I basically like the food, and the proximity to work and my apartment . However, I tend to prefer the Diner-across the bridge in Adams Morgan-even though the menu is basically the same. Why? The latter seems less skittish with me, an African American man. It drives me crazy when the wait staff tries to get all "black" with me, seconds after using standard conversation with a white patron. And I have had a few instances where (sitting at the bar) the staff person took the white customer's order, even though I had been seated first... Not good, to say the least. read more

This place was fine. The prices were good and the portions were generous. I would recommend sitting outside since the inside is nothing special (just some wooden chairs and tables and barely any decor). However, the soup was unnecessarily heavy. It said tomato and basil, which I assumed for a starter would be light, but it was actually really thick and dairy-based and tasted like pizza sauce. The salmon and wild rice were standard and if anything, bland without my drizzling some lemon on them. My friend ordered a grain bowl, which really was a collection of canned vegetables (chick peas, carrots, onions) placed in spoonfuls around a plate. Very standard place, not super impressed. read more

Open City - Grilled salmon - American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Eh. That's how I'm describing Open City. Not good, not awful, but I won't eat here again. Their menu options though varied are super bland and generally meh. I ordered the chocolate chip pancakes and was SO EXCITED. I got them with whipped cream, took a bit and was very disgusted. I was so excited for those pancakes but they were so sour! It was part the fault of the chocolate chips and part the fault of the batter. They were very flat, no fluff. The powdered sugar on top didn't help with the sweetness which was pretty lame. Very sad I just wanted good pancakes. read more

Open City - View of the outdoors from our sticky table - American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Nasty food. Rarely do I write a bad review. Ordered a pizza and it was so nasty I threw the entire thing out after one bite. Do not recommend eating here. Trying to help others not waste their money like I did. read more

Service by Andres was legitimately terrible, and involved extra charges that were not communicated in advance and were absolutely not justifiable. Food was okay (mediocre at best) but certainly underwhelming for what ended up being a thirty dollar solo lunch break. Total scam. Literally reactivated my Yelp account just to register my massive disappointment with this place. Avoid if possible especially while traveling or in a hurry. Thanks. read more

Absolutely devastated by my experience at Open City. I discovered this establishment back in 2014 during a conference in DC. My colleagues and I enjoyed the Steak and Eggs and Salmon and Bagel plates out on their gorgeous terrace for brunch. Everything was divine. The coffee was fresh, the service was friendly, and every aspect of the meal was exceptional. So, naturally, when I needed to return to DC for more work, Open City was at the top of my list. Unfortunately, however, this most recent experience was nothing like my first. The terrace was closed despite it being a sunny 78 degree day so we were sat inside, where you immediately notice a very pungent, off-putting odor that reminds you of a gym locker room and remark the dust and dead bugs along the window sill. The staff was not dressed in uniforms and everyone had on really whatever they wanted...tshirts, jeans, etc. Despite this, my colleague and I were still excited for our steak and eggs, remembering how wonderful it was during our last stop. What we received, however, was quite different from what we remembered. Right away I noticed a small eye-lash sized hair in my eggs, which is of course, an immediate buzz-kill. But, I tried to remain optimistic and simply scooted those aside. The steak was pre-sliced (which everyone knows is a foul) and looked purplish inside rather than pink (I ordered medium). When I took a bite, I was struck immediately by a sharp bitterness that I at first mistook for solely the taste of their clearly filthy grill (We all know what food cooked on a dirty grill tastes like...its that "overcharred" taste). I spit that into my napkin and then I cut off the outside of the steak (the part that made contact with the grill) and went for just the inside. I still got a very sharp bitter taste. Between the bitterness and the discoloration, I determined that the meat was clearly off and that bite also ended up in my napkin. The preserves served with the toast were runny and the hashbrown was greasy so unable to find anything edible on my plate, I sent my meal back and asked for the check. My colleague had the same off-putting taste and decided to send his back as well. We ended up finding lunch elsewhere up the road. Overall, this place has really gone downhill over the course of the past few years. The place needs to be thoroughly cleaned (to remove the dust and the odor), the staff needs to be wearing uniforms and the kitchen needs a lot of work. Im really sad to see this place fall apart so completely. I was really hoping this would be a go-to spot for me for brunch in DC. read more

