Jimmy T's Place
American, Diner
You wouldn't expect to find an honest-to-goodness greasy spoon just five blocks east of the Capitol, but that's what makes Jimmy T's such a gem. Settle in at a chrome stool and banter with the line cook while your eggs and bacon sizzle on the flat-top grill. As soon as your diner-quality coffee shows up (in a random mug from a mismatched collection), you'll start to feel like a regular.
Located in a rowhouse at Fifth and East Capitol streets, Jimmy T's looks like it hasn't changed much since its signs advertising 65-cent ham-and-egg breakfasts were accurate. The menu is packed with basics: eggs/cheese/meat on an English muffin, biscuits and sausage gravy. But check the boards behind the counter for such specials as waffles with blueberries and bananas or omelets punched up with red or green salsa. Booths and stools are at a premium during peak times, but don't sit down at an empty-yet-uncleared table or you'll face the staff's wrath.
Warning No. 2: Jimmy T's is cash-only.
Menu sampler: Breakfast Combo #2 (one hotcake, one egg, two strips of bacon), $4.50; red or green salsa omelet with toast, $6.45; two eggs with a hot half-smoke and home fries, $9.85.
-- Fritz Hahn (April 10, 2012)
A small, comfortable greasy spoon within spitting distance of the Capitol.
