When will Yelp let me rate half stars?! This place is really a 3.5 rating, but I could not bring myself to bump it up vs bumping it down. I went here twice recently, once on 7/25/2025 and once on 7/30/2025. We had a reservation both times, although it was not particularly crowded either time we went. We sat outside the first time we went and we were greeted by a server that initially did not seem to want to be bothered by us, but he warmed up throughout our dining experience and was pretty nice. Service on 7/30/2025 was great and friendly throughout our dinner. During our two experiences, we tried the Pot Pie Poppers (bomb, quite delicious), the Skillet Cornbread (it was so good, I highly recommend), Dirty Caesar (another hit, really yummy and delicious Caesar dressing) and the Greek-Full Dead Salad which my step-dad thoroughly enjoyed. Our server during our first experience strongly recommended the Chicken Parm Florentine, so we took his advice and ordered it, for my husband and I it was just okay, it lacked the sweetness we like in a tomato sauce and overall could have used a touch more flavor. My hubby got a cheeseburger during our second time there and he said it was just okay, nothing special, although he said the fries were yummy. My mom got the Lebanese Fried Rice and she didn't love it. I think this is a solid spot with a great menu and I certainly could see myself back here, but I don't think it's as off the hook as others. Eek, sorry! read more

Unconventional Diner serves up some hearty, unique twists on traditional diner favorites. I've tried a few items here, but have never been wowed by anything. Their brussel sprouts were overdone last time I came. On my last visit here, I ordered the chicken parm florentine and the spaghetti was grossly overdone and soggy; however, the chicken parm itself was delicious and well worth getting alone (if possible). The basque cheesecake was one of the worst cheesecakes I have had so that was disappointing too. Overall, overpriced and overhyped. read more

Very eclectic menu and great service, period. It has an extensive menu, so you could get many different things. They have a comprehensive bar package, period. It's a very busy restaurant, so I wouldn't say it would be the perfect date night restaurant. If you're looking for a good experience and great food, this is the place to go for it. read more

I like to thoroughly vet all restaurants before even thinking of going. This one passed all the typical markers. High Yelp rating. Good recent reviews. So I thought to myself- no problem! I ordered one of the server's recommendations, the loaded biscuit, which I lived to regret. I get that it is "loaded," but that doesn't mean that you have to smother the biscuits in liquid cheese. Absolutely disgusting! Had I known it was liquid cheese, I would've either ordered it without or something else. read more

Came in w a Sunday Reservation and were seated in 10 minutes. The restaurant was bustling which was a good sign given the cold weather! The waitress took our order but they don't have a coffee machine, only drip which was disappointing for brunch. The coffee was horrible but thankfully the brunch was not. We ordered the lox plate, the dirty caesar and a breakfast egg sandwich. All came out within 5 minutes of ordering which was very surprising! All were excellent, would recommend! read more

Unconventional Diner - Everything Lox. "Dirty" Caesar. S"Eggs"Y Sandwich. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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This place is always on the recommended restaurant list in DC. They have an interesting menu with some creative combinations. The crème brûlée french toast had an excellent presentation and I saw 2 other tables looking intently at my dish when it came out, the lady next to us even asked me to report back if it was good or not. The top was indeed very true to a crème brûlée, and the interior had a sweet vanilla cream. The bread texture, crisp exterior with a pillowy interior, was magnified by the large sugar crystals on the sides, and the berry sauce was a tart contrast to the sweetness of the macerated fruit and cream. Unfortunately it was a sugar overload about halfway through. I bet there was over 70 grams of sugar in that dish, it kind of gave me a headache The chicken and waffles came with 3 chicken tenders that were decent and not too dry. The honey sriracha sauce reminded me of a classic hot honey. The cornbread waffle was good since I'm a cornbread fan. The gravy was overly pepper flavored so we avoided it after the first bite. If I were to return I'd try a savory dish over the French toast which was a fatal mistake! read more

