Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Unconventional Diner

    4.4 (3.5k reviews)
    Open • 7:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

    Order Unconventional Diner Takeout or Delivery

    Unconventional Diner Photos

    Business Info

    UNCONVENTIONAL DINER ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Hipster
    Casual
    Trendy
    Classy

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Unconventional Diner

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Turkey panini
    Anita W.

    Walking in, I realized it was connected to a hotel. It was really nice and elegant inside. For Sunday brunch, we was able to walk right in to a table. Friendly service and attentive. I got the turkey panini, love the sauce on the sandwich with a side of spring mix salad. My sister got the ham eggs bennys. Great portions, good flavor

    Loaded Breakfast Biscuits.
    Jessica A.

    Fresh off an early morning flight to DCA, I met a friend for breakfast before work. We had a reservation, but we could've walked in and been seated. Breakfast was fantastic! She had the crème brûlée French toast and bacon. I had the loaded breakfast biscuits without the fried eggs. It was delicious! Server was friendly and attentive, it's a cute place! Easy to get to via metro, too.

    Shrimp and Grits
    Nisha B.

    $20 Resy deposit for reservation. You will need to cancel atl east 30 mins prior to your reservation time, so you won't get charged. Less than 5 minute walk from the Convention Center Metro I had the Lox and a side of grits. Both were very good. The Lox looks small, but it was very filling and comes with an egg underneath the salmon Sparkling water is enough for 2 people

    Nneka M.

    Brunch at Unconventional Diner is a DC must! The service is impeccable and friendly, and the menu has a nice variety of culinary options, though, I don't feel like there's much of hearty vegetarian options or substitutions. Outdoor seating is nice and quaint, and covered. And plenty of street parking is available. Overall, I highly recommend!

    Mark N.

    High quality elevated diner food at a reasonable price in DC. Brunch is an option every day before 3:45PM. Recommend the corned beef hash. Big chunks of meat, potato with roasted onions and celery, all with a black pepper gravy. Comes with two sunny-side eggs. You will be stuffed. Biscuits are great too. Coffee is solid. Reservations by Resy. Online ordering here https://order.online/store/unconventional-diner-washington-295238

    Garlic naan
    Aarti B.

    True to its name, Unconventional Diner is not your average brunch spot - it delivers on fun and unique dishes (available until 3:45pm). The Tikka dish with fried egg was tasty, but wish paneer or larger protein option was built-in (not an upcharge)! The creamy red Tikka curry sauce, caramelized onions, crispy brussel sprouts, and fried ere tasty and paired well, the dish felt incomplete and something was missing, maybe some paneer or naan? I paid $5 for a side of zesty naan topped with different spices and really wish it came with the dish just came with it. While I was tempted to order the falafel, I couldn't justify shelling out another $5 for another upcharge and spend $10 on them for a total of $26 for just an entree - when these 2 upcharges should have been included in the entree by default. Wish there were more fun vegetarian dishes on the menu. Might come back for drinks and to explore the menu!

    Buttermilk Pancakes - short stack
    Pete F.

    I had a nice conventional brunch at the Unconventional Diner. Well maybe the fried egg on top of roasted artichoke is unconventional. But I also had the fluffy buttermilk pancakes, which I had to try since it seemed every other person sitting at the bar was enjoying. Overall I had a very enjoyable meal. The food was delicious. Service was friendly. Food was delivered very promptly. I highly recommend the diner with the unconventional name.

    Brunch menu
    Karen H.

    Very busy breakfast/brunch spot in DC. I had a few hours to kill before my flight and after an early Amtrak arrival into Union station. This place was worth switching metro lines from Union station (and kept me out of the rain!). I had the chicken and waffles. Delicious with a kick! The coffee is excellent and strong but not nearly as strong as the cinnamon toast old-fashioned! All of it was delicious. Since I didn't have a reservation, I sat at the bar, where the service was as good as I imagine sitting at a table would have been. Would love to come back and try other tempting menu items.

    Chicken & Waffles.
    Esther A.

    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

    Sweet potato shakshuka
    Chelle M.

    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!

    Miso Salmon $40 ($28 + mandatory service charge of 20% plus tax) 6/20/2026
    Jaewoo S.

    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.

    Renee B.

