I was so disappointed. On a sunny weekend wait times are upwards of half an hour. But it's a cool space, their baked goods are tasty, and the food is good for the most part. And I was excited to go. But the service. Oh my goodness. We were seated in a window seat and it takes a while for the server to get to us. It's a busy brunch shift, so obviously he's got lots going on, but no greeting, just asks if we're ready. We order coffees and our food, and then... We never saw or heard from him again. Almost. We got pancakes, an omelet, and bacon. The bacon was awful, limp, overly-greasy and tasted fishy. The pancakes were fluffy and lovely. Can't comment on omelet. Server never returned to check on us, never came by even to refill water. We sat in direct sunlight, and drank water/coffee/melted ice and I had to ask a very skittish hostess if we could get some water. She disappeared and then returned, but no water, no nothing, not even a word to us to say she'd gotten someone to bring us water. Another five minutes pass with no one touching the table. Our server appears again finally, with a huge tray of drinks for another table. We can't get his attention because he'll make more of his money with them, i guess. He finally comes back and fills my water halfway. Not even a full cup, just half. I give him the bacon back; he doesn't ask if it was all right. He leaves. He brings the check at last, bacon still on the tab. I flagged him down and asked him to remove it because it was inedible. He says, "Sure!" No, "Oh, I'm sorry," or, "Ah, you caught me! I was just bilking you out of an extra two dollars!" Just "Sure!" and disappeared. When he comes back to the table, we have our cards out ready for him, but he just sets the tab on the table and leaves. I could've spit. I always like Tryst and the Diner, and they're usually pretty solid. But Open City's miserable service is not worth the aggravation. Give your money to other businesses (and servers) who do better; there are so many better options in this city. read more

The huevos rancheros is delicious. Also the biscuits are Devine. Weather it's a sit down brunch or a quick cup of coffee this place really gets the job done. The staff is friendly and makes you want to come back. Even though it was packed we were seated quickly and and the server was efficient, getting us our food and drinks as quickly as a possible. read more

Healthy restaurant with many vegan and gluten free options. Tried the tofu scramble tostadas and they were delicious and light. Will be returning. read more

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

Ok we had chicken and waffles, waffle tasted really good, the chicken which was dark meat. Was tough and stringy, the batter was sweet. I would eat here again but not this menu item because I don't like dark meat chicken‍ read more

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

Amazing food. Great service. We came late, but they were very kind and seated us anyway. Great location and trendy.

Went here for a late Saturday brunch with three other friends. We expected to wait, as this place always seems to be popping, and we had gone after leaving the Women's March, which meant overall D.C. was extremely busy. Two of my friends had already been and they raved about the yummy breakfast options (especially the french toast) so I was excited to try it for myself. Food ordered- I ordered the french toast. I really wanted to try the bacon too, but I knew I would be eating dinner in a few hours, so I stuck to just the french toast. It was pretty good. The sides were a little overdone, but the middle was still fluffy and delicious. The strawberries on the side seemed really fresh, and the whip cream was delicious. I was surprised at the price only $8. Usually for good french toast in D.C. you're looking at $10-$13. I was able to snag some of my friends mashed potatoes, and they tasted amazing. If I go back I would definitely order them. They were super creamy and well seasoned. Service- Oh boy. As I said we expected to wait, due to the time and the craziness of D.C. When we first entered and put our name in the hostess told us 20-30 minutes. Awesome, not too bad. We then waited 45 minutes, and went in to tell the hostess just to make sure there wasn't a mistake. She then told us it'd be another 10-15 minutes. We waited again, and when it got to an hour we once again asked to make sure there wasn't a mistake. She then told us to stop pestering her and let her do her job. We then waited another 30 minutes until we were finally seated. I understand it was busy, but the hostess's time estimate was way off, and she seemed unhappy and like she didn't want to be there, which was unfortunate. Our waiter was relatively nice and helpful. Cons- Not the best place to have a good conversation. Tables are packed together tightly unless you get lucky and are seated in the side room. They play the music very loud, but it's not bad music if you're into early 2000's stuff. Will probably be back as a good place to get food after going to the zoo, but overall thought the service could be much better. read more

