Yep. If you're reading this, you should just make that reservation and go... and yes, I would recommend a reservation because this place is pop-u-lar, and I see why. The space itself is bright and airy and a bit on the noisy side. But the service was very good, and the food was served quite quickly. I've been on a shakshuka kick lately, so I opted for the the Sweet Potato Shakshuka, which is described as: Sweet Potato Curry, with Chickpeas and Sunny Eggs with a the chicken add-on - gotta get that protein in, after all. This was one of the most unique shakshukas I'd ever had... It literally tasted like a curry dish you might get at your local Indian restaurant, with a bit of a brunch flair to it. The curry itself had a wee bit of spice and was a bit sweet - but that could have been from the sweet potatoes. The chicken was served in a bowl on the side, which felt a bit... odd... I would've expected it to be incorporated into the main dish. It was kind of bland and a bit lukewarm, so I don't know that I'd order that again... but I would definitely order this again! read more

Unconventional Diner - Sweet potato shakshuka - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The good: the restaurant is definitely clean and our food came out quickly. The chicken and waffles were really good! I enjoyed the cornbread waffles and the sauces they game with. The meh: they didn't have space for strollers or have high chairs. They only offered a booster that doesn't have straps. My baby is a wiggler and high chairs are a must when we go out to eat read more

Unconventional Diner - Chicken & Waffles. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Took two out of town visitors to brunch as they were staying nearby... my first time here. We arrived at 2:30 without reservations on a weekday and it was fine. I had the corned beef hash, with was the most different interpretation of this classic dish that I had ever eaten. Don't get me wrong, it was delicious! But my first time seeing it presented as follows: both the corned beef and the potatoes were cooked in small, separate cubes, not blended or mashed together. As such, a whole new textural experience for the dish. They have both ample inside and sidewalk tables, and great service. read more

Made reservation for a Saturday early dinner as reviews said to make one if not willing to wait. Got to the restaurant on time, seemed to be a slow Saturday early evening as I saw a lot of empty tables. Maybe they were all reserved? Not sure. We were greeted by the staffs and shown to the table. Smooth and fast. All the menu looked tempting so had hard time choosing which one to go with. Went with meatloaf and miso salmon. Meatloaf was really good! Flavorful with tender/juicy meat combined with onions, bell peppers etc. Miso salmon was also good! Okra and broccoli were adding more taste to the dish itself. No complaints at all! The prices were on the higher side though. Menu says each are $28. However, there was mandatory service charge of 20% and tax was calculated after the service charge, which end up being approximately $40 per menu item we got - miso salmon and meatloaf. Wish the menu price would just include service charges so prices would not be misleading with all the charges after. Not sure if this is because of World Cup 2026, but too bad they had to hit their customers with extra fees after enjoying the meals which could have ended happily rather than leaving a bad taste in the mouth. read more

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I came here with friends to catch up. Location was great. Right on the side of the convention center. It was clean and a the energy was great there. Customer service was great. Our service was great and the server was great. Literally not one bite of any item we ate was nothing less than 5 stars. The buffalo cauliflower and sweet potato house rolls were amazing appetizers. My double cheeseburger and fries was one of the best burgers I have had in a long time. The meat was so rich in flavor. The fries were a perfect mix of outside crispiness and soft inside. My girlfriend got the pot roast rendang and the salted caramel ice cream. Both were so good. This is spot was amazing and I highly recommend this location and plan to stop here anytime I'm in the area visiting. read more

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My forever go to for brunch went in the DC area. The staff was great. The food is great. The convenient location to the convention center made me a repeat patron! There is usually a line, but with seating inside, outside and at the bar, it is usually not a long wait. I opt to the sit at the bar since I was participating in a conference and needed a quick turnaround. Server acknowledged me right away as he was preparing drinks for another patron. I was extremely impressed with the menu offering which had traditional breakfast items mixed with fresh veggies, and spices from around the world. I ordered the Brussel sprouts with fried egg whites. It was delicious and extremely filling. I savored each and every bite. The only thing I would have preferred would have been more coffee offerings. The food here is truly king and I can work with that! read more

