In pursuit of a better Washington breakfast

The old-fashioned, sit-down weekday breakfast may be hard to find, but it’s not extinct. Writers for the Food and Weekend sections combed the region for fare so good, you’ll want to put down your BlackBerry and savor the morning meal again; we even rated the restaurants on both their breakfast fare (on a scale of zero to four plates) and their coffee (on a scale of zero to four cups). What’s your favorite place to have breakfast? What makes it special? Let us know in the comments.

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District Taco

The crazy-long lines found at District Taco on evenings and weekends aren't in evidence on weekday mornings, making this a quick stop for the office-bound. And you won't linger long choosing your fuel. The breakfast menu consists of three items: tacos (Basic, Healthy, Veggie), a breakfast burrito and huevos rancheros. All are good, but the last -- a satisfying combo of two eggs "over hard" layered atop rice, black beans, sour cream and salsa, all on a corn tortilla -- is particularly hard to beat. Breakfast is served all day.
Menu sampler: tacos, $2.25; breakfast burrito, $7; huevos rancheros, $7. (5723 Lee Hwy., Arlington. 703-237-1204. www.districttaco.com.)
Our take: the food, 3 plates; the coffee, 2 cups

Photo and text by Jane Touzalin / The Washington Post

Blind Dog Cafe at Darnell's

You should know this about me: I'd be a sucker for Blind Dog Cafe at Darnell's even if the pop-up restaurant served, well, only dog treats. Any shop that would name itself after a sightless Jack Russell terrier gets my support on the basis of sheer canine compassion alone. Fortunately, Blind Dog Cafe's charms don't end with the namesake pooch. Partner Cullen Gilchrist, a professional line cook, has constructed a tight, quick-serve breakfast menu of croissant sandwiches supplemented with yogurt (with homemade granola) and a line of rotating sweets developed by his sister, Greer, who somehow runs a freelance bakery right from the tiny counter at Blind Dog. Her scones are altogether original - part scone, part crispy, chewy cookie. Don't miss the pimento cheese frittata sandwich (pictured), either: It's part French, part Southern and all delicious. The coffee, from PT's in Topeka, Kan., is worth every drop, too.
Menu sampler: pimento cheese, $5; yogurt with homemade granola, $5, homemade scones, $2. (944 Florida Ave. NW; 202-681-8364. www.blinddogcafe.com.)
Our take: the food, 2 plates; the coffee, 3 cups

Photo and text by Tim Carman / The Washington Post

Founding Farmers

When the World Bank and International Monetary Fund are your closest neighbors, few other spots in the city have the global power-breakfast potential of Founding Farmers. But you don't need to be a banker or ambassador to be well fed here: The restaurant's rustic greenhouse aesthetic, with exposed wood and metal beams, offers a homey welcome, as do the country-style hashes, specialty pancakes -- think red velvet and carrot cake -- and a take on the classic Southern fried chicken and waffles (pictured). Parking in the West End can be hard to come by (particularly while rush-hour meter restrictions are in effect), but service is prompt yet unhurried: Leave about 30 minutes from menu to check. For commuters heading into the city from the Maryland suburbs, there's a Founding Farmers along I-270, north of Montrose Road.
Menu sampler: steel-cut Irish oatmeal, $5; buttermilk pancakes, $7-$9; fried chicken, eggs and waffles, $12. (1924 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. 202-822-8783; 12505 Park Potomac Ave., Potomac. 301-340-8783. www.wearefoundingfarmers.com.)
Our take: the food, 3 plates; the coffee, 3 cups

Photo and text by Alex Baldinger / The Washington Post

Northside Social

For the culinarily conscientious breakfaster, Northside Social evokes all the buzzwords: organic, house-made, locally sourced, free trade. It also helps that all of it tastes great. The team that opened the nearby Liberty Tavern and Lyon Hall in Clarendon are also behind this charming cafe with its freshly baked breads and pastries and Counter Culture coffee service. The doors open at 7 a.m., and the space fills quickly with both laptops and their attentive owners. From standing in line to getting your food, a diner can be sitting down to eat in 10 minutes. Depending on how backed up the baristas are, your coffee order may take longer.
Menu sampler: house-made English muffin with seasonal preserves, $3; maple sausage and poached egg sandwich, $4.50; Nutella pastry, $2.50. (3211 Wilson Blvd., Arlington. 703-465-0145. www.northsidesocialarlington.com.)
Our take: the food, 3 plates; the coffee, 4 cups

Photo and text by Justin Rude / The Washington Post

Open City

On weekends, Open City is the hub of the Woodley Park brunch scene. Nestled in the trees just across the Calvert Street Bridge and less than a block from the Woodley Park Metro, the restaurant has a relaxed buzz, as families, morning joggers and guests at the nearby Omni Shoreham belly up to the expansive bar or file in to the large seating area for their late-morning fix. Eating breakfast at Open City during the week isn't altogether different. The eatery maintains its low-key, neighborhood vibe while still sending you off to work in about 30 minutes, start to finish. In addition to standard fare, breakfast offerings include house-made pastries, a chai tea waffle with a subtle hint of spice and a hearty chorizo scramble. Open City also doubles as a coffeehouse and is fully stocked with fair trade Counter Culture coffee and espresso that makes for an excellent morning cup o' joe.
Menu sampler: chai tea waffle, $6.99; chorizo scramble, $8.99; egg, sausage and cheese breakfast sandwich, $7.99. (2331 Calvert St. NW. 202-332-2331. www.opencitydc.com.)
Our take: the food, 3 plates; the coffee: 3 cups