Came to this place 3 consecutive days for breakfast. Try their cappuccino and huevos rancheros. They are delicious. Grit has cheesy flavor also very good. Friendly staff and clean environment. read more

Open City is the best of both worlds. The bakery, the breakfast, the lunch, the dinner - they have it all. I was in town for a conference and out of the four days I spent in town I visited this restaurant 3 times. The food is great and hits the spot every time. read more

What has happened to this place? The food was awful! First, there were cockroaches skittering around under my feet. Then I get 2 eggs poached that tasted like nothing and were on a top of a wilted piece of lettuce. The grits were edible but nothing special. The whole meal was on a plate that was about 3 sizes too small. And 1 got one slice of toast. Oh yeah, did I not mentioned how they charged me an extra $2 for a slice of gluten free toast. So the total price was $10.00 for a meal that would have been about $3 anywhere else. Seriously, guys, please go back to the way you were and at the least get rid of the cockroaches! Ps the waiters are very nice so kudos to the staff at least. read more

I've been a chef (my wife also) for 30 years and while staying at Omni Shoreham, we ate here three times with great meals and service each time. Bloody Mary's rock as does the chicken & waffles, grain bowl and burgers. Breakfast Lunch or Dinner, you need to hit this up Chefs Seth & Andrea Weibel National Finalist & Award-Winning Chefs read more

this does the job--mostly, by having some of everything. Being between two giant conference hotels and a bunch of apartment buildings, it's always busy. For the most part, they do a good job handling the lines/wait-list although I felt terrible for the one hostess they had checking people in *and* taking them to their seats--probably more than one person could be doing this on a busy Saturday? If you have a giant group of people for brunch this is probably the place for you. read more

Given the mixed reviews we were a little skeptical about coming here. Enjoyed the hash brown bowl for breakfast, based on a recommendation from our wonderful, attentive, pleasant waitress, Shea. Despite the restaurant being completely filled, food came out quickly & Shea checked back with us to make sure everything was to our liking. Food & coffee were great! Would absolutely recommend & come back. Perhaps if patrons practiced some kindness & grace towards the people serving them they'd have a better experience. Just sayin'. read more

This rating is mainly for the hostess and not the restaurant as it seems every time I go there I could never get in. This time I got there at 11:10am and they said 15-20 minutes. They were on target for that and asked inside or outside. My BF said he did not want to be in the sun. They showed us one table and it was semi in the sun and semi in the shade. They said that they have another table being cleaned and it would be a few minutes. They then turned and said that it was taken and it would take another 10/20 minutes. We said no thank you. read more

Great atmosphere. Unfortunately I did not get to taste the food because the kitchen closes @1130. However the drinks were spectacular.

This place has become my go-to location to get some work done while enjoying a cup of coffee (lattes come with animal crackers!!) The servers are very kind and accommodating, and the high ceilings and big windows with street views offer the perfect atmosphere. :) I intend to visit many more times! read more

Good parts: salmon omelette and hash browns very tasty. Staff nice, service prompt. Bad parts: temperature in restaurant is frigid (it's a cold morning 30*F outside and feels like 55* in here) and they charge $1.50 for coffee refills. WTF?? Does any other breakfast joint do this? Fix the temp and the coffee pricing and it's fine. read more

Amazing experience. Food, service, and ambiance was great. directly across from Omni Shoreham read more

Open City - American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Love this place! I've been here multiple times for brunch, lunch and dinner. It's been great each time, and I've never had an issue with service. Some highlights: their pizzas, the mushroom Reuben, and their huevos rancheros are all amazing. Their pizzas are great if you're a cheese lover (they're thick with cheese) and the mushroom reuben is a great twist on a classic. Open City is the type of place you can take anyone and they'll find something they like and can enjoy. Vegetarians, vegans, people with GF diets, etc all have a place on the menu. My only complaint is that the lines are almost always long and the place is always noisy. If you're looking for a quiet brunch or cafe, this isn't your spot. Otherwise, dig in! read more