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Lively atmosphere and delicious food that came out unbelievably fast! They had several mocktail options and the Manhattan cocktail came smoked with a chocolate truffle and cherry. Portions were big and we had leftovers. Bathrooms were clean as well. Really great experience all around! read more

Unconventional Diner - Manhattan cocktail - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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The burger was BOMB and so were the grits. The service was good and the ambiance was pretty !! Definitely an upscale diner Arab fusion (though I didn't have any of the Arab esque items) would come back read more

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My husband brought me here during our DC visit. We had a hard time deciding what to pick (everything sounded amazing) so we decided to split the chicken sandwich and pancakes! Sweet and savory meal. Both were incredible and flavorful, I can see why this restaurant is so notable!! Highly recommend this restaurant for any meal. 10/10 - a must visit rating from me!! read more

Unconventional Diner - Fried Chicken Sandwich & Fries - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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A group of four of us went here for dinner after searching for a while. We had a tough group to satisfy-a picky eater whose isn't adventurous and just wants Taco Bell all the time, a self proclaimed foodie who likes to seek out the Michelin star restaurants but actually isn't as adventurous in trying new foods as he thinks he is (hopefully he doesn't see this post haha), another who is willing to try most things but is also happy just eating low key and doesn't like to spend money, and then there's me who wants to try new things, willing to spend a little to try it and is happy going with the flow too. Thankfully we ended up at the Unconventional Diner and it was perfect for satisfying everyone in the group!! We were all able to get tasty drinks- from n/a Hibiscus Citrus lemonade, white wine, a cinnamon toast old fashioned (what? A cereal inspired old fashioned, yes please and it was fantastic!), and a Bourbon basil smash. Then the crew settled on some food-the waiter was patient with the questions and contemplation from the table (thank you!). We started with the SKILLET CORNBREAD with Habanero Honey Butter | Sea Salt (v) And that was melt in your mouth cornbread. Damn. Real cornbread seems hard to come by any more and this is the real deal. And the honey butter and flake sea salt-can't go wrong. I'm a spice weeny-for reals-and this was incredible. It's a MUST get. Across the table we had two of the double cheese burgers (I warned, we have a lack of adventurous eaters) -and they both said the burgers were the best they've had. I had the Philly French double dip, with horseradish cream and caramelized onions-so fantastic-the roast beef was melt in your mouth and the broth was the perfect saltiness. Our fourth got the fried chicken sandwich and really loved the dill pickle slaw that came with it, and the chicken was not over cooked and not raw-perfect! We all had fries with our meals, the thinner kind with light seasoning and none of us could stop eating them, even when we were clearly full, the fries just kept disappearing. read more

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Delish! We didn't have reservations so we had to sit at the bar but that was ok! Service was fast and friendly! We started with drinks, a mimosa and the pina colda espresso martini, both were good! There are a few unique menu options which is cool! We stuck to a more traditional breakfast route and ordered the loaded breakfast biscuits and the crème brûlée French toast and omg they were so good! The savory option with the biscuits was so good and rich, and the sweet option with the French toast was delish as well! You get a lot of food too, we couldn't even finish! We will definitely come back. read more

Unconventional Diner - Crème Brûlée French Toast. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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This place really hit the spot! We got the calamansi frizzante, piña colada latte, loaded breakfast biscuits, and French dip poutine. Every bite was delectable. The crispiness of the hash browns in the biscuits, and the biscuits themselves, were to die for. The beef in the poutine was perfectly tender. The drinks were so refreshing as well. The only thing I regret is that I didn't have room to finish it all! I can't remember our server's name, but I loved the social battery meter pin she had on her apron. It was hilarious! Girl, me too!!! read more

