Very airy fun patio dinner, fun to see all the blooms and the masses enjoying Spring. Service was excellent, food was good, and had large portions! read more

I've been sitting here roughly 15 minutes hoping a waiter will stop by. All the customers around me have paid, tables cleared, new customers seated and their orders taken. I finally went to the front desk and explained the situation. More waiting. Finally a waiter spoke to another waiter and said to go serve us .... and the waiter repeated our orders back incorrectly - all he had to do was enter it into his machine. Now everyone around is already eating. Obviously a giant zero stars for service. The breakfast sandwich was small and just mediocre. $10. The coffee tastes like Dunkin, which I am not a fan of - but many are. An overall fail. A definite stay away. read more

It's been several years since I last stopped by Open City on Calvert Street NW. It's just as friendly, accessible, and good as I remember it. This time we stopped by for lunch on Friday afternoon. There was no wait. It was quite cold outside, so outdoor seating was out, but the grilled cheese and tomato basil soup (ordered by my companion) hit the spot and was perfectly portioned for him. My club sandwich was quite large, so I only ate half of the plate and boxed up the rest to eat later. The food was delicious, the service was quick, and the price was reasonable. Even to this day, it can get very busy here on the weekends, so I recommend trying to arrive before the brunch rush or hit Open City up on another day. Otherwise, be prepared to wait. read more

Open City - Calvert Club Sándwich and Fries - American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

We came in around 7:30 in the morning. The staff seemed pretty busy and were taking a bit to catch up on some orders. We ordered to go at the counter and coffee came out pretty quickly but was mediocre. I got a tiramisu latte with a $.75 upcharge for syrup and I could barely taste the flavoring. I ordered a bagel sandwich To-Go. It took an extra 20 minutes to come out and they forgot the cheese on it, which I didn't realize until I was gone. Overall it was ~$20 for a bagel sandwich and latte, and both left much to be desired. We won't be back since there are so many better places in the neighborhood and in DC in general. read more

This place is so cute and so YUMMY!!! The food is a 10000/10, and the service is just as great! Even when they were super duper busy, they still managed to get things out at a reasonable pace. I came to DC for a conference and paid this place a visit for dinner and kept coming back for breakfast and dinner! I wish that I had a place like this back home. LOVED IT! read more

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The place is super cutesy. The menu is quite nice tbh but the service is dismal. I mean they are usually busy but I really have to get up and wave and someone will come but they aren't mean or rude about it. They always acknowledge that they were busy or they forgot to check in (I have been here 4 times by now) Now, Don't get me wrong.. the one star that I took off is not because of the service but it's a bit weird to mandatorily put 10% service charge AND ask for tips! And that too they never give you a bill to sign or see an itemized receipt. They get their handheld device/tab.. announce the amount and tap the card AND then flip the machine to add tip. At this point what do you do? No tip? And risk getting dirty looks! I mean it's a nice place but please go with expectations set right. read more

Open City - Mango Habanero Lemonade for the DC humidity - American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I'm not sure why it took me so long to try this place! Open City is a cute and cozy spot for breakfast, lunch or dinner. What I love is they have all day bfast - my fav meal of the day. I'd say it's pretty affordable and comparable to a Silver Diner though with Betty quality food. Beware though, they may have a long minute wait during brunch hours. read more

Open City - American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Popped in here for a to-go latte when I was in the nearby area for a conference. (I didn't sit down or get a full meal.) It was extremely busy when I went in, so service was slower - I guess to be expected with how busy it was. I enjoyed my latte! One thing I was perusing and wish they had was more to-go gluten free pastry options. Nothing too amazing to say, nothing awful to say either! read more

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Made a pit stop here after the zoo! There's a ton of seating, and this is a cute, open layout place with super friendly waiters. I thought the menu was priced very fairly, and good portions. I loved my turkey club- it was super filling and fresh! The fries were delicious as well. The steak was cooked perfectly with a nice side salad. I thought the hashbrown square was okay- worth trying if included but I wouldn't go out of my way to order it again. read more

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Much larger servings than I expected, service was good, long wait for food after ordering, definitely would have liked to know when ordering how long it would be for sandwich in fries. There's lots of seating in here in various places, and views of the city! read more