When we arrived, the manager yelled at us to get out and wait till they were ready. When i showed him his website listing them as open, he angrily snapped he did not care what his website said and to leave. We waited outside for half an hour untill he let us in and we were left at our table for an hour till we decided to go somewhere else. Worst service I've ever recieved. #MAGA read more

Open City isn't the area's only breakfast restaurant, but it's the best one we found. The wait certainly reflects that, but if you're willing and not pressed for time, it's worth it. We tried a restaurant around the corner - got right in - but definitely not worth it. The hostess station worked better when it was just the one (more experienced?) hostess. She had a system, and it worked. It wasn't fast, but it worked, and if you were willing to sit outside, she would seat you ASAP. When a second hostess was running the station on a subsequent visit, she also had a system, and it worked, but not as fast. She was asking if people would be willing to sit outside, and seating them accordingly. The "more experienced" hostess came up and injected her way of doing things, circumventing people who had checked in for people who were in line to be seated outside and immediately. It angered some people. Open City has a glassed-in dining area that seemed sparsely used. I gather that they didn't want to overwhelm the staff and kitchen. Even though it would have seated more customers, I think not doing so was a good call. On to the rest: Once inside, service was fair and on-par for a restaurant this busy. Wait staff was busy, yet didn't make customers feel rushed. They seemed to know their stuff and knew the menu well. Everything I tasted from the menu was delicious. My favorite had to be the hash brown bowl. It would have been delicious at any time of day, either for breakfast or even after a night of beverages with friends. Open City seems to specialize in gourmet coffees and teas. Although I didn't sample anything from their walk-up bar, I can say that their Iced tea was consistently awesome. If you're not pressed for time, Open City is the place to go for breakfast or brunch. Problem is, hundreds of others feel the same way. I hope they keep doing what they're doing. read more

Walked over with my husband and 2 kids after being turned away at an empty restaurant who apparently didn't want to serve a family. Open City was packed, but they were super friendly and seated us right away. Our servers were warm and welcoming, and the service was fast for as busy as they were. I had the chicken and waffle, which was a perfect size to share, and was delicious. My daughter had the kids pancakes, which also could have been shared. I tried some and I really liked the pancakes. They have a great texture and naturally sweet taste...I would definitely order them myself. My husband had a burger he really enjoyed. My favorite part of the meal was the mulled apple cider that came with 2 ginger snaps. I would definitely come back if I were in DC again. read more

This is one of my favorite places for brunch. It's always busy but you never have to wait very long. They serve a HUGE cup of coffee that is very delicious and the French toast is amazing. It can get a little loud but not so much that you can't have a conversation. The bacon is just okay but the hashbrowns are a MUST. Sitting outside on the patio is also very lovely. The service is always fast. read more

Open City was a convenient breakfast spot off the metro before hitting the zoo. The breakfasts here were average with some definite misses. The eggs on the omelet had the tough texture of being cooked earlier, reheated and filled. The waffle was cooked on both sides but underdone in the middle. All the food arrived lukewarm and some tables that were seated long after us were served before us. read more

We went for an early lunch at 11:15 on a Friday. It was absolutely packed. And by packed, I mean there was less than a foot between the tables on each side of us. The hash brown bowl and Bloody Mary were delicious. My friend thoroughly enjoyed her omelet. It was a great place to eat, somewhere I would be interested in going to again! read more

Really good food and very quick service. Their tea selection was a pleasant surprise and they even have almond milk. I think the best seat in the house is at the bar, great attentive on point service. A Woodley Park gem. read more

Since I left DC this place has stayed great, and now it's even greater with gluten-free toast! Just like the real thing. Maybe better. My eggs were perfectly cooked too, a nice treat when I order over easy. The orange juice tasted fresh-squeezed. Best brunch spot in town! Especially for us gluten-free folks :) read more

The first 5 times I've been here I had a good experience. A 4 star experience. This time was a 1 or 2 star. Bathrooms are horrifying (they always are). Waitress was inattentive. There was a hair in my eggs so once I finally got the waitresses attention I was brought new eggs. Unfortunately those eggs tasted horrible, like they were expired. read more

We always stop at Open City when visiting DC. Its nothing fancy but it's cute cafe style and reasonably priced, I think my meal was 14.00 my husbands about $9.00. A lot cheaper than the $30.00 breakfast buffet at the hotel. It's just across the street from the Omni hotel where we stay. (A great hotel with a lot of history and famous stays, like the Beatles, with good access to the metro and close to the zoo.) We love the lattes at Open City, served with little animal cookies. I have the large vanilla latte, he has the mocha. Best ever! I had the eggs, bacon, hash browns and French toast, my husband had the eggs, sausage, fruit and croissant. It was all top notch and the waiter was so pleasant. The line was long but our wait was only 10-15 min. Everyone is willing to wait for good food. read more

Open City - Vanilla latte with animal cookies, best ever! - American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

It's an eclectic area. Kind of like a cafeteria and craft area and food court. We enjoyed the ambiance but didn't actually eat here. read more

Open City - BBQ Bloody Mary with Bacon! It simply doesn't get any better than this! - American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I miss the coffee shop lifestyle I led in SF - but Open City has helped fill the void in my foodie/techie heart! Some of the good stuff here includes: -Big and open cafe/bar/restaurant with plenty of outdoor seating for gorgeous days -Free Wi-Fi! I'm actually Yelping at one of their tables right now... and I'm plugged in, so I don't have to rely on my battery (Dell, so it might catch fire, but that's another issue...) -Yummy food at reasonable prices -Good service -Open LATE! -The TV on the wall was playing 'Project Runway' when I walked in, and I was immediately in love. Now it's the movie 'Big Fish' I could go on and on, but I won't. I'll definitely be a regular here (whether they like it or not)! read more

5 minutes before I left, I would have given this place a 2 star but the manager approached me before I got up to leave the restaurant. Ok, first let me start from square one. I was excited to try this place. A co-worker suggested it, I wouldn't have went because of the average reviews but I'm down to try anything. After seeing the menu, I was optimistic about the food. I ordered the Penn Quarter sandwich... TERRIBLE. Meat was terrible. Cheese tasted fake... not "real" cheese. Sweet potato chips... average, nothing great. May have been packaged. Very disappointing. The sandwich was cut in two. I ate one half which was about 4 bites. First two bites, I realized the food wasn't great. Last two bites, I realized the food was terrible and I was just hungry for the first two bites. So I told the waitress that the food wasn't not good. The meat tasted freezer burnt. I didn't go into details of the other issues of hte food. The waitress said "well you ate, half." I replied and said, I wasn't looking for anything free, I just wanted to let you know. As I sat there, I thought, that it wouldn't be fair to pay $17.00 for a meal that I did not enjoy and left half on the plate... and the fact that I would have to go spend more $ to actually eat lunch. So I asked the waitress to ask her manager to take something off the bill (20%-50%). The manager comes over and says he could not take anything off the bill. He said "it was bad but you ate half." He continued to explain that I should have let them know that I didn't like it before I ate the half of the sandwich. I said, "fine, don't provide my money back but either way, I will be yelping the poor quality of food and now the poor customer service." The waitress comes back and says, the manager took care of your bill. The manager then came over, extremely hostile and arrogant. Talked very loud AT me. Wouldn't let me respond- and said "We don't want you to come back to this restaurant since you think it is ok to Yelp small business." 1. clearly, this manager was ill-informed of Yelp as mom and pop-- small business are the bread and butter of reviews 2. How dare he come and talk loudly at me and attempt to keep the conversation one-sided Anywho, I finally got a few words in-- and said that I would never rate a business poorly if they didn't give me a discount on food. I rate all business fairly- with quality of food and service in mind. When I began to speak, the manager's face tensed up and started to twitch. I actually thought he was going to lose it. The manager's name is Juan- he was very disrespectful and not aiming to please the customer. Oh and by the way, I was out to eat with two introverted co-workers who expressed that the food was TERRIBLE but they did not want to deal with the confrontational manager! Beware when coming here. Food is terrible and so is the manager, Juan. read more

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Usually I start with "we came here for brunch, and..." but really we came here for David. David, our charming, laconic server. Right as he nodded over his shoulder and led us into the warm, tuscan sunroom, I knew he was the real deal. He laughed off our clumsy coat-and-bag draping. He chuckled as I fumbled through my toast-and-sausage preferences, ordering my Open City Royale ("the chicken one is bigger," he said). When Margot inquired about the grits, David was frank: "I don't like 'em." I'll admit, I was perplexed when my hot coffee took five minutes longer than my friends' iced varieties. When it came to the point of a perfunctory reminder, well, there he was. Like a sage captain guiding weary sailors through a tempest, David's easy grace assuaged our fears of botched orders, infrequent refills, or unfulfilled specialty hot sauce requests. He never had to kneel down to eye level because, heck, I hate it when people do that (somehow, he knew....) I imagine David and I, on the patio, in March. The perennials are just beginning to bud. A strong gust gutters up from the parkway, spills across the Taft bridge and just barely, just just barely jostles David's keychain, pricks up the bill of his cap. "Could we move a little closer to the heat lamp?" I ask. It's crowded; I know it's impossible. "Hold on," he says, "let me pull another one out from the back" -- There is an irony to this: as we mopped up our yolky plates lugubriously with halves of crusty rye, we realized we didn't know our server's name. David's. We wanted to. Badly. We got it from him, no fuss, though he muttered, "it's not so you can write some bad Yelp review about me, is it?" -- oh, dear. If you find yourself at the corner of Connecticut and Calvert, hungry or starved for a laugh, go to Open City. If you don't ask how David is doing, I pity you. If you do and you're not greeted by a handsome black man in a black shirt and ball cap with a lot of tattoos and a voice like a thick, mauve cloud, I don't know, I can't help you.... read more

Washingtonians are a peculiar lot. Only in DC can a restaurant as pedestrian as Open City get sooo many rave reviews for being so perfunctory. I...I...I just don't get it. Please don't get me wrong, the food at Open City is, indeed, "A-OK"; my buddy and I came for Saturday brunch, had the OC Royale (bacon, eggs, french toast, hash browns and toast for about $13) and was full and pretty satisfied. That's it--curtain closes; walk the hell off the stage. No, I can't wax poetic about how delicious anything in particular was or how wonderful the "ambiance" here is...get a life. It's a large, loud, crowded, cafeteria-like space with people crammed every which way (elbow to elbow) chowing down on basic but pleasing-enough fare that's kinda over-priced, but decent enough that you don't complain TOO much for the affront--kinda like when you're in a crowded elevator and the guy behind you surreptitiously presses himself up against your ass, but you let it pass because, hey, he IS kinda cute and it HAS been a while and it wasn't THAT bad of a grope or anything...ya know what I mean...no, it's just me, huh? Fine. Whatever. Well, here're some other examples: why the hell is a regular cup of coffee upward of $3; and why do you have to pay for refills; and why was a thimble-full of banana-walnut sauce for my french toast $1; and why is the wait to get into this joint upward of 30-45 minutes for brunch; and why does the young guy at the host-stand have that creepy mustache? Okay, that last one doesn't fit quite so well, but still...dude, cut it off. read more

Not that great. Had pancakes and sausage. Pancakes had a weird taste to me but the sausage was tasty. Not sure I would be back.

3.5 Stars Woodley Park is sort of a food wasteland, blessed (cursed?) with a plethora of mediocre restaurants. Blame it on the two large conference-center hotels located nearby (the Omni Shoreham and Mariott Wardman Park). Restaurants have a captive audience and they know, it, so all they really need to do is phone it in. In any event, Open City, brought to you by Constantine Stravroploulis of Tryst and The Diner Fame, aims to be one of those "third places" where people gather outside of the home and office and in this it succeeds fairly well. It's a decent enough place for brunch (served all day, every day), with a little bit of something for everyone on the menu including many vegetarian and vegan options (think quinoa and tofu bibimbap). What I like about it is that you're not stuck with just having egg items as is frequently the case. In addition to the burger, they have bacon-wrapped meatloaf and Yankee pot roast. Sandwiches are named after streets and places in DC, i.e. the Meridian Hill (a "reuben" with mushrooms and spinach instead of corned beef), and the Mass Ave (a BLT with garlic mayo). They have a full bar with beer, wine, and cocktails. Their draft list isn't going to win any prizes but included Flying Dog Dead Rise (summer ale flavored with Old Bay) last time I stopped by. It's also a great spot for locals (actual Woodley Park residents) with its location just off the Rock Creek running paths and dog-friendly exterior seating with bonus house-made dog treats. Open early (6am) till late (midnight or later on weekends), Open City is not award winning, but is good value for money and solid food. You could do a lot worse in this neck of the woods. read more

Had breakfast and was a terrible experience. We were seated right away and NO one came by for 15 minutes. I walked over to this guy who was running around (must have been the manager or something) and asked if someone could come over. He apologized and walked right over and took our order so I'm thinking "okay this is great, at least he was polite and they are busy, things get missed" BUT no one came to refill our water, coffee or ask how the food was. Nada. Not even once. The food itself was good- I enjoyed my omlette and my husband enjoyed his breakfast burrito. I had to walk over to the same guy to ask for the check (part of me just wanted to walk out). Terrible service sunk this place and we won't be returning. The two stars are for the fact that he comped our breakfast. But I would gladly pay for good service you know? read more

Things I really like about this place: +The all-day breakfast. +Proximity to the zoo (for when you're in the mood to see caged animals, as opposed to the ones running free in the city). +Selection of really good caffeinated beverages. +Nutella offered as a topping. (I'd like it all over my brioche French toast, please! -- That's... what she said?) Things I dislike about this place: -Really, not much. read more

Open City makes me open my mouth...wide....as wide as it will go, for their buffalo chicken sandwich. This thing is a MONSTER!!! And for only $7.99, it might be the best deal in DC. I have only been to DC twice and didn't go to many restaurants, but I'm sure this price for this sandwich is amongst the best in the city. I had a burger the first time I went = unreal. The second time I had the buffalo chicken sandwich = still don't believe it was that good. I would literally go back to DC for this sandwich. If I had the money and free time, I would fly out there, order that sandwich, scarf it down, and fly back to Chicago. The bleu cheese crumbles on the mammoth lightly breaded chicken sandwich is to die for. The place was cram packed with people on St. Patrick's Day morning, but it was worth the wait. The staff is really nice and accommodating. This was easily my favorite restaurant while in the capital. read more

Brunch all day?! Woo hoo, I'm in! As part of our Washington DC eating adventure, my brother ended the tour with brunch at Open City. We were seated in their airy 3-season patio, fully equipped with overhead heaters - a major thumbs up on a chilly, rainy morning! Looking for something to satisfy those savory taste buds and still somewhat healthy, I ordered the tofu scramble. While it's not a visually stimulating plate, dig in and your eyes will be forgiven for their misjudgment. Chopped brocolli, chickpeas, scallions and soft tofu are kindly mixed together in a lemony and garlicky tahini sauce. Mmm, delish! Served with a side of bread and mixed fruit, my mother would be proud of me for hitting all the food groups. I noticed my aunt nonchalantly asking for the bill after ordering. Our server discreetly acknowledged the request and quickly left our table to process our meal. Normally I wouldn't comment on such matters but paying among a group can sometimes just be awkward. In addition to her thoroughness and helpfulness, it was her overall professionalism that deserved the kudos (perhaps the kudos bar with the mini m&ms, because those are the best ones). read more

An open letter to open city -- Can we talk about cloning? Can I hit copy-paste and bring you to Austin? Your coffee is sublime, perfect espresso drinks and a nicely acidic cup of drip coffee. Your servers are warm, funny, educated, and caring. When I asked for a bagel to go, someone ran to the back and hand-scooped fresh cream cheese into a tiny plastic salad dressing container. You didn't fling prepackaged things and tell me to move along. We only met for breakfasts, but what delicious breakfasts! You let me indulge my sweet tooth with pastries at the to-go counter and fortified my brain with perfectly cooked eggs. Ok, sure, you were slammed and there were waits for everything, but you handled it with grace. The breakfast at the nearby Wardman Park Marriott is such a joke. I'm glad you were here for me, and for my 2000+ friends at the conference. You have beer! Dinner! Brunch! Treats for puppies and animal crackers for peoples. They say that when you clone something, you might not get the same personality. You might get something mean and foreign. Open City, I adore you too much to ever take the risk. Until I see you again, many caffeinated thanks. read more