    We had a Monday dinner reservation during summer restaurant week. Greeted and seated by front desk. More space than I expected but sounds are probably my amplified by the tile floors. Before others arrived I met our waiter, Mauricio, who asked if I wanted a cocktail while I waited for the other ladies to arrive. We all had looked up the menu and was excited to try all of the entrees. I ordered the shrimp and grits which I thought I knew what it would taste like. Boy, was I wrong! It was so "unconventional " and in an absolutely delicious way. Chicken sausage, large shrimp, okra, peppers and more, laid on a bed of grits that are so emulsified, I forgot they were grits (really). Lastly, I ordered a non-alcoholic drink, top top chop salad (don't be afraid of the kale) and carrot cake for a small sweet ending. All of the items came out quickly.

    Brussel Sprouts & Fried Eggs.
    Shawn G.

    Cool spot for brunch/breakfast. We were staying at a nearby hotel and wanted to grab a bite to eat. We had a big party and thought the wait would be over an hour but they were able to accommodate us in less than 30 minutes. Service was great. Food came out fast and everything was tasty. My only complaint is they do not have Any espresso based drinks. They have an iced latte but they admitted it was made with cold brew. I just wanted a good espresso with my breakfast. But other than that everything was excellent.

    Double Cheeseburger & Fries.

    See all

    Photo of Casey S.
    70
    17
    66

    11 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Manager S.

    Manager S.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    19 days ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Manager S.

    Manager S.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Manager S.

    Manager S.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Manager S.

    Manager S.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of C L.
    0
    27
    19

    5 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Manager S.

    Manager S.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Manager S.

    Manager S.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Manager S.

    Manager S.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Olivia S.
    32
    46
    18

    6 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Manager S.

    Manager S.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    6 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Manager S.

    Manager S.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Manager S.

    Manager S.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Manager S.

    Manager S.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Cass P.
    248
    7
    2

    3 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Manager S.

    Manager S.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Manager S.

    Manager S.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    I've been here a couple times and the quality of food, service and timeliness is top notch! The Greek salad is my absolute favorite!

    Business owner information

    Photo of Manager S.

    Manager S.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Manager S.

    Manager S.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Danie B.
    5
    68
    122

    6 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Manager S.

    Manager S.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    Page 5 of 88

    Unconventional Diner Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Unconventional Diner

    Can I make reservations?

    Yes. You can reserve using Resy.

    Can you order brunch all day long and if not what time does it stop?

    Believe it stops at 4

    Is there parking nearby for brunch?

    Eh. There is street parking (if you're lucky to find). However, the Mt. Vernon/Convention Metro Center is less than a block away from the restaurant.

    Do they have milkshakes? Didn't see it on the menu.

    Yes, they do offer them.

    Where can I make a reservation? The website doesn't let me?

    Pretty sure it's Upper Right Corner. Resy.

    Is this a safe option for someone with soy, tree nut, gluten, and peanut allergies? To be clear, true food allergies-epi pen and all. Just trying to locate safe restaurants.

    Hi Jennifer! I also have a severe nut and soy allergy, Epi pen and all. The menu shifts regularly,… 

    Is there a dress code for this location?

    Hi Linda, Thank you very much for the question! We do not have a dress code for Unconventional… 

    My wife is on a walker so, what are the handicapped parking options?

    Street parking. They don't have a parking lot.

    Is the outdoor seating heated in the winter?

    They have heat lamps but it's still going to be chilly

    Are there any vegan options?

    Yes there are a few during brunch

    Is this brunch all day?

    Only available until 4PM, according to their website.

    Do you have gluten-free food?

    Yes they do!

    Are dogs allowed for outdoor dining?

    Yes, they are allowed at outside tables.

    Do you all do bottomless brunch on weekends?

    I have gone for brunch. It was not bottomless. But it was good.

    Is the chicken with the chicken and waffles boneless or bone in?

    Mine was boneless.

    Is this place still open? Called Sunday and straight to voicemail

    Hi Dan, we are open. If your call went straight to voicemail, I am sure it was because all of our lines were occupied at the same time.… 

    Do they accept walk-ins?

    They do, but this place is usually busy, so you might have to wait.

    Is this by reservation only?

    Maybe a good idea

    Hi! Is there a kid's menu?

    There isn't a kid's menu per se, but I'm sure kids would still enjoy the food at unconventional diner. Lol.

    Do they do bottomless brunch or any sort of brunch drink specials?

    They don't do bottomless but they have fantastic drink options.

    View All 23 Questions

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Breakfast & Brunch 22,125 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Your Only Friend - Sub club

    Your Only Friend

    4.4(163 reviews)
    0.1 mi•Downtown

    Awesome lives up to the hype and the sandwiches are excellent I got the pork sandwhich chascu pork…read morewas excellently cooked and well balanced with the veggies with nice heat. Service is nice and quick.