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The service was amazing. She was super friendly and always checked in. I came here with my girls and we had an absolutely wonderful time! The ambiance really adds to the cozy, lovely feel. It's like a cozy, modern, diner - bright but warm. Love the aesthetic and atmosphere. The drinks we ordered were fantastic!!! All the food we ordered to share and all of them were delicious. I really enjoyed my time here. My one comment is that we got a chocolate cake and it was kind of dry, I typically love a more moist cake, but it was still tasty nonetheless. I would come back in a heartbeat, I really love this place and can imagine coming back here on a date to have some drinks and bites. read more

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We enjoyed brunch outside in the shade on the sidewalk: avocado toast (gf!) and chicken & waffles. Both had lots of visual appeal and finely tuned flavors. My partner reported that the chicken and waffles had the perfect tender-to-crispy balance and just-right hot/sweet spiciness (he usually hates spicy food). My avocado toast was served as a large dollop of fresh avocado spread with toast on the side. A lot of thought went into these recipes. Service was excellent with visits from several staff members. The weather was perfect, and we didn't really notice the traffic on the street. read more

Unconventional Diner - Chicken & Waffles. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Found this little gem for brunch while in DC and boy was it tough to chose what to order. Everything looked delicious. Ultimately we landed on the avocado toast and the blueberry pancakes with a side of bacon and calamansi frizzante to drink. Figured the avocado toast would be well, smashed avocado and toast, but the presentation was nicely surprising! Love that they bring out the toast and avocado separately so you get to decide how much or how little you want to pile on. Also made it easier for my bf and I to share. The flavors were great! There was a perfect amount of citrus and kick. The pancakes did not disappoint either! The blueberry lavender sauce was delicious and coated the pancakes perfectly. It's always nice to find that perfect sauce-to-butter-to-pancake ratio. You just dive into a fluffy sugary heaven. This place is definitely a favorite around the area. It was packed, but the service was still so quick. It's brightly lit, lots of fun colors, the perfect brunch vibe. Definitely would give dinner a shot next time we're in the area. read more

Unconventional Diner - Avocado Toast. Buttermilk Pancakes. Side Bacon - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Made a stop after attending a convention down the road. The restaurant was very well kept and beautiful inside. Tables were clean, organized, and well spaced for easy moving about. The staff were very friendly, always smiling and happy to help. Our drinks were next empty and the cocktails my group ordered were all delicious and refreshing. All food items ordered did not disappoint. Serving sizes were generous and well prepared. Pricing is a tad high for what you order but that's a byproduct of the capital region. The atmosphere was a cool mix of locals, businessmen, and fellow conference attendees. Music was soothing and hip, making the experience great and comfy. Only things I'd suggest for the Seggzy Sandwich would be to maybe change the fries to something more. Minor change at that. Highly recommend Unconventional Diner to anyone visiting the area. It's a great spot with excellent food and friendly staff. read more

Unconventional Diner - The Seggzy Sandwich w/ a side of bacon - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I didn't think it was that unconventional, but I would use terms like "interesting" or possibly "eclectic," also "delicious" and "enjoyable." We started with an appetizer of Buffalo cauliflower. This isn't your restaurant-chain cauliflower out of a bag and into the deep fryer, and the sauce was just as fresh. That was followed by Thai salads, heavy on the cabbage, crunch, and flavor, and just unique enough to make it ... well ... unconventional. Service was prompt, friendly, and professional, and everything we ordered came out fast. And that's the stuff about this place that I want to see stay conventional! read more

Unconventional Diner - Buffalo cauliflower - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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This was by far one of the best meals we have during our trip to DC. The biggest mistake we made was not making a reservation for breakfast which we were trying to do on rainy Easter Sunday. Luckily they told us we could try our luck grabbing some seats at the bar and we actually were able to do that very quickly. This was another restaurant that I thought would be all hype, but it turned out to be a great experience. Once we were seated at the bar, the service was great. The server/bartender was friendly and quick to take our order. It was definitely a busy day given that it was Easter Sunday, but the food came out fairly quick. She got the pancakes with the blueberry sauce and I got the chicken and waffles. I tried her pancakes and they were definitely good, but not really my thing. The chicken and waffles were next level. If I go somewhere for breakfast and I see chicken and waffles on the menu, I am definitely trying them and I would say that these were the best I've ever tried. They were very different with the spice level and with the particular syrup and sauce that they had for the chicken. Without a doubt when we return to DC, we will be back at this restaurant for breakfast. read more

Unconventional Diner - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I'm always intrigued by big, high-volume restaurants--when they work, they really work. At first glance, this place felt like chaos, but look closer and it's a well-oiled machine. We were seated right on time, and the signature dishes came out exactly as advertised--no surprises, just solid execution across the board. Shout-out to Nadia, who was everywhere at once--in the best way. Fast, attentive, and always smiling. Unconventional Diner deserves all the accolades they receive. BB read more

Unconventional Diner - Loaded Breakfast Biscuits. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Reservations are a must and getting everything is also recommended! Lol, parking was a little Bit of a mess and we got dropped off while my husband went to find parking. It was a party of 5, so we ordered quite a few entrees. I would say the Shakshuka was okay (we've had better at other places) but the jasmine rice with egg was delicious! the French toast and pancakes did not disappoint and my sister's boyfriend got the beef poutine and he said it was amazing! The falafel bites were a huge hit at the table as well. I will say it's odd they did not have any fresh fruit or much of a kids menu, but our little one also liked the rice and are about 1 full pancake. I'll add more photos later, but this is what I have for now! read more

Unconventional Diner - Blueberry lemon pancakes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Fireeee brunch here! My matcha was actually really great. Split the French toast which was seriously amazing. I don't often get a sweet breakfast but this was unlike anything I've had and I had to stop myself from eating the whole thing so I could save room for my actual entree. I got the egg sandwich and subbed hash browns for the fries. The sandwich had the tastiest sauce, the eggs were super fluffy, the bread was great. No notes. The hash browns kinda gave McDonald's vibes which is a good thing. My bf loved his chicken and waffles. We got a side of fruit which was probs not worth it but kudos to them for actually having berries. Our waitress was sweet and attentive enough - it was pretty busy! read more

It was a truly unique and memorable dining experience here at Unconventional Diner. Think upscale, Southern inspired, Gastro-Pub meals. It took me awhile to decide on an order because so many items sounded good. I enjoyed an effervescent sparkling rose', Thai salad and grilled shrimp. But can we talk about those sweet potato Parker House rolls?! Those were amazing! Soft, warm, delightful pillows of yeast rolls with a sweet butter. And for dessert? Some "mile high" lemon meringue pie. We walked away with filled bellies and our hair and clothes smelling like Cajun cooking! read more

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Very very inventive and yummy! The ambiance is cute, though a little cramped, but the food makes up for it. I ordered the brussels with fried eggs (with a side of the zaatar garlic naan), and was shocked at how well the flavors went together. It was seriously one of the most excellent dishes I've ever had! The sweet potato shashuska was good but not great. My only qualm is there is a mandatory 20% gratuity, which would have been fine if service wasn't unimpressive. Our waters stayed empty, and we had to ask for the check after being ignored for quite a bit of time. read more

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Made a reservation in advance and we enjoyed all of our food. The French toast especially stood out. It's definitely on the sweet side though, so maybe split it with friends if you order it so you don't get overwhelmed. The Seggsy sandwich was easy to customize. We had included in our original reservation that we were celebrating a birthday, and the staff brought out a little sparkler, which was cute. read more

Unconventional Diner - Crème Brûlée French Toast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Such a unique french toast! Our server was attentive, and we were able to walk in without a reservation on a Friday. They were also attentive towards food allergies. There's plenty of space inside, but it does get quite busy and loud giving it the diner ambiance. read more

Unconventional Diner - Crème Brûlée French Toast. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