Open City - American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I had the pizza and truffle fries and they were delicious!! The service is friendly and the ambience is energetic!! I would definitely come here again in the future!!! read more

Open City - Pizza - American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

We decided to try breakfast at this spot since it's right by the Omni Shoreham where we are staying. I'd seen the reviews about the lattes so I had to try one. It was served in a large cup and it was so good. The animal cracker served on the side was a cute touch! We ordered the bagel breakfast sandwich and I was impressed with the portion (egg, cheese and bacon). So good! I believe the bagels are made fresh there each morning. We saw lots of other breakfast items coming out and everything looked delicious! Our server was spread a little thin so I'd give the service a 4/5. Otherwise- a great experience! Seating choices- outdoor or indoor. read more

Open City - Vanilla Latte - American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

They don't answer the phone . I been going here because it's close to work . It's a hit or miss . Inconsistent service.

This is the place to go in Woodley Park if you want a place that is not bougie nor a greasy dive/hole in the wall. The place is clean with high, high ceilings. It has three distinct dining areas - cozy indoor main room, a spectacular and spacious sun room and a substantial outdoor seating area. Depending on the season and the weather, you can find something more than suitable. The drip coffee comes with two charming animal crackers. The menu has a lot of options. The chicken and waffles were good. My friends who live in the neighborhood also recommend the Royale special and their Hash browns. Service was warm but not especially attentive. I will be back! read more

Open City - Coffee and animal crackers before I order something like chicken and waffles! - American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Was in the city on Friday early afternoon and decided to stop by for a quick bite. Unfortunately I was disappointed. The service was slow, took 10 minutes to bring me a straw for my water. The sausage I ordered was so tough I couldn't cut it with my knife. The fries and hash brown square were fine. The eggs were just ok. read more

If you're staying at the OMNI Shoreham Hotel in D.C., check out this spot. And if you're not staying there, do yourself a favour and still check out this spot! The staff are friendly and attentive, and the drinks pack a punch--try the lavender cocktail, it's a 9/10, missing that 1 cause it was too little! Skip the usual bar snacks and go for the Brussels sprouts. Even if you're not a fan of brussel sprouts like me, these crispy, flavorful bites might just change your mind. I would definitely book a flight back to D.C just to have these again! Highly recommended! Only con I can think of is that sitting outside is a big nono, unless you're fully covered up or it isn't mosquito season! The mosquitos got every exposed surface and I was itchy and had 20+ mosquito bites :/ read more

Open City - Crispy Brussels Sprouts - honey, pine nuts, lemon aioli and brown butter - American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I've been going here since they opened. I can't say enough great things about the food and coffee and of course the people. We have since moved from DC but I'm back for work frequently and always go there - mostly to see Chris (aka "Chris cool") who has been there for as long as I can remember and I look forward to seeing him every time I go back. He makes a perfect latte and reminds me of why I love this place so much. The owner may be the heart of this place but Chris is the soul! And it's got a cool vibe with the tin ceilings. If you're in dc I highly recommend open city! read more

Open City - Latte.. - American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Came here for lunch while i was attending a conference nearby. This was walking distance and had a cozy feel. However we were seated right in the direction of the sun and they were not able to adjust the blinds to help. We had to maneuver our seats so the sun wasn't blinding us while eating. I ordered the grilled cheese and tomato soup. The food was okay. The grilled cheese was cold by the time I had received it. read more

Open City - Rock Creek Grilled Cheese Tom's - American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The cereal milk latte was a delight! I especially loved the animal crackers it was served with. Service was lightning fast even during a breakfast rush. My breakfast of eggs and toast were as expected, nothing of note. If you are staying at the Omni and need a break from conference food, this is definitely a place to hit up! read more