    I only ever stop by here whenever I'm going to an event at the convention center and don't want to…read morepay for overpriced under-flavored convention food nor fight the scores of illegal food truck mafia members with their unlisted prices, I always seem to forget about it otherwise. But maybe that's better for them too. You can order to-go at the window and/or request a spot in the limited spaced dining/bar area. I've only gotten the Sub Club the few times I've gone here but what can I say? its a fail proof staple that is hard to get wrong and that they do very right. I often pair it with one of their drinks, this time being the spicy ginger ale which was solid as well. There's really not much place to dine-in if you're trying to dine and go - I recommend only using the dining area if you're solo, a couple, or part of a small group (at MOST maybe - a hard maybe - on 4 people) and only if you want to use the bar. One couple tried to squeeze in a baby stroller into the bar/dining area. Its really not suitable for things like suitcases or strollers so if you're in that camp maybe try some other spots because that also made a tiny space all the more difficult to navigate. Also, if you have a mobility device, this might not be the best spot for you either. I've never used their restrooms before so can't comment on that one. I still will say it is good for when you want to grab and go - so if you're in that category, and you like moderately priced sandwiches (for this part of town) this might work for you.

    Photos
    Your Only Friend - To go order area.

    To go order area.

    Your Only Friend - Cool Ranch Onion Rings - Doritos(ish) Cool Ranch pow-pow, beer-battered onion rings, fancy ranch

    Cool Ranch Onion Rings - Doritos(ish) Cool Ranch pow-pow, beer-battered onion rings, fancy ranch

    Your Only Friend - Cacio Pepe fries are also a must!!

    See all

    Cacio Pepe fries are also a must!!

    Stachowski's Market

    Stachowski's Market

    4.4(674 reviews)
    1.8 mi•Georgetown
    •$$

    An Italian sandwich the size of Texas... sign me up!…read more I went into this market when I was exploring Georgetown one day and I naively ordered an Italian sandwich and once they received it I realized it was big enough to feed a family. I found the cutest little park bench and decided to dig in. Needless to say I had left overs but I could have found a way to eat this whole sandwich because it was that good! Every topping was homemade and you could tell. Def a must stop in DC.

    I'm a bit torn on this one…read more I stumbled across Stachowski's while looking for a unique local spot for lunch. The sandwiches looked epic and the photos of the place looked adorable for a local joint. We walked over from our hotel in Georgetown and were overwhelmed by the sandwich choices. Caught between the Grinder and the Pastrami, we went with the employee's suggestion for the latter. About 5 minutes later we were handed a wrapped sandwich the size of a football. We found a quiet spot to unwrap and enjoy it and dug in. Frankly, I wouldn't order it again, and I think we would have enjoyed the grinder more. It was just a huge pile of meat on pumpernickel bread with mustard. Flavor was meh. Neither of us was overwhelmed for nearly $25. Props for the cute European goods in the shop, though, and the employees were courteous and friendly. But next time I'll look elsewhere for lunch.

    Photos
    Stachowski's Market
    Stachowski's Market - Roast Beef Sandwich: Rare Roast Beef, Swiss, Coleslaw, and Tiger sauce

    Roast Beef Sandwich: Rare Roast Beef, Swiss, Coleslaw, and Tiger sauce

    Stachowski's Market - Exterior  5/2024

    See all

    Exterior 5/2024

    A Litteri - Ham sub

    A Litteri

    4.5(494 reviews)
    1.4 mi
    •$$

    UPDATE: This platform will not allow me to post the photos to my review but they are posted to the…read morepage for now. Very interesting This was my first time coming to this shop. I heard good things about their sandwiches. My go to is normally Mangialardo's on Pennsylvania Ave in SE DC or Carl's Subbs on Rhode Island Ave in NE DC. I think I will stick to both of them next time. The staff was very friendly and helpful to me as a first timer but the sandwich was totally disapointing! NOT worth it, at all. I ordered a 9 inch capicola, ham, and cheese sub on the hard roll. The roll was very good and fresh but I couldn't taste the cheese or meat in the sandwich because there wasn't enough of it. I tasted the bread, the toppings of lettuce, tomato and onions. I decided to deconstruct the sandwich and found exactly 4 very thinly sliced pieces of meat and 2 very thinly sliced pieces of cheese as pictured clearly in the photographs. I also noticed that the they have different prices for the same type of meats. For example, they have a $29.99 per pound Capicola and one for $9.99 a pound. I asked which went on the sandwich and of course it was the cheaper one. That wasn't surprising and getting my sandwich back to the office. I decided not to eat the rest of the meatless sandwich and just take the loss. I wouldn't come back nor would I recommend a friend to try it

    This place is Perfect. I'm here at least 3 to 4 times a…read moreweek sometimes every day. I love the feasibility. I love the prices. I love the people. I love the style. The only thing I don't love is the parking.

    Photos
    A Litteri - Inside

    Inside

    A Litteri - Meatball sub

    Meatball sub

    A Litteri - Burgundy wines

    See all

    Burgundy wines

    Compliments Only - Berger Cookies - 2 pk

    Compliments Only

    4.4(229 reviews)
    1.2 mi•Dupont Circle, Downtown
    •$$

    I tend to default to Compliments Only when I'm grabbing lunch or even just walking in Dupont. It's…read morea tight space with some bar stool seating and 2-3 tables. Most people order their sandwiches to go. The line can get pretty long, but you get through at a decent pace, I wouldn't say fast. Simple and straightforward ordering process, just remember what you ordered because they don't take names. I go between the Crunchy Boi and the Marisa Tomei Eats Free, which are both great. The Crunchy Boi is probably their most popular sandwich and it's lighter than you would think considering it's filled with potato chips. I think it's worth trying once. The Marisa Tomei, on the other hand, has never failed me. It's balanced with an absurd amount of arugula against the meat, and it's never dry. The portions are generous, like you could definitely split it into two meals, but they're not so heavy that you couldn't finish a sandwich in one sitting.

    If you love sandwiches like me then this is the shop for you…read more Hands down one of the best sandwich shops around. Exceptional service and even more exceptional is the food. Everything is fresh. The bread is from Cardinal Bakery (bonus). They have several popular and unique sandwiches like The Crunchy Boi. Usually split one with the boyfriend. It's turkey, provolone, lettuce, pickles, onions, mayo (we get it on the side) and potato chips. Wow-wee get in my belly goodness! One bite and you're hooked. For real. Get your sammy fix on!

    Photos
    Compliments Only - Interior, menu board and ordering area

    Interior, menu board and ordering area

    Compliments Only - Turkey Caesar Sub

    Turkey Caesar Sub

    Compliments Only

    See all

    Fossette Focacceria - Portofino

    Fossette Focacceria

    4.5(54 reviews)
    0.1 mi•Shaw, Downtown

    After going to Italy, I became insanely obsessed with focaccia sandwiches. So when I saw that there…read morewas a focacceria in DC I was very excited to check it out. My husband got the Piccata sandwich, which is a chicken mushroom and caramelized onion sandwich on focaccia bread. This sandwich was honestly a 10 out of 10. It was savory, umami and a little sweet from the caramelized onions. The chicken was really juicy and flavorful--not at all dry. I got the Caprese sandwich which was good, but it could really use a bit of salt. If it was an option to add Bacon, I would've definitely done that. I also wish that they used heirloom tomatoes instead of regular Roma tomatoes. Overall, really great sandwich options and a great place for lunch in the city.

    True to its name, delicious sandwiches on fluffy focaccia bread with about a dozen sandwiches to…read morechoose from! There's a small indoor seating space and a couple of tables outdoors. The Portfino sandwich hit the spot and bursting with flavor in every bite! The sandwich was stuffed with a heap of veggies (mushrooms, peppers, onions, arugula) with goat cheese and topped with lemon aioli, delicious! The Monaco roasted veggie sandwich is very flavorful! The sandwich was stuffed with fried eggplant, grilled zucchini, stracciatella, tomato, arugula and roasted red pepper spread. The Parmigiano sandwich with eggplant was more like a Caprese sandwich with fresh mozzarella cheese, greens, tomato, and crispy thinly sliced eggplant stuffed between scrumptious moist Focaccia bread. This isn't a traditional sloppy Joe's Eggplant Parm sandwich (there's no marinara sauce!) While the ingredients were neatly tucked inside and I enjoyed the sandwich, the sandwich particularly was a little bit dry and I think a bit of sauce like pesto or marinara would go a long way. The Nutella Brownie is best eaten at room temperature, it tastes chewy and pretty awful cold. Let it thaw. Note the sandwich shop is now open Mon - Sun 10am - 4pm (it used to be open Wed - Sun and I made the mistake of walking over a mile from work on Tues when it was closed! Great sandwich shop (owned by Red Hen), and wish it was a little closer to work , so I could come back more often!

    Photos
    Fossette Focacceria
    Fossette Focacceria - Italiano

    Italiano

    Fossette Focacceria - Inside

    See all

    Inside

    Unconventional Diner - breakfast_brunch - Updated September 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...