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

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Highlights 1. Quick Service 2. Eclectic Menu 3. Great Brunch Made a reservation the night before for a weekday brunch here. Probably didn't need to make a reservation as there were plenty of open tables, but I was glad I had it. I was seated and provided a menu and water immediately. The menu is super fun and eclectic with a lot of global inspired dishes. Allergen info is clearly marked. I ordered the gluten-friendly Lebanese Brunch Rice with falafel. The portion was generous and flavorful. I would love to come back and try more options! read more

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

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Came here with a large group and they managed well. The time between someone coming by to order drinks, then to order appetizers. Then to order entrees was a little long though. But overall, attentive service and good food. Many out of townwers in the group and they enjoyed the food. read more

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Food was great. The pancakes were a little different with the blueberries and lavender, didn't like that much. The French dip Poutine was tasty I didn't get it over the fries only because I wanted to taste the sexy sauce. Which tasted too much like just mayo. The mimosa party was a hit. We bought 2 and really only needed 1. We finished a bottle and half of the champagne that came with it. And had 2 juices left. The punch was the best one out of the 3. Cousin had the sweet potato shakshuka. It was so tasty. I wish I had got that instead. But everything was so good. The service was excellent. She provided suggestions and recommendations based on the most popular dishes. And told us we only needed 1 mimosa party. But we went against her suggestion. We will definitely go back. read more

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This place was packed for Fourth of July breakfast, if you're coming on this day, reservations are a must. For the entire week we didn't have a single place that was moderately full for breakfast. That changed today. The woman looked surprised when we said we didn't have a reservation. The restaurant was 70% full, but I'm guessing the empty tables were places they didn't have enough servers. She said we could sit at a high top or outside. Outside was covered but hot. There's only two tables that are high tops, one can seat about four the other eight. Both were open so we got the four top. By the time we left there was a wait. I got a matcha latte which was sweetened. It was delicious. The kids got a side of biscuit, fries and chicken sausage. The biscuit was the winner hands down. We had to order them a second one. I like the sauce the fries came with, but found the fries themselves just ok. I wasn't a fan of the chicken sausage. Our server who was the bartender was very personable and attentive. This place has nice decor and overall I enjoyed our meal here. read more

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We visited for lunch and it was a wonderful experience. The wait for a table was short (we had a reservation) and received prompt drink service. I had a pear brandy based drink with was very tasty and the Lebanese Fried Rice. It was an incredible journey through flavors, textures and tastes. I really really enjoyed it. For dessert, I had a glass of Pinot Noir and chocolate layer cake. All in all it was an amazing meal and experience. The environment was busy but not too loud for such a large restaurant. This is a must visit location if you have the opportunity. read more

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

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We tried the Unconventional Diner here in DC, and the food was absolutely delicious! I ordered the loaded biscuits, and they were so comforting. The caramelized onions had a sweet twist to them, different but not bad at all. Honestly, after just one biscuit I was already full. My husband ordered the corned beef hash, and that was delicious too. The potatoes were perfectly crispy and really brought the whole dish together. Right now, they're offering a special three-course dinner menu (Aug 18-24) menu online. No brunch menu online but there one here on Yelp. Price has gone up a bit too. Its sound like there menu change as well not sure if I'm wrong. The staff was super friendly and welcoming, and the place itself was bright, clean, and modern. For being right in downtown DC, the prices felt pretty fair too. read more