Open City - Latte - American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Beware the obscured 10% service charge! Until about 2 years ago, my family and I were regulars at Open City. We would take our kids nearly every weekend, and my husband and I would both go for coffee during the week. The staff are always lovely, the food was reasonably priced, and the portions are good for DC. Then some time in 2023 we noticed a) they increased the prices of their food and b) they were slapping on a 10% service charge. When we asked what it was, a staff member handed us a little card that vaguely said it was to "help offset the impact of DC's Initiative 82 on independent restaurants. I'm not sure what an "independent restaurant" is-- Open City is part Tryst Trading Company, along with their several other restaurants. And let's take a look at Initiative 82- which aimed to gradually bring up tipped workers' wages to minimum wage. This gradual process was begun in 2022 but paused earlier this year (see screenshot). If you're not familiar with the issue, tipped workers in DC previously made about $3-4/hr plus tips. This initiative attempted to bring tipped workers up to a living wage by 2027 (though min wage isn't a living wage in DC). TTC then decided that the customer should foot that extra cost, adding a 10% fee to every bill, in addition to increasing the prices on the menu. Now that the initiative has been halted FAR before achieving its goal, one would think they might remove the fee. But my family and I went back today after our visit a year ago and no, the fee is still there. Many in DC, like myself, lost our jobs earlier this year and savor the rare occasion when we can take our family out for a simple treat or meal. It really sucks to feel taken advantage of, and its even worse tipping the staff less than we would have in order to compensate for the 10% service charge. We can't go around paying 30% (10% + 20% tip) on top of pricey coffee and sandwiches. If they would remove the service charge, we would visit more often, but as it is there are too many other great neighborhood (and totally independent mom & pop) restaurants to waste extra money here for no reason. Not sure we'll bother coming back. read more

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I don't live as close to Open City as I once did and frankly, the service can be really hit or miss even though I recognize they get busy from the tourist aspect. That said, I've always enjoyed the food here and in particular, their hash brown bowl is one of my favorite breakfast dishes around. I've gone out of my way at times to stop in and have it. It's perfect. read more

We ate here for breakfast since it was near the hotel. The place was busy since it was Saturday morning. Our server was not good. He didn't understand any of the questions we asked so pretty much ordered blindly. The coffee took forever to come and the food came right after which was annoying. They charge for refills of drip coffee. It's $3 for a refill. The breakfast menu was pretty standard with bagel sandwiches, pancakes, omelette etc. read more

Very close to Omni Hotel- really good option for lunch in the area- Service was quick and smooth! Menu options were quiet decent- They have indoor and outdoor spaces- Good ambiance- We went on a nice day and loved it- Tried their fried chicken with waffles and they were great! Has good parking spaces around the streets! read more

Open City - American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

It's been probably about 10 years or more since I eaten here and one thing I can say is everything is still the same.....DELICIOUS!! Open City is a casual dining and breakfast spot with a little bit of nostalgic diner vibe. The customer service is great and the food is prepared fast and fresh. There's inside seating and outdoor dining available which makes great for happy hours or taking in the city during nice weather. I can here this time around to celebrate my nephew's birthday! He's a breakfast all-day 24/7 fan, just like me and this place couldn't be more fitting. Beyond just breakfast items, there's plenty to choose from on their menu. Everyone in our party of various ages found something to enjoy from the menu, and there were no complaints! From the time I came here maybe 12 years ago after a trip to the nearby Washington Zoo, and now back again, the nostalgia, consistency and good food is still there. Open City is a great laid-back kind of joint and has more of a casual-neighborhood dining feel. During my visit this time around, we enjoyed and dined on....just about everything from the menu......lol.....pizza, buffalo wings, chicken and waffles, ribs, eggs, bacon, grits, sausage, carrot cake, hummus, vegetable plates....you name it! Oh, and let's not forget, strong libation - - drinks!! It was the best gathering for all my family members. We truly enjoyed it, and the excellent service. Not to mention, there was plenty leftovers to take home. If looking for a dining experience with no-frills, pretensions, and just good food and drinks....then OpenCity is your place! Shout out to the gentleman that assisted us and waited I our table. His name I forget. I can only remember that he was short, talked fast Lol, and had a thick, southern accent, which I believe he did say he was from Tennessee......but this guy was on point and accommodated everyone so efficiently to be a large party of over 12 demanding eaters; including finicky teens-kids. Thanks, Open City!.... For making my nephews birthday an enjoyable experience. Will definitely be back whenever. I'm on that side of town again. read more

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This was a great brunch spot! I had the chocolate chip pancakes and they were amazing. The pancakes didn't come with syrup though so I had to request it. They also have a variety of brunch cocktails. I got the aperitivo spritz. Eat an enormous breakfast. read more

