USDA Whitten Cafe

Wonderful atmosphere, great service, our server Carlos was Wonderful made us feel welcome. Very…read morereasonable. Very cozy and the food was amazing.

Stopped by the H Street location for lunch after not being there for a while, and it was just as…read moresolid as I remembered. I was greeted as soon as I walked in, and the server was helpful without overdoing it. I went with the fish and grits, and it was the right call. The fish came out hot, well-seasoned, and cooked exactly the way it should be. Good portion, strong flavor, and no complaints. If you're around H Street and want a lunch that actually delivers, Milk & Honey is worth the stop. 10/10.

Interior/ Entrance

Chocolate cake

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Cheesecake Pancakes

Toastique

4.4(394 reviews)

0.6 mi

We stay at the Wharf more now when visiting DC, so when we do, we make sure to stop at the nearby…read moreToastique location. Its warm, clean design makes it quite welcoming for enjoying avocado toast with smoked salmon, which brings one to a place of spiritual oneness. With white walls, natural wood-grain tables and countertops, Toastique's design radiates minimalist, urban style while remaining inviting. Any time I have been there, the wait times have been stress-free, and the queues move quickly. Food-wise, you can't go wrong with their avocado toast with smoked salmon. With a generous portion of smoked salmon on top of avocado mash, on perfectly toasted sourdough bread, creating a place of tremendous well-being. The cucumbers, marinated tomatoes, red onion, capers, and a sprinkle of microgreens make for a fully satisfying meal without feeling like you are overdoing it with your life choices. Drink-wise, I always go for cold brew and the cold brew never lets me down there. Last time, they had a peanut-butter cold brew and a black cherry one, both of which were magical. This Toastique delivers every time.

My friend and I stopped in here after hours of exploring Cherry Blossoms and Bloomaroo at the Wharf…read more- it was late afternoon on a very busy Saturday. We hoped to find a place that offered decaf coffee since it was late in the day, but really wanted something warm since it was a bit chilly outside. Unfortunately, this location of Toastique does not offer decaf - they only have a single hopper for their coffee, so it is not an offering. We were going to find another place, however, they said how about a hot chocolate or a tea. My friend is vegan and inquired if their hot cocoa was vegan, as most places have dairy in the chocolate. The cashier went to look at the chocolate syrup and also had another person look at it to verify it's vegan. My friend ordered a hot chocolate with oat milk. Even though it was busy, we only waited about 5 minutes for her drink. We appreciated the effort to double check it was vegan, though I do wish they had decaf options.

Ambience

Frosé

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Any Day Now

4.3(253 reviews)

1.2 mi•Navy Yard

Any Day Now has exceptionally yummy breakfast sandwiches which are all on a scallion pancake bread…read more We were impressed by how tasty everything was! I want to go back and try more of the menu. We especially liked the edamame hummus! The curly fries were the only thing that was just OK. I also got a specialty coffee that was delish! Next time, I want to try a slice of cake. Service: Order at the counter and you bring it to your table. There is a countertop bar, too. It's a casual atmosphere that's clean and modern. Definitely recommend Any Day Now.

This is a great spot to wfh (there's wifi and plenty of tables - some with regular chairs and some…read morewith a more lounge-y set up) and the service is always very friendly. I love that they have a happy hour. Why not get some work done and then reward yourself with a nice cocktail after? Unfortunately I feel like the food leaves some things to be desired. The scallion pancake sandwiches are good in terms of flavor, but I find that the really crispy pancake it comes on makes it difficult (and messy) to eat. The ube cake slice I ordered needed more flavor, in both the cake and the frosting, and the cake was on the dry side. This was a disappointment since one slice was $9. I will definitely return but I'll be particular about what I order.

Inside

KIMCHI EGG & CHEESE

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Inside

Founding Farmers DC

4.0(18.6k reviews)

1.2 mi•Foggy Bottom

Founding Farmers DC is a must visit. wonderful atmosphere , excellent food and great service…read more We had dinner and breakfast with them. Enrique was our server at breakfast and he is magnificent. Very attentive and almost anticipated our wants. wonderful service.

AMAZING! Food, service, atmosphere!! Reservation was easy and changeable since we were a couple…read moreminutes late.

Cute bar area

Steak frites with lemon garlic roasted broccoli

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Iced coffee with the cutest side of cream!

Unconventional Diner

4.4(3.5k reviews)

1.4 mi•Shaw, Downtown

Brunch at Unconventional Diner is a DC must!…read more 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!

High quality elevated diner food at a reasonable price in DC. Brunch is an option every day before…read more3:45PM. 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

Space is large, bright, and contemporary. Reservations recommended.

Tip-Top Chop

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Caribbean Shrimp & Grits

I Egg You

4.5(268 reviews)

1.9 mi•Capitol Hill

Solid brunch spot on Capitol Hill, and better than the average DC brunch option by a meaningful…read moremargin. We split the DL's Egg Drop (the bulgogi breakfast sandwich) and the Hatch Green Chili sandwich. Both were well executed. The bulgogi brought some real depth to what could have easily been a gimmick, and the hatch green chili edged it out for me personally. The heat was there without being obnoxious, and everything held together the way a good sandwich should. Friends went with the shrimp and grits and had nothing but good things to say. The team behind this place (Scott Drewno and Danny Lee, also of Anju and ChiKo) knows what they're doing, and it shows. The sourcing is thoughtful, the execution is consistent, and the menu has enough going on to warrant repeat visits without feeling like it's trying too hard. Would come back, and would tell others to do the same.

Vibe/ambiance: casual brunch Service: standard…read moreReservation: walk in wait was ~30 mins Items ordered: - bean curd done that: good flavors! 7/10

Chef Egghead + Egghead guests

Phenomenal Chicken fried Sausage

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Basic Potatoes + Egg

Chopsmith

4.2(191 reviews)

0.5 mi

Yum!! I placed an order with Chopsmith via DoorDash and I am so, so glad I did…read more Either I beat the lunch crowd or they are efficient because my food arrived in 25 minutes and was so very fresh. I ordered the chimichurri steak plate and really enjoyed it. Funnily enough, the chimichurri itself was the least enjoyable item. I didn't love the texture of it (much too coarse) but, fortunately, it was packaged in a small container separate instead of on the steak itself. The salad probably had a bit too much dressing but I had the option to order that on the side so that's on me. Nonetheless, the steak, potatoes, salad, corn, avocado were all excellent. I also added chips, a lemon zest cookie, and a blueberry breeze handcrafted drink. The cookie is big and chewy, unlike others I have had. It's definitely not something to eat in one sitting. The drink was a little blah and nothing I would order again. All in all, very good!

Came on a super hot day and food was refreshing. The salmon might be tiny but…read moreovercooked/overheated. However still good tasting: the avocado was too ripe and mushy though. Place was not crowded on a sat night around 5pm. Also had a green smoothie that I didn't take a picture of. Friendly and helpful staff.

Dining area

Chopsmith Salad

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Old Ebbitt Grill

4.2(11.8k reviews)

0.8 mi

When you travel 700 miles away and that's where your favorite restaurant is and they get you in at…read more7:30 at night. You know you scored and they have the best crab cakes ever brings me right back to Baltimore when I was a kid. The salmon is absolutely incredible. The shrimp pasta you can't go wrong at this place. The waiters and waitresses are incredible. The ambiance is great. It's just brings you back to something that you just don't see anymore. Definitely would recommend this place to anyone and can't wait to get back to DC to go here again

A shop recommended by a friend. Passed by here while traveling. Didn't have high expectations at…read morefirst. Later, after trying some of the foods my friend recommended, my opinion changed. A really unique shop.

Inside part of restaurant

Jumbo Lump Crab Cake

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Fried Oyster Deviled Eggs

Easy Company

3.5(160 reviews)

0.5 mi

•$$$

This is the perfect spot to wind down after a long day. It is right on the water of the Potomac…read moreRiver with the advantage of being steps away from everything else The Wharf has to offer. Carlos, the bartender, served my date and I and gave us a detailed spiel on the wines. He showed us how easy it was to navigate through their options on the wine list. My date had a great time and she promised me another. I will definitely be going back for the wind-down.

Nice spot to eat down @ the Wharf in D.C. Food was good and…read moreon point, and the drinks was doope (Really Good) Although they was out of a lot of food items like the different variety of fish; guess it's pretty good for them to be sold out. But this place was just okay for me. But look @ the menu to see if it's something you would try.

Burrata

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Beautiful space for brunch!

Saint's Paradise Cafeteria

4.2(260 reviews)

1.4 mi•Shaw

Currently closed for repair...Stay Tuned: Food is well seasoned...purple weekend preferred...every…read moreother weekend...currently closed for repairs...stay tuned. Usually run out of pot'salad & banana pudding.

I'm a southerner looking for southern food in Washington. This was the closest I got…read more The waiting line was long -- real long. In a regular cafeteria, it should have been no more than ten minutes. Here it was well over an hour. The food: the whiting was over-fried and over-salted; mashed potatoes were from a box; gravy was from a can, apple pie was stale. It was lukewarm to cold. There were no glasses or plates. This is not southern food. It's not even good soul food; it's just another Washington hoodwink.

Main dining area

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Julia K.

3 years ago

An awesome experience! USDA has an amazing opportunity for great food. Anyone ne who can visit should visit. Between the food court and food vendors, we have a lot of options for everyone! read more

Shrey B.

10 years ago

Good food and reasonably priced. Worth coming to if you want to take a break from visiting the museums and grab a bite to eat.

Jeffery N.

4 years ago

Closed to Visitors. Well I'll be damned, that'll been nice to check it out. Holler at me if y'all know how to get in. Thanx

Yuhuan Z.

7 years ago

They have all kinds of food. Very fresh and delicious. The best cafeteria you can find.

Jennifer C.

7 years ago

Delicious! Great food and service.

USDA Whitten Cafe - breakfast_brunch - Updated September 2026

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Everything was wonderful. Food was delicious…read more Atmosphere was elevated cafe and noise was acceptable. Waiter service was great! Make a reservation.

I've dined here before and even left a praiseworthy review on yelp a few years ago. Our breakfast…read moreexperience yesterday was, sadly, quite the opposite. The greeter was charming and courteous but the tone changed as soon as we got upstairs to our table. The food preparers and the female waitstaff were engaged in loud boisterous talk bordering on flirtation. We felt more like intruders than guests. The food was adequate but not worth the cost. Bacon was rubbery and eggs were tasteless. Toast was barely warm. We will choose the Marriott across the street for future DC stays despite the comparative old world architectural distinction of the Willard. Too bad.

Senate Cafeteria

3.8

(40 reviews)

It is open to public and employees. A little hidden spot with decent food choices that is priced…read morewell for being in DC and a government building. Kiosks for ordering or there is a grab and go section for lots of baked goods or fresh fruit/salad.

Technically this is Dirksen Cafe. The main place to get a meal if you so happen to be inside…read moreDirksen. Not to be confused with the two other places inside that offer some food of some type. As the name on Yelp here insinuates, this is a cafeteria style eatery area. Each week the menu appears to change in a majority of the stations. With several themed days. I utilized the Grab & Go section which is more like a convenience store section. Prepackaged snacks and drinks to get you through the day. I used this route because it was a long day on the Hill for me and my group leaving us little time to enjoy a full meal. Plenty of seating if you do decided to dine inhouse.

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Huge diversity of cuisine with different stations. Great variety of vegetarian and vegan options.read more

The good was very good. The live band was great and the spirit free drinks were fantastic.read more

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3.2

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Wandered in on a recommendation and glad we did. Very active cafeteria and plenty of choices to…read moresatisfy all food demands. Plenty of places to sit. Clean bathrooms thanks for that.

