We stopped into the cafe late one evening after we landed and settled into the Omni across the street. It was nice that the cafe was open late on a weeknight, although after 10pm you can't sit outside or in covered porch area due to local noise restrictions. Atmosphere was cool and reception was welcoming. Our server was professional, but short and it felt like he was impatient with us even though the cafe was open for another 2 hours. Pizza was amazing. Meatloaf sandwich was so-so. Another in our party ordered a grilled cheese, and it was delivered to the table nearly charred. The bread was completely black. We notified the server who just picked up the plate and walked away. About 15 minutes later he brought another plate, this time completely undercooked (cheese was still in slice form). So, avoid the grilled cheeses. We were a little disappointed to have been charged full price for the item; not expecting free, but maybe discounted. Server never even said thank you when he dropped off our bill. Overall "ok," and maybe we got it on an off night, but service definitely needs a jump start. read more

I have been going to Open City on and off for many years. It looks so inviting as its a great piece of real estate on the corner, with big windows, outdoor seating, southern exposure with great light. Unfortunately each time I go there is an issue. The service, the food, the drinks and the cleanliness have all been consistently compromised. I won't go back. read more

The food is simply amazing. Fresh and delicious, I had the chai waffle, eggs and chicken sausage with a mimosas. I am a big waffle lover and I know my waffles! This is a waffle that will knock your socks off. You have to try it! This was my first time here and I will definitely be back, fyi the larger your group the faster you are seated, it was just my boyfriend and I, and we waited about an hour. Others that came with 3 or more where seated in a 25-30 min time window. Great food, good price and healthy choices. read more

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

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Cool & breezy Sunday 2:30 in the afternoon. Wonderful butternut squash soup started a sad experience. Had to use the tasty soup to heat up a cold grilled cheese sandwich. :( My wife's fries were cool and leathery. Too much noise due to large open room with concrete floor and speakers cranked up. Wanted to like the place but just could not. Many more places to try in the area!! read more

Great place to relax, get a cup of coffee and a quick meal. I Went in once for breakfast, and once for brunch. The service was friendly and prompt, and although it was busy we were seated promptly. The atmosphere was lively, but quiet enough to enjoy a good meal and conversation. While the menu had a lot to offer for diners with special needs, I was able to enjoy the Mass Ave BLT which included more than enough bacon for brunch. For breakfast I had eggs which were cooked perfectly -- still moist with plenty of flavor. read more

Open City has a much larger following than I really understand but it does have great food. Arrive about 20 minutes prior to when you want to be seated on a weekend and take a walk in Rock Creek Park while you wait. Once inside, the coffee is great (and reasonably priced) and the menu has a good mix of brunch staples a fun takes (hashbrown bowl for $12 is my go to). Overall it's a bit noisy but consistently good. Nothing on the menu left me with the feeling I'd crave it but I'm always happy to go back. read more

Average food. Probably wouldn't go back. Nothing that special, though it seems to be a high volume restaurant.

Where do I begin? -The food was okay. The grits were too lumpy. -The servers seemed to be in their own world. -The atmosphere was cool but too loud. I really have no desire to go back if I'm in D.C. read more

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

One of my favorite spots in D.C. for brunch/lunch or a quick and casual dinner. Great brunch food (lots of options) - the waffle with strawberries is my favorite. For lunch/dinner, love the spicy chicken tenders or the burger. The pizzas are also very good (and large). Good cocktails as well. The service can be hit or miss, and it can be very busy especially on weekend mornings because of the zoo, but definitely a great place to visit in Woodley Park. read more

Stopped in for lunch with a Co-worker. We we're seated right away. I ordered the veggie burger (It's made in house, no frozen patty) open-face with a side of broccoli. My co-worker order the Chef salad. The food was good hands down. The waiter was kind, efficient and friendly. We decided that during our 4 day stay for a work conference that we will definitely go back. read more

We have been here on a few occasions, early morning when the place was empty to weekend brunch time when it's swarming with customers. Always welcoming smiles and good food. read more

After being a regular customer at Open City since its opening, I have given up on the restaurant. Food is mediocre and overpriced. Wait staff is indifferent. Sat the bar recently for 15 minutes waiting to order lunch; it was not busy. Gave up and went elsewhere. In short, OC has gone downhill. In need of new management, and wait staff training. read more

I had the grain bowl. It was not that good, unfortunately! I'm a vegetarian and live for a good veggie and rice bowl but this was sub par. First of al, it comes on a plate which makes it hard to sort of mix together and enjoy. I didn't see any of the togarashi it claims to have on the menu. The miso dressing did not taste like ANYTHING. Usually miso is incredibly flavorful but I had to put a ton of salt/pepper/and hot sauce on this plate to eat it. The carrots were pretty soggy and I found the amount of pickled onions overwhelming. The poached egg, avocado, and rice were all lovely though. I would stick to other items on the menu. Bummer for a healthy vegetarian. read more

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

The burger I had was pretty good however the service is slow motion even though there was plenty of staff talking.

The fact that this is my "Dukedom" restaurant and I don't live near it says something about what I think of this place! I attend an annual conference in the area and try to go at least twice - once for breakfast and once for lunch or dinner. Last time I went 3x. The grilled cheese sandwich will cure what ails you when comfort food is in order! Who can resist starting their day with coffee and an animal cracker cookie? The Brussels sprouts appetizer was so good our party ordered a second round! I don't think you can go wrong with any of the menu options. Very nice neighborhood restaurant. read more

Pretty good food and drink selection. This is a nice, middle-of-the-road place to go on a date or to get carry out. Their Open City burger is really good. Brunch is always crazy busy. read more

Open city is a great spot directly across from rock creek park. The food here is great for breakfast brunch or dinner. Awesome little bar inside and great patio for sitting outside on a beautiful day. Love the staff as they are super friendly, and it's a great alternative to hotel food if your staying at the two big hotels right next door. read more

The service was very quick and attentive, even when the restaurant was really busy. It's a casua spot for a bite to eat on the weekends with friends and is a pretty run-of-the-mill American style diner. Since it's such a popular spot, it can be hard to grab a table during the breakfast rush, especially for parties of four so plan ahead! So far I've only tried their breakfast menu (and I'm a big fan), but I can't wait to come back to try their dinner dishes! read more

The food is ok, the problem is that it is not clear what you are ordering or eating. I do not eat sweets or wheat, but not medically fragile here, I just order carefully. I am very sensitive to hydrogenated fats however. We had a western omelet, side of Home fries and sausage. The joke was the fruit that came with the omelet. It was a small bowl filled with grapes with a few unripe pineapple pieces peeking out and two orange slices with peel at the bottom. Ok, it was only 7:30 am. My husband felt omelet was 6 out of 10. More serious was the sausage was maple sausage so it was sweet. This was not noted on side menu. My husband ate it. The most serious is that as I was finishing my half of home fries, which was just a fried square of potatoes, my tongue felt numb. I asked the waitress if they used margarine, she said she would check and came back telling me how to get to the metro. There was no one at the counter so we paid and left quickly wanting to get back to our hotel in case reaction worsened. Not sure if there was hydrogenated fats or not. The menu clarified that you should tell them about allergies. It never occurred to me to ask about maple in the sausage or hydrogenated fats. read more

Love this place. You can never go wrong with anything on the menu. Plus on a warm day it's nice to sit outside.

Great service and food. We ordered the Royale (scrambled eggs, their signature hash-brown square - amazing - french toast and wheat toast). Pretty good cappuccino also. read more

Just get breakfast. The hash brown bowl is fire, and so are the other BREAKFAST options. Do not venture into the land of chicken burgers or meatloaf. You will be disappointed. I have been to Open City several times, and it can be a hit or miss. However, the times that it was a hit was enough to bring me back. I love the dirty chai and the cute animal crackers. The cafe au lait is also very good. Try the hash brown bowl. read more

This was my first time here, how I haven't been here before is a mystery. Great atmosphere and service. Brandon, my bartender was personable and friendly. The kind of bartender that actually engages in you in conversation. The lox and bagels with caper cream cheese (whoever thought of this needs a medal;-) was so good and served quickly. I will be definitely be coming back! read more

Open City is has good food and is very reasonable. I was in D.C. on my east coast vacay. Visited Open City since it was right across the street from my hotel. Had Breakfast one day and dinner another. Food was outstanding for the price on both days. I copped a red velvet cupcake for dessert and that was awesome! The food is cheap and good compared to whats around the Woodley Park area. Restuarant is clean and service is good. Minus a star for there pastries. I bought some of there breaksfast pastries for my early flight home and I didnt really care for them just plain jane if you ask me? They might of went well with a good cup a joe, which I did not have... read more

This place was pretty good. If you're looking for a casual place to get together with friends, this is a great place. Our server was excellent, the atmosphere was hip, and the food was solid. I got the meatloaf, which the waiter suggested and I'm glad he did. It was fantastic, although the mashed potatoes could have been seasoned better. I also had iced pineapple green tea to drink, which was delicious (and they had an unsweetened option, which made my day! Places usually don't have flavored iced teas without loads of sugar). Anyway, all my friends said their meals were good, and the server nicely split up our checks even though we could tell he doesn't do it often. The server was so nice that he gave us a piece of broken cake for free because he saw us eying it. It was barely broken, so it was especially nice. Overall, a friendly, casual, little place. I could see myself going there a lot if I lived in the area. read more

We debated for a while before writing this review whether we should give Open City 2 or 3 stars, but finally decided on 2 (although if 2 1/2 stars were possible on Yelp, that would be our rating). Pros: Urban-New American environment, amazing little espresso bar at the front of the restaurant (we recommend the iced green tea and iced coffee...simple yet tasty), and an extensive menu with a ton of optional sides. Cons: Expensive for the amount of food that you're getting. On a side note, our breakfast (we both ordered the salmon egg scramble) was cold...regardless of how busy the place was (PACKED!), when you're paying $15/person for a morning meal, you want it to be piping hot upon reaching the table! Perhaps we just happened to catch Open City on a "bad day", but we may or may not decide to give it a second chance. It has potential to be an awesome breakfast nook, but next time (if there is a next time), we will probably opt for an espresso beverage and a pastry to-go and skip out on the whole sit-down experience. read more

