Open City

Recommends

mattdozier

Joined 3 years ago

Something for Everyone at Open City. If you’re hungry and it’s early in the morning, late at night, or you can’t decide what you want to eat, odds are you’ll find something appetizing at Open City. This combination diner/café/bar/restaurant is ready-made for the picky diner, with menu options ranging from burgers to steamed mussels to pizza to all-day breakfast. In the morning, it’s a bustling coffeehouse serving lattes and fresh-baked pastries. In the evenings, great patio seating and a full bar with a rotating selection of draft beers and specialty cocktails make it a winner for dinner.

There’s just one problem: Open City is too popular for its own good. Expect waits of at least an hour for brunch on weekends, and the service has a tendency to falter when it gets crowded. At most other times, it’s a phenomenal place for a quick bite or a leisurely meal.

Doesn't Recommend

FaithHayden

Joined 3 years ago

It has rats. I'm going to be frank. This place has rats the size of cats running around the seating in plain sight.

Did you catch that last part? RATS IN PLAIN SIGHT.

Yes, it's DC, and yes DC has rats, so maybe this isn't a huge deal to other people. But I've lived in the city for years and I have never seen such bold rodents. One ran by my foot WHILE I WAS EATING!

The worst part about the rat room was when I told the waitstaff they didn't care. I wasn't given a discount, no one apologized, and I was expected to eat and pay like nothing happened.

Even if we are going to excuse the rat incident, Open City can be impossible to get into, which is seriously annoying. I've had to wait 2 hours on a Sunday to get lunch. Really? Two hours? Who is actually going to wait that long?

I will admit that Open City has pretty good food, but it's not worth that kind of wait. And if the prospect of having rat hair in your eggs freaks you out, then avoid this place.

Recommends

EFrost

Joined 3 years ago

Neighborhood favorite. This is one of my neighborhood go to places. I can walk 5 minutes and get coffee, beer, breakfast, lunch or dinner and some great people watching at Open City.

They have a pretty extensive menu, ranging from breakfast all day, sandwiches, pizza, pasta and other entrees. I personally am addicted to their house salad and a half order of mussels in wine. Finish it off with a slice of sour cherry pie and I'm a happy camper.

The one downside is the really long weekend wait for brunch, which I honestly don't think is worth it (usually an hour or so). You can always grab a coffee and pastry to go if you are like me and don't want to wait!

Recommends

marywc

Joined 3 years ago

Great Coffee, Food, and Breakfast. When I have friends in town or who have just moved to town, I always take them to Open City. It never disappoints because the food is good--breakfast all day, a great grilled cheese, good french fries and yummy desserts. There is lots of indoor and outdoor seating, including a heated and enclosed porch area. The wait can be long for weekend brunch (usually at least 45 minutes at peak brunch hours), but its always worth it.

Recommends

Lauren Sloat

Joined 4 years ago

Citysearch Editorial Review. A cousin to Adams Morgan's Tryst and The Diner, this Woodley Park coffeehouse, diner and bar is a neighborhood gathering spot from breakfast--which is served all day--to happy hour and beyond.

Recommends

smkennedy

Joined 6 years ago

Awesome brunch--also open late night. Cafe specializing in brunch/breakfast foods, but also has a great bakery selection, pies, muffins, ets. and oddly enough is open late night with a fairly large beer selection. Seems like a weird combo, but it works. Great patio area for people watching. Just a few steps from the woodley park metro, Open City has become our favorite place to brunch when we visit DC. Prices are not cheap, but not terrible for DC--plan on at least $35 for breakfast for 2. All the omlettes are good, dont bother with the french toast. Also be forwarned, Open City is pretty popular, so plan on getting there early, or plan on waiting up to 40 minutes on a busy Sunday.