I was there for an event that included a buffet. The food was really good. I plan to go back soon to eat off their menu.

Good food but great service & server Andy was excellent. He was the perfect host fir our episode of Chopped

Awesome customer service, food is good! Mauricio and Paola were awesome servers too, they helped and were consistent with alot

The service was amazing. She was super friendly and always checked in. I came here with my girls and we had an absolutely wonderful time! The ambiance really adds to the cozy, lovely feel. It's like a cozy, modern, diner - bright but warm. Love the aesthetic and atmosphere. The drinks we ordered were fantastic!!! All the food we ordered to share and all of them were delicious. I really enjoyed my time here. My one comment is that we got a chocolate cake and it was kind of dry, I typically love a more moist cake, but it was still tasty nonetheless. I would come back in a heartbeat, I really love this place and can imagine coming back here on a date to have some drinks and bites. read more

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Found this little gem for brunch while in DC and boy was it tough to chose what to order. Everything looked delicious. Ultimately we landed on the avocado toast and the blueberry pancakes with a side of bacon and calamansi frizzante to drink. Figured the avocado toast would be well, smashed avocado and toast, but the presentation was nicely surprising! Love that they bring out the toast and avocado separately so you get to decide how much or how little you want to pile on. Also made it easier for my bf and I to share. The flavors were great! There was a perfect amount of citrus and kick. The pancakes did not disappoint either! The blueberry lavender sauce was delicious and coated the pancakes perfectly. It's always nice to find that perfect sauce-to-butter-to-pancake ratio. You just dive into a fluffy sugary heaven. This place is definitely a favorite around the area. It was packed, but the service was still so quick. It's brightly lit, lots of fun colors, the perfect brunch vibe. Definitely would give dinner a shot next time we're in the area. read more

Unconventional Diner - Avocado Toast. Buttermilk Pancakes. Side Bacon - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Made a stop after attending a convention down the road. The restaurant was very well kept and beautiful inside. Tables were clean, organized, and well spaced for easy moving about. The staff were very friendly, always smiling and happy to help. Our drinks were next empty and the cocktails my group ordered were all delicious and refreshing. All food items ordered did not disappoint. Serving sizes were generous and well prepared. Pricing is a tad high for what you order but that's a byproduct of the capital region. The atmosphere was a cool mix of locals, businessmen, and fellow conference attendees. Music was soothing and hip, making the experience great and comfy. Only things I'd suggest for the Seggzy Sandwich would be to maybe change the fries to something more. Minor change at that. Highly recommend Unconventional Diner to anyone visiting the area. It's a great spot with excellent food and friendly staff. read more

Unconventional Diner - The Seggzy Sandwich w/ a side of bacon - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This was by far one of the best meals we have during our trip to DC. The biggest mistake we made was not making a reservation for breakfast which we were trying to do on rainy Easter Sunday. Luckily they told us we could try our luck grabbing some seats at the bar and we actually were able to do that very quickly. This was another restaurant that I thought would be all hype, but it turned out to be a great experience. Once we were seated at the bar, the service was great. The server/bartender was friendly and quick to take our order. It was definitely a busy day given that it was Easter Sunday, but the food came out fairly quick. She got the pancakes with the blueberry sauce and I got the chicken and waffles. I tried her pancakes and they were definitely good, but not really my thing. The chicken and waffles were next level. If I go somewhere for breakfast and I see chicken and waffles on the menu, I am definitely trying them and I would say that these were the best I've ever tried. They were very different with the spice level and with the particular syrup and sauce that they had for the chicken. Without a doubt when we return to DC, we will be back at this restaurant for breakfast. read more

Unconventional Diner - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I didn't think it was that unconventional, but I would use terms like "interesting" or possibly "eclectic," also "delicious" and "enjoyable." We started with an appetizer of Buffalo cauliflower. This isn't your restaurant-chain cauliflower out of a bag and into the deep fryer, and the sauce was just as fresh. That was followed by Thai salads, heavy on the cabbage, crunch, and flavor, and just unique enough to make it ... well ... unconventional. Service was prompt, friendly, and professional, and everything we ordered came out fast. And that's the stuff about this place that I want to see stay conventional! read more

Unconventional Diner - Buffalo cauliflower - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I'm always intrigued by big, high-volume restaurants--when they work, they really work. At first glance, this place felt like chaos, but look closer and it's a well-oiled machine. We were seated right on time, and the signature dishes came out exactly as advertised--no surprises, just solid execution across the board. Shout-out to Nadia, who was everywhere at once--in the best way. Fast, attentive, and always smiling. Unconventional Diner deserves all the accolades they receive. BB read more