Photo and text by Jess Righthand / The Washington Post

G Street Food

Need a vacation but can't get away from your desk job? G Street Food's globally minded menu might hold you over . . . at least until you finish your coffee. In addition to the standard assortment of bagel-and-egg sandwiches, there's a long omelet list, including Hungarian (onion, red pepper, tomato and chives), Polish (onions, potato and zucchini), Russian (tomatoes and fresh parsley) and Spanish (potatoes, bacon, peppers and onions). G Street's doughnuts (pictured) are made in-house and are the size of large bagels; they come plain, chocolate-iced or sugar-coated. They pair well with an Americano or Counter Culture drip from the in-house barista. (As a bonus for coffee lovers, the legendary M.E. Swing is next door.)
Menu sampler: Spanish omelet, $5.75; bacon egg and cheese sandwich, $3.95; donuts, $1.75. (1706 G St. NW. 202-408-7474. www.gstreetfood.com.)
Our take: the food, 2 plates; the coffee, 3 cups

Photo and text by Alex Baldinger / The Washington Post

The District loves its half-smokes, but only a true Washingtonian could appreciate a half-smoke for breakfast (pictured). And that's what makes the <a data-xslt='_http' href='http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/restaurants/florida-avenue-grill,792185.html'>Florida Avenue Grill</a> special: Few restaurants wear their hometown roots more proudly than the Grill, as greasy as it is venerable (1944). The proximity to Howard University makes it a popular spot for students, but tables and counter seats are readily available most weekday mornings and street parking can be found with little effort. The coffee is diner-quality standard and plentiful; no meal is complete without the house biscuits, served with most entrees. And for a true soul food experience, order a side of the creamy grits with your pork chop or salmon cakes. <br>
<strong>Menu sampler:</strong> half-smoke and two eggs, $7.45; hot cakes with bacon or sausage and two eggs, $8.50; sausage gravy, $5.50. (1100 Florida Ave. NW. 202-265-1586. www.floridaavenuegrill.com.) <br>
<strong>Our take:</strong> the food, 2 plates; the coffee, 1 cup

Florida Avenue Grill

The District loves its half-smokes, but only a true Washingtonian could appreciate a half-smoke for breakfast (pictured). And that's what makes the Florida Avenue Grill special: Few restaurants wear their hometown roots more proudly than the Grill, as greasy as it is venerable (1944). The proximity to Howard University makes it a popular spot for students, but tables and counter seats are readily available most weekday mornings and street parking can be found with little effort. The coffee is diner-quality standard and plentiful; no meal is complete without the house biscuits, served with most entrees. And for a true soul food experience, order a side of the creamy grits with your pork chop or salmon cakes.
Menu sampler: half-smoke and two eggs, $7.45; hot cakes with bacon or sausage and two eggs, $8.50; sausage gravy, $5.50. (1100 Florida Ave. NW. 202-265-1586. www.floridaavenuegrill.com.)
Our take: the food, 2 plates; the coffee, 1 cup

Photo and text by Alex Baldinger / The Washington Post

<a data-xslt='_http' href='http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/restaurants/extra-perks,1179890.html'>Extra Perks</a> does a brisk weekday morning business, with the crowd pretty evenly split between those getting drinks to go and those sitting down for a meal. The shop has a British theme, meaning you'll find teacups on the wallpaper, Union Jacks on the tables and McVitie's biscuits for sale. The cholesterol-heavy British breakfast with eggs and two types of breakfast meat goes down easier than it should, preferably made into an improvised sandwich with the accompanying toast. Employees (pictured are owners Kem and Phil McCombie) manage the flow of orders with buzzers a la Cheesecake Factory to let you know when to pick up your food. Expect that to take less than 10 minutes. Extra Perks is a great alternative to the more crowded spots in the nearby fancier sections of Old Town, and there's plenty of easy street parking to boot. <br>
<strong>Menu sampler:</strong> full British breakfast (two eggs, banger, bacon, sauteed mushrooms, grilled tomatoes and toast), $9.75; Weetabix and warm milk, $3.55; egg-and-cheese breakfast sandwich, $3.10. Coffee: 3 cups Food: 2 plates (822 N. Fairfax St., Alexandria. 703-706-5886. www.extraperkscoffeeshopandcafe.com.) <br>
<strong>Our take:</strong> the food, 2 plates; the coffee, 3 cups

Extra Perks Coffee Shop and Cafe

Extra Perks does a brisk weekday morning business, with the crowd pretty evenly split between those getting drinks to go and those sitting down for a meal. The shop has a British theme, meaning you'll find teacups on the wallpaper, Union Jacks on the tables and McVitie's biscuits for sale. The cholesterol-heavy British breakfast with eggs and two types of breakfast meat goes down easier than it should, preferably made into an improvised sandwich with the accompanying toast. Employees (pictured are owners Kem and Phil McCombie) manage the flow of orders with buzzers a la Cheesecake Factory to let you know when to pick up your food. Expect that to take less than 10 minutes. Extra Perks is a great alternative to the more crowded spots in the nearby fancier sections of Old Town, and there's plenty of easy street parking to boot.
Menu sampler: full British breakfast (two eggs, banger, bacon, sauteed mushrooms, grilled tomatoes and toast), $9.75; Weetabix and warm milk, $3.55; egg-and-cheese breakfast sandwich, $3.10. Coffee: 3 cups Food: 2 plates (822 N. Fairfax St., Alexandria. 703-706-5886. www.extraperkscoffeeshopandcafe.com.)
Our take: the food, 2 plates; the coffee, 3 cups

Photo by Michael Temchine for The Washington Post/text by Becky Krystal

With its cheap prices, quick service and authentic Central and South American fare, it's no surprise that <a data-xslt='_http' href='http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/restaurants/al-carbon,1162620.html'>Al Carbon</a> draws an early breakfast crowd. It's across the street from the Rockville Metro station in an industrial niche, and the breakfast crowd usually consists of contractors coming in to grab a quick pupusa and a hot coffee. Diners who can linger longer than 10 minutes are rewarded with desayuno tipico, a plentiful serving of rice, black beans, eggs with onion and tomato, sour cream, avocado and fried plantain (pictured); or an oversize breakfast burrito. In addition to its inexpensive and generous servings, Al Carbon stands out for its cooking methods: Everything is prepared on a wood grill. You might be in a rush, but the smoky flavors will take you back to the gratification of a grilled meal on a lazy summer day. <br>
<strong>Menu sampler:</strong> pupusa, $2; breakfast burrito, $4.99; desayuno tipico, $8. (200 Park Rd., Rockville. 301-738-0003.) <br>
<strong>Our take:</strong> the food, 2 plates; the coffee, 2 cups