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Unconventional Diner's recent Michelin bib gourmand nod, consistent features on social media and, um, unconventional menu led my wife and me to check it out for a weekday brunch. We encountered a good meal that represents a solid option for creative brunch dishes in the city, but does not quite meet excellence. We made a reservation due to it being a federal holiday and were seated pretty much immediately upon arrival. There appeared to be a wait and the restaurant felt very packed, so reservations are highly suggested. Our waiter greeted us, brought waters, and explained the menu expediently. We opted for three dishes to share, which made for a heavy but manageable meal for two hungry diners. Surprisingly, our food arrived within 10-15 minutes, akin to a true diner. Both of the savory items we sampled satisfied our taste buds but suffered from a couple of execution flaws. The loaded breakfast biscuits offered multiple indulgent components, such as crispy hash browns, smoky-sweet bacon jam, creamy cheese sauce, and meaty sausage patties, layered atop impressively crispy yet fluffy biscuits. The balance of flavors worked quite well, though the dish ate a shade too salty and the eggs arrived overcooked. Our chicken and waffles had excellent saucework with a savory, meaty gravy, rich yet spicy habanero butter, and perfectly piquant sriracha honey. We also loved the unique cheddar cornbread waffle with its discernible cheesy tang and subtle, vegetal sweetness. Unfortunately, the basic chicken tenders felt an afterthought as they lacked moisture and crispiness. We also split the famous pancakes here, and found this dish the greatest disappointment as it came across way too sugary for our palates. The pancakes themselves had a good classic taste betrayed by a crumbly texture. The pleasant floral lavender notes in the blueberry sauce were somewhat muted due a bit too much sweetness. Similarly, the cakes were topped with a cookie crumble which added a nice textual component but tipped the flavor scales towards excessive sugar. The saving grace of the dish was a welcomingly tangy mascarpone cream that cut the saccharine elements rather well, and we could have used more of it to balance everything out. The ambiance here is bright and open with fun pops of color. Service here is pleasant and efficient, and though we were in and out in under an hour we did not feel rushed. Unconventional Diner also possesses a large menu of cocktails as well as a solid selection of beer and wines. While hot drip coffee and iced lattes are on offer, hot lattes are puzzlingly not. Overall, we had a good brunch here and found the food generally tasty. All of our dishes were under $20 and the portion sizes were reasonable. While I do think the restaurant is overhyped, it's worth a visit for some solid and unique, if not perfectly executed, items especially if you make a reservation ahead of time. read more

I really enjoyed my Galentine's brunch here! First time and the food was delicious. Waiter's recommendation was the loaded biscuit which did not disappoint. Service was amazing and fast. Super cozy in here. Feels like an elevated but not too boujee diner. It def lives up to its name! read more

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

Came here on a Sunday for brunch with family- I'd been before years ago and I see they have grown in popularity. It was packed! Thankfully we had reservations, but with a large party, we waited a while. The managers were nice and accommodated our party of 12. The menu is diverse which is good because brunch can get a little "typical". I got the Brussels dish as I'm trying to incorporate more veggies into my meals and this worked great. The tikka misala elevated the dish. The chicken was sadly extremely dry, extra sauce helped a bit. Everyone else cleared there plates and we enjoyed the large slice of carrot cake at the end. We will surely be back to try dinner. read more

Unconventional Diner - Brussel Sprouts & Fried Eggs add chicken - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

It's been a few years since I last came to UD and even longer since I went for a non-brunch meal. I came with friends for dinner recently and were seated quickly. Our server was friendly but unobtrusive. Our food came out within 8 minutes of ordering which was unexpectedly fast. I got the Lebanese fried rice which was fine. The mix of textures was not my favorite and it was surprisingly spicy. Kudos to the staff for consistently making sure my water glass was full as I chugged it to try to cool down the fire in my mouth. The dish itself was unmemorable and the bites I tried of my friends' dishes were also a bit underwhelming. read more

