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    Open City

    3.5 (1.9k reviews)
    ModerateAmerican, Diners, Pizza
    Open 7:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated 2 weeks ago

    Open City Photos

    Business Info

    OPEN CITY ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Open City

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    Reviews With Photos

    Vanilla Latte
    Heather A.

    We decided to try breakfast at this spot since it's right by the Omni Shoreham where we are staying. I'd seen the reviews about the lattes so I had to try one. It was served in a large cup and it was so good. The animal cracker served on the side was a cute touch! We ordered the bagel breakfast sandwich and I was impressed with the portion (egg, cheese and bacon). So good! I believe the bagels are made fresh there each morning. We saw lots of other breakfast items coming out and everything looked delicious! Our server was spread a little thin so I'd give the service a 4/5. Otherwise- a great experience! Seating choices- outdoor or indoor.

    Calvert Club Sándwich and Fries
    Justis T.

    It's been several years since I last stopped by Open City on Calvert Street NW. It's just as friendly, accessible, and good as I remember it. This time we stopped by for lunch on Friday afternoon. There was no wait. It was quite cold outside, so outdoor seating was out, but the grilled cheese and tomato basil soup (ordered by my companion) hit the spot and was perfectly portioned for him. My club sandwich was quite large, so I only ate half of the plate and boxed up the rest to eat later. The food was delicious, the service was quick, and the price was reasonable. Even to this day, it can get very busy here on the weekends, so I recommend trying to arrive before the brunch rush or hit Open City up on another day. Otherwise, be prepared to wait.

    Mango Habanero Lemonade for the DC humidity
    Monica S.

    The place is super cutesy. The menu is quite nice tbh but the service is dismal. I mean they are usually busy but I really have to get up and wave and someone will come but they aren't mean or rude about it. They always acknowledge that they were busy or they forgot to check in (I have been here 4 times by now) Now, Don't get me wrong.. the one star that I took off is not because of the service but it's a bit weird to mandatorily put 10% service charge AND ask for tips! And that too they never give you a bill to sign or see an itemized receipt. They get their handheld device/tab.. announce the amount and tap the card AND then flip the machine to add tip. At this point what do you do? No tip? And risk getting dirty looks! I mean it's a nice place but please go with expectations set right.

    Chicken Mac and cheese
    Erica R.

    This place is so cute and so YUMMY!!! The food is a 10000/10, and the service is just as great! Even when they were super duper busy, they still managed to get things out at a reasonable pace. I came to DC for a conference and paid this place a visit for dinner and kept coming back for breakfast and dinner! I wish that I had a place like this back home. LOVED IT!

    Karla V.

    I'm not sure why it took me so long to try this place! Open City is a cute and cozy spot for breakfast, lunch or dinner. What I love is they have all day bfast - my fav meal of the day. I'd say it's pretty affordable and comparable to a Silver Diner though with Betty quality food. Beware though, they may have a long minute wait during brunch hours.

    Ameena A.

    Popped in here for a to-go latte when I was in the nearby area for a conference. (I didn't sit down or get a full meal.) It was extremely busy when I went in, so service was slower - I guess to be expected with how busy it was. I enjoyed my latte! One thing I was perusing and wish they had was more to-go gluten free pastry options. Nothing too amazing to say, nothing awful to say either!

    steak frites
    Isabella C.

    Made a pit stop here after the zoo! There's a ton of seating, and this is a cute, open layout place with super friendly waiters. I thought the menu was priced very fairly, and good portions. I loved my turkey club- it was super filling and fresh! The fries were delicious as well. The steak was cooked perfectly with a nice side salad. I thought the hashbrown square was okay- worth trying if included but I wouldn't go out of my way to order it again.

    Amy C.

    Much larger servings than I expected, service was good, long wait for food after ordering, definitely would have liked to know when ordering how long it would be for sandwich in fries. There's lots of seating in here in various places, and views of the city!

    Coffee and animal crackers before I order something like chicken and waffles!
    Margaret H.

    This is the place to go in Woodley Park if you want a place that is not bougie nor a greasy dive/hole in the wall. The place is clean with high, high ceilings. It has three distinct dining areas - cozy indoor main room, a spectacular and spacious sun room and a substantial outdoor seating area. Depending on the season and the weather, you can find something more than suitable. The drip coffee comes with two charming animal crackers. The menu has a lot of options. The chicken and waffles were good. My friends who live in the neighborhood also recommend the Royale special and their Hash browns. Service was warm but not especially attentive. I will be back!

    Crispy Brussels Sprouts  - honey, pine nuts, lemon aioli and brown butter
    Rosana S.

    If you're staying at the OMNI Shoreham Hotel in D.C., check out this spot. And if you're not staying there, do yourself a favour and still check out this spot! The staff are friendly and attentive, and the drinks pack a punch--try the lavender cocktail, it's a 9/10, missing that 1 cause it was too little! Skip the usual bar snacks and go for the Brussels sprouts. Even if you're not a fan of brussel sprouts like me, these crispy, flavorful bites might just change your mind. I would definitely book a flight back to D.C just to have these again! Highly recommended! Only con I can think of is that sitting outside is a big nono, unless you're fully covered up or it isn't mosquito season! The mosquitos got every exposed surface and I was itchy and had 20+ mosquito bites :/

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    20 days ago

    Ordered breakfast and our food came before our coffee even showed up 15 mins later. Food was ok nothing great. Staff wasn't the friendliest.

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    3 months ago

    They don't answer the phone . I been going here because it's close to work . It's a hit or miss . Inconsistent service.

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    Page 1 of 48

    Open City Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Open City

    Are there restrooms on the main floor for someone using a walker?

    No but I believe they do have a lift stairs are steep, call to verify.

    I love this place for brunch and breakfast, but how are their cocktails in the evening?

    Cocktails are decent, they have Happy Hour M-F 4-7pm.

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    The Admiral - Mini pretzels

    The Admiral

    4.3(441 reviews)
    1.1 miDupont Circle, Downtown
    $$

    Went to watch a World Cup match, wisely made reservations online. There was nothing available…read moreindoors but was able to get an outdoor patio table (temps were decent with low humidity). Called as well for confirm that our table would be near a big screen table. When we got there we were led to our reservation, tv view and sound were good. We requested and got an umbrella for the table for shading. The menu had World Cup specials as well as the usual happy hour menu. The outdoor bar area had a water jug for free refills so we can stay hydrated. I got a Sauvignon blanc, and tried some spritz drink as well. Very fitting for summer. Staff came by often to check on us but were not intrusive. Indoor area was nice but too loud (glad we dined Al Fresco).

    TLDR: 5/5 service, fun 2010s hits, and a great side salad, but unfortunately the burger was…read moredisappointing. The music was great, playing plenty of hits from the 2010s, and the service was fantastic! Everyone was friendly and accommodating, an easy 5/5 for service. The bathrooms were not the cleanest, but the restaurant itself was well maintained. Unfortunately, the food was disappointing. I ordered the American burger, and the beef tasted a bit off. The patty was not fully smashed and tasted overcooked. It was also dry, I had to dip every bite in ketchup. The sauce inside was bland, and overall, the burger lacked flavor and texture. The side salad, however, was fantastic! The arugula was fresh and generously portioned, and the dressing was delicious. But I didn't order a burger just to enjoy the side salad more than the main dish. With such a small menu and burgers making up a significant portion of it, this was a bit disappointing. The service and atmosphere were great, but the burger itself really missed the mark for me.

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    The Admiral
    The Admiral - Old Bay Fried Chicken Bites

    Old Bay Fried Chicken Bites

    The Admiral - Spicy chicken waffle sliders

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    Spicy chicken waffle sliders

    Unconventional Diner - Tip-Top Chop

    Unconventional Diner

    4.4(3.4k reviews)
    2.0 miShaw, Downtown
    $$

    Yep. If you're reading this, you should just make that reservation and go... and yes, I would…read morerecommend a reservation because this place is pop-u-lar, and I see why. The space itself is bright and airy and a bit on the noisy side. But the service was very good, and the food was served quite quickly. I've been on a shakshuka kick lately, so I opted for the the Sweet Potato Shakshuka, which is described as: Sweet Potato Curry, with Chickpeas and Sunny Eggs with a the chicken add-on - gotta get that protein in, after all. This was one of the most unique shakshukas I'd ever had... It literally tasted like a curry dish you might get at your local Indian restaurant, with a bit of a brunch flair to it. The curry itself had a wee bit of spice and was a bit sweet - but that could have been from the sweet potatoes. The chicken was served in a bowl on the side, which felt a bit... odd... I would've expected it to be incorporated into the main dish. It was kind of bland and a bit lukewarm, so I don't know that I'd order that again... but I would definitely order this again!

    Took two out of town visitors to brunch as they were staying nearby... my first time here. We…read morearrived at 2:30 without reservations on a weekday and it was fine. I had the corned beef hash, with was the most different interpretation of this classic dish that I had ever eaten. Don't get me wrong, it was delicious! But my first time seeing it presented as follows: both the corned beef and the potatoes were cooked in small, separate cubes, not blended or mashed together. As such, a whole new textural experience for the dish. They have both ample inside and sidewalk tables, and great service.

    Photos
    Unconventional Diner - Space is large, bright, and contemporary.  Reservations recommended.

    Space is large, bright, and contemporary. Reservations recommended.

    Unconventional Diner - Caribbean Shrimp & Grits

    Caribbean Shrimp & Grits

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    Lebanese Fried Rice

    St. Anselm

    St. Anselm

    4.4(1.2k reviews)
    3.1 mi
    $$$

    Had a great dining experience and will definitely be back…read more From the complimentary deviled eggs to the salmon collar, glazed carrots, mushrooms, carrot cake, chocolate cake, root beer float, and buttermilk biscuits, the meal was full of standout dishes. The recommendation to pair the honey with the cheese on the biscuits was excellent and took an already great item to another level. The broccolini, coffee, and espresso shot were not our favorites of the evening, but honestly, the other dishes were so good that we quickly forgot about them. Every course seemed to have something memorable to offer. The bartender service was stellar throughout the night, attentive without being intrusive, and helped make the experience even more enjoyable. We left full, satisfied, and already talking about what we'd order on our next visit. Looking forward to coming back.