There was a convention happening so I decided to stop by Unconventional Diner for some brunch. Walking in, it was busy mid afternoon on a Saturday. I didn't come here without a reservation ( in the future I'd book in advance ) so I ended up on the wait list. They mentioned it'd be an hour and a half wait, but realistically once more people left, we had a table ready within 20 minutes of waiting. Because it was brunch I got regular coffee, just black for me. I ended up getting the corned beef hash with eggs however you like. I personally like mine medium, slightly runny but not medium hard. The corned beef hash had beef chunks, home fries, celery, onions, gravy with two eggs on top. It was really delicious and it was comfort food that hit home. For the wait, I can see why people really love it. I personally don't know if I will go here by myself but it's a popular place. There's so many people waiting in line just to try this restaurant out and I can see why it deserved the michelin bib. read more

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I'd never had Pot Pie Poppers. I thought it was a clever take on a classic dish, turning it into a bite sized appetizer. It was also tasty. For the main course, my wife and I split the fried chicken. It was more than enough. It's half a chicken. We took leftovers to the hotel. The dish came with gravy, hot sauce, biscuit, and slaw. We ordered a side of mac 'n' cheese. The chicken was perfectly, crispy and juicy. The slaw and mac'n' cheese were also very good. I was really looking forward to a fluffy biscuit to bring it all together; unfortunately, it was hard and dry. Not even the gravy to save it. Huge let down. But everything else hit the spot, including the chocolate cake for dessert. I'd con back next time I'm in DC. read more

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I love unconventional diner. I went there recently and got the chance to try a bunch of different items on the menu. The showstopper in my mind that stood out was the miso soup butter, and sweet potato roll. Their chocolate cake is probably the best chocolate cake in the city if I have to be honest. Service was great and I look forward to going back. read more

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This is our "go-to" place after we land in DC, or the day after we land in DC. It is such a consistently delicious dining choice for us. This visit we enjoyed: appetizer deviled eggs, 1 salad with shrimp, 1 salad with falafel, and 1 plain double cheeseburger with fries. We had water, sprite, and lemonade for drinks. Everything was delicious as usual and the server was excellent. Always a great dining experience and we appreciate it! read more

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I recently had brunch at Unconventional Diner in Washington, DC, and it was such a great experience! The place was absolutely bustling -- clearly a popular spot -- and the wait was over two hours. We opted to sit at the bar instead of waiting for a table, which actually worked out perfectly. We ordered the s'egg scrambled sandwich with fries, and it was delicious! Everything was fresh, flavorful, and hit the spot for brunch. Even with the crowd, the energy was lively and fun. This was my second time visiting, and it definitely lived up to the first experience -- I'll absolutely be back! read more

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Service great, food better. Never heard of a diner having a Michelin star but babyyyyy they absolutely deserve it. Ambiance of a typical diner but clientele was upscale. The mudslide was phenomenal! read more

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We've been here twice and the food was great each time! Our server this past time was a little awkward LOL but the food is delicious, dessert is tasty, and drinks are great! read more

Unconventional Diner - Coconut Espresso Martini - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Every time I searched for ideas of where to eat while in DC this place popped up. So I decided I had to try it. I got there around 12:45 on a Sunday. It was packed. It was just me and I was told it would be a 2 hour wait or I could find a spot at the bar or high tops. Did a pass through of that area and there was nothing then as I walked back a single bar seat became available. It was kismet. I was handed a menu right away. I decided to order the s'eggsy sandwich with a side of grits and a mocha espresso martini. The sandwich was delicious, the grits were some of the best I'd had in a long time and the martini was perfection. I'm so glad yelp kept pushing this suggestion, and that I got a spot to eat on a busy Sunday afternoon. My only disappointment was that it was the brunch menu only because I had been hoping to try their chicken pot pie bites. Next time I got to DC I'll have to go back I guess. read more

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omg this place was a TREAT. we came for breakfast and we were both so happy with what we ordered. we had the chicken and waffles and the poutine dish. SO YUMMY and such a good deal for the price. we wanted to come back everyday while we stayed in DC. read more

