Sunday Brunch, Sep 28 - Also Friday Dinner in DC

[aaronsinger]

Although I lived in the DC area for 2 years, it's been a few years since I've been back and I haven't kept up with local eateries much. Any suggestions for brunch sunday, hopefully not too expensive, for maybe 6-8 folks coming in from all over the area (so hopefully centrally located and easily metro accessible)? I know that's not much to go on, but I'm rather open to possibilities. Also we might be a party that will linger for awhile, so don't want a place that I'd feel rushed.

Thanks!

-Daniel

Also, sunday morning I'll be coming in from a hotel near Dulles sans car, so hotel shuttle to Dulles-Washington Flyer-Silver Line, so probably meeting not too early, around 11ish.

[aaronsinger]

I am also meeting a smaller party of friends friday night for dinner. Friday night I'm staying in Arlington (Courthouse), but the two friends I know are coming live in Silver Spring & Columbia Heights. Again, up for any kind of food, but not overly expensive, so apologies on rather vague parameters.

[DaveO]

I don't brunch everywhere but I find DGS deli to be an excellent brunch choice on many levels.  First and foremost the dishes are excellent.  Its a restaurant in Jewish deli style, but far more a restaurant than deli.  They don't take brunch reservations but the last few times I've been there we've always been seated immediately.

Here are some additional benefits:

• Its on the red line metro, 1/2 block south of the Dupont Circle Metro, on the 1300 block of Connecticut Ave (between N and O).  That makes it very central, convenient, and easily identifiable for most.
• If you go there you can also visit the Dupont Farmers Market. Its the largest most diverse farmers Market in the region.  A worthwhile trip in its own right.
• If for some reason its jam packed there are many alternatives in the area.  Its a great area for getting together with friends, hanging out, people watching etc.   And its very central.

Now again as to the dishes, let me put it this way.  Last time I was there was with a distant cousin but one with whom I'm quite friendly and close. We ordered a couple of apps and mains.  Among the mains was the Pastrami hash, a favorite of mine.  When we ordered my cousin hadn't the slightest interest in this dish.  Once we got them, she had an excellent dish and I had the aforementioned.

She tried it.  She liked it.  She wanted more.  She got more.  She wanted to split the mains. I said NO.     Its a great dish.  (and I who normally agrees to splitting dishes all the time, for some reason felt especially covetous that morn.  .   Really good dish among others.  

If its not jammed it has enough large tables for a large group of 6-8 and of recent visits at a couple of different brunch times I haven't seen it crowded.

[DonRocks]

I don't brunch everywhere but I find DGS deli to be an excellent brunch choice on many levels.  F

I agree with the DGS choice for Sunday brunch. You might want to look at Rovers2000's Brunch Guide, and this Weekend Brunch thread also.

Friday night will be more difficult depending on the time. You want centrally located - how about Boss Shepherd's? I was just there recently, so can vouch for it, and it's right between Metro Center and Federal Triangle. It's American food, mostly southern, and has a decent selection of beers and whiskeys (and cocktails). If this doesn't seem to fit the bill, please say why not - also, others will hopefully chime in. I would definitely get a reservation there because I have no idea if they're empty or bustling. (If you go to Central, report back on the rumors that have been posted.) Another place I was impressed with recently is The Partisan which features the ambulatory chef Ed Witt and charcuterie (worth getting) by Nathan Anda - for a group, a house-made charcuterie place (the full works) is a perfect appetizer.

[aaronsinger]

Thanks for the recs! I asked a couple friends as well, and was thinking about Ethiopian since I've never had it. They suggested Keren, Eritrean restaurant at Florida/18th; they have a little baby so I was going to meet them there at 6 and then other friends at Churchkey after that. I made plans for another group of friends for brunch at DGS sunday. Thanks, Dean, for messaging me; I had another meal free for myself sunday night and was thinking of having an early dinner at Dino's before I headed back to my hotel before an early monday morning flight.

And then I went to O'hare this morning for my flight and ended up going nowhere... Frontier said they couldn't rebook people for several days. If I owned a car I would have left this morning once I got back from the airport. Instead I'm missing my friend's wedding.   

[The Hersch]

Its on the red line metro, 1/2 block south of the Dupont Circle Metro, on the 1300 block of Connecticut Ave (between N and O).  That makes it very central, convenient, and easily identifiable for most.

The 1300 block of Connecticut is between N and O only in a theoretical sense. It would be, if O Street actually crossed Connecticut Avenue, but alas it does not. From west to east, O Street stops at New Hampshire Avenue and picks up again at 17th St.

[DanielK]

And then I went to O'hare this morning for my flight and ended up going nowhere... Frontier said they couldn't rebook people for several days.   

This is the hidden problem with the "low frills" airlines like Frontier, Spirit, and yes, Southwest. Because they don't participate in the carrier exchanges, they WILL NOT rebook you on another airline. You can only be rebooked on one of their flights. And since they profit by being as close to fully booked as possible, missing a connection or a cancelled flight can mean days of delay.

I will fly them when I have to, but if you are going on a cruise, to a wedding, etc. NEVER fly one of these guys.

[lperry]

This is the hidden problem with the "low frills" airlines like Frontier, Spirit, and yes, Southwest. Because they don't participate in the carrier exchanges, they WILL NOT rebook you on another airline. You can only be rebooked on one of their flights. And since they profit by being as close to fully booked as possible, missing a connection or a cancelled flight can mean days of delay.

I will fly them when I have to, but if you are going on a cruise, to a wedding, etc. NEVER fly one of these guys.

That is both interesting and exceptionally useful information.  I had no idea there were airline cliques.

[DonRocks]

That is both interesting and exceptionally useful information.  I had no idea there were airline cliques. 

I completely agree - I had no idea either.

[DanielK]

It's not really cliques, so-to-speak. All of the major carriers will rebook on any other major carrier, not just the ones they have alliances with. Of course, they prefer to keep you on their own planes, or within an alliance, but have the ability to rebook anywhere. Before the discount carriers came along, they all just agreed to help each other. If Delta had a plane go down, and there were seats on a United plane, they would rebook passengers, and the accountants all worked it out in the end. It made sense for the industry and for individual airlines to get passengers there as close to on-time as possible.

Southwest was the first significant airline to come along that did not use the common booking engine. So when an agent on a major had to move a bunch of passengers, and opened up the flight inventory, they could see everything except for Southwest. And, since Southwest didn't seem to want to play with rebooking anyone to other airlines, that's just the way it worked out.

I believe that Frontier and Spirit still use the common booking engine, but I have not heard of people being able to rebook flights on other carriers. Thus, the majors don't reciprocate.

[DaveO]

 The 1300 block of Connecticut is between N and O only in a theoretical sense. It would be, if O Street actually crossed Connecticut Avenue, but alas it does not. From west to east, O Street stops at New Hampshire Avenue and picks up again at 17th St.

Thanks for the correction.  The 1300 block of Connecticut Avenue is a long long block from N to Dupont Circle (which intersects with P Street).