This was a terrific find thanks to another Yelp reviewer! Thanks to the directions shared, we were…read moreable to make our way here through the tunnel from the Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson building (and a very helpful visitor's guide.) This is a true cafeteria-style place to eat. We had salad that was quite reasonably priced (pay by the pound), and it was fresh and there was quite a variety of items available. I was happy to get a chance to sit down and rest and look out through the floor-to-ceiling windows at the sixth floor level and see Washington from that height.

Cafe 59

3.5

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super nice Korean woman. also very reasonable hot bar…read moreprices. Skip the coffee though it's terrible, but there's a Starbucks around the corner

Decent place for a quick lunch, I got the crispy fish sandwich. Another highlight was the selection…read moreof pre-packaged East Asian style snacks.

Lincoln's Waffle Shop

3.7

(1.6k reviews)

Amazing service kindest lady ever was our server this is a must if your in DC. The food was great…read moreand the atmosphere was just on par.

Before we headed out to explore, I brought my little one to my favorite diner in D.C…read more People judge the outside are making a huge mistake as the food and service are 5 stars! We waited maybe 10 minutes for a table and enjoyed our breakfast. I am obsessed with their waffles as they taste like Waffle House back in the south! So good !!! My little are her waffle with a side of bacon and said " mommy we have to come back here again" I love being home in D.C., we will be back again soon !

USDA Headquarters Cafeteria

3.2

(6 reviews)

USDA HQ's Cafeteria provides a variety of lunch options in a classic hot bar layout. I came in for…read morelunch on my lunch break and was excited to see such a lively environment. Note you do have to walk through the building security, so budget that time in if you are in a crunch. I enjoyed the pot roast, au gratin potatoes, and vegetable medley. All very tasty and flavorful! Every item in the hot bar section I saw looked fresh. The service was speedy and the staff was helpful! Would definitely recommend if nearby visiting the monuments or if you work in the area and are in need of a hearty lunch.

If you read D.C. guidebooks of the past, you'll find pages of cafeterias. They were full of food,…read moretables, and often at more affordable prices. The USDA Cafeteria is an ode to the past. Open to the public Monday-Friday for breakfast and lunch, enter through Wing 3. (There's a sign.) Bring I.D. and be prepared to go through security. It's quick. You're given a sticker badge and directed to the cafeteria. It's a spacious cafeteria with plenty of tables and booths with outlets in one large open room. When space is tight in D.C., it's a great place for large groups like tourists. There are fewer choices compared to pre-pandemic, but it still offers several stations like a salad bar, a hot food section, sandwiches, hamburgers, Chinese food, Korean food, and more. There's also a breakfast counter that sells acai bowls, croffles (croissant waffles), oatmeal, and fruit cups. The bars are pay-by-the-pound. Prices are still D.C. prices, but a little more affordable compared to area restaurants. Again, the space is large, but no frills. There are old school USDA posters on the walls, some with nutritional facts.

Western Market DC

4.4

(43 reviews)

Recently renovated, Western Market DC is great for a place to meet with friends who don't all want…read moreto eat at the same restaurant or cuisine. You have your choice of Indian, Venezuelan, Burmese, Italian, Japanese, Mediterranean, and more. Maman (which replaced Paul Bakery), Andy's Pizza, and Falafel Inc are superb. The only national chain restaurant is Chipotle. In the warmer months you can sit in the outdoor space outside Chipotle, but it gets busy and crowded fast so reserving chairs for friends on their way is a challenge. There's also an underground (paid) garage accessible from 20th St NW.

Super busy place during lunch, nestled in the Foggy Bottom/Farragut West area. Lots of GWU…read morestudents are here getting food, and there are plenty of quick grab and go places. Pretty cool looking modern, industrial feel with the glass atrium and the interior brick look. From what I could tell, there were some business working professionals dining here too, so maybe there are corporate offices in the upper floors too. Will be back to explore more soon!

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