Long before Union Market started attracting DC's food enthusiasts to NE DC, those in the know stopped by neighboring MGM Roast Beef for sandwiches heaped with hunks of freshly roasted meat,hand-carved to order. Owner Ryan Zaritsky (above, with GM and college roommate Jake Babyak)comes from a fourth-generation DC family; his father owns Capital Auto Auction, andMGM is attached to the back. He started MGM to serve the auction's crowds (it's a scientific fact that after you buy a car, nothing tastes better than brisket), but it soon became a neighborhood staple. And, like the surrounding neighborhood, MGM is poised for major growth and change.

After more than four years of catering to weekday breakfast and lunch crowds, Ryan tells us they are expanding their space, their hours, and their offerings in response to new demand. "You wouldn't believe how much this area has changed," Ryan says. "When the auction opened 27 years ago, we needed a police escort to get to our cars after closing. Now, this area could really use a good neighborhood restaurant." Currently, MGM is only open until 6pm on weekdays, 3pm Saturdays, and closed on Sundays. Ryan plans to roll out a Sunday brunch before the summer, and hopes to eventually add dinner service and an outdoor patio.