Came here with my daughter after a trip to the zoo. I really enjoy places that serve breakfast all day and Open City didn't disappoint. I ordered the hash brown bowl and it was incredible. Not greasy at all, the pickled jalepenos added just the right amount of kick. My daughter got the mushroom risotto. She's a picky eater but finished off every last bite. Great atmosphere, very kid friendly. I highly recommend!! read more

I heart Open City. Jared works next door at New Heights so he recommended it to me. I went in one night with him and got a grilled cheese with tomato and the chips which come with it. I also had a glass of Malbec. Delish. You might think that grilled cheese is nothing special. It's sacred to me. The aged white cheddar was nicely melted and there was a lot of it, for which I was glad. A lot of places skimp on the cheese somehow. OC does not. I like that they serve breakfast all day. I love the burgers (I always have to take half of it home with me, but that's the best part... having it later in the evening). The white mocha coffee is to die for, and a large cup. The location is ideal with the metro and circulator bus stops around the corner. The wine selection is not huge, but there's always something new on the board to try and nothing has let me down yet. We brought the family here on Jared's birthday last weekend around 11 am on a Sunday. Even though they quoted us a 45 minute wait, we only waited 20 and we were seated on the patio. It was a nice day and gorgeous weather for outside. I had the croissant bacon egg and cheese sandwich. The bacon there is the best. Jared had the OC Royale breakfast. What don't you get on that plate? Everything was tasty and for 5 of us it was only $60. Not too shabby. We all had soda and got a good sized breakfast. The grits were also very good. Being from the south, I am very excited to find good grits in DC. The server did pull a Houdini toward the end of the meal, but once we found her again, she promptly brought us a check and we were on our way. I will be back for their grilled cheese and their breakfast!! read more

I discovered Open City when I was exploring Rock Creek Park on my bike a few weeks ago, and chose to try it again this morning with some friends for brunch. I had the OC omelette, which has both hash-browns and bacon inside of it (need I say more), which was the hardest decision I made all day considering the breakfast menu is full of things like the Chai Tea Waffles and Sweet Potato Pancakes. I was quite pleased with my decision though, and also quite pleased that they had my favorite Peach Black tea, which I ordered iced. As my friend Amanda pointed out, they also had several important staples of a good restaurant: beautiful and spacious outdoor seating, breakfast that is served all day, a wine bar at night, very fast service considering we were there at 12 on a 70-degree Saturday afternoon and good toast! I will happily return here soon! read more

A worthy brunch spot : ) Location & Décor Awesome location on a cute connecticut ave corner, close to the bridge and adams mo. They have nice outdoor seating, but the indoor seating is even better with the super-high ceilings and quirky decor. Food - Amazing, amazing, amazing bloody Marys. Spicy, salty, olive-packed, ice-cold. So good. - Seriously good quality coffee (there is a reason they are partners with Tryst). - The food tasted great and was prepared very quickly. I had the Croque Madame, minus ham, and hash browns. Service Fast, to the point, and we were not rushed out of there. On weekend mornings there is usually a line of people waiting to be seated. We were told I'd be 30-40minutes but got seated in 10, which definitely sweetened the experience. Downside? They don't take reservations. read more

Yay, a quaint cafe-like restaurant near my parents house :) Be prepared to wait a while for brunch on the weekends, but once you are seated, it is well worth it... The french toast was fluffy and big (yeah, I ate eight sliced pieces), the veggie scramble that I helped myself to off my friend's plate was creamy and perfectly cooked! Our server was fantastic, especially considering the heat wave that was upon us...we weren't picky about the seating because we were so hungry, so we ended up sitting outside, under an umbrella mind you, but if you have ever been to DC in the summer, you will understand my point. Anyhoo, he kept our ice cold water glasses full :) Once the meal was over, we got a frozen chaifrapp to go...PERFECT ending! read more

