Definitely a no frills place. Busy as hell and we came around 12:30 on a Saturday. Line wrapped around the center table but moves super fast. Note: I did see that a lot of people were "saving seats" which is technically a no no but that's fine, not a big deal. The turnover is pretty fast and we got seats right after we ordered. I got the Brick (sausage, egg, cheese) breakfast sandwich and shared the blueberry buckwheat pancakes. The sandwich was good - nothing spectacular and nothing to complain about. I intermittently doused ketchup on mine because tbh it was a little dry. Still would eat, and much cheaper than other breakfast sandwiches I've had in dc. BUT. GUYS. The REAL star is the blueberry buckwheat pancakes. I didn't even get a picture because I was too busy slathering butter on them. Those are the real deal. Maple syrup on the side and perfect pats of butter. Amazing. Would come back for the pancakes alone. Will try other things on the menu though! read more

Market Lunch - The Brick - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Solid breakfast spot that gets pretty busy but worth the wait! The blueberry buckwheat pancakes are delicious and it's 100% worth it to pay the extra price for real maple syrup. read more

Market Lunch - Top Johnny cake, bottom Blueberry Buckwheat pancake - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Got there right when it opened for breakfast. Shrimp and grits were delicious. Kids loved the pancakes whjch were fantastic too! Great atmosphere. read more

We walked over from our airbnb. My wife had the blueberry pancakes. She said they were really good, she did say mine were better( LOL). I make some amazing fluffy buttermilk pancakes. I tried some of hers and they were tasty, very reasonably priced too. I had the breakfast sandwich that came with potatoes. I wanted scrambled egg instead of fried and they happily obliged. I wish the roll would have been softer or would have been buttered. It was a bit dry. I also ordered the grits. I grew up in S. FL. I love grits, I love grits from a mill and these come from NC. They were so buttery and delicious. I wish they had spoons at this restaurant. Its hard to eat grits with a fork. read more

When I awoke on my first free day in DC, looking for breakfast, I was craving pancakes and search Yelp for the best in the area. It brought me to this place. Their blueberry buckwheat pancake is apparently a thing of legends. What I didn't realize was all of the other tempting things that we're going to be on the menu trying to sway me away from the pancake. I was really tempted to order one of the many grits dishes, but I had taken a train and walked quite a bit for this pancake. I needed to stay focused. You order at the counter here, and there is a large communal table where the hostess will seat you. Don't try to seat yourself, that does not make the hostess happy. I got my coffee and waited in my assigned spot for my pancakes, commiserating with the locals about what to do in the area. Finally my pancakes arrived and yes, they were quite tasty. Best I've ever had? It's hard to beat my hometown spot, Homeskillet, for amazing pancakes. But these were right up there. The buckwheat gave them sort of a nutty, possibly even healthy, consistency and flavor. And the blueberries were fresh and plentiful. I was sure to pay extra for the real maple syrup, which made them extra sweet. Would I go back here again? Probably, if I was in the area. It was far from my hotel, but a fun adventure to get there. If I went back I would definitely order one of the tempting looking grits entrées. A few people around me had ordered grits and it looked amazing? read more

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After considering several breakfast / brunch locations in the DC area, my family and I decided to try The Market Lunch based on location and online menu. After locating it in the Eastern Market, we were at first going to try another location because of the long line but decided to stay and to give it a try based on menu and clearly happy customers eating at the long table in front register. Glad we decided to stay! We ordered shrimp and grits, blueberry pancakes with bacon and chocolate chip pancakes. Food was amazing and I would absolutely come back and order it again. Great Job to Tom and the Market Lunch Team. read more

Market Lunch - The Market Lunch - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The crab cake benedict is really lovely. The crab meat is just really flavorful - all you could ask for! Grits on the side were a little plain for my liking but good. You could get cheesy, spicy or regular grits. The sweet iced tea hit the spot as well! One downside, not a lot of seating. They have a not very well enforced system of youre only supposed to sit if you already have your food but half of the table wasn't doing that. And when someone complained and they asked people to get up, they ignored them and didn't move. Just keep in mind it's located within a market so on the weekend it gets busy! The line moved pretty quick and wait for food also wasn't too long. read more