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Amazing service! Food came very quickly and tasted amazing. Would definitely recommend. The only thing I didn't like was how close the tables are to each other, it's hard to have a private conversation. read more

Unconventional Diner - Buttermilk Pancakes. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This place has become a staple in my brunch rotation. We went here for Sunday brunch, and of course, this place did not disappoint. If you've ever been here for brunch, you know this place gets crowded really really quickly and the noise level can be a little loud, but that's what my expectation is for a Sunday brunch with the girls when you haven't seen them for a while and everyone's trying to catch up. To the food, I got the French dip, poutine, and my friend got the chicken and waffles. We got the buttermilk pancakes to share and for dessert, we split the Steffie Kay's chocolate cake. Every single time I get the French dip poutine, it is always the bomb dot com. It has all of the salty savory notes of a French dip sandwich without the bread. It's cheesy, the beef is tender, and the fries that are not under the sauce are crispy. It is good every time I get it and I will continue to get it when I come here. The chicken and waffles was also really good. I never thought that I would be a fan of a cornbread waffle, but in this dish, it was delicious in the perfect pairing to the chicken. The chicken tenders themselves were not dry at all and the honey Sriracha with the habanero butter, combined with all of this made for the perfect bite. The buttermilk pancakes were light and fluffy. The blueberry lavender sauce that came with it was not too sweet and the floral notes of the lavender really came through. Perfect sweet edition to complement the savory components of our meals. The chocolate cake was moist, fudgy, and the vanilla anglaise tasted just like you were eating vanilla ice cream. Perfect end to a perfect brunch. Service was amazing and our server was very attentive. I will definitely be back here again. Highly recommend getting reservations before you go because this place definitely gets packed. read more

Unconventional Diner - French Dip Poutine, Chicken & Waffles, Buttermilk Pancakes. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Oh! I get it. It's a restaurant near the convention center. Despite the name, the food was average. I can't actually remember what I ordered--and I have a picture! I think it was a spicy chicken sandwich. read more

Unconventional Diner - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

In January 2026 I visited for the second time and what a success! I held out on writing a review after my first visit in December 2025 because I only had coffee and dessert, but after having had dinner there now, I feel I'm able to provide a well-rounded review. Let's talk about my first visit: late evening in following dinner at another restaurant. We wanted something savory so we stopped in for coffee and had a slice of their carrot cake. Holy moly! Several layers, rich and decadent. All of the things. It was so good that we said to ourselves, "We have to come back to try the food." The opportunity presented itself the following month and we decided to bring friends with us. For dinner, I had the Lebanese Fried Rice and added a side of chicken, which came out grilled and cubed as a side dish. The rice was very flavorful and had lentils, raisins, yogurt, and almonds. It also came with pickled radishes. Overall, super flavorful! Our friends got a variety of tortilla soup (it was cold outside) and we had two orders of the meatloaf. Personally, meatloaf is not my thing but the one made at Unconventional Diner may have converted me. Excellent flavor and the consistency was more like a bake than the typical meatloaf consistency. Our server, Mauricio, was very friendly and explained to us how we could go about splitting the check using a QR code provided. He also gave us excellent recommendations and checked in on us during the meal. Unconditional Diner was very busy but lively around dinner time, so consider making a reservation if you can. The menu has something for everyone, so it's a great place for different palettes. I'll definitely be back! read more

Unconventional Diner - Lebanese Fried Rice. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The ambience here is modern and vibey. Menu options are a fusion and fun to try the various flavors! We liked all the dishes we tried. Service was fine. Would come back to try other dishes. read more

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@unconventionaldiner: the best CHICKEN & WAFFLES in this city with Cheddar-Chive Cornbread Waffle | Habanero Butter | Granny Gravy | Honey Sriracha and an order of CRÈME BRÛLÉE FRENCH TOAST with Vanilla Cream | Brioche | Macerated Berries for the table ... among other delish things! unconventional diner is consistently great! read more

Unconventional Diner - Chicken & Waffles - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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