I've been here twice now when I'm in DC and I'm never disappointed. Their coffee bar is wonderful in the morning. The service it typically good (it was the server's first week this time). They serve breakfast/brunch all day and the food always comes out hot and fresh. I've got one of the omelets and was so full I couldn't finish it all. The location is great being right next to the zoo. The best part is that their pricing is very reasonable for being in the DC area. A solid meal for two was about $25 at lunch and could have been under if we didn't get an app. read more

I live in Columbia Heights so it takes something special for me to leave my area... Especially for brunch. Open City has that special something! The food is great, and on top of that, there are some fairly healthy options for brunch. That is a hard find in the NW DC brunch scene. Whole grains seem to be DC's unicorn when dining on a Saturday or Sunday morning/afternoon. With that said, OC has a great selection of bake indulgences once you decide you've been healthy enough. The last thing I will say is that the service was great. Sara took care of my table, helped us climb out of a hang over, and had perfectly accurate suggestions. Moral of the story: Next time I am not serving brunch the restaurant I serve at, I will be eating it at Open City. read more

Good coffee, good food, Occasionally I have had issues getting prompt service, but those are during busy times so it is understandable. Expensive, but what in DC isn't. I would recommend it to anyone visiting from out of town, or locals who want a good bite and great brew. Monday nights Burgers + Beer deal is a FANTASTIC deal that anyone can appreciate. read more

Definitely experienced better. We went to Open City with friends and a four year old. We were seated into the child area...no better term for it. I went into the main dinning area where there was more than one very slow waitress and a much better scene. Penalty box for our child friend aside, the experience was not great. The mussel appetizer was quite large and tasty. So was the artichoke dip. We ordered a meaty pizza and a turkey sandwich to split. The food was prepared well and arrived in an acceptable amount time. The beer selection is very limited. Abita, really... Won't go back. read more

This place really packs in the locals. Visitors like us just followed the herd, but I believe we got a different experience. The maitre d' definitely was friendly to the regulars with a big smiles, hugs, etc. They got right in while the rest of us waited. We were seated in a side room with a wobbly table and very used chairs. Our server was alright, but lacked grace. My water and plate were both slammed down. Perhaps she was just covering too many tables and is going for quantity of service without quality. The food and prices were fine. From the Yelp reviews, there isn't much competition for American style food with a half-way decent rating for at least a mile. read more

Food was okay, waitstaff was horrible, but the beer was cold. Came here for a late dinner on a Sunday night. The restaurant was a little hectic as it had started to rain and all the outside diners were being seated inside. Once that calmed down, I was hoping the service would get better, but it didn't. Out waitress was non-existent throughout our experience, she took our order, different person brought our drinks, food, and new ketchup bottle to replace the dirty and clogged one at our table that felt greasy and like it hadn't been cleaned in weeks. I watched our waitress chatting with another server as we waited for her to pick up the check so we could leave, after we attempted to bring it to the cashier because we had been waiting so long. The sandwiches we ordered were okay, they come a la carte, and the separate side of fries is big enough to share. The house made honey mustard on my sandwich was completely soaked into the bread, and if i hadn't read the menu to know it was on there, I would never have known it was on the sandwich. I was charged for a side of it when I asked for more. Best part, the beer was cold, just what we needed after a hot day in the city. read more

I've been here a few times, and each time I keep hoping it will get better. The gnocci was a weird consistency. The salad tasted like cardboard. The pork sandwich is ok with some Cholula on it, but otherwise just seems like a gut bomb. The service staff are friendly, but in my experience they're not the most attentive. But one thing is true: this venue is awesome. I dig the pressed tin ceilings and the view of the park. It has a great patio of the weather isn't too muggy. But the food isn't amazing at all. My opinion: go there for drinks and find dinner somewhere else. read more

So I've been here maybe 50 times........the service is very good,the coffee and croissant are exceptional( Saul the pastry chef is the man)........the food is good Lacking on creativity in the kitchen.......it's extremely reliable.......it's just not amazing If you want to buy a whole pie for guests at ur house buy a vegan blueberry....it's really good(made by Saul the man) read more

Staples at best with smuckers jam, horrid honey, and juice from concentrate. Service shoddy but then again it is a diner, a quite popular one at that! Worth the visit if on the way to the zoo but otherwise if seeking a culinary breakfast go elsewhere! read more

Open City - Lines out the door - American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

A friend from out of town wanted to get lunch, this place was right down the street from our apartment, so we checked it out. This is now our go-to diner/cafe. Prices are reasonable coffee drinks are amazing, and I have yet to have a dish I didn't like. I've only ordered breakfast items. Brunch is great, but definitely expect at least a half an hour wait Sunday morning. If you go for a late lunch or in bad weather you might have better luck. ORDER THE CHORIZO SCRAMBLER. It's absolutely amazing - smokey and slightly spicy with the right amount of flavor. Their coffee bar is great with real baristas and good coffee. All drinks from the coffee bar come with animal crackers (which is adorable as they're down from the zoo!) read more

Loved it! I was staying at the OMNI hotel and every time I walked by it there was a line. On my last day I decided to check it out for breakfast and I absolutely loved it. I had their huevos rancheros and I mis admit they were delicious. I also had their chai latte and it was to die for! read more

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

This place is great! I'm here for a conference at the Marriott Wardman Hotel nearby, and this is the only place where the food is great, coffee is great, and ambiance is easy going in the middle of a busy day. Every server I've had has been that perfect balance of friendly / fast service / doesn't bug you too much. They have a lot of healthy vegetable choices that are all delicious, so I can even eat well while I'm traveling. It's really been great being so close to Open City this whole week. read more

Go get the vegan meatball sub. Just trust me. It's tempeh based and so, so good. There's lots of vegan cheddar melted. The sub roll is toasted. It's huge. Before I went vegan I LOVED meatball subs (I know, I have a really refined palette right?) and I'm always searching for a solid meatball replacement (hint: most of them suck) and this sub really hit the spot. The restaurant itself is cute, with both indoor and outdoor seating options. My SO got the salmon burger and said it was perfectly fine but nothing special. I'll definitely be back! read more

Really cool place! It was so hot inside and outside but that's something they can control with this heat. They seated us after a wait because the place was packed! We got breakfast food for lunch after going to the zoo. The breakfast burrito was real good and filling and my veggie omelette with English muffin and jelly was perfect. We also got a strawberry lemonade soda. Great for the heat! Would definitely come again! read more

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

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Food and customer service were great!! I'm attending a symposium so it's location was optimal as well. The food is worth the wait if you arrive and it's busy...yummy read more

I was in DC for a conference and stopped in for lunch. They serve breakfast and lunch all day. I got the huevos rancheros that were the bomb. The tortillas stayed crunchy until the last bite. read more

Loved the menu and could have chosen just about anything from typical diner fare or something more creative. Wife went with the chorizo burrito and it was flavorful and a perfect portion. I had the fried chicken biscuit which is on one of the huge flaky buttery biscuits and served with an egg, gravy and bacon! Loved it. Not the cheapest breakfast with entrees at 10-15 per person but I thought the quality justified the price on our dishes for sure. Coffee was high quality too. read more

THE WAITRESS DROPPED A BOWL OF RANCH ON ME. SHE HARDLY APOLOGIZED. She just threw down napkins as if everything were okay. My bill had an automatic gratuity. If I could've tipped a negative amount of money, I would have. read more

Very good breakfast. Omelette cane with a nice Arugala salad with a delicious dressing. Rye bread was fresh and great. The bacon cheddar omelette was fantastic. My son loved his short stack of pancakes. Great service. Fast & Fresh read more