Al Carbon

With its cheap prices, quick service and authentic Central and South American fare, it's no surprise that Al Carbon draws an early breakfast crowd. It's across the street from the Rockville Metro station in an industrial niche, and the breakfast crowd usually consists of contractors coming in to grab a quick pupusa and a hot coffee. Diners who can linger longer than 10 minutes are rewarded with desayuno tipico, a plentiful serving of rice, black beans, eggs with onion and tomato, sour cream, avocado and fried plantain (pictured); or an oversize breakfast burrito. In addition to its inexpensive and generous servings, Al Carbon stands out for its cooking methods: Everything is prepared on a wood grill. You might be in a rush, but the smoky flavors will take you back to the gratification of a grilled meal on a lazy summer day.
Menu sampler: pupusa, $2; breakfast burrito, $4.99; desayuno tipico, $8. (200 Park Rd., Rockville. 301-738-0003.)
Our take: the food, 2 plates; the coffee, 2 cups

Photo and text by Amy Orndorff / The Washington Post

Ted's Bulletin

This is the go-to breakfast spot in Barracks Row, but going there for weekend brunch is about as much fun as a trip to the DMV. Weekdays, though, are a different story. The art-deco dining room seems a bit more sane and still fairly diverse: office suits talking business, a toddler eating sausages with his fingers while Dad looks on, tourists in jeans and sneakers planning their day. (And you never know: You might, as we were on a recent visit, be seated in a booth next to actor Ed Begley Jr.) Leave the calorie counters at home, because Ted's Bulletin is a place to eat hearty: The T.U.B.S. (Ted's Ultimate Breakfast Sammy) has both fried and scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon and melted cheddar stuffed between two slices of Texas toast; the signature Big Mark Breakfast comes with three eggs, sausage, bacon, hash browns, toast and a house-made pop tart. Not quite that hungry? Create your own platter from the a la carte menu, which includes biscuits and sausage gravy, eggs any style, hash browns and cheddar grits. Service is brisk without feeling too rushed. Our favorite touch: If two people order coffee, the servers bring a full vacuum flask to the table so you can serve yourself.
Menu sampler: T.U.B.S. (Ted's Ultimate Breakfast Sammy), $9.49; thick-cut French toast with two eggs, $8.89; Nana's Beer Biscuits and Sausage Gravy with two eggs and hash browns, $9.79. (505 Eighth St. SE. 202-544-8337. www.tedsbulletin.com.)
Our take: the food, 3 plates; the coffee, 2 cups

Photo by Bonnie Jo Mount, text by Fritz Hahn / The Washington Post

Tucked into a small strip mall that is just off, but somehow facing away from, Duke Street near Landmark Mall, the small Eritrean eatery <a data-xslt='_http' href='http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/restaurants/cafe-aurora,1185220.html'>Cafe Aurora</a> can be tricky to find. But those who are willing to wait until 9 a.m. for breakfast will discover a lot to like inside the mocha- and gold-decorated cafe. The menu is all over the map, with traditional breakfast items, Italian pastas and Eritrean dishes all available as soon as the doors open. Stick with the east African fare such as the fuul (fava beans and tomatoes, onions and cheese) and the Eritrean breakfast favorite fatta (cubed French bread soaked in a spicy, creamy tomato sauce and served with yogurt; pictured). Of course, if you aren't feeling adventurous, you can always get a waffle smothered in ice cream. Either way, the coffee, in true Eritrean fashion, is good and strong. <br>
<strong>Menu sampler:</strong> three-egg frittata, $6.95; Belgian waffles, $6.95; fatta, $6.95. (50 S. Pickett St., Unit 24, Alexandria. 703-567-4050. www.cafeaurorausa.com.) <br>
<strong>Our take:</strong> the food, 3 plates; the coffee, 3 cups

Cafe Aurora

Tucked into a small strip mall that is just off, but somehow facing away from, Duke Street near Landmark Mall, the small Eritrean eatery Cafe Aurora can be tricky to find. But those who are willing to wait until 9 a.m. for breakfast will discover a lot to like inside the mocha- and gold-decorated cafe. The menu is all over the map, with traditional breakfast items, Italian pastas and Eritrean dishes all available as soon as the doors open. Stick with the east African fare such as the fuul (fava beans and tomatoes, onions and cheese) and the Eritrean breakfast favorite fatta (cubed French bread soaked in a spicy, creamy tomato sauce and served with yogurt; pictured). Of course, if you aren't feeling adventurous, you can always get a waffle smothered in ice cream. Either way, the coffee, in true Eritrean fashion, is good and strong.
Menu sampler: three-egg frittata, $6.95; Belgian waffles, $6.95; fatta, $6.95. (50 S. Pickett St., Unit 24, Alexandria. 703-567-4050. www.cafeaurorausa.com.)
Our take: the food, 3 plates; the coffee, 3 cups

Photo and text by Justin Rude / The Washington Post

For about an hour each weekday, usually between 8 and 9 a.m., you can wander into <a data-xslt='_http' href='http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/restaurants/johnnys-half-shell,791695.html'>Johnny's Half Shell</a> and get a glimpse of how official Washington works. Men and women -- maybe you recognize their faces, maybe you don't -- are lost in conversation over their breakfast plates, trying to pry information from each other or hammer out an agenda. These are often your elected officials or their staffs; their unerring sense of accommodation -- and their taste buds -- regularly drive them to Ann Cashion and John Fulchino's warm, inviting seafood parlor in the shadow of the U.S. Capitol. Cashion's compact breakfast menu, heavy on prepared egg dishes, is better than it needs to be given many of her customers treat the restaurant as a morning conference room. But if you really want a taste of Cashion's soulful take on Gulf Coast cooking, try her grillades and grits (pictured), this humble New Orleans staple that's been fine-tuned into a surprisingly elegant dish, its creamy grits the perfect foil to the peppery blasts of sliced (and very meaty) beef. This is a leisurely paced spot to stop and savor breakfast, not slam it down and run. <br>
<strong>Menu sampler:</strong> grillades and grits, $12.50; eggs Benedict with sauteed potatoes, $13.75; spinach and Gruyere quiche, $11. (400 N. Capitol St. NW, 202-737-0400, www.johnnyshalfshell.net.) <br>
<strong>Our take:</strong> the food, 3 plates; the coffee, 2 cups

Johnny's Half Shell

For about an hour each weekday, usually between 8 and 9 a.m., you can wander into Johnny's Half Shell and get a glimpse of how official Washington works. Men and women -- maybe you recognize their faces, maybe you don't -- are lost in conversation over their breakfast plates, trying to pry information from each other or hammer out an agenda. These are often your elected officials or their staffs; their unerring sense of accommodation -- and their taste buds -- regularly drive them to Ann Cashion and John Fulchino's warm, inviting seafood parlor in the shadow of the U.S. Capitol. Cashion's compact breakfast menu, heavy on prepared egg dishes, is better than it needs to be given many of her customers treat the restaurant as a morning conference room. But if you really want a taste of Cashion's soulful take on Gulf Coast cooking, try her grillades and grits (pictured), this humble New Orleans staple that's been fine-tuned into a surprisingly elegant dish, its creamy grits the perfect foil to the peppery blasts of sliced (and very meaty) beef. This is a leisurely paced spot to stop and savor breakfast, not slam it down and run.
Menu sampler: grillades and grits, $12.50; eggs Benedict with sauteed potatoes, $13.75; spinach and Gruyere quiche, $11. (400 N. Capitol St. NW, 202-737-0400, www.johnnyshalfshell.net.)
Our take: the food, 3 plates; the coffee, 2 cups

Photo and text by Tim Carman / The Washington Post

Marlboro Grille

Located in the middle of Prince George's County seat, the Marlboro Grille is close to the county courts, the office of the county executive, the sheriff's office and board of education. That's why you'll find suits rubbing elbows with law enforcement and people in T-shirts talking over plates of no-frills diner food every morning from 7 a.m. on. Ignore the tired decor -- the artificial plants look like they've been around since the restaurant opened in 1995 -- and tuck into a platter of turkey sausage, a brick-size pile of hash browns, two eggs and four pieces of toast, or the popular combination of a half-smoke with two eggs and your choice of buttery grits or home fries. Servers are friendly and efficient; it's easy to see why so many customers know them by name.
Menu sampler: turkey sausage, two eggs, home fries and toast, $6.69; half-smoke with two eggs and home fries or grits, $8.99; bacon and egg sandwich, $3.29. (14606 Main St., Upper Marlboro. 301-627-0480.)
Our take: the food, 2 plates; the coffee: 1 cup

Photo and text by Fritz Hahn / The Washington Post

This 47-year-old spot has the kind of quiet, homey atmosphere that Cracker Barrel wishes it could deliver. Breakfast is served all day at <a data-xslt='_http' href='http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/restaurants/virginian-restaurant,1184185.html'>the Virginian</a>, starting at 6 a.m. On a Thursday at 8:30 a.m., with the place less than one-third full, it can arrive at your table in 3 minutes. Park out front. Sit at the counter or at a table near the picture windows. The waffle billed as Belgian turns out to be of the local, garden variety, and the cup of creamed chipped beef congeals all too quickly. But if you order the breakfast in a skillet (pictured), you won't need to eat again until dinnertime. <br>
<strong>Menu sampler:</strong> breakfast in a skillet (two eggs any style over an American-cheese-topped hash of vegetables, home fries, ham and sausage, with a side of toast), $8.50; cup of creamed chipped beef or sausage gravy, $2.75; country-fried steak with sausage gravy, two eggs, home fries and toast, $9.75. (169 Glyndon St. SE, Vienna. 703-938-2333. www.thevirginianrestaurant.com.) <br>
<strong>Our take:</strong> the food, 2 plates; the coffee, 2 cups

The Virginian

This 47-year-old spot has the kind of quiet, homey atmosphere that Cracker Barrel wishes it could deliver. Breakfast is served all day at the Virginian, starting at 6 a.m. On a Thursday at 8:30 a.m., with the place less than one-third full, it can arrive at your table in 3 minutes. Park out front. Sit at the counter or at a table near the picture windows. The waffle billed as Belgian turns out to be of the local, garden variety, and the cup of creamed chipped beef congeals all too quickly. But if you order the breakfast in a skillet (pictured), you won't need to eat again until dinnertime.
Menu sampler: breakfast in a skillet (two eggs any style over an American-cheese-topped hash of vegetables, home fries, ham and sausage, with a side of toast), $8.50; cup of creamed chipped beef or sausage gravy, $2.75; country-fried steak with sausage gravy, two eggs, home fries and toast, $9.75. (169 Glyndon St. SE, Vienna. 703-938-2333. www.thevirginianrestaurant.com.)
Our take: the food, 2 plates; the coffee, 2 cups

Photo and text by Bonnie S. Benwick / The Washington Post

Bentley's

Any place that claims to put "the B back into Breakfast" had better back up its bravado. You know, come to think of it, Bentley's might be better served to say it puts the "care back into breakfast" - not as catchy but more grounded in the reality of this 30-year-old institution in Falls Church. Bentley's may feel like a place out of time - a kind of homey, full-service pancake house that used to feed small towns before IHOP and Denny's cornered the market - but it's no museum piece. The kitchen displays a sure (and relatively fast) hand in executing its long, three-page menu, whether frying up a simple sunny-side-up egg or preparing a thin, eggy cheese blintz topped with strawberry preserves. Bentley's sometimes puts a crafty little spin on American classics, too, likes its "French toast Provencal," in which the griddled triangles are drizzled with a cream cheese and orange marmalade sauce. Talk about a sweet breakfast.
Menu sampler: cheese blintz, $7.29; blueberry pancakes, $6.49; French toast Provencal, $8.99; ham, egg and cheese breakfast croissant, $6.99. (6654 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church; 703-532-4100, www.bentleysfallschurch.com.)
Our take: the food: 2 plates, the coffee, 1 cup

Photo by Tracy A. Woodward, text by Tim Carman / The Washington Post

With five distinct dishes, all typical of Ethiopian breakfasts, the morning menu at U Street Ethiopian restaurant <a data-xslt='_http' href='http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/restaurants/dukem-ethiopian-market,804168.html'>Dukem</a> is a refreshing departure from the egg-and-cheese offerings all over town. But it's almost a shame -- and certainly a bad idea if you have to interact with people at work -- to indulge in the hearty, spiced scrambled egg or the kicky foul on a weekday. In particular, the foul (pronounced 'fool'), an addictive fava-bean stew (pictured, background), is laced with garlic and onion, spices, jalapeno and a too-generous pour of olive oil, making it better suited for a Sunday hangover cure than sustenance before a day at the office. Another ding for those looking for a weekday meal: the endless wait (almost 30 minutes) it can take for the meal to turn up, even if the restaurant is empty. <br>
<strong>Menu sampler:</strong> foul (fava-bean stew served with French bread), $6.60; kinche (cracked wheat porridge with butter and mitmita, a blend of chili peppers, cumin and other spices), $6.60; firfir (lamb stew tossed with injera), $8.80. (1114-1118 U St. NW. 202-667-8735. www.dukemrestaurant.com.) <br>
<strong>Our take:</strong> the food, 3 plates; the coffee, 1 cup

Dukem

With five distinct dishes, all typical of Ethiopian breakfasts, the morning menu at U Street Ethiopian restaurant Dukem is a refreshing departure from the egg-and-cheese offerings all over town. But it's almost a shame -- and certainly a bad idea if you have to interact with people at work -- to indulge in the hearty, spiced scrambled egg or the kicky foul on a weekday. In particular, the foul (pronounced "fool"), an addictive fava-bean stew (pictured, background), is laced with garlic and onion, spices, jalapeno and a too-generous pour of olive oil, making it better suited for a Sunday hangover cure than sustenance before a day at the office. Another ding for those looking for a weekday meal: the endless wait (almost 30 minutes) it can take for the meal to turn up, even if the restaurant is empty.
Menu sampler: foul (fava-bean stew served with French bread), $6.60; kinche (cracked wheat porridge with butter and mitmita, a blend of chili peppers, cumin and other spices), $6.60; firfir (lamb stew tossed with injera), $8.80. (1114-1118 U St. NW. 202-667-8735. www.dukemrestaurant.com.)
Our take: the food, 3 plates; the coffee, 1 cup

Text by Lavanya Ramanathan / Photo by Matthew J. Taylor for The Washington Post

M Express at the Citronelle Lounge

The omelet at M Express at the Citronelle Lounge. The options feel like stuff you'd find on the breakfast bar at the Holiday Inn Express in Des Moines: omelets, yogurts, pastries, cold cereals, bagels, eggs any way you like them. The utensils are plastic, and the butter comes in little plastic containers. It's not until you take a bite of croissant that you taste something that remotely hints of your surroundings: The roll's full, rounded richness almost challenges you to embrace a philosophy in which fat remains a daily joy, not a butter-based depravity. Its caloric content also suggests that a real Frenchman lurks behind this mostly grab-and-go operation. That Frenchman is chef Michel Richard, whose celebrity status needs no elaboration. The only respectable way to order at M Express is to select the pre-made or quickly prepared items made in-house, such as the croissant or the raisin Danish or the omelet (fluffy and stuffed with good things). The coffee, of course, is quality stuff, too, but it's not French. It's Kahwa from, ahem, Florida.
Menu sampler: omelets, $13; yogurt, $2; croissants and other pastries, $2; two eggs served your way, $12. (3000 M St. NW, 202-625-2150, www.thelatham.com.)
Our take: the food, 2 plates; the coffee, 2 cups

Photo and text by Tim Carman / The Washington Post

Cafe Assorti

Halfway between the Court House and Rosslyn Metro stations, this Kazakh/Russian/European cafe, bar and bakery (talk about a mixed identity!) is perfectly situated for anyone looking to escape the Orange Crush. There are grab-and-go pastries for those on the move. If you have some extra time, sit in the modern, bright orange dining room at Cafe Assorti, where you can see the kitchen staff working on your order via peek-through windows. Hot entrees hit the table in less than 10 minutes, but it's unlikely the delicious food will last that long on your plate.
Menu sampler: sweet cheese pancakes, $8.95 (pictured); kasha (porridge), $4.95; muffins, $2.45. (1800 Wilson Blvd., Arlington. 703-465-0036. www.cafeassorti.com.)
Our take: the food, 4 plates; the coffee, 2 cups

Photo and text by Becky Krystal / The Washington Post

Chick and Ruth's Delly

There's a comfortable ritual to breakfast here. Doors open at 6:30 a.m., but the day officially begins at 8:30 a.m., when the entire place rises, as if still in grade school, to recite the Pledge of Allegiance to a flag above the cash register. Then everyone settles back down to figure out which classic diner dishes to order: the Senator Nathaniel J. McFadden (a mountain of corned beef hash topped with two poached eggs and surrounded by piles of home fries and toast)? The Mayor Al Hopkins (chipped beef on toast with home fries)? The Golda Meir (lox, cream cheese, onions and tomato on a bagel)? Chick and Ruth's, which has been on Annapolis's bustling Main Street since 1965, is the kind of mom-and-pop experience you don't forget easily. The staff is good-humored and fast with coffee and water refills, though you may have to flag them when the place is slammed, which is often, but it never feels like a chore.
Menu sampler: two eggs with home fries, toast and choice of meat, $4.50; bagel and lox sandwich, $6.99; creamed chipped beef with home fries, $7.75. (165 Main St., Annapolis. 410-269-6737. www.chickandruths.com.)
Our take: the food, 2 plates; the coffee, 1 cup

Photo by Marvin Joseph, text by Fritz Hahn / The Washington Post

Check the East Coast hurry-up attitude at the door when you enter <a data-xslt='_http' href='http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/restaurants/la-casita-pupuseria-and-market,1228255.html'>La Casita</a>. Even on weekday mornings, when most customers are getting to-go orders and the tables are nearly empty, food takes at least 25 minutes to show up. The laborers and suits who come in for the traditional Salvadoran breakfast dishes don't seem impatient. The wait gives you a chance to browse the shelves of imported packaged snacks or study the mural of a beach scene. And when the food does arrive -- spiced Salvadoran hot chocolate, chorizo, perfectly fried plantains, scrambled eggs with rice, tomatoes, onions and peppers and served with red beans and avocado -- the feeling of being transported to another country is complete. <br>
<strong>Menu sampler:</strong> fried plantains, fried red beans and eggs, $5.95; pork chorizo with eggs, potatoes, fried red beans and handmade tortilla, $6.25; rice with eggs, onion, pepper and tomato, fried red beans, avocado and tortilla, $5.50. (8214 Piney Branch Rd., Silver Spring. 301-588-6656.) <br>
<strong>Our take:</strong> the food, 2 plates; the coffee, 2 cups

La Casita Pupuseria and Market

Check the East Coast hurry-up attitude at the door when you enter La Casita. Even on weekday mornings, when most customers are getting to-go orders and the tables are nearly empty, food takes at least 25 minutes to show up. The laborers and suits who come in for the traditional Salvadoran breakfast dishes don't seem impatient. The wait gives you a chance to browse the shelves of imported packaged snacks or study the mural of a beach scene. And when the food does arrive -- spiced Salvadoran hot chocolate, chorizo, perfectly fried plantains, scrambled eggs with rice, tomatoes, onions and peppers and served with red beans and avocado -- the feeling of being transported to another country is complete.
Menu sampler: fried plantains, fried red beans and eggs, $5.95; pork chorizo with eggs, potatoes, fried red beans and handmade tortilla, $6.25; rice with eggs, onion, pepper and tomato, fried red beans, avocado and tortilla, $5.50. (8214 Piney Branch Rd., Silver Spring. 301-588-6656.)
Our take: the food, 2 plates; the coffee, 2 cups

Photo and text by Anne Kenderdine / The Washington Post

When the Foggy Bottom eatery <a data-xslt='_http' href='http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/restaurants/burger-tap-and-shake,1217657.html'>Burger Tap & Shake</a> began serving breakfast in February, it made perfect sense. With the Metro, George Washington University and a hospital full of workers in view, there is certainly morning foot traffic to lure. The fare is a notch up from conventional, with a handful of egg sandwiches served on soft, house-made buns with sausages grilled to order. The service is swift and friendly. Seating is plentiful, and bonus points must be awarded for the copious bottles of Sriracha, which provides a nice condiment kick for egg dishes. Along with the flavorless coffee, take a pass on the 'breakfast fries.' The description is pretty dead-on: french fries at 9 a.m.? They're probably best left to the college kids. <br>
<strong>Menu sampler:</strong> El Camino (chorizo, black beans, egg, pepper jack cheese), $5; Skinny High Thigh (turkey sausage, egg whites and American cheese), $5; $4 bucks (egg and cheese), $4. (2200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. 202-587-6258. www.burgertapshake.com.) <br>
<strong>Our take:</strong> the food, 2 plates; the coffee, 1 cup

Burger Tap & Shake

When the Foggy Bottom eatery Burger Tap & Shake began serving breakfast in February, it made perfect sense. With the Metro, George Washington University and a hospital full of workers in view, there is certainly morning foot traffic to lure. The fare is a notch up from conventional, with a handful of egg sandwiches served on soft, house-made buns with sausages grilled to order. The service is swift and friendly. Seating is plentiful, and bonus points must be awarded for the copious bottles of Sriracha, which provides a nice condiment kick for egg dishes. Along with the flavorless coffee, take a pass on the "breakfast fries." The description is pretty dead-on: french fries at 9 a.m.? They're probably best left to the college kids.
Menu sampler: El Camino (chorizo, black beans, egg, pepper jack cheese), $5; Skinny High Thigh (turkey sausage, egg whites and American cheese), $5; $4 bucks (egg and cheese), $4. (2200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. 202-587-6258. www.burgertapshake.com.)
Our take: the food, 2 plates; the coffee, 1 cup

Photo and text by Lavanya Ramanathan / The Washington Post

Grump's Cafe

Coming here is like taking a vacation before work, starting with the brightly colored picnic tables outside and continuing with the surfboards, Corona beer paraphernalia and beer-bar signs. (By the way, margaritas and Bloody Marys are available on the breakfast menu, even on weekdays, just in case you decide to really make this a vacation.) Grump's takes its coffee seriously. Its house blend and the popular Dancing Goat blend come from Washington state's Batdorf & Bronson roastery, and other coffees are from Anne Arundel County's Ceremony Coffee Roasters and Chesapeake Bay Roasting Co. The food is the type you might expect at brunch -- Eggs Bay Ridge (pictured; jumbo lump crab meat, poached eggs, tomatoes and hollandaise atop two English muffin halves), the Smokey Chipotle Omelet (roast chicken, melted cheddar, sauteed peppers and onions, house pepper sauce), the Chicken Vicki Fried Steak (country-fried steak smothered in sausage gravy, and two eggs and grits). But if you don't want to linger, you can spend less than $5 for a short stack of buckwheat pancakes with bacon or sausage or the Breakfast Club sandwich, essentially a BLT on toast with cheddar and two fried eggs. Easy to eat on the picnic tables outside when the weather is fine.
Menu sampler: Eggs Bay Ridge, $10.99; Smokey Chipotle Omelet, $9.99; biscuits and sausage gravy with home fries, $5.59. (117 Hillsmere Dr., Annapolis. 410-267-0229. www.grumpscafe.com.)
Our take: the food, 3 plates; the coffee: 3 cups

Photo and text by Fritz Hahn / The Washington Post

Mosaic Cuisine and Cafe

Mosaic includes a number of high-end breakfast staples (overstuffed omelets, eggs Benedict with roasted potato hash, bagel and smoked salmon, etc.), but regulars appreciate its real claim to fame: waffles. From breakfast to dinner, the chefs find ways to incorporate their signature draw into French and American favorites. Still, it's best enjoyed in its most basic form: topped with fruit and a dusting of confectioners' sugar. Syrup is available, but discouraged. If you must embellish your waffle, whipped cream and caramel cream will do. The omelets -- especially the Mosaic omelet with spinach, grilled tomatoes and Swiss cheese -- don't disappoint, either. The best part: They come with potato hash and, of course, a waffle.
Menu sampler: Bruxelle Belgian waffle with strawberries, bananas or Fuji apples, $7.95; eggs Benedict, $10.95; Mosaic omelet, $9.55. (186 Halpine Rd., Rockville. 301-468-0682. www.mosaiccuisine.com.)
Our take: the food, 3 plates; the coffee, 2 cups

Photo and text by Amy Orndorff / The Washington Post

Taqueria La Placita

The spot Washington food scribes have praised for serving some of the best tacos in the area starts its day at 6 a.m., when laborers pop in for food that can keep a stomach from growling for hours. A quick and generous order of hard-scrambled eggs with chorizo (pictured) comes with black beans, slices of mild white cheese, yellow rice, a four-stack of warm corn tortillas and three types of sauces. Huge cups of freshly squeezed orange juice or refrigerated bottles of juice and soda are the morning beverage choices, but self-serve coffee is available at the bakery next door to Taqueria La Placita. The tamales are large, a bit dry and ready in under 2 minutes. There's plenty of seating and a Latino music video channel blaring on TV to help awaken the senses. It helps to speak Spanish here.
Menu sampler: Huevos con chorizo, $7; chicken mole tamal, $2; atole de arroz con leche, $3. (5020 Edmonston Rd., Hyattsville. 301-277-4477.)
Our take: the food, 1 plate; the coffee: 0 cups

Photo and text by Bonnie S. Benwick / The Washington Post

Mark's Kitchen

Where else can you get a mung bean pancake, a seaweed omelet and an all-vegan meal for breakfast? This reliable neighborhood favorite, a vegetarian-friendly diner with a Korean twist, has just as many traditional choices for carnivores. You can get your eggs with bacon and sausage or substitute meatless versions. Order buttermilk or buckwheat pancakes at Mark’s Kitchen and choose from eight options to be cooked in: go basic with bananas or chocolate chips or inventive with smoked salmon, green tea or ginger. A server steered me away from the blueberry-buckwheat variety: "Too much moisture," she said, so it's harder to get the dense cakes to cook consistently. The place is also a juice bar; don't miss the fresh-pressed orange juice, which arrives like nectar with foam on the top.
Menu sampler: banana-buckwheat pancakes, $6.50; egg, cheese and veggie bacon sandwich, $4.50; spinach tofucakes with eggs, home fries and toast (pictured), $7.95. (7006 Carroll Ave., Takoma Park. 301-270-1884. www.markskitchen.com.)
Our take: the food, 2 plates; the coffee, 3 cups.

Photo and text by Anne Kenderdine / The Washington Post

Fairfax Inn Restaurant

It may look like an ordinary family diner, but Fairfax Inn Restaurant has a decidedly cosmopolitan twist: Filipino fare. Be sure to request the separate menu. The specials all include two eggs, rice (the garlic version is potent), pickled papaya and traditionally prepared meat or fish. The less adventurous can stick to such standard breakfast items as pancakes, omelets and the like. The diner is in Seven Corners, a notoriously confusing tangle of roads that nonetheless makes it a convenient pit stop for Northern Virginia commuters on their way to the city. You won't lose much time either, as orders are ready in less than 15 minutes.
Menu sampler: picadillo (Filipino platter with sauteed ground beef), $8.99; French toast, $5.99; granola delight (yogurt, English muffin and juice), $7.29. (2946 Sleepy Hollow Rd., Falls Church. 703-532-0616. www.fairfaxinnrestaurant.com)
Our take: the food, 3 plates; the coffee, 2 cups

Photo by Justin Rude, text by Becky Krystal / The Washington Post

Cafe Right Angle

Don't rely on the address to find this small cafe that draws a loyal clientele of regulars: Invisible from Arlington Boulevard (Route 50), it fronts on Williams Drive in the ground floor of the Dewberrry Building. Once inside Cafe Right Angle, however, you'll be greeted by a friendly staff, a traditional menu and reasonable prices. Food is prepared to order and can take a while. Eggs are a better bet than the French toast, which was dry but, impressively, arrived with a jug of real maple syrup. And bacon is a better choice than the pale sausage patty. The nicely cooked home fries are spiked with fried onion. Order at the front counter; the food is brought to your table. Breakfast service stops at 11 a.m.
Menu sampler: Two eggs with home fries and toast, $3.19; steak, egg and cheese breakfast sandwich, $4.09; French toast with sausage, $4.19. (8401 Arlington Blvd., Fairfax. 703-645-0288.)
Our take: the food, 2 plates; the coffee, 1 cup

Photo and text by Jane Touzalin / The Washington Post

Scratch a good lunch counter and you'll often find that a decent breakfast spot lies within. <a data-xslt='_http' href='http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/restaurants/mgm-roast-beef,1178361.html'>MGM Roast Beef</a> proves the rule. It serves morning food from 7 to 10:30. The flat screen is on mute so the '70s R&B tends to fill the space. It's easy to grab a stool, sit and eat within 10 minutes of placing your order. Although you might expect the meats (ham, bacon, sausage, turkey bacon, turkey sausage) to be treated properly -- and they are, with a slight char -- the oniony home fries, creamed grits and fluffy three-stack of blueberry pancakes ($1 extra for the fruit) deserve equal star billing. Sad face: Orange juice comes in a bottle. <br>
<strong>Menu sampler:</strong> Big Plate Special (pictured; two eggs any style, choice of French toast or pancakes, choice of meat, choice of home fries or creamed grits), $6.95; breakfast sandwich, $3.49; oatmeal, $3. (905 Brentwood Rd. NE. 202-248-1263. www.mgmroastbeef.com.) <br>
<strong>Our take:</strong> the food: 3 plates, the coffee: 1 cup.

MGM Roast Beef

Scratch a good lunch counter and you'll often find that a decent breakfast spot lies within. MGM Roast Beef proves the rule. It serves morning food from 7 to 10:30. The flat screen is on mute so the '70s R&B tends to fill the space. It's easy to grab a stool, sit and eat within 10 minutes of placing your order. Although you might expect the meats (ham, bacon, sausage, turkey bacon, turkey sausage) to be treated properly -- and they are, with a slight char -- the oniony home fries, creamed grits and fluffy three-stack of blueberry pancakes ($1 extra for the fruit) deserve equal star billing. Sad face: Orange juice comes in a bottle.
Menu sampler: Big Plate Special (pictured; two eggs any style, choice of French toast or pancakes, choice of meat, choice of home fries or creamed grits), $6.95; breakfast sandwich, $3.49; oatmeal, $3. (905 Brentwood Rd. NE. 202-248-1263. www.mgmroastbeef.com.)
Our take: the food: 3 plates, the coffee: 1 cup.

Photo and text by Bonnie S. Benwick / The Washington Post

French-toast fans will be happy with the big, fluffy, eggy slabs of challah, not so happy with the imitation maple syrup. Omelets we tried at <a data-xslt='_http' href='http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/restaurants/smith-and-clarksons-deli,1181474.html'>Smith and Clarkson’s</a> were good, home fries were decent and the customer at the next table sang the praises of his Big Mouth breakfast sandwich. A display case holds tempting pastries to grab on your way out. Outside, a few cafe tables and plastic chairs have been set out for the season, though al fresco diners will have to contend with a limited view (Braddock Road) and a monotonous din (the Beltway). A steady stream of customers passes through, but not enough to cause major delays in the service. Order at the counter; they yell out your number for pickup. Breakfast is served all day. <br>
<strong>Menu sampler:</strong> French toast $5.39, breakfast combo $7.59, Big Mouth $4.99. (8015 Braddock Rd., Springfield. 703-890-3354. www.smithdeli.com.) <br>
<strong>Our take:</strong> the food, 3 plates; the coffee, 3 cups

Smith and Clarkson's Deli

French-toast fans will be happy with the big, fluffy, eggy slabs of challah, not so happy with the imitation maple syrup. Omelets we tried at Smith and Clarkson’s were good, home fries were decent and the customer at the next table sang the praises of his Big Mouth breakfast sandwich. A display case holds tempting pastries to grab on your way out. Outside, a few cafe tables and plastic chairs have been set out for the season, though al fresco diners will have to contend with a limited view (Braddock Road) and a monotonous din (the Beltway). A steady stream of customers passes through, but not enough to cause major delays in the service. Order at the counter; they yell out your number for pickup. Breakfast is served all day.
Menu sampler: French toast $5.39, breakfast combo $7.59, Big Mouth $4.99. (8015 Braddock Rd., Springfield. 703-890-3354. www.smithdeli.com.)
Our take: the food, 3 plates; the coffee, 3 cups

Photo by Justin Rude, text by Jane Touzalin / The Washington Post

Located less than a block from the busy Ballston Metro and steps away from office buildings and high-rise housing, <a data-xslt='_http' href='http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/restaurants/mikes-cafe,1184983.html'>Mike's Cafe</a> is perfectly positioned to be a big breakfast mover. Lines move swiftly, and breakfast sandwiches, burritos and omelets are made to order behind the counter. Even during a rush you can be in and out with your meal in 10 minutes. Seating can be scarce with only a short stretch of bar space and a few tables, but to-go seems to be the preference of most morning customers. <br>
<strong>Menu sampler:</strong> egg, cheese and sausage sandwich, $3.45 (pictured); ham and cheese omelet, $3.99; breakfast burrito, $4.59. (900 N. Stuart St., Arlington. 703-312-7371.) <br>
<strong>Our take:</strong> the food, 2 plates; the coffee, 2 cups

Mike's Cafe

Located less than a block from the busy Ballston Metro and steps away from office buildings and high-rise housing, Mike's Cafe is perfectly positioned to be a big breakfast mover. Lines move swiftly, and breakfast sandwiches, burritos and omelets are made to order behind the counter. Even during a rush you can be in and out with your meal in 10 minutes. Seating can be scarce with only a short stretch of bar space and a few tables, but to-go seems to be the preference of most morning customers.
Menu sampler: egg, cheese and sausage sandwich, $3.45 (pictured); ham and cheese omelet, $3.99; breakfast burrito, $4.59. (900 N. Stuart St., Arlington. 703-312-7371.)
Our take: the food, 2 plates; the coffee, 2 cups

Photo and text by Justin Rude / The Washington Post

You wouldn't expect to find an honest-to-goodness greasy spoon just five blocks east of the Capitol, but that's what makes <a data-xslt='_http' href='http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/restaurants/jimmy-ts-place,1204616.html'>Jimmy T's</a> 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 (pictured), 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. <br>
<strong>Menu sampler:</strong> 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. (501 East Capitol St. SE. 202-546-3646. www.jimmytsplace.com.) <br>
<strong>Our take:</strong> the food, 2 plates; the coffee, 2 cups

Jimmy T's Place

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 (pictured), 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. (501 East Capitol St. SE. 202-546-3646. www.jimmytsplace.com.)
Our take: the food, 2 plates; the coffee, 2 cups

Photo and text by Fritz Hahn / The Washington Post

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In pursuit of a better Washington breakfast

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