me say I was extremely happy that there wasn't a wait to be seated, unlike some of the other places we had called to. We sat on the patio outside since I had my dog and had to keep him outside the technical patio area. They happily gave me a little bowl of water though so I was definitely appreciative. I ordered the Colonel Shrimp and Grits and though the grits were definitely cheesy (like you can taste the sharp cheddar pretty easily and I wasn't ready for it on the first bite) taken together, it was a really good dish. Definitely best to eat everything together so you get the cheese of the grits with the flavor of the sausage and shrimp and freshness of the tomatoes. I also got a mimosa and once I got about halfway through I asked for some more juice as they happily gave the champagne in it (I'm very sensitive to alcohol as well so that's just my preference) My boyfriend got the Solly' s prime rib and loved it. He asked for it medium rare and it came out cooked perfectly. The hash was different but still delicious according to him. He also ordered a sweet tea but wasn't too satisfied with it. Overall, it was a great place and a solid location for Sunday brunch on a beautiful day read more

One of my five stand by spots. Good food. Everything on the menu is worth trying. Just two tiny things... once you visit a few times you are just coming back b/c it is in your neighborhood and you love the food. I truly wish they would add new entrees to pique the interest of regulars. Second thing- the tables ... waaaay too close. I mean you really get to know the people next to you. I accidentally spilled water on the priest next to me and now I know they too can give death threat stares. Bless me Father for I have dined and sinned. read more

A great menu! Definitely one of the best places I've been to in the Brookland area. Would definitely return and if I lived nearby I could go every weekend. read more

I visited this spot yesterday and it was by far the best meal I've had in a while. I had an appetizer , main course and dessert which is rare. And all three were amazing! The deviled eggs were seasoned just right. I had the shrimp and grits and they were cooked soft enough to eat and not too gritty. Very good blend of spices in the seasoning of the shrimp. And I had the peach cobbler which was ON POINT. delicious. And service was excellent, I wish i could remember what the waiter's name was. He was attentive and very personable. I will definitely be visiting every time I come to DC! read more

Brookland's Finest - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Refreshing spot for after work drinks and a bite to eat! Sitting outside on the patio, sipping a crisp glass of white wine and enjoying any of the delicious items on the menu is a great way to end the day, especially when you save room for the Mom ease beignets! read more

Ended up staying at an Airbnb in Brookland in DC and just fell in love with the neighborhood. All the places we went were top notch and this was no different. We stopped in at Brunch, We were there right when they opened so easily sat. But the people slowly started to fill the place of this gem. We started with the pretzel bites. These tasted more like French toast bites to me as they weren't as dense as pretzels I'm accustomed to. They were alright but the previous reviews had me expecting much more. I've had better soft pretzels elsewhere. My friend, more the basic type, just got the basic breakfast. He was very pleased. The hash browns were very interesting and delicious. The fruit bowl that came with it wasn't an afterthought as in some places. This was beautiful, fresh fruit. I got the breakfast club sandwich. It's on French toast. As I'm more a savory over sweet I was hesitant but it was awesome. Not sweet at all. The menu has lots of really cool options. I'm sad I don't get to DC much but am glad I stumbled onto this place. read more

First day of football season. It was close to noon and I still had a taste for breakfast so I decided to check them out. The area is nice, setup is ideal for sports lovers, (numerous TVs and a nice bar) and the staff was friendly. I ordered the shrimp and grits, and while the food was DELICIOUS, probably the best grits that I've ever had, it was a very small portion. That's how good those grits were, even eating that small portion, I was able to come to that conclusion. I was surprised because I was expecting a larger portion. Other breakfast/brunch spots have given larger portions for less so this was disappointing. I would go back but not in the immediate future. read more

Amazing food with awesome service. I've been here for dinner a few times and always been impressed with the food. Appetizers and entrees are the way to go. Great portion size and somehow it always tastes better than I expect it to. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is the dessert is not the best. After eating a delicious meal here you may want to get dessert assuming it will be on the same level...don't. Just stick with dinner. If you absolutely love dessert, go for the ice cream...it's solid. read more

Probably my favorite spot to eat at in NE DC and maybe even all of DC. Very laid back and friendly. But the food is so damn good . Great service which I have to attribute to the manger Craig who I made sure to speak with on how great it is every time I come here. The food and drinks are amazing! Jolm is the bartender with the dreads and normally make some of the best drinks you will get a chance to try. Everyone is very friendly . Great place to eat all year round, but especially when it is warm outside! They change the menu a couple of times with the season, but all the food is great. read more

This is a busy place on a Friday night. Indoor and outdoor seating. Unfortunately they have a policy of seating you only at a table based on the number in your party. So we were a party of two had a long 45 minute wait while table of 4 who came after us was seated as they will not put 2 people on a table of 4. There are more tables for 4 than 2's. Luckily there is a small bench to wait. My premium margarita cocktail was not too good. Now for the good part. When we got to the table our waiter was great, and the food was very good. I had the pork chop and it was perfectly cooked and seasoned. We also had the saute/ roased Brussells one of my favorite, and the fries are good too, fresh cut and I think double fried. I wil be back, but probably not on a Friday unless there are 4 of us. read more

Well well well .. where should i start?? My friends and i were looking for a new place to go for dinner...after debating we picked Brookland's finest because it was new .. we drove there ..Street parking was easy ..walked in and waited to b seated .. our server Jordan was very nice and knowledgeable. We ordered lardon mac and cheese ,parchetta and Zach had a colonel burger. . Everything was just amazingly good . The restaurant decor is very cute mix of industrial and southern influence. Overall great place to eat and great neighborhood gem read more

Brookland's Finest - Bacon mac &cheese - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This is normally one of my favorite places in the area! However, had a horrible brunch experience this morning that will make me think twice about returning. We ordered the steak special and a burger. Took about a half an hour for the food to arrive (there were only about 3 other tables seated at the time). Steak arrived - half of it was inedible fat. Burger and bacon was undercooked. We alerted our waiter, who offered a free mimosa or dessert. We politely declined and asked for our bill to discover that they had taken off no portion of our total. Such a disappointment, uncomfortable experience. Will probably not return. read more

So we are incredibly fortunate to have a wonderful top shelf restaurant about 4 blocks from where we live... And it sure helps that Brookland's Finest creates bite after bite of perfect delight and sometimes whimsical fancy... There two nights ago, and enjoyed the pork wing BBQ appetizer... Savory , yummy.. And yep, pig tails smoked perfectly.. Onion Rings.. Giant crispy crunchy treats.. The charcuterie plate with fennel salami , house spiced nuts.. Artisanal cheeses with local honey .. Who would have thought? I had the Lamb chops.. Cheddar- cauliflower purée and sautéed spinach with steamed snow peas..big portions.. The BBQ pork ribs with accompanying bacon Mac And Cheese.. And greens.. Spinach.. With a choice of BBQ sauce.. Fall off the bone lip smacking good.. And enough for leftovers to go.. The housemates were very happy! Desserts here are true wonders too.. One of the best if not the best Lemon Tart I ever had.. Served with a scoop of lemon Sorbet.. Plus the Rice Krispie Smoore with graham cracker ice cream and SMOKED Chocolate sauce .. Yes, smoked chocolate sauce.. Omg.. So good.. This place is a true gem and more than fills the void left by colonel Brooks.. This food is leaps and bounds above that.. Fine dinning .. Right here in friendly diverse Brookland.. read more

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Recommended by a friend to try it. Absolutely fabulous!! Great atmosphere, amazing food. So glad it was brought to our attention. Wish I wasn't just visiting, would eat their often! read more

Great place! We went for brunch. Great space, nice bartender and fantastic coffee. I had the French toast egg sandwich and it was great. The potato hash was also awesome, well seasoned, perfectly fried. We will be back. read more

This is a cute neighborhood pub with good food. I truly enjoyed the bold flavors in the shrimp and grits entree. It was very good. However, it did leave you wanting for more. I also had a drink and believe me, they are not skimping on the alcohol here. read more

Solid neighborhood spot. Pretty good food, the smoked wings on the late night are the shit though. I wish they had them on the regular menu. But the staff is all super chill & it's two blocks from the crib so I can't beat it. And Primrose has a stick stuck up their dick so fuck them, I'll spend my money here read more

I don't know why this burger was on some publication's top ten list, but it really wasn't that good. It's pretty basic and classic, with bacon and cheddar. The bun was good. There just wasn't anything special about it. The fries weren't that good either and got cold in 5 minutes. The salmon sandwich was much better. It was on good Texas toast but I think it would have been better on a bun. The sauce they put on it was good and it was well cooked to a medium. They have a good looking menu, so I guess I just ordered wrong. All their small plates looked interesting. They have lots of good beers on tap. The rum lunch we got was delicious but didn't taste or feel like it had very much rum in it. On a Friday at 8 out wait time was 15 minutes for 2 people. The service was really friendly but he didn't even offer us a dessert menu, just kept on asking us if we were all set. read more