DC’s favorite meal just got an injection of options promising to make weekend midday meals more memorable. Five hot new brunches you need to know:
Orange Anchor
Georgetown’s Washington Harbour is home to a new nautically appointed brunch. Orange Anchor, best known for its briny treats and rum selection, offers everything from orange zest pancakes made fluffy by ricotta (pictured) to blue crab benedicts and shrimp/lobster rolls from Chef Allan Javery. Drink-wise, you’re sipping on the Seafood Bloody Mary with Old Bay Vodka, tomato juice, Old Bay, smoked paprika, ancho chili water, lime juice, shrimp and smoked oysters. Brunch is served Sat-Sun from 10am-3pm.
Casa Luca
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Bottomless brunch goes classy at Casa Luca, where you can try one appetizer, an Italian specialty, a dessert, and unlimited pours of brunch cocktails for $32. A la carte is also an option at this downtown restaurant, and highlights include the gazpacho Bloody Mary (pictured); poached eggs “frutti di mare”; and a basket of piping hot pastries and breads. As with all Fabio and Maria Trabocchi eateries, a lighter side menu dubbed “Maria’s Light Brunch” is on offer in case an afternoon nap is not in the cards. The $26 set meal includes an egg white scramble, Greek yogurt and fruit plus a mocktail or juice. Brunch is offered Sundays 11:30am-2:30pm.
Summer House
North Bethesda’s buzzy new Pike & Rose development is home to the beachy, whitewashed Summer House Santa Monica from chef/owner Jeff Mahin. There you’ll find brunch backed by English muffins so good you won’t need an alarm clock to wake up. Try a breakfast sandwich on one of them or zoom to the SoCal inspired section of the menu dubbed “Very Special.” There, you'll find tostados and two breakfast burritos. Summer House Santa Monica’s brunch cocktails play to the devil and angel in all of us because along with proof, they pack abundant fruits and veggies like the “Kicked Up Kale.” Brunch is offered Sat-Sun from 8am-3pm.
The Partisan
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The Penn Quarter restaurant that invites Washingtonians to think about meat in new ways will now feed the need of carnivores by day. Evaluate if you can handle the likes of a duck confit and foie gras French toast panini (pictured); a triple stack burger with two beef patties and one sausage patty; or creamed chipped bresaola in country-style gravy with toast and honey hot sauce. If the answer is no, there’s also more forgivable fresh fruit with sliced fennel; a yogurt parfait; and toast made from the restaurant’s signature Italian tigelles. Brunch is offered Sat-Sun from 11am-2:30pm.
Boss Shepherd's
“The Boss” located next to the Warner Theatre downtown recently launched Sunday brunch boosted by live jazz music. The menu stays true to Chef Jeremy Waybright’s (pictured) Southern leanings with dishes such as brioche French toast with candied pecans, bacon jam and bourbon apples; fried chicken atop a cornbread waffle; and even fried bologna with fried eggs, Duke’s and chow chow on an English muffin. Guests can opt to go a la carte or pay $35 for a starter, main, and two brunch cocktails like fuzzy raspberry mimosas. Sunday brunch is offered from 11am-2pm.