Market Lunch - a plate of food and a fork - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The blueberry buckwheat pancakes are absolutely delicious. Be prepared to wait on the weekends, and if you're in a group, you might struggle to find a seat. However, rest assured there's a line for a reason! The food is GOOD. It's no frills, just flavor. Breakfast as it should be. read more

Market Lunch - Blueberry Buckwheat Pancakes - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I don't think my review of the Crab Cake Eggs Benedict can do it Justice. People may have heard my moans while I was eating it. And the potatoes with it were equally as great. The dish was $23 but worth every penny. I also decided to the get the blueberry buckwheat pancakes and they were excellent as well. The line can get long but it's worth the wait. It's inside a market and can be hard to get a seat. I got mine to go and ate it elsewhere. It's a cool market as well. read more

Very good! Doesn't look like much when you first walk up but everything was made hot and fried fresh. The crab cake and shrimp platter was quite a bit of food. The side dishes were also tasty. Very small dining area but it serves its purpose. Good place to grab some quick fried seafood. read more

Market Lunch - Shrimp and crab cake platter with cucumber salad and fries - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Eaten here twice so far. It's the real deal. They close at 2:30. Do not come late! I've have the crab cake sammy and now todays special rockfish sammy. Cucumber salad was in point. Very vinegary just like it's supposed to be. If I could find anything to say it would be the slaw is obviously gown in a robochop but on the upside it's perfect to dress a sandwich with. It's delicious also. My fish was perfectly cooked. Not greasy and hot enough to burn my mouth. The buns are generous and fresh. Did you look at the effing tomato? I could eat that beauty on the bun with the tartar all by it self. Staff smiles, they joke with each other, they clean and shout out the order numbers. It's perfect. Noisy, real and delicious. read more

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I cannot emphasize enough how much I love Market Lunch pancakes. These bad boys are massive, fluffy, and gosh darn delicious. Plus, they're not sold for an exorbitant price, which is always welcome. I always get the blueberry buckwheat pancakes and am always, and I mean always, happy with that choice. I'm sure they have other awesome food too, but I just love the pancakes too much to try anything else. With speedy service and plenty of spots to sit, it's the perfect place to grab a bite during your next Eastern Market stroll! read more

Market Lunch - Blueberry Buckwheat Pancakes - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Delicious French toast and great price. No frills, very casual. Limited seating (just the one communal table). Walking distance to the Capitol building & a neat bookstore read more

Market Lunch - French Toast - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Affordable no frills breakfast in Eastern Market. The blueberry buckwheat pancakes have plenty of blueberries and are buttery and fluffy. The French toast is also very fluffy and tasty. Breakfast potatoes are made from red potatoes and are delicious. Seating is limited and everything is made to order so it takes a few minutes. Definitely worth a try. read more

Went there Saturday morning for breakfast, when the Eastern Market opened. Not so busy right after 9am, more people before 10am. But the service was quick. Eggs different style, Benedict on weekends, pancakes seemed juicy, but no more room after the bacon and eggs with grits. Table commune, great neighborhood atmosphere, chats across the table. read more

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I've been going to Market Lunch ever since I moved to Capitol Hill in 1973, and loving it since then too! Great food and a great place to watch all the activity at Eastern Market! read more

Reviews don't lie. Buckwheat Blueberry Pancakes... I'm addicted. These things are good. Big, fluffy, yummy, and inexpensive. I will forever come back for these, and the butter and syrup on top....just freaking amazing. I came here around 10am. Place was packed, the line definitely took about 20/30 minutes, but honestly, I wasn't annoyed. The staff does a great job of making sure you'll find a seat, whether it's inside or outside. The guy at the register is great, talks to everyone, and also keeps the line moving! We ordered the buckwheat blueberry pancakes, the French toast, and a bacon/egg/cheese sandwich. I've already talked about the pancakes, it's a must. We actually could have done without the french toast. We got it with fruit and whip cream. We weren't crazy about the French toast, and thought it was over priced. Could has used more flavoring and egg IMO. The sandwich was also okay, we thought it was a bit dry, but it was still good. The pancakes and atmosphere really led me to the 4 stars. I'll be back :) read more

