Brunch may well be the most anticipated meal of the week. Here are some choice spots for a leisurely midday feast, whether you’re hankering for chocolate-hazelnut waffles, creative Benedicts, bottomless mimosas or an endless spread of Italian, Mexican or Persian tasting plates.
Buena Vida
The unlimited small plates brunch ($39.99 per person) means it’s easy to try a little taste of everything at this Mexican eatery. Choose from three types of tacos (pork belly, shrimp or bacon-egg-cheese) and add on plates of eggs in omelet form, scrambled or Benedict. Other options include a ham and cheese waffle drizzled with spicy syrup; and salmon toast with bolillo bread, watercress, rajas and pink peppercorn. For something sweet, dig into a banana-Nutella waffle or blueberry waffle with Mexican clotted cream. Classic brunch cocktails include 99-cent bloody Marys and mimosas, $1.99 margaritas or sangria for $1.50. // 2900 Wilson Blvd. (Clarendon)
Circa
Salads, sandwiches, flatbreads and small plates round out a menu that includes more than ten brunch entrees at this American bistro. Fuel up on almond granola French toast with a corn flake crust, fresh berries and mascarpone-maple cream. For a savory option, choose short rib hash with crispy potatoes, peppers and onions; smoked salmon Benedict or steak and eggs with asparagus, hollandaise and home fries. // 3010 Clarendon Blvd. (Clarendon) or 1675 Silver Hill Drive, Tysons (The Boro)
Corso Italian
It’s all-you-can-mangia at this Italian trattoria in Shirlington, where weekends bring endless small plates for $29 and cocktails starting at $5. Kick things off with house-made focaccia and a Little Gem salad (fennel, radish, onion, creamy Italian dressing) or burrata Caprese. Craving traditional brunch fare? Dig into ricotta pancakes with berries, Egg in Purgatory (sunny side up egg, ciabatta, tomato and calabrian chili) or Corso honey toast (focaccia, whipped ricotta, honey and pistachios). The options also include three house-made pastas—Fettuccine alla Carbonara, Rigatoni alla Bolognese or Spaghetti al Pesto. Sip a peach Bellini or espresso martini while you dine. // 4024 Campbell Ave. (Shirlington)
Ellie Bird
The Founders Row eatery from the duo behind D.C.’s Michelin-starred Rooster & Owl has quickly become a Little City favorite since its launch a year and a half ago, and brunch is no exception. Ease into the day with a carafe of house-made sangria (Boxwood Vineyards rose with gin and hibiscus, topped with citrus and bubbles; a basket of sweet pastries; a mochi waffle with fermented banana Anglaise and coffee-candied pecans; or the Tornado Omelet with kimchi fried rice, lap cheong and Korean chili flakes. // 125 Founders Ave., Falls Church
The Falls
The unlimited small plates brunch ($32 per adult; $14 for kids 3-12) at this popular neighborhood hangout includes options like burnt ends hash with diced potatoes, caramelized onions and bell peppers; baby back ribs with honey ginger glaze; and a barbecue Benedict with pulled pork, piquillo peppers and paprika hollandaise. Sweet tooths, meanwhile, will appreciate goodies such as house-made doughnuts, buttermilk pancakes and brown sugar coffee cake. For $28, build your own mimosa with a setup that includes a bottle of bubbly with orange juice, pomelo juice and cherry bounce mixers on the side. // 370 West Broad St., Falls Church
Immigrant Food
Centering on global flavors with a “gastroadvocacy” mission, this innovative dining concept presents a captivating menu of foods from around the world. On weekends, executive chef Ben Murray’s menu includes poached Turkish eggs on sesame encrusted simit bread; Hong Kong French Toast with peanut butter, condensed milk and strawberry jam; or the kitchen’s signature Shakshuka & Arepas, a riff on the Middle East’s favorite poached egg and tomato breakfast dish. The options also include an array of international street foods, plus burgers, sandwiches and seasonal drinks. // 4245 Fairfax Drive (Ballston)
Joon
