This restaurant is a nice neighborhood gem. I've eaten there twice this past week and both times I wasn't disappointed. For breakfast one day I had a spinach omelet and for lunch the next day I had the chicken and waffles. Delicious! My mouth is watering just thinking about the chicken and waffles. The chicken is very moist and perfectly seasoned. No bland food here! You order at the counter for breakfast and lunch, so I don't know about table service. The place is sort of small, but they have outdoor tables. The prices are good here, so you don't have to mortgage your house to get a good meal at Highland. read more

This place was a nice little find. It's very cozy on the inside and also has limited outside seating. Went for brunch on Saturday. Lots of tasty options. I had the bug waffle breakfast which was delicious and filling. My girlfriend enjoyed the omelette. No problem finding parking at one of the meters. One note: you order your food at the counter and then find your seat. This is not a traditional restaurant setting. This tidbit almost caused an argument amongst two other patrons. read more

Highlands has been my go to chicken and waffles place since when I moved to DC. Even after moving back to the Bay it's the spot I continue to visit Everytime I go back to DC. They're prices are very reasonable and service is fast. Their coffee and lattes are just as great! Definitely recommend to anyone living in DC to pay it a visit! read more

Highlands - Chicken and waffles with eggs (but I got no cheese in their eggs) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This is a great neighborhood cafe. I came with a friend for a (too early) breakfast and we were able to enjoy a leisurely morning sitting outside, sipping coffee, and eating generous portions of freshly made breakfast. I had the Morning Glory omelet, which was made with egg whites, and was filled with mushrooms, spinach, and tomatoes. It came with toast and home fries, and I ordered a side of bacon in addition. It was all delicious and very reasonably priced. My friend enjoyed his bacon, egg, and cheese on a bagel. The service was fast and friendly and the restaurant has a great, welcoming feel. I will definitely be back! read more

Highlands - Morning Glory Omelet with toast, home fries, and a side of bacon - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Love Being A Foodie! Murals and paintings surround the small space called Highlands. Theres a system here... As you walk in you're greeted by a long line. Once you reach the counter you excitedly give them your order in exchange for a number.Then off to find a table...good luck. Food delicious, service reasonable, and the history surrounding the place makes for a great conversation. Highly recommended. Great food, friendly service, nice atmosphere. read more

My blogger friend introduced me to this cafe today. Actually, let's rewind back. I wanted to try this place after said blogger friend took a photo of her breakfast meal and put it on Instagram. I had my chance today. I ordered the shrimp omelette and a side of waffle. Both were great in portion size and great in taste. The venue itself is really small and intimate. It seems like a very popular site for local residents; everyone knows each other names. I mean, that was the case for my blogger friend cause she knew at least 3 people who were eating there. I was also told that from time to time they have happy hour. There is a bar located towards the back. Fun Fact: Sometimes the bartender if the grandmother of the owner! All in all, I'm impressed. read more

Food menu is delicious, but can be pretty pricey.... ($18 for grilled salmon on a house salad???) BUT having said that, the $1.85 traditional macchiato is heaven in a cup and will keep me coming back. What a lovely surprise! read more

I'm going with 3 stars because my meal was tasty, thanks to the well seasoned chicken. However, I was not impressed with the waffle or eggs--which I had with banana and spinach in lieu of tons of syrup and cheese. The banana added a nice flavor and texture. Too bad my waffles weren't crunchy. Although they were light and airy, they were also quite soft. My order arrived without the banana, but they returned with a chopped nana on top, and my eggs were a bit wet. When I arrived, the line was at the door. It moved fairly quickly, but seating was limited. I visited close to 12:30 PM on a Sunday, and they were very busy, with both dine-in and -out orders. I think this may have something to do with the waffles not being cooked as thoroughly as they appear in pictures. I'll visit again when my son returns to DC from CA and have him try the brioche french toast. read more

Came in for a late lunch this Saturday afternoon. Very cute and intimate setting. Great place for a date or causal meet up. Great music and vibes. The food was beyond amazing and reasonably priced. Definitely coming back read more

Highlands - Chix and Waffles - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Loved it. Walked in after lunch time and was able to get breakfast. I love breakfast at any time of the day! They were fast and friendly and the food was delicious. I will definitely be back the next time I am in the DC area. read more

Decent price, good food, bad service. I understand that Sunday brunch gets hectic. My bf and I ordered our food at 11am and was told that there is a 20 min wait, that's fine. After you pay for your order, the cashier gives you a number and the server brings the food to your table. So 20 mins past... and then 40 mins past. The couple sitting next to us finished their food and is getting ready to leave. I noticed that people who ordered after us got their food also. Oh.. so they totally forgot our order. I proceeded to ask the waitress, she said the orders are numbered and there is a procedure on how they are cooked and told me to wait. I would definitely be a happier customer if she said "sorry we missed your order, its coming right up". Took them 50 mins to bring out French toast with eggs n chorizo and waffle with scrambled eggs n ham. The food is mediocre enough for me not to go back. read more

I went to Highlands one night to see the meal options offered. The food was great, the staff is friendly, and the hot drinks are great as well! I will definitely consider going back again. read more

I went to Highlands for breakfast because of the good reviews I read here. I must confess that I had never been before to the neighborhood and that I thought it was a little sketchy at first. Also, I had a lot of difficulty finding a parking spot. HOWEVER, don't get deceived by the looks outside. This place was absolutely AWESOME. I would say that it is a hidden gem in DC. The food was delicious and sooo affordable!! $7 for a huge plate of waffles, meat, and eggs!! Oh! And their espresso was terrific as well. I am definitely coming back! read more

Highlands - Belgian waffles, eggs, bacon! Delicious!!!!!! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

It was a great brunch spot. The chicken and waffles were on point. My mom got the omelette with vegetables I was delicious and my dad had The polenta cake which was also delicious. The place is a little small as we were a family of five but we were able to be seated relatively quickly around noon on a Saturday. All in all it was a solid place to eat and I would recommend for a smaller parties who liked a restaurant that is a little out-of-the-way and a lot casual! read more

Stopped by this week for the first time. I was in between visiting sites and needed a spot to chill. Went in and really like the place. Nice and quaint. I ordered something light (turkey sandwich and fruit). It was good. The fruit was really fresh. Didn't give it 5 stars because I hadn't tried one of their signature dishes. I plan to visit this Sunday so I will write a follow up review. Also liked that many of the customers were returners. read more

I had the shrimp and grits and an order of fried green tomatoes. The shrimp and grits were excellent. The shrimp are battered in a well-seasoned coating and the grits have just the right touch of cheese and a creamy consistency. The fried green tomatoes are great, but would suggest ordering a plate to share if you're dining with more than one person. The dish is too rich to finish on your own. read more

Highlands - Shrimp and grits - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Highlands is definitely a hidden gem in Petworth, and the name of the game is brunch. My husband and I stopped by here one weekend morning after playing tennis a few blocks away in Rock Creek Park, and everything about it was fabulous. The first thing that struck me as I walked in was that it attracted clientele from all walks of life - senior citizens, 20-somethings, young families, longtime residents, different races - so you know it has to be well established. It looks like a hole in the wall/nondescript place on the outside, but it also has funky decor on the inside (including a colorful neighborhood mural) which I really liked, and a nice ambiance of a cafe plus a breakfast place with TVs. People definitely spent extra time here lounging over coffee and weren't hustled out by staff. We went up to the counter and ordered our food - I got the Highlands Omelet with toast and bacon, which was something ridiculously cheap like $7, and my husband got chocolate french toast with peanut butter and bananas - there was even a coffee bar on the side where you could get spiked coffee drinks or wine! We sat in some comfy armchairs and our food was brought to us promptly. The omelet was delicious and filling - very large portions! - and the french toast was nutella-esque and like a burst of happiness in your mouth. I still can't believe we had all this for under $20...what a great place! read more

Atmosphere is intimate. Good is great!! They also serve beer and wine. I love their shrimp and grits, chicken and waffles. Sandwiches are also tasty. Try their bread pudding!!! read more

We had awesome breakfast!! We will return soon! The service was friendly and it's a hidden jem in the neighborhood. read more

Highlands - Eggs over easy, sausage, home fries, and toast hit the spot! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The shrimp and grits was everything! A must try. It's in a nice quiet neighborhood, reminds me of back home. Other reviews said the place is usually packed so I'm guessing I came at the right time because I received prompt service and received my food quickly. read more

Great breakfast ! Definitely get your bang for your buck and make sure to beat the crowd. Make sure to get the breakfast potatoes.

Highlands is so fxxkin gooood. I'm getting close to trying everything on the menu, but boyyyy that chicken Diane is my go to! Ong you'll never be disappointed! read more

Good food, no lie, but really I ordered gumbo & I only got one shrimp... decent food but flavor was bland honestly. read more

Highlands - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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It's small, cute, and belongs to Petworth. This little neighborhood coffee shop also serves up a limited number of hot dishes which are pretty good and reasonably priced (I dare say cheap). The staff is adorable and knows most of the customers - the vibe was completely authentic and cozy. read more

Highlands is definitely a treat when I visit my sister in DC. Fortunately this is one of her neighborhood spots, so she introduced it to me recently when I went to visit over Labor Day weekend. It's charming, and they make delicious coffee for the caffeine aficionados, I was hooked. Even the rare time I ordered decaf (yes, every blue moon it happens!), the decaf was wicked good too. My 3 year old nephew loves their croissants and goes to town when he gets his little hands on one. My sister, I, (and nephew!) had breakfast there on Sunday and with the rave reviews the nephew has on the croissant (is a 3 year old ever wrong?!!), I asked for an egg and cheese croissant for my order. It did NOT disappoint. Soft, buttery, cheesy heaven, I had to go easy from inhaling the thing! The coffee that morning, was good ol' fashioned Dark Roast, and it hit the spot. Sooo happy that this place is down the street from my sis's place. Looking forward to going back the next time I'm in DC. Thumbs up in my book!!! read more

Great little local place, not much to look at from the outside, but a gem of the neighbourhood! Waiting time on the service can run a little long sometimes, but its worth it. They serve all meals, breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Their gumbo is nice and rich, and their chicken noodle soup is just what you need on a chilly D.C. night. Note that they close early most days, 9pm. Oh, and they have pretty fast wifi! read more

Highlands - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Recently, I purchased a Groupon for a restaurant called, "The Highlands," for their new vegan dinners on Friday and Saturday nights. I was surprised to see a Groupon for vegan food at a restaurant I had never heard of and was curious to see what they'd be serving. Their website appears to be updated each Friday with their vegan menu for the weekend. We went on the Saturday before July 4th so that weekend it was a cookout-inspired menu. Caution: this restaurant isn't in the nicest of areas. It is located north up 14th Street past Mount Pleasant so I would recommend not going too late. The restaurant looked pretty run down from the outside, but was your typical divey-type dining room on the inside. I was disappointed to find that there was only one vegan option this weekend when on prior weekends there had been several options. This option in particular was a cookout basket that was priced at $13, which seemed really high for this kind of place. The woman asked me if I was eating in or taking out before I ordered, then she asked me again when I ordered, then once we sat down, the server asked me again. You'd think they might just make note of this. It was 100 degrees outside and there wasn't any A/C inside so it was unbearably hot. The fans they had setup were just blowing hot air around the dining area. They brought my meal out in a basket, which consisted of coleslaw, baked beans, ruffled potato chips and a portobello sandwich. The portobello sandwich was called a "vurger," which I thought meant vegan burger, so I was expecting a veggie burger. Not so. This was a small portobello mushroom on a bun with lettuce, tomato, and pickle with some sort of vegan mayonnaise and yellow mustard. It was not good. First of all, one of the options was to add cheese for $1 more. When I tried to order the cheese, they told me someone threw the vegan cheese out by mistake. Well, I was so glad they didn't have it. Why would anyone put vegan cheese on a portobello sandwich? My next question is...Why would anyone put yellow mustard on this sandwich? And a pickle? This was the epitomy of terrible sandwiches. To top it off, it was served with canned baked beans and cheap ruffled potato chips. All, for $13?! I could have made this at home for half that and it would have been 10 times better. I appreciate that this restaurant is offering vegan options, but I would not recommend that you go out of your way to go here. The food is over-priced and not good at all. read more

This place is magnificent. Delicious food, friendly service, great atmosphere, low prices! It's small and cozy with just a few tables, but when we arrived we didn't have to wait at all. I ordered the french toast and it was fabulous! The eggs were also cooked perfectly. My husband ordered the heights breakfast, which he also loved. We tried it yesterday morning and we're going back again today! Can't wait! read more

Its a solid place for brunch. It does get packed for good reason. I have yet to try the chicken and waffles, but I can tell you that all of their other food is spot on! Their coffee is great and so is the atmosphere. I look forward to coming here every Sunday! Keep it up! Update: I have tried the chicken and waffles! Yes, these were very good! read more

The food is absolutely AMAZING!!! Wow. This restaurant has exceeded my expectations with the portion sizes and delicious flavors. I had the salmon entree, grilled shrimp, and fried green tomatoes. I highly recommend this restaurant! I will most definitely be returning to check out more menu items! Thank you! read more

Nice little place. Had the burger and it was pretty good. A little stingy on the order of fries, but pretty tasty. Staff was helpful and attentive. We also tried the shrimp and grits... another tasty treat. This was my first time here and I enjoyed the spot. Always down for trying new local spots. Many reviews talk about the breakfast food, I'll have to come back for it. 3.5 stars + .5 since you cant do half and for overall good service. read more

Can't judge a book by its cover. This little restaurant is inconspicuous on the outside, but serves great quality food on the inside London broil - tender meat . tasty buttery bread Shrimp and grits - pretty small plate. acts more like an appetizer Gulf Shrimp Linguine - the pasta was cooked perfectly al dente Great mural on the wall gives the little place big character. overall , an affordable place with food done well read more

Best turkey sandwich I've ever had! Mostly because they offer turkey bacon. This place is quite interesting, a hidden gem in the area with enough options for Non pork eaters and vegetarians. The service is OK but for the price, it's totally worth it! Finally, a brunch place with some edge in DC read more

So a girlfriend and I dropped by on a Saturday morning around 11:30. It was confusing because we did not know if we should wait, order at the register, or take a seat first. It was very busy and crowded. We had to ask a waitress passing by on what to do and she pointed to the only empty table and brought us menus. We thought she was going to take out order but she told us to order in line. I don't recommend this for a casual meet-up spot or a date. Confusing and LOUD! the tables were so close to eachother I felt like I was sitting with 2 other couples. I had the salmon cake which was good but the size of a jumbo grape. It came with eggs, grits, and toast. The menu does not have a list of drinks but if you ask they do have mimosas and Highland Punch! The food tasted average-good. I'm very impressed with one waitress who helped a man on an electronic wheelchair sift through his belongings looking for his jelly. She was helping him for a good 5-8 minutes. Sweet. I don't know if I would return unless I was already in the area... I would not go out of my way to have brunch here again. read more

I absolutely love this place. It's definitely my favorite place to go in the city. Their service is fast and their food consistent, shrimp and grits that will ruin all other shrimp and grits after it. The chicken and waffles meal comes with two Belgium waffles, tons of chicken (no bones) and eggs - $10! I also suggest any of their sandwiches. I'll be trying the short ribs next because this place is way more than just breakfast! read more

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We happened upon this place walking home and are so glad we stopped. The food was delicious and the service prompt and friendly. We'll be back. read more

This was a bit of trip to get here if you're not in this area already. Take note that 54 and 52 bus comes up from downtown or even just Columbia Heights metro. Walked in and only police/fire dept and a few local teens were there. Later on others filtered in. I like the crowd -- families, locals, zero pretentiousness. I had waffles. Pretty good. I liked the fact that everything was hot. Great place. Keep it up read more

Breakfast is one meal where any proud cheapskate can find plenty of places that are good and affordable. The only thing you need to do is sniff out these good places that are too often buried under less enjoyable yet somehow better known establishments. Ms. Classy went into full research mode and discovered The Highlands on 14th St NW. One theme we saw throughout the online reviews was a lack of attention to detail and the staff consistently commits little blunders, but the food was really good and cheap. Well, to repeat everything we read, that pretty much summed up our experience. I will begin with saying that I loved the atmosphere. I liked the mural covering an entire wall of the dining area, the bar-style stools along a table against the front window, and just the overall feeling of the place. Since the eating area was small and customers seemed to be coming in at a regular pace, I staked our claim at a table while Ms. Classy and her parents went to the order counter and ordered our breakfast. Here is where we experienced our first staff mistake: they forgot to give me my coffee. I went to the register and explained and they quickly gave me my coffee without hassle. For our breakfasts, we ordered the Highlands Omelet and Brioche French Toast. Here is where we discovered a second mistake. According to the menu posted on their website and the one on the wall behind the ordering area, the Highlands Omelet comes with ham, creamy havarti cheese, and spinach. When we dug in, we discovered a switcharoo with the cheese. We were served cheddar. Was it good and did we eat it? Yes. However, if they were out of havarti, we should have been informed or it may have been a staff error when cooking the omelet. The ham was good and I love almost any dish that contains spinach so in the end I liked it. When I checked the downloadable menu, American cheese was listed, so who knows what is right or not, but it is a detail that needs attention. The Brioche French Toast as amazing. It comes with two eggs any style and we chose over medium. I usually prefer sunny side up because too many places have misinterpreted over medium with over hard. Not The Highlands, the yokes were the perfect amount of slightly firm outside with the rich, runny inside that slowly flowed out when cut. We were both pleased with this selection. If you're swinging by and only have a modest appetite and a handful of pocket change, the two eggs any style with toast is only $1.75. Throw in a small coffee for $1.60 and you have yourself a quick breakfast for the price most places charge for just the most basic of basic breakfast sandwiches. If the quality of their over medium eggs are always as good as we had, this is more than worth it. Now, back to another detail that needs attention: serving the orders. While we were eating, we (and patrons at the neighboring table) were approached by several servers with arms full of entrees, asking if we ordered anything they were carrying. Of course, I went to point to something that looked particularly appetizing when Ms. Classy anticipated my nefariousness and politely sent the servers searching for the proper customers. Very simple 'order number' style identification could easily take care of this detail. So was it good? Yes. I would rank my specific experience a three out of five. It was good and I liked the atmosphere of the place, but if I happened not to like American cheese at all, or if they gave me hassle about my coffee, or if some other customer was served our order and I had to wait for it to be made again, that ranking would have dropped significantly. If they found a way to organize themselves a little more, it would have been a four. -Someone of the male gender who does not like to spend a whole lot of money on things read more

A great neighborhood spot. Highlands is one of my favorite places to eat. Whether it's breakfast, lunch or dinner, it doesn't matter cause everything is great. The shrimp and grits are a must and don't forget about the waffles. read more

Highlands - London Broil sandwich--can't loose. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I consider this place a gem! The good is fantastic! The shrimp and grits are to die for! I consider this place a great deal and an affordable place to eat! Food is always freshly prepared! It's located in a quaint neighborhood and has a diverse customer base! Great place for family, friends and couples to dine at. read more

Highlands - Shrimp and grits! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia