Open City is really a nice spot for a quick breakfast, a morning meeting (as I did) or to linger over a hot cup of one's choice. My friend and I both ordered the California Omelet. It came served with a toasted English muffin and fried potato cake -- both of which were adequate plate companions to the featured omelet. I found the omelet cooked well but lacking in "cohesion." It sort of fell apart as it was eaten and nearly devoid of cheese which had equal billing to tomato, avocado, and onion in the omelet. In that respect I found the omelet disappointing. On the plus side is the ambience, service (very friendly, welcoming and prompt). Reaching Open City is easy. The Woolley Park Metro red line stop is just around the corner, and the cafe is located near the intersection of Connecticut Ave. and Calvert Street NW. I'd go back again, but I'd order something different. read more

Good food. Good service. We enjoyed our meal. Only downside was the coffee didn't seem fresh and sodas were pricey. read more

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Omg.. Is all I can say.. Tomato bisque was delicious, creamy, and perfectly seasoned. The spinach salad was beyond with its maple vinaigrette! They accommodated my ever wish and the service was like dining in your favorite local restaurant! I want to take every bit of it back with me to Florida!! read more

It is one of my regular breakfast spot and they serve fresh and delicious breakfast. Service is always great. Thanks

Service was so slow. Not that many customers. Waiter was out of his element and should find a new job. I won't be back again

The food was good (breakfast) and would warrant a higher rating, but the service was terrible. The waiter took the order and was not seen again until the meal was over (someone else brought us the food). We flagged down another waiter for service and there was no refill on coffee. I was not particularly upset until the check arrived and gratuity was already included in the bill at 20%. I flagged down the manager and asked why they calculated/added the tip and was told that our group size (4 adults and 2 children) prompted an automatic 20%. I expressed that I was disappointed with the lack of service. She responded that coffee refills were extra. Wasn't that a problem that I wasn't given an opportunity to purchase another cup of coffee? I guess the waiters know that they're automatically getting 20% on groups of six or more and don't need to do more than the minimum. The manager doesn't care about the customer's experience. read more

I returned to Open City to give it a second try on Sunday after having some snags there Friday that were caused by issues out of their control. The service was friendly and prompt, food was delicious, and coffee was outstanding. In my previous review I had noted that we were left sitting at our table for 20 minutes before anyone came to check on us. I'll chalk that up to the water situation that everyone I that past of DC was dealing with that day. Definitely recommend. read more

Shannon T. I appreciate the message back. I wrote the review within 12 hours of visiting the OC. so it was 18 odd days ago. Don't feel bad, the hipsters up at Takoma Bev Co didn't know what a Cuban coffee was either. Weird. I understand wanting to make this right at seriously don't. It's just a yelp review. read more

Mehdi the bartender is fantastic! He's so funny and personable and makes a great drink.

Lots of vegan options for the whole family. Service was a bit slow but they were quite busy for brunch, with a line out the door. Cute decorations and decent beers. Our server Max was attentive but seemed a bit hurried. 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

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

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

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

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

I can't say enough good things about Open City. I've been twice, once for dinner on a weeknight and again for a late brunch on a Friday afternoon. At dinner I had one of the specials, a spinach salad with a huge serving of chicken breast on top and balsamic vinaigrette, it was amazing. For brunch I had the salmon scramble, definitely the best brunch I'd had in a while. The Bloody Mary's are great - peppery and dusted with great seasoning. Our server Mya was awesome. It's a great atmosphere, especially in the summer - great light, open windows, a nice sunroom you can sit in. The coffee comes with animal crackers in a huge mug. I've lived here for four years and only discovered this place a month before I'm moving away and it's really a shame - I love it! read more

I am very late is writing review. I was in DC the 1st week in Dec. I stopped in for a much needed get -OFF- my- feet rest. I decided a nice quite drink was the answer. The bartender was a knowledgeable and gracious young woman. She helped with some directions, put a smile on my face that pretty much lasted the rest of my hectic day. I have told my friend, an actual DC resident, about OPEN CITY and to look for redheaded bartender! Thank you helping get through a rough scheduled weekend. read more

Wonderful coffee. Great comfort food restaurant when not busy. Not worth the wait on weekends. read more

Ummm, started off with a bowl of chili, very good and tasty, especially on today being that it's cold and raining. The bacon wrapped meat loaf was delicious as well as the potatoes, spinach was okay, I have had better. The Fudge Brownie 'a la mode was very good. Server was nice and polite. Nice price for a great dinner. read more

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

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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

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