Slow service, Average/good food, Horrible Desert, overpriced non-entrees Came in here around 4 pm no line but a decent amount of people seated. Sat down and the waitress brought glasses of warm water with no ice. Ordered the banana split smoothie which was warm (I do not know how they did this as there was icecream in it but it was not that tasty). Ordered the carnivore pizza and friend got the crusty club (suggested by the waitress). I happened to like my pizza but it was not amazing. The crusty club was ok but the bacon taste overpowered everything. My friend got the potato leek soup which he loved. Decided to go with the red velvet cake thing for desert which was a huge mistake. it was horrible. I was barely able to cut it even using most of my strength. All you tasted was coconut. Order an entree, soup and some actually cold water but nothing else here. everything besides the entree was way over priced. read more

I really like Open City for a quick lunch/brunch. The sweet potato fries are really good and a lot of the breakfast options are fantastic! The desserts were mediocre, and I wouldn't go back for those. Its really busy during their lunch/brunch hours...so I would try to go at a different time. I was frustrated the last time I went, because they skipped over my name 3 times, and kept saying "your table will be ready in 2 minutes" (30 minutes go by and finally I'm sitting down). The waiters weren't around much--almost seemed to disappear right when you need something--but when they did finally come to our table they were very nice. read more

Good food for breakfast with good service in a lively atmosphere. We came to Open City because of other reviews for breakfast options near our hotel. It was the Fourth of July and they were open and busy. Our food was good and the server prompt and personable. Our breakfast included a bacon scrambler, over hard egg, chocolate chip pancakes, corn meal pancakes, apple wood bacon, and grits. The egg dishes and bacon were fantastic although the scramble might be heavy on the cheddar cheese for some. The pancakes were fine, getting a mediocre rating from our 11 year-old for the chocolate chip and a "nice but different texture" from my wife for the corn meal pancakes. She hadn't had corn meal pancakes before. The grits were tasty but a little too loose and liquid for me. We enjoyed the atmosphere inside but outside would have been good too. This neighborhood was fun to hang out in during our stay and the outside seating lets you watch as life goes by. read more

This is my go-to spot for a great gluten-free selection. Staff is always kind, food is always good (though often excessive servings), drinks are also great. They often have a great selection of gluten-free baked goods as well. read more

Meh. I thought it would've been better. I had the 2 egg breakfast with toast, bacon, and hashbrowns. Toast was really cold and so were my eggs. The hashbrowns were a square brick of fried potatoes. Service was slow and inattentive. On a positive note the bacon was good and it wasn't that expensive so maybe I got what I paid for. Oh and becareful...coffee refills are not free. read more

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

I have given this place several chances, but each time the food gets worse and worse. I got a grilled cheese that wasn't cooked all the way through, a pizza that was dripping wet with oil, a chicken sandwich that was gross. The staff is wonderful though. Keep this in mind, they have a button on their cash register that is used when there is a quality issue. Apparently they have had so many complaints that they don't need to check with the manager before taking something off the bill. read more

I came here late one night because it was the only way place serving food and drinks after 11. I decided to get breakfast and I got a combination of things. The food was actually very good and the service was great. I would definitely come back here again. read more

The food was delicious. I got the chicken and waffles and my husband had the breakfast bowl. But their service was TERRIBLE. Our server took our order and then literally never came back. He forgot my husband's toast and coffee and then we had to flag down another server to even get a check. Don't come here if you plan on being out of there in an even reasonable amount of time read more

The service is great and quick. The food is out of this world and one of the best brunch places I've yet experienced. Coffee is delicious. All in all the place is outstanding. A must when in DC! read more

My sister and I stopped at Open City for breakfast. The service was quick, the lattes were delicious, and our meals (omelet, chicken & waffles) were great! Highly recommend. read more

The best food, drink, ambiance and service in all of Woodley Park! Great beers, great burgers, awesome brunch, patio seating, sidewalk chalk, sports tvs, and on and on, the best spot for everyone! read more

This place has long wait due to inexperienced workers. 10 minutes wait to get table even table is available. 15 minutes to get a water. Another 15 to get food. I came here for a quick breakfast grab. I almost walk out to the McDonald next by. Menu tends to be expensive, close to 3 for a black coffee and refill is 1.50. Needless to say this place is one and done for me. read more

Not great choices for gluten-free. The servers change every day. Some are better than others, but in general, they are helpful. The steel-cut oats are good, and they do a good job with eggs. Their hash browns are formed into a block and deep fried. Very tasty. I've never seen that before. A lot more reasonable than eating at a hotel. read more

It's a popular spot for brunch near the zoo. It's usually about a 15-20 wait for a 2 person table. But the bar is first come first serve. Food was okay, not amazing for brunch. I would maybe go back for drinks. read more