Unconventional Diner - Loaded Breakfast Biscuits. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Reservations are a must and getting everything is also recommended! Lol, parking was a little Bit of a mess and we got dropped off while my husband went to find parking. It was a party of 5, so we ordered quite a few entrees. I would say the Shakshuka was okay (we've had better at other places) but the jasmine rice with egg was delicious! the French toast and pancakes did not disappoint and my sister's boyfriend got the beef poutine and he said it was amazing! The falafel bites were a huge hit at the table as well. I will say it's odd they did not have any fresh fruit or much of a kids menu, but our little one also liked the rice and are about 1 full pancake. I'll add more photos later, but this is what I have for now! read more

Unconventional Diner - Blueberry lemon pancakes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Very very inventive and yummy! The ambiance is cute, though a little cramped, but the food makes up for it. I ordered the brussels with fried eggs (with a side of the zaatar garlic naan), and was shocked at how well the flavors went together. It was seriously one of the most excellent dishes I've ever had! The sweet potato shashuska was good but not great. My only qualm is there is a mandatory 20% gratuity, which would have been fine if service wasn't unimpressive. Our waters stayed empty, and we had to ask for the check after being ignored for quite a bit of time. read more

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Made a reservation in advance and we enjoyed all of our food. The French toast especially stood out. It's definitely on the sweet side though, so maybe split it with friends if you order it so you don't get overwhelmed. The Seggsy sandwich was easy to customize. We had included in our original reservation that we were celebrating a birthday, and the staff brought out a little sparkler, which was cute. read more

Unconventional Diner - Crème Brûlée French Toast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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There was a convention happening so I decided to stop by Unconventional Diner for some brunch. Walking in, it was busy mid afternoon on a Saturday. I didn't come here without a reservation ( in the future I'd book in advance ) so I ended up on the wait list. They mentioned it'd be an hour and a half wait, but realistically once more people left, we had a table ready within 20 minutes of waiting. Because it was brunch I got regular coffee, just black for me. I ended up getting the corned beef hash with eggs however you like. I personally like mine medium, slightly runny but not medium hard. The corned beef hash had beef chunks, home fries, celery, onions, gravy with two eggs on top. It was really delicious and it was comfort food that hit home. For the wait, I can see why people really love it. I personally don't know if I will go here by myself but it's a popular place. There's so many people waiting in line just to try this restaurant out and I can see why it deserved the michelin bib. read more

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It was a truly unique and memorable dining experience here at Unconventional Diner. Think upscale, Southern inspired, Gastro-Pub meals. It took me awhile to decide on an order because so many items sounded good. I enjoyed an effervescent sparkling rose', Thai salad and grilled shrimp. But can we talk about those sweet potato Parker House rolls?! Those were amazing! Soft, warm, delightful pillows of yeast rolls with a sweet butter. And for dessert? Some "mile high" lemon meringue pie. We walked away with filled bellies and our hair and clothes smelling like Cajun cooking! read more

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The ambience here is modern and vibey. Menu options are a fusion and fun to try the various flavors! We liked all the dishes we tried. Service was fine. Would come back to try other dishes. read more

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I'd never had Pot Pie Poppers. I thought it was a clever take on a classic dish, turning it into a bite sized appetizer. It was also tasty. For the main course, my wife and I split the fried chicken. It was more than enough. It's half a chicken. We took leftovers to the hotel. The dish came with gravy, hot sauce, biscuit, and slaw. We ordered a side of mac 'n' cheese. The chicken was perfectly, crispy and juicy. The slaw and mac'n' cheese were also very good. I was really looking forward to a fluffy biscuit to bring it all together; unfortunately, it was hard and dry. Not even the gravy to save it. Huge let down. But everything else hit the spot, including the chocolate cake for dessert. I'd con back next time I'm in DC. read more

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I recently had brunch at Unconventional Diner in Washington, DC, and it was such a great experience! The place was absolutely bustling -- clearly a popular spot -- and the wait was over two hours. We opted to sit at the bar instead of waiting for a table, which actually worked out perfectly. We ordered the s'egg scrambled sandwich with fries, and it was delicious! Everything was fresh, flavorful, and hit the spot for brunch. Even with the crowd, the energy was lively and fun. This was my second time visiting, and it definitely lived up to the first experience -- I'll absolutely be back! read more

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Service great, food better. Never heard of a diner having a Michelin star but babyyyyy they absolutely deserve it. Ambiance of a typical diner but clientele was upscale. The mudslide was phenomenal! read more

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This is our "go-to" place after we land in DC, or the day after we land in DC. It is such a consistently delicious dining choice for us. This visit we enjoyed: appetizer deviled eggs, 1 salad with shrimp, 1 salad with falafel, and 1 plain double cheeseburger with fries. We had water, sprite, and lemonade for drinks. Everything was delicious as usual and the server was excellent. Always a great dining experience and we appreciate it! read more

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I get the hype of this place now. The blueberry pancakes are truly the best in the city. I'm a sucker for blueberry ricotta pancakes and the crumbled topping took them over the edge. My Lebanese fried rice was exceptional--unique flavor combination and a sizable portion. Even though we sat outside under the covered patio in the rain, the server checked on us a lot and was very attentive. read more

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Every time I searched for ideas of where to eat while in DC this place popped up. So I decided I had to try it. I got there around 12:45 on a Sunday. It was packed. It was just me and I was told it would be a 2 hour wait or I could find a spot at the bar or high tops. Did a pass through of that area and there was nothing then as I walked back a single bar seat became available. It was kismet. I was handed a menu right away. I decided to order the s'eggsy sandwich with a side of grits and a mocha espresso martini. The sandwich was delicious, the grits were some of the best I'd had in a long time and the martini was perfection. I'm so glad yelp kept pushing this suggestion, and that I got a spot to eat on a busy Sunday afternoon. My only disappointment was that it was the brunch menu only because I had been hoping to try their chicken pot pie bites. Next time I got to DC I'll have to go back I guess. read more

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This place has become a staple in my brunch rotation. We went here for Sunday brunch, and of course, this place did not disappoint. If you've ever been here for brunch, you know this place gets crowded really really quickly and the noise level can be a little loud, but that's what my expectation is for a Sunday brunch with the girls when you haven't seen them for a while and everyone's trying to catch up. To the food, I got the French dip, poutine, and my friend got the chicken and waffles. We got the buttermilk pancakes to share and for dessert, we split the Steffie Kay's chocolate cake. Every single time I get the French dip poutine, it is always the bomb dot com. It has all of the salty savory notes of a French dip sandwich without the bread. It's cheesy, the beef is tender, and the fries that are not under the sauce are crispy. It is good every time I get it and I will continue to get it when I come here. The chicken and waffles was also really good. I never thought that I would be a fan of a cornbread waffle, but in this dish, it was delicious in the perfect pairing to the chicken. The chicken tenders themselves were not dry at all and the honey Sriracha with the habanero butter, combined with all of this made for the perfect bite. The buttermilk pancakes were light and fluffy. The blueberry lavender sauce that came with it was not too sweet and the floral notes of the lavender really came through. Perfect sweet edition to complement the savory components of our meals. The chocolate cake was moist, fudgy, and the vanilla anglaise tasted just like you were eating vanilla ice cream. Perfect end to a perfect brunch. Service was amazing and our server was very attentive. I will definitely be back here again. Highly recommend getting reservations before you go because this place definitely gets packed. read more

Unconventional Diner - French Dip Poutine, Chicken & Waffles, Buttermilk Pancakes. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Oh! I get it. It's a restaurant near the convention center. Despite the name, the food was average. I can't actually remember what I ordered--and I have a picture! I think it was a spicy chicken sandwich. read more

Unconventional Diner - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

In January 2026 I visited for the second time and what a success! I held out on writing a review after my first visit in December 2025 because I only had coffee and dessert, but after having had dinner there now, I feel I'm able to provide a well-rounded review. Let's talk about my first visit: late evening in following dinner at another restaurant. We wanted something savory so we stopped in for coffee and had a slice of their carrot cake. Holy moly! Several layers, rich and decadent. All of the things. It was so good that we said to ourselves, "We have to come back to try the food." The opportunity presented itself the following month and we decided to bring friends with us. For dinner, I had the Lebanese Fried Rice and added a side of chicken, which came out grilled and cubed as a side dish. The rice was very flavorful and had lentils, raisins, yogurt, and almonds. It also came with pickled radishes. Overall, super flavorful! Our friends got a variety of tortilla soup (it was cold outside) and we had two orders of the meatloaf. Personally, meatloaf is not my thing but the one made at Unconventional Diner may have converted me. Excellent flavor and the consistency was more like a bake than the typical meatloaf consistency. Our server, Mauricio, was very friendly and explained to us how we could go about splitting the check using a QR code provided. He also gave us excellent recommendations and checked in on us during the meal. Unconditional Diner was very busy but lively around dinner time, so consider making a reservation if you can. The menu has something for everyone, so it's a great place for different palettes. I'll definitely be back! read more