Unconventional Diner - Fries for the table - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Came here with a large party for weekend brunch and got to share a lot of dishes family style. The service was not that great. The server stopped by twice while we were still waiting for the rest of our party to arrive but after we were all there, he was busy with another table and a different server thankfully saw us waiting and took our orders. Our server didn't come to check on us after we got the food. It also took a him a while to stop by once we were finished eating so that we could get the check. The interior is white, modern, and a bit loud. Slight fruit fly problem. There is also already a 20% tip automatically added to the bill and the POS system has an additional 15-20% option to tip. The restaurant should fix this so that people don't double tip. If 20% is already added for mediocre service, then the additional tipping options should only be 2-5% or custom. I did get to try a lot of their dishes and here are my thoughts: Crème brûlée french toast - 9.5/10 All 6 people in my party agreed it was their favorite dish. I recommend it. There is a lot of custard on the toast and the top has a sugar shell like crème brûlée. Lebanese fried rice - 8.5/10 Tasty dish. Great vegetarian option or you can add meat. Turmeric and raisin flavor were good and I liked the toasted nuts. Similar flavor to pilaf rice. Chicken and waffles - 7.5/10 The chicken was a little dry and the dipping sauce it came with was weird. We got hot sauce on the side to dip which was better. The cornbread waffle it came was the redeeming part though. It was really good and I wish we could just order that as a side. The sweet sauce and butter it came with was very good. Brussel sprouts and fried eggs 7/10 The brussel sprouts were crispy but quite a smokey flavor if you like charred. Blueberry pancakes - 6.5/10 A little too sweet. While they were fluffy, they were not crispy at all on the outside which I would have preferred. Tip Top Chop - 6.5/10 Could make at home. It was a fine and comes with a slightly sweet dressing. Sweet potato Shakshuka 6/10 Again could make at home. Nothing to write home about. Garlic naan - 6/10 Good zaatar seasoning but bread was average. Chicken sausage - 4/10 Too salty. Hawaiian Punch - 7/10 Nice guava flavor in it. read more

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Breakfast today on the way to the National airport in DC. Stopped in for a goodbye brunch at the Unconventional Diner with friends. The place was buzzing and the atmosphere electric. We ordered great food (pictured) and had super service from "May". I would go again and be sure to do open table ahead to avoid the wait. 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

Found this place near our son's apartment. We went for brunch, made reservations just in case, was seated as soon as we got there! Our waitress was great and food came super quick. We ordered the Cajun shrimp and grits, sweet potato shakshuka, corned beef hash, and the poutine....everything was delicious! We all agreed that we all enjoyed our food and would definitely come back! We ordered a loaded biscuit and the chicken and waffles to go since my boys wanted to try these as dinner. My oldest said the loaded biscuit was delicious and he really liked the bacon jam with it! My youngest son though was very disappointed with his chicken and waffles. He's not a fan of corn meal waffles so he didn't enjoy them and he said the chicken looked good but wasn't very seasoned. He didn't like the sauce for it either sadly. Despite the one dish, we would still go back! Oh and the 20% DC service charge sucks too. But I guess we have no choice lol. read more

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Enough has been written about this place that there is no need for me to go into an extensively detailed review. The interior is large, full of seating for parties of all sizes, with well curated decor all around. The staff was incredibly friendly, efficient, and attentive. Food was absolutely packed with incredible flavors, portions were generous, and prices were fair. Would highly recommend and would absolutely return. read more

Mostly giving a 3 stars because found plastic in my hash brown. If not, this place would be a solid 4.3 for me. Came here with a couple of friends for brunch. Love the vibe here, it's bubbly and a very enthusiastic vibe. Their menu is interesting also. There's a lot of different food options and combos you wouldn't conventionally expect (tikka masala sauce on brussel sprouts, Lebanese fried rice, blueberry lavender on the pancakes) and that menu diversity makes me want to come back and try more things. I do wish they had an appetizer section of their menu as it'd be nice to order some biscuits for the table or a bread basket or something else. I got the brussel sprouts with fried egg which I enjoyed. I wish the brussel sprouts were crispier but everything tasted fresh, and the tikka masala sauce was a pleasant addition. The tomato complimented everything else and the slaw was fresh. My friend enjoyed the chicken and waffles which had a kick to it (if you don't like the taste of spicy would avoid). The blueberry lavender pancakes sauce was well balanced. We got fries with the sexy sauce which was like a spiced yum yum. The hash browns were perfectly crispy but the plastic in it was rough. Our server was super sweet though and we appreciated her enthusiasm. read more

