Celebrity chef Guy Fieri has once said, “Food is not just eating energy. It is an experience.” For those like-minded, it is hard for any other meal of the day to compete with “brunch” to let people enjoy themselves as they should.
Isn’t it true that we always rush breakfasts and lunches during the work week and find really little energy left in us to savor a long dinner, either? Exhausted every day, we soon find ourselves in a vicious cycle of hard labor, be it at work or at home, and not much fun in compensation. Experienced over and over again, that constant feeling of dissatisfaction afflicts the lives of many, creating pale countenances everywhere. Well folks, brunch might not be a magic cure to all, but is certainly one good start to fixing our routine.
Originally designed to best deal with Sunday hangovers for Saturday night carousers in England, the very idea of brunch runs against the painful, yet often only perceived, necessity of hastening the process of eating, so fundamental to any life actually. Plus, unlike dinner, with brunch, you still have a full day ahead of you afterwards. So it makes great sense to take advantage of it as much as possible to spread happiness about your body and around as long as you have time to do it. And on a second thought, you better find the time, since it is also a brilliant way to make the best out of any meeting, no matter if it is for business, family or love. So, what could be your excuse, right?
Now, for those convinced enough, here are the top three brunch places open as early on any day of the week and for almost any budget near the nation’s capital, in the larger metropolitan area:
Heat Da Spot
With its cosy design of sofas and armchairs, as well as bar chairs, Heat Da Spot quickly strikes the visitor as a place to take time and enjoy at length. Variety of choices from the famous Ethiopian cuisine make it an absolutely pleasant diner. Highlighting the availability of breakfast service all day, the restaurant promises a home feel towering on tasty homemade food, explaining in part why it has become buzzing with teleworkers. On 3213 Georgia Avenue, it opens at 7:30 a.m. to run through 7:00 p.m. on all workdays and is accessible till 6:00 p.m. on weekends after starting the day at 8:00 a.m. on Saturdays and at 8:30 a.m. on Sundays. It also offers take-out and delivery. Five stars on yelp.com is most well-deserved.
The dine-in area at Heat Da Spot. Photo: Vidhika B. / Yelp.
Flip it LJ Diner
Another highly recommended brunch spot online is that of ‘Flip it LJ Diner’ where you can find everything that makes a good, long meal what it is all day. From sandwiches, pancakes and toasts to full breakfast plates, the cozy restaurant offers visitors a highly enjoyable experience sitting next to its design of a brick wall inside. The menu is a really long one for a diner and the prices are fairly reasonable. Already awarded a five-star rating out of some 100 reviews on yelp.com in less than two years since its opening, the place is simply set to get more profitable as the word gets out. Make sure to try their Salvadoran dishes, if you ever decide to take the trip to 1432 Park Road in Columbia Heights. Will be totally worth it.
An interior view from Flip it LJ Diner. Photo: Genesis D. / Yelp.
A Baked Joint
As opposed to the first two on our list, A Baked Joint has a really spacious, modern area and a considerably quiet atmosphere where you could make the best out of your food. Not surprising that it is far more reviewed and has still managed to get a near five-star rating out even without a Wi-Fi connection available to customers. That is because it is a fantastic place for delicious food and drinks. Readying a different specialty of bread and small pastries to complement your main choice each day of the week next to a wide variety of hot drinks, A Baked Joint offers a different brunch experience every day. It opens fairly early any morning and continues to serve till 10:00 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays, and till 6:00 p.m. every night the rest of the week.