(Sarah Voisin)
Best pancakes
Washington Post staff | Updated 02/21/2012
Brunch options are getting more elaborate -- chicken schnitzel, anyone? -- but sometimes you just want to tuck into a pile of flapjacks.
Extra Perks
Alexandria, VA
The colorful tabletops and teacup wallpaper of this Old Town establishment bring back memories of Grandma's kitchen. Ask for the tender golden pancakes, accompanied by fruit. And feel free to request more syrup than what you are rationed in the tiny container on your plate. $4.95.
The Liberty Tree
Washington, DC
H Street NE may boast an up-and-coming nightlife scene, but brunch at this year-old New England-inspired restaurant is worth visiting on a Sunday morning. The buttermilk pancakes are evenly cooked and just fluffy enough, with a side of warm fruit. The quiet, rustic spot is a prime place to read your paper and mull your plans for the day; a friendly server may even offer you a to-go cup of coffee. $8.
Luna Grill & Diner
Arlington, VA
The seascape mural on the wall of the Shirlington location adds to the serene feel inside. Skip the sugared-up varieties for the classic regular pancakes, which have a mouthwatering taste and an inviting texture. A side of fruit accompanies your dish. $5.95.
Open City
Washington, DC
Pick up breakfast anytime in this bubbly establishment in Adams Morgan, which boasts an inviting patio and sunroom, perfect for weekend brunches and catching up with family and friends. The sweet cornmeal buttermilk pancakes, reminiscent of a hearty piece of corn bread, have a classic grainy texture perfect for holding in syrup, with a side of warm blueberry compote. $7.99.
Florida Avenue Grill
Washington, DC
These hotcakes are well-known as the best in the city. Light, thin and sweet, they'll make you want to return over and over to this greasy spoon, a tribute to Southern-style diner food that's been around since 1944. $4.
Tastee Diner
Bethesda, MD
This small chain has served as a collective institution since 1935 and has yet to disappoint. Get the full diner experience: bar stools and mini-jukeboxes; quick, attentive service; hot, crisp, reasonably priced pancakes that taste great going down with piping-hot coffee. Blueberry and chocolate chip pancakes cost a dollar more. $4.35.
Market Lunch
Washington, DC
You can wait an hour at prime breakfast time to order your "blue bucks" at this counter-service Washington institution. The fluffy blueberry-and-buckwheat-dappled flapjacks are available only on Saturday mornings and draw lines that have become as famous as the pancakes themselves. $6.55
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