Perfect comfort food. I've been sticking to my one meal daily diet. And I'm glad I chose this place to eat. It was comforting and satisfying but also healthy. The service was fast and friendly. Also it felt like a diner but a high end diner. Bar seating. Fast but not rushed. Comforting but not heavy. I'll be back for more. read more

Unconventional Diner - Grits with blackened shrimp and pickled okra. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Holy crap their French toast & pancakes were to die for. We showed up at 8am so it was empty and quiet but the service was great. Food was hitting the spot and parking was easy. Street parking all around. read more

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

Absolutely delicious and great brunch spot! The Chicken and Waffles had the best breading and cornmeal batter. The Shakshuka chickpea curry was light and flavorful. Good service! read more

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

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My friends and I made a reservation for brunch here over the summer and it didn't disappoint. The Lebanese fried rice was delicious and the extra hashbrowns and biscuit carbs I ordered helped soak up the beverages we indulged in. =) Our server was friendly and very helpful in helping me choose something vegan. The vibe of the restaurant was extremely lively but the staff didn't miss a beat! I highly recommend and would definitely come back. read more

Unconventional Diner - Lebanese Fried Rice (veganized) with hashbrowns and biscuits - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I'm stuck on my rating for this spot... maybe a 3.8-3.9. The staff here is interesting. My first encounter was with the hostess that didn't seem to want to interact with me. I called the restaurant and spoke to her and she told me they were busy and Indirectly told me we wouldn't be able to book a last minute reservation. So i went online and booked instead.... Upon arrival i was greeted by the same staff member but didn't not feel an ounce of welcome lolll. The restaurant was not even busy... there were many open tables (maybe they were understaffed, not sure). However, the food was divine !!! The mocha martini was a miss in my opinion so i asked for a hot rum cider instead which was great. The chicken sausage was also top tier. Our server only checked on us once and after that we had to get his attention multiple times and make our way over to thr server area to grab him, i believe his name was Aayan. So honestly i wouldn't anticipate the best service but the food is great. Go in with these expectations and you'll be set. read more

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I had never had mango habanero butter until now and wow. Great brunch spot in DC, cute and serves great food with nice portions. I enjoyed the chicken and waffles and it was too die for. Juicy, flavorful, and very tender. Service was top notch and restaurant was full. Definitely recommend a reservation as this place had a line even on a weekday. read more

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

This was one of our favorite eateries during our recent trip to D.C. To confirm this, I shamefully wanted to admit that we dined in for brunch 3 days out of the 4. Make sure you make a reservation because if not the wait time will be very lengthy, especially on weekends. From the hostess to the server, everyone was nice and polite. The chicken and waffles & creme brûlée french toast were our favorites read more

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Great place for brunch! The inside is spacious and with lots if natural light. Service was good. I had the everything lox with comes with a poached egg and the bagel bites. Did not think much of it at first but honestly everything blended well and tasted delicious. The bagel bites were the right amount of toasted on the outside but soft on the inside. Definitely a win. read more

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

I had lunch here while in DC for business. The place was crowded and noisy; I sat at the bar because tables didn't open up for another half hour. As a first timer, I didn't realize that I needed a reservation or how popular this restaurant is. I ordered a spicy egg dish with garlicy pita bread on the side. The food was good, very filling, but expensive. read more

Unconventional Diner came highly recommended so I was happy to finally make it there for brunch! I noticed the blueberry buttermilk pancakes at almost every table so I had to order it of course. It's a stack of 4 pancakes topped with blueberry lavender sauce and mascarpone cream. Delicious! It's a hearty serving so come hungry or maybe share it with someone. I also ordered the Hawaiian punch (non-alcoholic) and that was even better! Guava, pineapple, mango, and lime 10/10. Cool vibes inside and great service, definitely a solid choice for an upscale brunch. read more

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I still dream about the best burger I've ever had. We ate outside on a hot day so the pina colada was beyond refreshing (and needed). The staff was nice and attentive. I want to travel back to D.C just to eat here. read more

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5/5 We traveled to DC for a day-trip and had the pleasure of dining at the Unconventional Diner. The food and service were amazing. The "unconventional" avocado toast was very fresh and delicious! It was one of the best I've ever had! The restaurant was very cutesy and clean. The food came out super fast and arrived hot your table. Everyone was thoroughly pleased with their selections! read more

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This is a great breakfast spot if you're in DC. It gets packed in the mornings, which definitely tells you they're doing something right. I highly recommend making a reservation to ensure you get a table. The interior has a modern American diner feel. As mentioned, it can get very crowded during breakfast, especially on weekends, so it may be a bit noisy and hard to hear your tablemates if you're dining in a group. The Cajun Shrimp & Grits was delicious, and the portion size was generous. I couldn't even finish the dish and ended up taking a to-go box. The shrimp were large, the grits were creamy, and the chicken sausage jambalaya sauce was flavorful without being spicy. I'll definitely be back for breakfast the next time I'm in DC. read more

Unconventional Diner - Cajun Shrimp and Grits. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Unconventional Diner was a highly recommended breakfast spot I check out in DC. Crowded and a nice vibe when I checked in out. The food was overall pretty good. I'm big on breakfast, so I'll say it didn't disappoint. I had the Hash Browns, Caramel Apple French Toast and the Caribbean Shrimp & Grits (which could have used just a little bit more spice/flavor). read more

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This place has been on my list since they opened, and I finally had the chance to try it for brunch. The atmosphere and ambiance were fantastic beautiful décor and plenty of seating, though every table was filled, so reservations are definitely recommended. I loved being able to see into the kitchen while they prepped and cooked; the whole team worked in perfect unison, and everything flowed effortlessly. The service from our waiter was excellent, and the food was even better. I'm already looking forward to coming back for lunch or dinner. read more

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The aesthetic of the diner is very cute. Very on part with DC. Honestly, as a brunch spot I didn't think it was great, and none of my friends were super impressed. The dishes do try to be interesting, hint the unconventional. However, we found our deconstructed dishes were just a little bit odd, didn't offer the right proportions, and were confusing. My friend opted for the bagels and lox, this come with a small smear of cream cheese that was barely noticeable under a giant pile of locks and was served with cut up bagels on the side. It was really odd and not good. I opted for a curry Shashuka and it didn't even come with bread. I had to pay extra for none on the side. I've never had a shashuka without bread. Also throwing two eggs on top of sweet potato, chickpea curry does not make it shashuka. The Lebanese fried rice are good and surprisingly, so is the weird deconstructed avocado toast as well. I also got a cocktail. The Thai bloody Mary. It was like getting a shot of chunky hot sauce to the throat. Not good. When we went to close our tab, we were told to use a QR code to pay and to use the system that they used to pay their tabs. We had to pay a service app fee. Mine was $1.69 for a $80 tab. read more

Ube pancakes, chicken & waffles, and matcha are all delicious! This place is a DC staple! Our server was very kind and helpful. They have a little birthday celebration- but heads up it is just a piece of chocolate! If you want something else for dessert, you should order it. Interior is cute as well! read more

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

I loved this place and we plan on coming back more often!! It's located next to Convention Center downtown. This place was phenomenal!! I've never had pot pie nugget bites... OMGGG . Their Lebanese fried rice with chicken was extraordinary!! We also had the. And their double cheeseburger, which go them a Michelin nod was exceptional. The mocha chocolate cake was a large slice for us 3 to share. I heard they change their menu up often. Also, they serve brunch!! Our waitress Natalia was fabulous! Request for her if you can. We came for dinner and easily got a reservation. We will be back very soon!! This place was fantastic - 5 Stars all the way!! read more