    Finally got to check out St. Anselm and it did not disappoint! It's a cool vibe for dinner with…read morefriends or even a date night. The staff are super attentive to everything going on. They made sure to keep our table clean and gave us new silverware and plates before or entrees arrived. Any food that we did not finish was boxed up and put into bags for us. The manager was actively walking around the restaurant, making sure that every guest were enjoying their dinner. The food was good all around but there are some dishes that outshine the rest. The ribeye and New York strip were very good. The butchers steak I got for my son and he didn't really like it, it was lacking flavor. If you do anything when you go, please make sure to get the biscuits. Hands down THE BEST BISCUITS I've ever had lol. They are the most flaky and buttery biscuits, you can count each layer that these have. Pro tip is to ask for butter and the house made jam. The pimento cheese is good with them but it becomes a little too decadent. Overall I'm happy we made the decision to come here, we will be back soon.

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    St. Anselm
    St. Anselm
    St. Anselm

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    Le Diplomate

    Le Diplomate

    4.3(5.8k reviews)
    1.4 miLogan Circle
    $$$

    Le Diplomate always goes above and beyond. The service was top tier, and very responsive. I sat on…read morethe patio, so I was able to enjoy outdoor festivities on 14th Street while Al's drinking a frozen rose. The Ricotta Ravioli was so delicious, I only wish that more than four was provided. Will definitely return. A must visit if you find yourself near U Street or 14th Street.

    This was the best meal that we had in DC, and the free bread definitely lives up to the hype! It's…read moreincredible. We were sat in the solarium area, and it was during the heat dome, and it was really warm in there. Otherwise, though, it's completely charming inside and reminds us of some of the best French bistros we've been to in the country (e.g. Balzathar, Le Supreme). The three cocktails we tried--the frose, le jardin, and the clouseau--were all stunners. And of course the bread deserves another special mention, *especially* the room temperature butter. Thank you for not serving hard as hell butter! We shared the warm shrimp salad to start, and for $31, we were expecting more than a few avocado slices and 4 shrimp on it, but c'est la vie. The dressing was incredible, and the greens were crunchy. That's actually the only dish of the night that we thought was unfairly overpriced. One of us ordered the burger and the other got the rabbit pappardelle--you've got to get rabbit when you see it on a menu, which isn't often enough! There was a good amount of super tender meat and the pasta was perfectly al dente, all in a lightly stunning sauce. Chef's kiss. The burger was, no surprise, another triumph. There was juicy meat, bun integrity, and all the right accouterment notes. The fries are standard. Our daughter got their mac-n-cheese, which is probably just the gratin dish renamed. It was OK. We kind of got out of control for dessert and ordered the pot de creme, the cookie dough ice cream, and the profiteroles. Honestly, these were all good, but nothing that stood out as exemplary as with the savory stuff. Our only major complaint was the service. It was really spotty and while there was a very, very long gap in between when we got our water and then put in our drinks, but our mains came out almost directly after the salad. And the guy was just not very hospitable. Not necessarily a "bad" experience...it just could have been a lot better. Four stars, and we have already declared that we will be back again to "The Dip" because there is so much else on the menu that we want to try.

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    Le Diplomate
    Le Diplomate
    Le Diplomate

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    The Smith - Potato Chips

    The Smith

    3.9(1.8k reviews)
    2.4 miPenn Quarter
    $$

    Excellent lunch at The Smith! We came in for a late lunch without a reservation. We had our baby…read moreand stroller with us, and they were able to seat us with enough room for our stroller next to the table. We could tell that they had all the families with little kids grouped to one side of the restaurant, and we felt that was clever and convenient. The food was great! We both got salads. I loved the snap pea chicken salad. And my husband really liked the soba noodle salmon salad. He had a Bloody Mary, and I had a yummy mocktail. Everything was great, including the service!

    First, the service. Our waitress said they had "Coke products," so I ordered a Coke. I am from…read moreAtlanta, so you can't trick me. If that Coke wasn't a Pepsi, it was definitely a Coke Zero or Diet Coke. It tasted awful. Now, the food. The fries were pretty decent, but the au jus that came with my French dip wasn't hot, and it wasn't enough for the whole sandwich. The bread is supposed to get lost in the au jus with every bite. I had to ask for another boat. The menu said the sandwich had Gruyère, but if it was there, I couldn't taste it. I could taste horseradish and arugula. It wasn't worth the $33 menu price. The ambiance is a bit loud. The restaurant is very reverb-y, so I heard lots of talking (though some of it was probably due to the music's being too loud), but the waitstaff didn't compensate, so it was hard to hear their voices.

    Photos
    The Smith - 3/27/25 At the bar!

    3/27/25 At the bar!

    The Smith - Chicken

    Chicken

    The Smith - Restaurant space

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    Restaurant space

    Open City - tradamerican - Updated July 2026

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