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The pancakes are awesome however as of today, they will not give you crispy bacon. Thats ludicrous because the bacon has a great deal of fat. Quite disappointing. Seems like its a way of weeding out certain people. Disallowing this small gesture is disappointing. read more

The only reason they didn't get the 5th star was for the customer service from the cashier. Even though we lived here at Eastern Market 20 years ago and this venue was around way back then, we never dined here before. Our questions were received poorly as if what planet were we from that we needed any detail about any dish. We arrived at around 0800 on a Friday and there was no line at all and we managed to get a couple of stools at the counter. So despite the cashier's terseness we were feeling pretty good that we were finally going to get to try the crab cakes that everyone raves about. Because we had missed out on dining here for all those years, we also splurged on a short stack of pancakes which are huge. I have to say I now understand why people wait in long lines on the weekends. This was one of the top 5 crab cakes I've tasted in my life. Hardly any filler and seasoned with a good amount of creole spices. It was a healthy sized crab cake and well worth the price of around $16 to include breakfast potatoes and 2 eggs prepared any style. It also came with homemade biscuits but because we were eating pancakes too, the biscuits were relegated to last place and not consumed. They do have real maple syrup available for an upcharge of $2.25. Also, be aware that the benedicts are served on the weekends only. After we devoured the crab cake we realized it was a good thing we didn't get it benedict style as it stands alone quite well and doesn't need a hollandaise sauce at all. read more

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Fantastic place. Been going for decades. Try the rockfish plate. Everything there is good.

I am taking care of a friend who is recovering from major surgery and ran out to pick up brunch for her. As you can see from the photo, the website clearly says to call and a server will come out to take your order. This would've been very convenient given the crowds in the area on Saturday. However when I arrived and called, the person on the phone said " we don't do that". This is frustrating because I wasted time coming here and would have chosen a different place with curbside service. The line to even get inside of the market is very long so waiting here is not even an option and I now have to scramble for a plan b. Please update your site! And don't be rude as if I'm making up the request to come out and take my order! I was literally following the directions on YOUR site! read more

Market Lunch - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Market Lunch was one of my favorite stops for food in DC on a recent trip. Located in Eastern Market, it is very busy but the line moves fast and there was still seating available, mostly at a communal table. However, all the patrons were super friendly. The menu is diverse but not too long. They're known for their fresh caught fish breakfasts, but that wasn't really what I was looking for at 9am. I got the blue bucks pancakes that are also highly recommended- blueberries in their buckwheat pancake mix. They were made fresh and delicious. The upcharge to Maple syrup was well worth it and prices were reasonable. The guy at the front taking orders was really entertaining, friendly and helpful and clearly loves his job. He was part of the reason they earned five stars for sure. I also ordered their orange juice which was supposedly fresh squeezed, but was really light on the pulp, so I'm not so sure. My eggs were cooked exactly to order and my dining partner also liked his meal. They have lots of condiments available and overall this was one of the better decisions I made in food selection in DC. Would return and recommend for sure. read more

The food is just consistently delicious. You'll need to stand in line, but it moves quickly and they're calling orders for pickup at about the same pace they're taking them. Highly recommend the corned beef hash (the meat is long and shredded here, think carnitas style) and the blueberry buckwheat pancakes. The crab cakes are also FULL of crab and not to be missed. read more

"You need to get the blueberry pancakes" said the owner... after I tried to order an omelette. I don't think I've ever been told what to order so boldly like that before. The owner was passionate and beckoned to the awards on the wall they've received for those 'cakes. Okay fine, I'll take a side order. The owner and staff were all yelling orders in a fun and enthusiastic way. He just texted her to edit almost everyone's orders so that they had the chance to try his signature items. It was pretty funny and we finally ordered just one pancake to go with our egg omelettes and sandwiches. "You get a syrup for free!" He proclaimed, even though I'm pretty sure it was free. Lol. Thanks! There was a longggg line at this breakfast stand located in the East Market in Washington DC. My friend told us it's a favorite breakfast spot in the city, so we were excited to try it. They also had delicious looking fish and crab cake dishes in addition to breakfast. There's only a few seats available inside at a long bar table, however there's lots of picnic tables outside the market as well. One of the employees behind the counter came out to save us seats which was super nice. He even came outside to check in and make sure we had everything we needed. The pancakes were my favorite... noted!! The asparagus omelette had too much asparagus in it (like almost all of it), so I'd go for the breakfast sandwich or pancakes next time. read more

IF you like pancakes, and the open market counter experience, then come here. After waiting in line, I have to say I was underwhelmed with the other breakfast dishes (other than the pancakes & chicken/waffles, which were great!). It was good but I ended up wishing I had sampled the other counters in the market instead of having a whole meal at this one. That being said, the pancakes are quite good and everyone enjoyed their meal. Just not sure I'd return or recommend b/c of the line and limited seating. read more

Everything I've eaten here has been AWESOME! Blueberry buckwheat pancakes, crab cake, soft shell crab, shrimp and grits. Came here twice for breakfast during our trip and glad I had family with me so I could try more things. Wish I lived closer so I could eat here regularly, but just as well I don't gain the extra 10 lbs! read more

Market Lunch - Soft Shell Crab and Crab Cake a la carte - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

As much as I would love to give this establishment 5 stars for its amazing food and lovely staff and service, I'm reducing it to do 2 because if it's asshole of an owner. My girlfriends parents are in town and while walking in Eastern Market, her mother tripped and fell thus prompting us to head inside and sit down. We were going to order food anyway. My girlfriend gets in line to order food when the owner comes to the table, slams his hands down and says "this is the deal!, this table is for market lunch only." I explained that my girlfriend was in line purchasing food and he proceeded to roll his eyes, turn around, and point at the sign. You could have approached the situation in more professional manner and seek to understand. Instead you chose to disrespect myself, my girlfriend, and her family in front of a packed place on a Saturday. Had I put you on your ass you would have called the police but I chose a more respectful way of doing things while leaving your establishment and STILL bought food because at the end of the day, it's not your workers fault to be held responsible for the actions of a man child owner read more

As I continue to try new places in my neighborhood, I thought I would stop into Market Lunch for late breakfast following a run. I lucked out and got in line when the line was fairly short, but it got very long behind me. Don't come here in a rush! I waited patiently in line, and a younger man came up to me asking what I wanted to drink while I waited. He ended up selling me on 8 oz. of Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice ($2.95), and he was very personable and polite. When I got up to the cash register, there was a very savy older man chatting it up with everyone and trying to make sure everyone had an excellent brunch experience. It was also so personable. I ended up ordering Two Blueberry Buckwheat Pancakes ($6.25) and Fresh Maple Syrup ($2.95). The pancakes were good, and there was enough maple syrup leftover that my roommate used it on frozen waffles for a week. I enjoyed my food, but the service would be more likely to bring me back than the food. read more

Market Lunch - Blueberry Buckwheat Pancakes (2 for $6.25) and Maple Syrup ($2.95) - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Now I may be a tad bit bias when it comes down to breakfast at this spot. My tastebuds are partial to this place because as a youth, my hip, debonair, bachelor father wasn't cooking breakfast for me often, and would bring me to @marketlunch occasionally. This is where I forked through their thick cut, French bread, French toast (pictured with sweet butter, and maple syrup $7.50) for the first time, and became infatuated!! So for breakfast (Tues-Thurs 8 a.m.-11 a.m., Fri-Sat 8: a.m.-1 p.m., Sun-9 a.m.-1 p.m.) you can get a stack of pancakes, egg or crab cake Benedict's (weekends only), Bacon, Turkey bacon, ham, scrapple (pictured-$3.25), or pork sausages as a side or in a sandwich with eggs. They have omelets that come with spinach and cheese, or platters like their crab cake platter (served with 2 eggs, grits or potatoes and toast). After all these years it dawned on me as I'm writing this...that I've NEVER had the LUNCH at Market Lunch!! For lunch they have crab cake, Rockfish, fried oyster, shrimp, whiting, or flounder platters, that come with 2 sides (which include coleslaw, fries, baked beans, collard greens, and more). You can turn that surf into a sandwich, and their turf (burgers) for lunch too! I copped what I've ALWAYS got!! Their breakfast platter with bacon, cheese eggs, cheese grits ($12.90), a side of scrapple, and my beloved French toast with a lemonade!! STAMP EVERYTHING!! I've been getting this same meal for years, and the formula that initially drew me in is still there!! There is integrity in their food, let alone deliciousness. In my opinion, this is the BEST BREAKFAST you can get in D.C. period!! Crispy house made bacon, just right grits, thin but meaty scrapple, and scrambled eggs that are close to perfection!! Don't think so? Try it!! Change my mind!! That's it. #Bestbreakfast #EasternMarket #Bigschlimsrrviews #bacon #cheeseeggs #scrapple #cheesegrits #frenchbreadfrenchtoast #localmaplesyrup #deliciousness #nostalgic #goideats #fightme #tryit #thatsit read more

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Market Lunch is a Capitol Hill classic. Situated in the historic Eastern Market building right on Capitol Hill, it's always a local favorite. The man who owns it is a quirky guy who's provided great breakfast and lunch to Capitol Hill for years. He serves up some classic American items like french toast, fried green tomatoes, and pancakes (People LOVE the blueberry buckwheat pancakes). If you're not a local and used to the hustle and bustle of DC, you may be a little overwhelmed so prepare yourself. There is always a line (though it moves fast) and people crowd around you the entire time. Ordering (It's cash only) is always fast paced and seating is quick. There's one long table right where you order or picnic tables outside or tables in the back room of Eastern Market. All seating is first come first serve. If you want a unique local experience, come here! If you are easily overwhelmed, try getting a reservation at nearby Ted's Bulletin. read more

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Crab cake Benedict! Best crab cakes I ever had. Blueberry pancakes delicious. My sister and I were visiting from Cali and are so happy we ate here. At first I was concerned about the price of the crab cake Benedict. It's because they use real crab meat. Thick crab cakes. Lightly breaded. Crispy on the outside. Tasted fantastic. I recommend this place. It does get busy and seating is limited but so worth it. read more

Market Lunch is great. The owner is super friendly and chatty which kinda holds the line up a bit, but I love it anyway. Today I had a crab cake platter with green beans and slaw. I don't normally get crab cakes because I like crab meat straight from a crab -- maybe that's partly cuz I grew up in Murlind. Who knows. Anyway, this crab cake was delicious. The crab was sweet with very little filler and a really thin tasty crust. It came with a huge roll which was good enough. The coleslaw was fresh without too much mayo and the green beans were surprisingly tasty and seasoned well. They understand seasoning here. I also tried my friend's fried green tomatoes and it also had a nice thin crispy cornmeal crust which was super tasty. If you're in the market, it's a good bet for lunch. I've clearly gotta try the breakfasts here. read more

Market Lunch - Crab cake platter, cole slaw, green beans - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I'd give this place a solid 3 1/2 stars if I could, but silly yelp won't let me! My sister has always raved about this place, and since I found myself in the Eastern Market area on Saturday morning with an hour to kill before meeting friends, I decided to grab some breakfast. I really wanted to try the fried green tomatoes but they didn't have them, so I went with the crab cake breakfast. It came with a decent sized crabcake, lots of crab, no filler, two eggs, potatoes, and bread. The eggs were cooked perfectly - and honestly doing eggs over medium must be harder than it seems because I almost never get them done correctly! The crab cake was good, and I enjoyed the potatoes, although they definitely tasted better than they looked! The price is steep in my mind for this type of place, but the staff was friendly, so I can't complain too much. Next time I'm back hopefully they have the tomatoes! read more