Unconventional Diner - Lebanese Fried Rice. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Went specifically to try the blueberry and lavender pancakes to end our fast for Lent and none of the dishes disappointed. The hash browns were crispy, the pancakes moist and thick, the chicken sausage flavorful, and the fruit punch was sweet and tangy. The portion sizes were just right and we ended up taking food home. The pancakes come in a stack of 4! My friends enjoyed their dishes as well. And the waitress quickly switched out our utensils when we noticed some stains. The space was cozy and packed as I would expect for Easter Sunday. Also note that there is an automatic 20% service fee that is charged to every check. Would definitely come back to try other dishes. read more

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@unconventionaldiner: the best CHICKEN & WAFFLES in this city with Cheddar-Chive Cornbread Waffle | Habanero Butter | Granny Gravy | Honey Sriracha and an order of CRÈME BRÛLÉE FRENCH TOAST with Vanilla Cream | Brioche | Macerated Berries for the table ... among other delish things! unconventional diner is consistently great! read more

Unconventional Diner - Chicken & Waffles - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I can't believe I haven't been here before today, everyone seems to love this place and I understand why, the food was fantastic! Everything had so much flavor and the restaurant takes a unique spin on classic favorites. I had the shrimp and grits that were very rich, creamy and cheesy. The shrimp was smoky and grilled perfectly. The cheese eggs were also very creamy and fluffy. I absolutely loved the lavender froze. Can't wait to come back and try the rest of the menu. read more

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Spacious place. It's a comfortable place to have breakfast or brunch (that's what we went for). The offering was more or less standard brunch fair with some twist of modern flavors. T e service was quick but not as attentive as no one checked if we would like refills of juice or coffee or what. Portions are generous for sure. read more

Unconventional Diner continues to be one of my go-to neighborhood spots, and this visit was another reminder of why I keep coming back. I stopped in for a late lunch with my planning team while we were preparing to host a group of 10 and needed a reliable place to meet, eat well, and keep things moving. It was the perfect choice. I ordered the Adult Happy Meal -- burger, fries, and a cocktail for $22, which honestly can't be beat. Everything was fresh, flavorful, and exactly what I needed. One of my colleagues ordered the shrimp and grits, and it looked incredible -- definitely going on my list for next time. Service here is always fast, friendly, and efficient, and the food is consistently delicious. Because it's my neighborhood restaurant, I'm here often -- bringing friends, meeting teams, or just stopping in because I know I'll have a good experience. Thank you to the Unconventional Diner team for continuing to make the neighborhood a great place to dine. It's places like this that keep the community vibrant and well-fed. read more

Unconventional Diner - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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The food, service and ambiance were amazing! Will definitely visit again on a future trip to DC. read more

Unconventional Diner - French Dip Poutine. Buttermilk Biscuit & Jam Sweet Potato Shakshuka. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I've been here 3+ times for brunch since moving to DC. I've taken numerous friends and family members here and every time we have a great experience and a delicious breakfast. This place is always busy and you need to make a reservation if you come on the weekend. It has a fun modern diner feel and is busy. The service is hit or miss. They take the order and bring the meal out quickly but expect you to pay using the QR code. Not much service other than that. The food is great! The buttermilk pancakes are a must order. My husband loves the corn beef hash as it's huge chunks of corn beef and perfectly fried potatoes. My friend got the French toast and had a creamy creme brûlée center. Stop by for breakfast you won't be disappointed! read more

Unconventional Diner - French toast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Very cool spot for any meal of the day. A superb breakfast menu with many hits (biscuits /waffles), but my absolute favorite is the meatloaf. Boring, I know--NOT! The sriracha glaze and mushroom gravy elevates this in ways your kid-self could never imagine. read more

Unconventional Diner - Meatloaf - best ever - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Unconventional Diner serves up some hearty, unique twists on traditional diner favorites. I've tried a few items here, but have never been wowed by anything. Their brussel sprouts were overdone last time I came. On my last visit here, I ordered the chicken parm florentine and the spaghetti was grossly overdone and soggy; however, the chicken parm itself was delicious and well worth getting alone (if possible). The basque cheesecake was one of the worst cheesecakes I have had so that was disappointing too. Overall, overpriced and overhyped. read more

The first time I tried to dine here, it was early afternoon, but the place was packed and the wait would have been almost an hour. I ended up leaving. This time, I made a reservation on Resy, but the place was near empty upon arrival. Regardless, I'm glad I finally got to check this place out! I'm normally a big corned beef hash kind of guy, but upon the servers recommendation, I decided to go with the award winning double cheeseburger and fries. Of course, I added a sunny egg, because everything tastes better with eggs. Apparently, the Washington Post once rated UD's cheeseburger as #4 for best burgers in the DC area! I'm so glad I got this because it was totally scrumptious! A must try for sure!!! To drink, I had the hot coffee, which was refilled several times by my friendly server. Don't wait and go get your eat on here! read more

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Seriously, this is one of the best brunch spots in DC. TiP: Make a reservation way ahead of time. read more

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When you're traveling for beer tourism, having a good breakfast spot close by is essential. For that purpose, the everyday brunch at Unconventional Diner was sheer perfection, but I also enjoyed it for its cool art, culturally mixed menu, and awesome service. This diner is unconventional because it has culturally savvy dishes and a huge indoor-outdoor dining space that goes beyond that of a typical diner while holding onto many of the good traditions of a conventional diner. For brunch, you'll find the typical things like chicken & waffles, avocado toast, and buttermilk pancakes, alongside diverse offerings like Lebanese fried rice, Peruvian soup, and French dip poutine. You can even get some garlic naan with your side of bacon! and that extends to the non-brunch menu with items like Peking duck confit and pot roast rendang. While I loved the vast amount of table arrangements that they had the offer, our impending ventures necessitated chilling dining at the bar by the cool mural that reminded me of Kyle Confehr's art (https://www.kyleconfehr.art/). And while we didn't imbibe pre-beer tourism, I was definitely impressed by their selection of spirits and beers on tap while enjoying their bottomless coffee. The S"EGGS"y sandwich that I ordered on the first day might have just been the best breakfast sandwich that I ever had, thanks to its sesame seed bun and sexy sauce. But the absolute best bite that I had from here was the Lebanese fried rice with its glorious amounts of lentils, fried egg, yogurt, and almonds. With things like this, we're talking unconcentional at its absolute best! read more

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MAKE A RESERVATION as it is popular WHATS GOOD + Avocado Toast + Sopa Criolla were both excellent our friends also like the fried chicken and waffles PASS ON: The breakfast sandwich on the biscuit was a bit of a miss for our friend. BILLING CAUTION!! If you choose to use the little button on the table to pay the bill, note that it charges two dollars per person for each person that is splitting the bill. It also automatically adds 20% on which is OK except for it's not obvious as it is constantly is asking if you want to add more tip For example $53 bill auto added $19 in tip taxes and processing fees. Consider bringing cash to pay the bill Or have the waiter waitresses use their handheld machine TOAST. read more

Unconventional Diner - Sopa Crioll - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I've had this on the list of places I need to try... and I finally got to come and try it! The food was amazing! There is a distinct use of spices that gives every dish its own punch! There is nothing subtle or delicate in any of the dishes. My wife absolutely loved every dish... though it wasn't in my preferred palate... I greatly appreciated the thoughtful execution of every common dish done in an interesting way... The chicken and waffle contained waffles made with corn bread, cheddar and chives... such an unexpected flavor. The syrup had both sweetness and spice. The loaded breakfast biscuit was savory and every element had an interesting spice element! The burger was perfectly cooked and the meat was tender and delicious! The only reason I dropped a star was that their recommended dish chicken and waffles had dry tenders. Come and check it out! I'll definitely back to try the other items and maybe update my review to 5 stars. read more

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Came here with a large group and they managed well. The time between someone coming by to order drinks, then to order appetizers. Then to order entrees was a little long though. But overall, attentive service and good food. Many out of townwers in the group and they enjoyed the food. read more

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A friend was in town visiting from Florida on Monday, just for the day, so after picking him up from DCA we headed straight to Unconventional Diner for brunch. This place has easily become one of my go-to restaurants in the city, so it's no surprise to see it recognized by the Michelin Guide. I ordered the blueberry-lavender buttermilk pancakes along with an espresso martini made with reposado Don Julio--honestly, the perfect way to kick off an adventurous day. My friend went with the loaded biscuits. He's a bit of a picky eater, but the bartender was incredibly helpful--answering questions and accommodating substitutions that made the dish exactly right for him. As always, the service was welcoming and attentive, and the overall vibe was warm and inviting. Unconventional Diner continues to deliver every time. read more

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