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Pete's Diner

3.5 (405 reviews)
Open • 7:00 am - 3:00 pm

Pete's Diner Photos

Business Info

PETE'S DINER ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Divey
Casual
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - Pete's Diner

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Reviews With Photos

Cat eating and drinking area in front of restaurant

Pete's Diner has a certain worn-in appearance, doors open(50 degree day in early April)a super casual atmosphere.cats(see photo)wandering about. the food and standards didn't live up to expectations. Being served what tasted like day-old chili, topped with sour cream and accompanied by three saltines wrapped in plastic, was disappointing. There's a difference between unpretentious and neglected, and unfortunately this crossed that line. DC health department would have a field day here.

Sausage omlette
Adam A.

Ok diner. Nothing terribly special. Got an omlette - was ok. Bland potatoes. Grits very dry and needed a lot of butter to get them to a decent consistency. Go if you're in the area but don't make a special trip.

Linda O.

A modest diner, very near to the Capitol building, unfussy, a true throwback. The vibe is friendly. Staff works hard to get the orders out swiftly yet remain easy-going. There are several booths; a large picnic-like table in the center; and stools at a counter for seating. The food is respectable: the menu is traditional comfort fare, nothing exotic, only breakfast and lunch, not open for dinner. The prices are reasonable. My platter of scrambled eggs, home fries, generous amount of bacon and white bread toast was decent. Got a fruit plate; fresh. But I gotta say, the coffee is not to my liking, awfully strong. Xing-Xing, a large black cat and fixture, is doted on by many. Pete's is cherished and clearly supported by regulars. If you were to become one, everyone would know your name, so, yeah, it's a "Cheers" diner, if you will. Nothing wrong with that.

Taylor L.

One of my favorite breakfast spots in Capitol Hill. If you're lucky you'll see Pete walk by. Foods good and reasonable + they have outdoor seating.

Western omelette, blueberry pancakes, fruit plate, and sausage egg and cheese sandwich
Walter T.

We've been coming here for years, and it is a solid classic diner. Tasty breakfast options, generally effective service, nice outdoor seating, and friendly well-fed resident black cat ShiShi (sp?) who is the beloved local celebrity. Prices are decent considering you're practically kitty-corner from the Library of Congress and just a block from the Capitol. The fruit plate provides an impressively quality selection of fresh hand-cut fruit for a reasonable $4. Filling food to power your day.

Inside
Oi W.

4/11/24 Small diner, nothing fancy. Order, eat, and leave. Many people seem to be regulars. Eggs Bacon Ham Hash Toast Pancakes Coffee and Tea. It's just down the block from our hotel.

Veggie combo
Linnea E.

I visited Pete's Diner with a colleague recently who introduced me to the veggie combo - it's not on the menu but it's delicious! He told me it changes daily or weekly and you never know what you're going to get but it's always good - and he was right! It was a hearty portion and super flavorful. I'm not vegetarian or even a big veggie lover but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked everything that came with my combo, especially the eggplant.

My meal at the restaurant
Hannah W.

Went to breakfast here with the family. We were waved in by an older gentleman who didn't even work there, telling us how good the food was. Service was professional and quick, the staff being exceptionally kind and social. The food was simple, but still tasted very good! I myself ordered some pancakes, which were notably very good. The only complaint I have was the outdoor seating, the tables being a bit wobbly and made of metal (in the sun). Over all, the environment was great, the staff kind, and the service quick.

a grilled cheese sandwich on a plate
David M.

This is a typical old style diner,just like back in the day. It's a small place with tables and counter service. There is a person working a large grill cooking up eggs bacon and other breakfast items. The rest of the kitchen is off to the side hidden behind a curtain. They have a large selection of lunch time food, it's a dinner they have just about everything. My wife got one of the specials, grilled cheese and chicken noodle soup. I just had the soup. I am pretty sure it was homemade. Lots and lots of veggies, noodles, and chunks of real chicken. The place was packed but the service was very good. If your up near the Hill give Pete's a try, you will be glad you did.

Vegetarian Combo

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2 years ago

Great little spot when you want something fast and easy. The menu is clear and the service is great. Cutest little diner.

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3 years ago

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5 years ago

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8 years ago

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3 years ago

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7 years ago

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8 years ago

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3 years ago

The food was out of this world but there so much going on the service is quick but not focused.

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9 years ago

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5 years ago

I haven't tried the food, but the service is immaculate. God Bless Pete's for working tirelessly to feed our Troops!

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5 years ago

Great meal for a great price! Cozy and delicious, I would highly recommend this place for brunch.

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4 years ago

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5 years ago

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3 years ago

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6 years ago

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3 years ago

Someone added hand sanitizer in my coffee. Also, inflation sucks, but their prices skyrocketed within a year...kinda wild.

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3 years ago

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12 years ago

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4 years ago

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5 years ago

Perfect little breakfast/lunch diner spot. Great location to walk around. The food is decently priced. And there's chocolate chip pancakes!!

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13 years ago

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7 years ago

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7 years ago

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10 years ago

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11 years ago

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8 years ago

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10 years ago

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8 years ago

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3 years ago

Super cute and fast, traditional type diner! Nothing fancy, but the food was pretty good and they were very fast.

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8 years ago

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9 years ago

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15 years ago

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6 years ago

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8 years ago

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4 years ago

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7 years ago

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4 years ago

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6 years ago

Simple diner to fulfill the cravings of everyone in your party. They serve a little bit of everything and their breakfast is served all day!

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15 years ago

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Page 3 of 11

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Milk & Honey Southern Inspired Kitchen - Genius level sweet potato bread pudding

Milk & Honey Southern Inspired Kitchen

3.9(475 reviews)
1.2 mi
•$$

Just had an amazing experience at Milk & Honey at The Wharf, and I have to give a special shoutout…read moreto Justine! From the moment we sat down, she was warm, attentive, professional, and genuinely made the whole experience feel special. Great service can completely change a meal, and she absolutely delivered. The food and atmosphere were already great, but Justine's energy, attention to detail, and kindness took everything to another level. If you visit, definitely ask for her, she's the kind of waitress who makes you want to come back again. Thank you, Justine, for such a wonderful experience!

I was visiting the DC area and after a day of sightseeing, we were starving. Searching for some…read moresoul food, your restaurant popped up. My nephew and I walked in and were immediately greeted and seated. It wasn't long before our server came and took our drink order. After he came back with our drinks, he took our appetizer order. We ordered fried green tomatoes and they were absolutely delicious. Because it was late afternoon, and my niece was cooking dinner, we decided to try a couple different things and share. We decided on the Honey Butter Pancakes, and the Shrimp and Grits. When I say everything was delightful, I mean everything was flavorful. The appetizer and grits entrée both had a little heat or a kick behind them, but it was just enough to enhance the flavor. The pancakes were small and differently shaped and presented, but they were so good. I would've given them a five, but our server walked past us several times and forgot to refill our water glasses. I believe it was his manager who noticed that our glasses were empty and proceeded to fill them. And because of the time we came in, it couldn't be blamed on too many customers. Every bathroom stall was also out of the toilet seat covers and that's not cool. Yuck!

Photos
Milk & Honey Southern Inspired Kitchen - Interior/ Entrance

Interior/ Entrance

Milk & Honey Southern Inspired Kitchen - Chocolate cake

Chocolate cake

Milk & Honey Southern Inspired Kitchen - Cheesecake Pancakes

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Cheesecake Pancakes

Toastique - Avocado Smash Toast

Toastique

4.4(391 reviews)
1.2 mi
•$$

My friend and I stopped in here after hours of exploring Cherry Blossoms and Bloomaroo at the Wharf…read more- it was late afternoon on a very busy Saturday. We hoped to find a place that offered decaf coffee since it was late in the day, but really wanted something warm since it was a bit chilly outside. Unfortunately, this location of Toastique does not offer decaf - they only have a single hopper for their coffee, so it is not an offering. We were going to find another place, however, they said how about a hot chocolate or a tea. My friend is vegan and inquired if their hot cocoa was vegan, as most places have dairy in the chocolate. The cashier went to look at the chocolate syrup and also had another person look at it to verify it's vegan. My friend ordered a hot chocolate with oat milk. Even though it was busy, we only waited about 5 minutes for her drink. We appreciated the effort to double check it was vegan, though I do wish they had decaf options.

Toastique is a small spot with a clear focus on pricey, health-forward food. From the photos, it…read morelooked good, and I went in expecting it to be expensive, but still wanted it to feel like a treat. I ordered a toast to go. The toast itself was hard to eat. The bread was too chewy, which made it difficult to bite off because there was no proper angle of attack since the toast was large. With that many toppings, it really should have been pre-cut, especially for a takeout order. I could not even cut it properly with the plastic knife they gave. Flavor-wise, it was fine but underwhelming. The salmon was good, and everything seemed fresh, but the overall balance felt off. The cucumbers were plain, and the toast leaned dry, like it needed more sauce or spread to bring it together. For $18, it felt like a ratios problem more than a quality problem. Overall, it is not bad, but I left a little underwhelmed given the price.

Photos
Toastique
Toastique - Frosé

Frosé

Toastique - Side of Counter

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Side of Counter

I Egg You - Full breakfast

I Egg You

4.5(257 reviews)
0.5 mi•Capitol Hill
•$$

Brunch at I Egg You was exactly what I needed before a full day of errands--good food, great…read moreservice, and the perfect amount of indulgence. Rebecca took egg-cellent care of us--super attentive, friendly, and made the whole experience feel easy and welcoming. I ordered the OMG loaded potatoes and WOW... they lived up to the name. Loaded with bacon, layered sauces, and candied jalapeños that brought the perfect balance of sweet and savory. Every bite hit. My friend ordered the croque madame, and after one bite, I already know what I'm getting next time. Rich, decadent, and that cheese sauce? 10/10. We also shared the apple bread with pistachio butter, which was such a nice surprise--not overly sweet, just perfectly balanced and delicious. The artwork throughout the space was incredible, the vibe was fun, and the portions were so satisfying I stayed full for most of the day. Definitely a spot I'll be coming back to.

This rate is3 star based on the server who is absolutely amazing and friendly very patient with…read moredipping my first time, but unfortunately, the restaurant did not meet the expectations I had for this place. I ordered the shrimp and grits. My friend ordered the breakfast plate. Each came out to the table and I was honestly disappointed. I didn't know what to expect with the flavors. And the number one thing that ruined, the shrimp and grits for me was the amount of Parmesan it overloaded the plate that the smell was disturbing and made the texture of grits not to my liking. There were also only three shrimps in the entire dish just very underwhelming. Also, I was not happy with the freshly squeeze orange juice. It's not good at all. In my opinion overall, I will rate them at five out of 10.

Photos
I Egg You - Chef Egghead + Egghead guests

Chef Egghead + Egghead guests

I Egg You - Phenomenal Chicken fried Sausage

Phenomenal Chicken fried Sausage

I Egg You - Basic Potatoes + Egg

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Basic Potatoes + Egg

Pete's Diner - diners - Updated May 2026

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