Open City - Sign - American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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There are several diner-style restaurants throughout DC, and my favorite is Open City. I've been there a half-dozen times and each time I've enjoyed the food and the atmosphere. Note: I'm talking about the Woodley Park location and not the cafe at the Cathedral. The breakfast is my go-to. I especially like the hashbrown squares which is a deep-fried 4x4x2 potato patty that is a perfect vessel for building a sandwich or eating on the side with a bit of ketchup. The quiche is a nice combination of spinach and feta without being too overpowering. I was also pleasantly surprised by how much I liked the breakfast burrito. And the biscuits are nice and buttery, which makes it not too flaky and not too doughy. But, the biggest treat at Open City are their baked goods, which is surprisingly good for a non-bakery. I also like their lunch/dinner menu, which is simple but always tasty. The only criticism of Open City is that, while their staff are friendly and professional, they aren't always the best at providing high-level service. Sometimes staff seem overly overwhelmed, not up-to-speed on the nuances of the menu, or there are language barriers with some of the staff. But, overall I've had nothing but pleasant experiences. There are lots of other diners in DC, including Ted's Bulletin, Tryst, the Coupe, Tony's, etc., but Open City is easily my favorite. read more

We had a conference across the street so it was easy to walk to Open City restaurant. Our waiter was very nice. He made recommendations to help us decide. The restaurant was pretty busy from all of the conference attendees. We ordered burgers that were very tasty. I would say order medium to medium rare, because medium was pretty well done. The french fries were excellent. I would recommend going. We sat in the back and could smell the kitchen so you may want to sit up in the front. read more

Open City - Hamburger and fries with provolone cheese - American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Stopped in for brunch before heading to the zoo. Great little spot close to the metro stop with indoor and outdoor seating options. I'd never seen a chai frappe on the menu before so I definitely had to give that a try - ordered it with oatmilk and it was delish! A bit light on the chai spiciness but still tasty. My sister and I split the stuffed french toast and avocado toast for a sweet/savory breakfast combo. The stuffed french toast was intense - I definitely couldn't have finished the whole order. The avocado toast had a good mix of toppings and it was on sourdough bread which is a win! The order also came with 2 pieces which is great since many places will only give you 1 slice for the same price. Service was prompt and friendly. read more

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This place is kind of nice. There's outdoor seating as well as indoor. We will serve with courtesy and a smile. The music was crankin' though. I was jamming. LoL! Now, let's talk about the food. I ordered the Open City Royale with chicken sausage while my husband had the chicken and waffles, and our daughter had a kid's pancake meal. I have to say that I am very upset at the fact that I told the cashier that my family does not eat pork, however, we were given To-Go syrup containers that had BACON in the darn syrup. I personally haven't consumed any pork products in 33 years, my husband hasn't eaten it in 20 years, and our child has never had pork which means if eaten, it'll make us super sick. My husband took the containers back and obtained syrup without bacon. My eggs were a little watery although I asked for them to be scrambled well. My hash browns were overcooked to the point that I could taste the burnt flavor, unless it was the fryer grease that they cooked it in, but either way, it tasted burnt and wasn't good. The chicken sausage is just nasty. IF by chance, big on the "if," we eat there again, I'll just not eat any meat or eggs. My husband said that his Chicken and Waffles were good. Hindsight, he doesn't use any other words to describe things other than, "Aight," and "Good." It's "good" means it's edible while "aight" means he'd eat that dish again. I don't like that there isn't a vegetarian or vegan option available for meat choices such as the veggie sausage patties made by Morningstar or sausage links made by Impossible. I'm not vegan, however, it would be nice to have other options. Overall, I'll give this place 2 stars. Why? Because no care has been given to people who don't eat meat or pork with putting bacon in the syrup, having every option of pork breakfast meats, and no choice of vegan or vegetarian meat options. read more

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I got the iced lavender honey latte and the first question they asked was what milk preference I have. Such a simple question that really made this place top notch. I've been to several coffee shops and never been asked that before. Great music was playing and the overall atmosphere was welcoming. Didn't grab anything to eat but hope to try again soon. read more

Open City - Dessert items - American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Food was worth 3 stars but service was overwhelmed I guess. Sunday brunch and it took over 10 minutes to get a coffee and then it had grinds. There's better options in the area. A 4 person breakfast with good tip was $115. read more

Ordered a hash brown bowl that was so full of jalapeño slices it overwhelmed all other flavors. They also asked us to leave because they needed the table after we'd been there for less than an hour. We were a party of 2 and were finishing up coffee. And there were plenty of empty tables. We were mystified. Ultimately, there are many better brunch spots nearby with better food, kinder service, and more value for your buck. read more

Came here after a long tiring day at the zoo. I know this is more of a brunch casual food spot, but my friend and I ordered more "formal" dishes. I got the shrimp linguine and green garden smoothie. My friend got steak frites and cucumber lemonade. I like how spacious (realized afterwards, most places in DC are roomy) and family friendly this place is. My friend and I were too tired such that this mediocre food felt comforting. If it wasn't because of the zoo, we wouldn't want to come here. Shrimp Linguini was relatively bland and oily. The softness of the pasta somehow felt right since I didn't need to put effort into eating it. The shrimp was mediocre. The chili flakes scattered throughout provided a comforting warmth. Green garden smoothie has kale, banana, mango, kiwi, and apple cider. Perhaps it's the mango and apple cider, but this tasted sweeter and more candy-like than I expected. I didn't mind the extra sugar though. So much fun to have smoothies for dinner. I'm not complaining. Cucumber lemonade, both my friend and I didn't like it -- too grassy (more than my green garden smoothie!). Steak frites came out with a super thin piece of steak that was overcooked and rubbery. The fries tasted nice when it wasn't soggy from the salad dressing. The salad was solid and appreciate the tartness of the dressing. Overall, the food isn't that good, but it did what it needed to - replenish our energy after the zoo. I'd give this a 3.5* but will put 3* to help bring awareness to those looking on Google Reviews to realize this place is pretty mediocre. read more

Open City - Shrimp linguine, green garden smoothie, cucumber lemonade, steak frites - American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

We ordered coffee and some baked goods. The waitress was fine until she saw that we were not ordering full breakfasts. The food was less than average, the coffee was ok and the service was horrendous. We were ignored, and she waved us away when we asked for the bill. When she finally brought it, I paid in cash because there was no way I would give her my credit card. I asked for the receipt and finally had to follow her around the restaurant until she gave it to me with a sour look. I will never walk in there again. read more

Great experience dining here during the afternoon. Our server was Eric and he was very attentive and thoughtful. Normally it's very stressful to dine out with young kids but this was a breeze. Good food too with lots of kid friendly options. read more

Read mixed reviews, but decided to give it a try over our hotel restaurant (right across the street). Couldn't be happier that we did. Everything wasn't perfect, but the service was impeccable, and that goes a long way. We went for breakfast on a Saturday during the holidays, and it wasn't crowded. 3 out of 4 of us loved our order, and the 4th just maybe mis-judged what he was getting. Their signature hashbrown is delicious. My eggs benny was perfectly cooked. My son's chicken and waffle portion was so big, we had to get a to-go box. And when we went to leave, I almost left my bag hanging on my chair, and our server followed me out to make sure I didn't leave it behind. Definitely recommend for breakfast/brunch if you're in the area. read more

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Open City is one of my go-to spots for a casual yet cozy meal. The food is always fresh and flavorful, the vibe is warm and inviting, and their coffee is the perfect pick-me-up. Plus, the staff is super friendly, which makes the experience even better! Follow my IG account for Curated Google Maps list for brunch, happy hours, rooftops, parks, wineries & more in the DMV area: @yourdmvbestie read more

Great food, great location, and great service! A super reasonably priced breakfast spot close to the zoo and rock creek park. read more

Open City - Fried Chicken & Waffle - American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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The food at Open City was good. Unfortunately the service and honestly of the restaurant was not good. Check was not given to us in paper form. Computerized total just placed in front of us asking for tip. After doing so, I realized we were overcharged. When questioned, waitress sneakily brought me a paper that said a "10%" service charge was added that was not a tip, but for staff. A ridiculous, underhanded way to get a double tip! Will not return to the restaurant. 10% fee should have honestly been disclosed! read more

I live nearby and love going to open city on the weekends or my days off. Extensive breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus with something for everyone. They have a nice environment and service is always good. Fills up fast on weekends during breakfast/ brunch time-- often a 15-30 min wait time. read more

Open City - American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia