Even though the place was packed for brunch, we had very good/fast service! I got the hash brown bowl with over medium eggs instead of sunny side and it did not disappoint: very tasty. Our waitress was very good at checking in on us despite her many tables, and made sure our water and coffees were filled. read more

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

I can't help but feeling like this meal was perfect for an 8th grader. Chicken wings, a burger and a hot fudge sundae. Menu was straight to the point- nothing fancy- just a good ole classic grab a bite to eat. Roommate described Cesar salad as, "mid" Do I want it at my wedding? no, but will I take it at my graduation party? yes. I hope these units of measurement make sense - also, Carrie the server, phenom!!!! Recommend for a cheap and good bite to eat read more

Open City - chicken wings w no sauce - American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Good breakfast. I appreciate vegan options in the morning. Open City is one of the most popular restaurants. Just look at all the reviews here. This place can get crazy busy so call if there's lots of you. I stopped with a friend before getting on the Metro to the airport. It was early and this was one of the few places around there open. They don't just have breakfast, so you can go later for the happy hour specials. In this case, we wanted breakfast. They have a pretty big menu. Even at breakfast there's a few vegan choices. You can get breakfast at any time, even at dinner but that's weird. I had the tofu tostadas. It's about $12 and comes on corn tortillas with tofu scramble and vegetables. It comes with a fresh salad of arugula. The food was good and filling. It has more if you don't want breakfast. This is open for lunch and dinner. You can get burgers and salads. read more

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

Breakfast served all day?! Love it. Not familiar with this area but stumbled upon this place. It looked packed but not too crowded. Family friendly. Sat at the bar. They have some decent happy hour specials (4 to 8 p.m). $5 wines! Decent size pours. Great service. I'd come back and actually try the food. read more

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

Server was sweet and attentive. Our food came out quickly and was tasty. My husband had a scramble that looked great, and fruit was surprisingly fresh-sometimes the "side of fruit" at a restaurant is a throw away-this was really good! Granddaughter had the waffle, but she was more interested in Open City's take on the hash brown "cake", that was tasty and unique. read more

This place was so delicious. Wish there was one in my home state. Overall vibe was comfortable, service was ok, food was amazing. The kitchen & delivery staff were working hard & food came quickly. The French toast was some of the best French toast I've ever had. Loved the mashed potatoes, fruit was fresh & flavorful. The eggs & sausage were great, I did not care for the hashbrown. The fried chicken biscuit was so so good. read more

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I wanted to love this place so bad. I've been probably 6 times since I moved to the area and have never had a good experience. The food is sloppy and made to look "trendy" but lacks any flavor. There's something a little off with everything I have gotten here. The pizza is mushy, the Brussels sprouts are soggy with dressings, the grilled cheese is soaked in oil, the pastries come cold, the eggs come with a flavorless sauce drenched on them. All around mediocre food. I'll give it 2 stars because the ambience is really nice (that's what has kept me coming back). I think there's potential here but the servers don't seem to be invested in that at all. read more

After several visits over as many years, I suddenly realized I've never reviewed Open City, my current favorite breakfast spot in D.C. (I admit it does help that it's across the street from our usual hotel). Time to fix that oversight. Open City, how do I love thee? Is it the friendly, bustling staff? Or perhaps the open, airy feel and low key vibe (urban beachy?). Its casual, not fancy; maybe two steps up from a divey diner. Or maybe it's that scattering of animal crackers they always include with my coffee (love that!), or the great music selection in the background, or the fact that we can order brunch all day and into the night. Oh wait...Maybe it's the great food and drink list (duh). Open City offers a wide selection of espresso-based drinks, tea drinks, smoothies and juices. The menu is focused on brunch and breakfast, with baked goods, solid egg dishes (including a delicious huevos rancheros), waffles, french toast, pancakes, etc. For lunch and dinner they offer a slightly more limited selection of pizzas, flatbreads, calzones, sandwiches, salads and burgers. My breakfast highlights: -- The hash brown brick - Such an iconic thing of beauty (and taste). This is included with some dishes or can be ordered as a side. Get this. -- Jalapeño cheddar and corn muffin - From the bakery menu. So delectable with a cup of coffee at the ready. Slather with fresh jam for that extra eye-roll. My closest thing to a "usual" here is the two egg breakfast (which includes the hash brown brick above) plus I add a side of the aforementioned muffin. But I've explored other items and have never been disappointed. On our recent visit, logistics were dialed-in for Covid, with spaced-out tables and QR codes to access the menu. Much the norm now. I should mention that Open City is not the place to go for an intimate talk or secluded, quiet break. It can be loud and echo-ey in the main room. It can also suffer from long waits on weekend mornings (no ressies taken here). But for a rock-solid breakfast place right off Rock Creek Park, it's hard to do better. I shall be back. read more

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

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0 stars if I could and was only here for 10 minutes tops! I came to this restaurant as a party of 3 to celebrate wishing a friend off to Europe. She suggested this cute restaurant Open City near Woodley Park. We wanted to eat outside because the weather was beautiful. Initially were not able to sit outside for some reason. (Seats were available but there were some customers with dogs walking around the tables. We have to social distance so we understood.) My mother ordered a coffee, and my friend & I ordered 2 waters. As we were drinking the waters, a man who was not our server comes up and says "TWO THINGS! We will take your order soon, and please put your mask up if a drink is not in front of you". As three vaccinated people (since January 2021), we had to remind them that you can have your mask off if you are drinking or eating. We had to clarify if that means water is not a drink. Correct! Water is not considered a drink. You can only take your mask off if you are drinking soda, juice, or alcoholic beverages. That was a clear sign that were not welcome, as other customers with even just water and no food did not have their masks on. Very disappointing that as the only colored people in the restaurant, we were disrespected by the only black workers there! Perhaps they assumed we were not vaccinated? The dogs were more welcome than us. (Below I have posted the DC mask mandate as of 7/27/2021. Know your rights! Don't come here.) read more

Open City - Ice water is apparently not a drink! - American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Breakfast here is fantastic. My only concern is being able to get a table since the wait here is always pretty epic. The chorizo scramble was excellent - perfect balance of eggs, cheese and chorizo. The best thing by far here though was their biscuit - light, fluffy and a tad sweet. That coupled with their strawberry jam was mouthwateringly good. The service here was good - friendly and fast. Prices are fair for the quality of food and the vibe is great for mornings. Thumbs up. read more

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Had the California Scramble and it was delicious along with the fresh fruit as a side. Service was very good and prices reasonable

I meet my daughter for breakfast when travels take me to DC and she picked here. Overall pretty good! She got chocolate chip pancakes and I got the Royale Breakfast. Service was ridiculously fast and food good. She was very pleased with her pancakes. Just know that when they say a block of hash browns that's exactly what the mean! A little pricey, but what isn't in DC? We'd go back, and recommend without reservation. read more

Really loud and noisy with everyone talking and music blaring overhead. A bit difficult to have a conversation without shouting. I ordered hot water, but the server never gave me any. I got the coconut curry tofu, and it was rich and creamy and hit the spot for a nice, hot dinner. read more

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Open city never disappoints. In DC, weekend brunch usually requires a reservation but I've never had an issue walking in on a Saturday or Sunday here. I also love that it's just normal breakfast, no DJs or weird rules. Chills vibes and always clean. I always get the breakfast burrito, I'd love to try something else but it's so perfect. Sometimes we get a cocktail or a mimosa, but this time we got the seasonal toffee crunch latte and it was delicious! Anytime someone visits and wants restaurant recs, Open City is always on the list. read more

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In town for a conference at the Omni and came early Friday morning HUNGRY! They were busy but we were seated no problem. They were out of chai but the roiboos latte was fabulous (a little sweet). I ordered the chicken and waffles, but added the pecan bourbon gravy on the side. It was AMAZING. Will definitely be back for another meal before leaving town. read more

Open City - Rooibos Latte (VV) - American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I lived right across this open city for a full year and it frequently gave me the will to live. sometimes i would stop in to grab a tea in the morning, sometimes i would finish the evening with a slice of cheesecake, and one time i brought my entire family visiting from out of town. a helpful staff with good, classic food read more

Open City - apple Hot Mulled Cider - American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Great place for brunch! Great options and you can easily add and customize your meal! I ordered biscuit and gravy with a side of sausage and egg. It tasted great together! Great prices for the portion as well! read more

Open City - Biscuit & Gravy, Iced Latte - American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I live right by Open City, so I've gone a few times for brunch. It's a reliable option, and bustling on the weekends, so usually a tiny bit of a wait (but never too long). The restaurant itself is big and spacious. The food is A-OK -- not bad, but nothing to write home about. I usually get the hash brown bowl, which is carb-y and filling. I would recommend the chicken and waffles, which is quite good (though I wasn't the biggest fan of the bourbon syrup). The prices are always just $3-5 more than I think they should be. Overall, Open City is a dependable diner in the neighborhood! I'll probably be back, just for convenience's sake. read more

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

My group of three came here after I finished running a DC half-marathon. Something to note: If your whole party isn't present, they won't seat you. We were lucky that we were all there and they could sear us immediately. The menu is a QR code and they also have a pastry display case to check out. The drinks are on a board over the barista counter. Our drinks were hot, my lavender latte was fun, and our food was delicious. I also appreciated that we were allowed to lounge and chat for a nice time without being hurried by wait staff. It was a wonderful visit with friends and a local establishment. read more

I stopped by Open City on a Friday afternoon to catchup with a friend. It's located on Calvert right at the intersection of Calvert and Connecticut. The restaurant serves breakfast all day and has a full cafe inside. I ordered the fried Brussels without bacon($9) and enjoyed the rose ($11). Brussels were a large serving and perfectly prepared with balsamic vinegar glaze as well. Happy Hour starts at 4 but it's only on beer. The servers are very attentive. There's also patio dining if you want to sit outside. read more

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I went here for breakfast and it was perfect American breakfast loved it. The outdoor sitting is nice but little loud with all the trucks passing by. The food was great and very yummy. Service was slow my waitress never came back to check on me if I wanted more water or coffee so that's why I am giving them 4 stars. read more

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I tried the Open City Royale during lunch hours, and it was just okay. The hash browns and eggs were really bland, the chicken sausage was a bit dry, and the chocolate chip pancakes were good but not something that was above average. The hibiscus margarita was awesome! The highlight of my meal for sure :) I sat outside and it was a nice area, a bit loud but normal for a cafe on the street so it didn't bother me at all. My server was polite but service was a little slow, but it was busy. I will probably return but try something different during breakfast, as they had a lot more interesting options that I think would change my opinion! read more

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

Ordered the scrambled eggs with the side of fruit for pickup. Pickup was quick and smooth. The scrambled eggs were good, but nothing too special. I did try my friend's fries that came with her burger though and those were very good. read more

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

Came here for a quick breakfast, and was seated immediately. Our server was very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. However, the food was quite average. I ordered a breakfast sampler, and the eggs were not very appetizing. The French toast and bacon were fine, but the hash brown left something to be desired. A very average breakfast overall. read more

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

Very versatile in their menu! We were staying nearby for a few days so one morning we had open city's breakfast, one night we had dine in dinner, and lastly we did their take-out pizza. Friendly service and yummy food. They were busiest for breakfast but still worked hard to keep up with good service. read more

Chicken and waffles here. You're welcome thank me after your meal is over. 100/100. Even the second time, 10/10 read more

Great Sunday brunch this place was classy yet modern and I want to come back here frequently. We both got the chicken and waffles and with extra syrup which was absolutely superb along with two equally as amazing mimosas. This issue with most mimosas is that most people can't match the sweetness of the orange juice to the taste and make of the champagne, but this place had it balanced perfectly. The ambience is very nice here as well. It's on the corner of the street so there is plenty of window space which brings in a lot of natural light into the seating area. It smells like homemade breakfast inside and has nice touches of vegetation that really pulls you out of the city and lets you be in your own world. Great brunch dates for any day of the week or weekend. No questions asked. read more

Open City - Fried Chicken & Waffles - American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

They are good for breakfast for sure. Lunch and Dinner Not so much. If you are staying in the area for a conference and not driving then this place is perfect. read more

Went here for an iced coffee and carrot cake and they are so gracious with the slice..the staff are attentive and kind.will be back !.

So good! Great service from the hostess to our server, Chris! Food was incredible. My grandson had the chicken and waffles. I helped him with that. Chicken was juicy and seasoned well. The parfait was amazing along with the rest of our food which was freshly made and beautifully presented. The coffee...4 days in DC and this is the best coffee! The coffee was served with some animal crackers on the side. Price was more than reasonable. The place...awesome vibe. Seating outside is covered. Seating in the patio had opened windows and ceiling fans which had a soft breeze going. Make time to eat here! read more

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This place was great. The staff was very friendly and very efficient with communication during wait times. I had the breakfast burrito, my friends had the stuffed French toast and Greek pizza. Everything was very tasty. It's also dog-friendly on the outside patio. read more

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Great food, fast service and awesome ambiance! We had a little wait but we're called soon to be seated. We ordered a cobb salad, stuffed french toast and eggs with chocolate chip pancakes. Will definitely be coming back when in town. read more

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I've always loved this place and have been going there since it opened many years ago. The food is great; the vibe is great; the location is great. It's a great spot. This morning, I dropped in unannounced with a sporadically arriving group that eventually swelled to 18. The manager, Yasmin, and her staff made room for us, accommodated all the hassles that come with an extra large group, took pictures for us, and just generally helped us enjoy the celebratory breakfast for which we had gathered. As always, the service and food were first rate. Thanks for everything! read more

A friend of mine is leaving town, and we went to Open City for breakfast as a last meal together. Despite the heat and humidity, we sat outside. The food was solid and the experience very good, too. As far as covid restrictions go, the servers are still masked, they are using QR code menus. Despite all that, they were attentive to filling water, and taking care of us outside. I got the huevos rancheros, which really hit the spot. The crispy tortilla, the runny eggs, and crisp tortillas and everything else all went together well. It's not the best I've had, but a very good dish, and I'd be happy to come back again next time I'm in that area. read more

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

Had brunch at Open City on a Saturday, and enjoyed the food and open-window patio seating. Nice vibe. I am taking off 2 stars because of the dishonest pricing. Don't play games by tacking on a 5% service fee and saying it's not a tip. Raise your prices if you must cover your costs. Be an honest restaurant, not take a page out of Ticketmaster's customer-hostile playbook. read more

[Experience based on pre-pandemic conditions] Open City provides decent American cuisine diner fare. It's a busy place with a line and an efficient front-of-house that keeps patrons moving. It's crowded and noisy, but once seated, the chairs are comfortable and the tables don't feel small, important for family brunches with kids and paraphernalia and shared plates. This is close to a family home where several little ones convene regularly around holidays and visits, so I expect I will be back and I'll enjoy it. Except for one thing: "we do charge for refills". One of the most endearing aspects of the diner in American culture is the coffee cup, filled with hot and (hopefully, and in this case it was) strong black coffee. The coffee cup goes empty, the server pours another cup. And another, if necessary, and then again if warranted, and keeps going until either the patron is satisfied, or the review writer runs out of synonyms for "more". Not here, unfortunately, and for a diner who anticipates the coffee as much as the food, that's a real disappointment. Worse yet, I was unable to successfully attract staff to come by and provide even a paid-for refill. The food was good, the service otherwise friendly and attentive, but the coffee issue was a problem for me. That cost a full star. read more

Sat at the bar with my wife. The service was fair. In fairness, it looked like they might have been shorthanded and folks might have been doing more than one job. Some constructive criticism. I enjoyed the blackened chicken with beans and potatoes. The chicken was very good and fell off the bone. The beans had a nice char. There could have been fewer potatoes and they soaked up all of the juice. A few of the pieces of the chicken could have used some juice. There was a bit too much crumbled bacon (not something I usually say) because I confused it with the blackened chicken skin. read more

Welllllll...... This wasnt our first visit to Open City. Our first few visits were about ten years ago, and obviously much better. We were excited to take family for mother's day. Our server, while kind, was extremely inexperienced. She did not know the menu and insisted the lemon salad dressing was balsamic and brought us the same wrong dressing twice-and charged us for it, um what? The arugula salad description was off, since they literally brought us a bowl of arugula with nothing else, not a crumb of a crouton or a piece of an onion, tomato or cucumber. Zero. Our bloody mary did not have a single garnish. What?? Man, it was just not a good experience and we all left kind of disappointed. I will say the man bussing tables was busy and he found time to come and clear our table-he kicked a##. The pandemic has taken it's toll on many restaurants, and it appears Open City is experiencing some growing pains right now. I hope it gets back to normal soon, because we really enjoyed our first few visits. read more

Outstanding service! Came here for an iced vanilla latte with almond milk that was superb. My son wanted a chocolate chocolate muffin. They didn't have any at the moment but the man taking my order ran into the back and was able to get one for him. They filled up our waters. We were all set for the zoo. Super nice folks running the place. read more

An attractive little stonehouse right next to the cathedral, within the cathedral's compound, houses this coffee shop. It is very different from the larger Open City, which is more a typical brunch-restaurant, while this is a true café. It must attract cathedral visitors, but it doesn't feel like stocked with tourists, from the looks of it. They have wifi. The hot chocolate is, as per usual in DC (and much of the US, nothing to write home about. read more