For an upscale Persian brunchtime experience (either a la carte or $50 per person for unlimited small plates), this Tysons restaurant delivers. The menu by chefs Chris Morgan and Najmieh Batmanglij features Middle Eastern standards such as lamb or chicken kabobs; Magyu-e Sokhari (fried prawns) in spicy tomato sauce; hummus and falafel. For more traditional brunch options, taste the Persian cheese omelet with feta, goat cheese, dill and chives; or Joon’s take on French toast topped with glazed apples, lemon curd and brandied almonds. The cocktail program includes a fig old fashioned with fig cordial and orange bitters; and a May Collins made with Malfy lemon gin, Cointreau and Lambrusco float. // 8045 Leesburg Pike, Tysons
Láylí
This recently opened Clarendon restaurant now offers weekend brunch, including a deal that features three courses for $44.99, plus $1 brunch cocktails including mimosas (classic or melon) and peach Bellinis. From avocado toast and potato-leek omelets to banana and ricotta toast, the dishes at this Mediterranean restaurant focus on modernized Lebanese cuisine with influences from Turkey and Greece. Top off the experience with a sweet treat such as Knafeh in Pita—semolina pastry filled with sweet cheese, drizzled with rose water syrup and pistachio garnish, stuffed inside a sesame crusted sweet pita pocket. Or opt for a plate of mixed baklava with pistachios, walnuts and cashews. // 3033 Wilson Blvd. (Clarendon)
Makers Union
This upscale gastropub in Amazon’s burgeoning Metropolitan Park is chock full of comfort foods, especially at brunch time. Saturday and Sunday mornings find the place bustling with plates of Maryland crab cake Benedict, mixed berry pancakes and cornflake-crusted French toast. That’s in addition to the eatery’s usual burgers, salads, chicken tenders and nachos. Order a la carte, or try the family-style unlimited brunch for $32 a person ($13.95 for kids under 10). // 1450 S. Eads St. (National Landing)
Neutral Ground Bar + Kitchen
Chef David Guas’ new gathering spot in McLean, which opened to seemingly instant acclaim (read our critic’s review), has unveiled a brunch menu promising a “flavor-packed adventure” in every dish. Options include decadent vanilla-bean-custard-stuffed French toast with caramelized apples; 18-hour braised brisket and Meadow Creek smoky cheddar grits; buttermilk biscuits with crawfish gravy; and chicken fried steak with Virginia Country ham gravy and a fried egg. Select the cocktail carafe of your choice from the “Brunch-tails” cart as it roams the dining room serving up spirited concoctions. On the drinks menu: a zesty Red Rock Bloody, a creamy Tres Leches Rum Punch, or the Perfect Pear spritz with farm fresh pear juice and sparkling wine. // 6641 Old Dominion Drive, McLean
Ruthie’s All-Day
Wood-fired meats play a starring role at this Best of Arlington 2024 winner from Arlington resident and chef Matt Hill. On Saturdays and Sundays from 9 to 3, tuck into big breakfast plates that will keep you full and fueled all day. The Ruthie’s Big Plate features two eggs, house bacon, beef sausage, roasted potatoes and biscuits for $17. The Nora Mills Grits + Pulled Pork Bowl ($14) comes with pickled fresnos topped with a fried egg. Not a meat eater? Try the Veggie Bennie black bean burger with avocado, hollandaise and biscuits, or the apple pie pancakes. Be sure to add on some skillet cornbread or apple doughnuts filled with raspberry jam to share with the table. // 3411 Fifth St. South (Arlington Heights)
Surreal
Craving something other than the usual pancakes and eggs? The weekend brunch at this upscale diner in National Landing includes an arepa-style brunch croissant—modeled after New York City’s viral spiral croissants that recently took social media by storm—stuffed with salmon, roasted tomatoes and lemon and herb cream, and topped with Aperol caviar. This deliciously messy handheld joins a brunch menu chock full of creative comfort foods, including Airy Waffles with house-infused maple syrup and homemade seasonal marmalade; and a Tomato Puff Pastry Tart with ricotta cheese, house pesto, lemon zest and fresh basil. If you’re in the mood to carb-load, the $17 Bread Basket Feast features an assortment of croissants, brioche, focaccia and sourdough. // 2117 Crystal Drive, Arlington (National Landing)