Beware of bees. They're everywhere. I had the French toast that was supposed to be brioche but definitely was not and it looked exactly like Texas toast, another ordered French toast too and what came on their plate was literally TOASTED bread not French toast whatsoever. The hash browns were okay but they were served in a weird brick shape and the grits were literally gritty and tasted like terrible creamed corn. read more

We ate lunch here after a morning at the zoo. We sat outside on the patio where there are plenty of umbrellas to provide shade. The menu has something for everyone - we liked the sandwiches and salads. Service was good, food came as ordered and in a reasonable amount of time and our drinks were refilled regularly. read more

Went here during my trip and was blessed with the most perfect weather ever! So, naturally I tried to capture that summer day with an American Classic. I got a Hotdog. No big woop. But all the food they did have and those who were next to me order smelled deli! They definitely have a wide array of choices! However, being the Dessert Connoisseur that I am, I must say the dessert menu needs work though. I did go back a second time and tried the Berry Cheesecake which was pretty good. read more

The good: they sell good coffee beans and sometimes make decent espresso drinks, although it's very dependent on who's at the bar. The bad: the food is mediocre at best, and is mainly intended for the out-of-town convention crowd. In other words, it's inconsistent and generally not good enough to attract a local following. The staff, absent for a few notable exceptions, can be downright rude. This place would NEVER make it but for the great location that attracts big transient crowds and its cool decor. read more

I love Open City for Sunday brunch/ lunch. I often head over with my Sunday paper in tow and order one of the enormous cups of coffee. The vegetables are fresh, and the dishes are creative and comforting. I've also gone for dinner; the meatloaf is divine. read more

Came here a couple of times during a conference in a nearby hotel. I love breakfast food, so the fact that this places serves All Day Breakfast is great! Had the Open City Omelet for a late night dinner, and it was really good, especially since the side for that is a small bowl of fruits. Their Hot Chocolate comes in nice big mug, with animal crackers, which I find cute. Food wise, the menu looks interesting. Wish I had time to try some of their entrees. Price is not too unreasonable. Place is dark and loud. Service is slow (which knocks this place from 4 stars to 3 for me). read more

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

Owned by the Tryst folks. Great Americana, fresh and very cheap. Salads aren't as tasty as the ones at Tryst. read more

Open City is by far the best place to have brunch around these parts. So why only three stars? The restored ceiling is beautiful but there is no sound-absorption treatment to be seen, so it's quite loud. It also feels crowded because the tables are close together. That being said the food is great. I love the whole wheat pancakes as well as their BLT, Tuna Melt and their homemade chips. They have excellent coffee, great iced tea choices and smoothies. The one thing that I have eaten at OC that I didn't really like was the tofu scramble. The tastes just didn't really come together in the dish. read more

Had dinner here while staying at the OmniShoreham. Great casual but lively atmosphere, staff were completely normal (like Trader Joe folk), food was very good. I tried the chicken salad sandwich which came with cranberries mixed in & served on foccacia bread. It was delicious - just enough mayo & not drippy in the least. Fries were hot & crispy & generously heaped on the plate. There weren't a ton of beers on tap but the offerings were interesting - Dog Fish Head ale & Palm both got my appreciation. I'd definitely come back. read more

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

Ok, I can be pretty forgiving, but this place had the worst French Toast that I have ever had. It literally looked as if they put fresh pieces of plain bread on my plate. Umm...this isn't french toast. It came with blueberries, which I used to hydrate my dry pieces of bread. I'm not one to return food, unless it's really bad, but maybe I need to change that. Futhermore, my girlfriend asked for an extra side of blueberries, that we paid for, and it took 10 minutes for our server to bring them out. That's after we reminded her after 5 minutes. This was my first time here. It was super crowded on a Sunday for brunch, so obviously folks have had a better food experience that I did. I'd go back again, just to see if my one dining experience here was a fluke or not. read more