Market Lunch - Crab cake breakfast - the potatoes definitely tasted better than they looked! - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I ordered the cod platter with fries and fried green tomatoes. It turned out to be an excellent choice. The cod was my favorite part - there was a nice crusty exterior, but best of all, the fish tasted amazing. Flaky, yet moist, goodness. They only gave me one piece of fish, though - I felt a little shafted by that, seeing as how people who ordered the whiting got three pieces. The fries were not bad and the fried green tomatoes were thicker than I would have liked, but it was all tasty. I tried some of their crab cake sandwich, which was also quite good. Nice lumps of crab, which to me is a good sign. I liked the cod better, though. Not much seating, and it was super busy, but I guess that's the baggage that comes with serving up a tasty meal. read more

Market Lunch - Cod with french fries and fried green tomatoes. - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

When you're on the hunt for a great crab cake in DC--Market Lunch is the place to go. This was a pretty great value crab cake sandwich with a mandatory glass of sweet tea (with free refill) on a recent visit to Eastern Market. The crab cake is fresh, with little filler, and served with fresh tomato slices, side of coleslaw and lemon. I appreciated the Old Bay shaker that was available to make it even more authentic. The only downside to the sandwich was a cold sandwich bun that held a piping hot crab cake. The staff was friendly. The wait time was minimal. The dining area offered plenty of seats to take in the passing sights and sounds of DC's Eastern Market. read more

Market Lunch - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I love a good authentic breakfast joint with no frills or fuss. Market Lunch churns out a huuuuge selection of breakfast items (and lunch menu!!!) bright and early. I came around 9am on a Saturday and the line was long, but not crazy long. They are known for their blueberry buckwheat pancakes and they do not disappoint!! However, their spicy grits really stole my heart. Everything tasted fresh and right off the stovetop. They are CASHLESS, which honestly is one of my indications that their food is good and they dont mess around. Definitely check out this place if you're at Eastern Market. read more

Market Lunch - Rockfish with spicy grits and scrambled eggs - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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We have traveled to DC and are staying in the Capitol Hill area. With all of these choices at our disposal, it is telling that we ate here 3 times. This is quite a popular spot, and they take your order / call you up for your food very efficiently. Seating is hard to come by, and you cannot wait for your food at the communal table/bar but that is what comes with ordering at a marketplace. The pancakes earn their reputation; the crab cakes were delicious and I was sincerely jealous of the vegetable omelet and grits my dad ordered (but not enough to give up my pancakes!) read more

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The blueberry pancakes are outstanding, parking and seating is a little tight but the food makes it worth the visit.

I've wanted to try this place for a while, and I wish I had done it sooner! The French toast and scrapple were terrific. read more

Market Lunch - French Toast Delaware Scrapple - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Expect a line unless you come extremely early. The line looped around to the other room! But was it worth the wait??? All I gotta say is HELL YEAH!! For the prices you pay, you get your money's worth plus so much more! The bluebuck pancakes were great! Fresh blueberries in the pancakes packed w/ 20% buckwheat? Yum!!! So delicious when topped w/ pecans & hot syrup. Too bad we came too late :( My boyfriend couldn't order the oyster benedict because they ran out. So instead, he ordered the crabcake breakfast. But hot damn, that crabcake was POPPING w/ flavor!! Full bits of crab. The natural taste of the crab was just enhanced in that crabcake unlike others I've tasted. Most restaurants try to stuff their crabcakes w/ herbs & spices but Market Lunch did the crabcake right! Service is quick & efficient. Market Lunch is more like an order-to-go type of place. Great though for a quick bite despite the long line! read more

Market Lunch - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia