There are a-thousand-and-one things I love about Buenos Aires, Argentina. I lived there until I was merely five years old—not long enough to remember much, but long enough that Spanish was my first language, and I still speak it with the quintessential Argentine accent. However, my family returned regularly—keeping in touch with old friends and old traditions like parilla, mate, tango and more.
I was back in BA in March for research for my master’s thesis in renewable energy at GWU’s Elliott School. I won’t bore you with the intricacies of eolic energy and methanation, but rather get to the good stuff—brunch, but of course.
So what are those thousand and one things? For starters, beautiful, tall, dark and handsome men who wear button-downs, loafers and play polo. Sexy sultry tango dancers in the street. Media lunas and dulce de leche (croissants topped with caramel) are considered a normal, routine breakfast. Parillas with all you-can-eat grass-fed steak with sides of provoleta—grilled provolone cheese with spices—on the side. Old world architecture. Dinners that last until late into the night and nights out dancing that last until the wee hours of the morning. It’s European; but more dramatic and different.
Best of all, as we discovered when we stumbled upon Café Oui Oui, brunch is served all week long. Oui Oui is a corner café that is nearly entire pink, with the menu spelled out colorfully on chalkboards across the restaurant. There are fresh-baked pastries of every size and shape imaginable—from waffles to media lunas (read: croissants) and pan au chocolat. The tables are pastel pink picnic tables, which is strangely apropos for this restaurant.
Beautiful, relaxed Argentines chit-chatting on pale pink wooden chairs as remixed Regina Spector plays in the background. Even on a Tuesday morning, the Portenos, or Argentines, seem calm and glamorous—brunching and reading newspapers as if they didn’t have a care in the world.
We opted for cappuccinos and coffees while we did work between research meetings. We shared the yogurt and granola. The dish arrived with a bowl of sweet, crunchy nut-filled granola, a jar of plain yogurt and a bowl of fresh fruit that included pears, apples, oranges, peaches and more deliciousness.
Juan opted for the traditional breakfast of coffee and toast, which was served with jam and dulce de leche, of course.
It would be remiss to not have a full brunch—and unfair to you, dear readers—so we also ordered a waffle. The waffle was dense, unlike a Belgian waffle, and served warm. Again, it was to be slathered with dulce de leche. It was quickly devoured without complaint.
All in all, delicious café cuisine in a perfectly precious ambiance.
The Bitches say: Delightful pink café in Buenos Aires filled with college kids and intellectuals. Must-to if you’re in the city and love brunch—or a good pastry.
Calle Nicaragua 6068
Buenos Aires, Argentina
(0)11 4949 6444
Columbia Heights is pretty two-faced. Think about it. On one side there are big-box chains like Target and Bed, Bath & Beyond, and brand-new condo buildings and shiny cupcake shops. Cookie-cutter gentrification.
Then, just a few blocks away, it’s a hipster wasteland, with guerrilla dance parties at places like Wonderland, indie wine bars like Room 11, and beer joints like Red Rocks and Meridian Pint (which, conveniently, all sit within stumbling distance from one another).
I had brunched at Red Rocks before, and I loved the chill atmosphere, the food, and the bottomless deal. So, I was eager to try its neighbor, Meridian Pint, especially since most of my Columbia Heights Bitches are regulars there (it is the self-proclaimed “neighborhood gathering place,” after all). Plus, they have beer taps built into the booths, which is quite the buzz-worthy novelty (and buzz they did).
Here’s another reason why the crunchy locals love it: the restaurant is totally eco-sustainable. They strictly serve American beer, “eliminating the impact of trans-Atlantic shipping,” and draft beer, “reducing our impact on recycling resources.” They use a local compost company for their waste, and made all their furniture from reclaimed stuff. Their energy comes from wind mill farms and green energy credits, and they only hire staff who can walk there, minimizing carbon footprints. Don’t worry, this forward-thinking is proclaimed loudly from the cover of every menu.
Inside, the restaurant is bright and sunny. I think it was all the wood—the floors, the long bar, the tables—that reflected the light and made it look more like a showroom than a bar. My party of hungover vampires curled away from the sunlight and headed down the stairs to the basement, which was more much our style that Sunday morning. It’s like a whole other world down there, with pool tables, armchairs, TVs, and booths. The walls are painted with phallic blueprints (it’s true). Oh, and did I mention the booths have built-in beer taps? Amazing.
We loved the pub grub … err.. appetizers. The fried pickle spears and onion rings were greasy and hot and came out fast. Plus, they had deviled eggs on the menu, which delighted me. Those eggs didn’t have a ton of flavor, but were inhaled just the same. I could load up on that sort of stuff. But that’s where the love affair ended: Beer and bar food.
Brunch, sadly, was mediocre.
For my entrée, I had the turkey hash, which was a really heavy dish. It came with poached eggs and a mustard hollandaise on top and was total comfort food—almost worthy of a Thanksgiving meal. Good to soak up all the alcohol, but not the most outstanding hash I’ve ever had in D.C. Sliced fruit came on the side of every dish, but it wasn’t the freshest, in my opinion.
There was a basic breakfast plate (Breakfast Americana), served with eggs (your style), toast, bacon, and sliced fruit. Again, simple comfort-breakfast dish, but nothing spectacular to speak of. Even the French toast was unremarkable—a bit soggy and tasteless—though it was said to be orange-scented and custard-style. The best dish of the table was the steak and eggs, though it didn’t look like it. Besides its weird, lumpy presentation, the steak was cooked perfectly, and had the most flavor of anything else un-fried on the table.
There are lots of vegetarian options, and some dishes can even be ordered vegan. Cori Sue opted for two dishes, the house granola with yogurt and fruit and the pumpkin blintzes with pear compote. The yogurt was a traditional tart Greek yogurt, with plenty of earthy granola (almonds, raisins, nuts, oats) and a variety of fruit— grapefruit, oranges, apples, and cantaloupe. It was a bit of an odd choice of fruit for the yogurt, normally we expect berries, but the fruit in this dish was fresh and flavorful so complaints are minimal.
The blintzes, on the other hand, were subpar. The pancake part was fine, but the inside was some mushy, dry concoction that wasn’t cheese, or cream cheese, but had a consistency more like dry scrambled eggs. Literally, the filling was unidentifiable. Furthermore, the dish was cold, making it even more undesirable. There was no sign or taste of pumpkin, despite the dish’s menu description, and the pear compote on top was fine, but a minuscule amount.
If only Meridian Pint would put the same amount of thought into its brunch menu as it does on where the scraps go (a super-recycled-compostable-eco-friendly-heap somewhere, I’m sure). The only semi-adventurous dish that actually had taste was the smoked trout, which came with head and tail still attached. It also came with strips of smoked bacon on top (bizarre, but I guess you have to make it brunch-y somehow?) and toast on the side. We passed that around, and drank the beer, and stumbled back into the daylight.
The Bitches say: C. Great for beer and bar food, especially if you’re in the ‘hood, but don’t venture out of your way for brunch.
Meridian Pint 3400 11th St NW
Washington, D.C.
(202) 588-1075
Local 16, U Street’s prettiest rooftop bar, just recently began serving brunch (and their uber-friendly PR gal invited the Bitches to check it out). While I’ve been there many times to drink beers on that gorgeous twinkling patio, or dance the night away with one of their DJs, I had never thought to sample their cuisine.
Honestly, I was unsure what Local 16 would look like without dim lighting and massive crowds of twenty-somethings on a Friday night. But in the Saturday morning sunshine, the restaurant managed to retain a pleasant ambiance. Its cranberry red walls, sleek wooden bar, big wooden tables and booths were accented by lots of mirrors, chandeliers, and fabulous tasseled light fixtures hanging from the ceiling.
Photo credit: Local 16
Our waitress was a chill, friendly girl with plenty of advice on everything from the best menu options to the top vintage shops in the neighborhood. She was quick to bring us delicious, piping hot coffee and ensured our water and coffee cups were full throughout the meal.
The brunch menu includes plenty of wood-fired pizzas, salads, lunch fare, and desserts, but only a few actual brunch options: French toast, Eggs Benedict, and a Western omelet. With a $5 price tag, the breakfast cocktails—Bloody Mary and a Clementine crush—are a steal.
Photo credit: Local 16
Between the three of us, we decided to share everything tapas style—and started with dessert first (as one should when you feel compelled to do so). For our “appetizer,” we had the Fuji apple fritters: rings of apples battered and fried then covered with a lemon crème anglaise, honey, powdered sugar and served with rich vanilla ice cream. The dessert was simply divine—a spectacular blend of the tart apple and lemon flavors paired with the sweet richness of the crème and vanilla.
The fresh fruit plate was actually a bowl of mint Greek yogurt with granola, strawberries, and blueberries. The mint yogurt was a pleasant departure from the typical vanilla and, while it was Greek yogurt, the flavor was strong without being overpowering.
Says Lauren, “I was nervous we were going to get a fruit plate with lots of melon.” (Apparently Lindsey and I are not alone in that fear). “The dish was refreshing and delicious. I loved that they incorporated mint into the Greek yogurt and included lots of fresh strawberries and blueberries.”
Also on the table was the lox scramble pizza—a New York-style pie baked in a wood-burning oven and topped with marinara sauce, lox, scrambled eggs, and crème fraiche. I never order breakfast pizzas, so, initially, I was hesitant about combining my eggs with my pizza, but it worked surprisingly well. Pairing breakfast lox and eggs with pizza is a fabulous idea. The pizza was flavorful without being too heavy; the cream fraiche was a nice, unexpected addition that really completed the dish.
The three of us ladies agreed that the last dish, the French toast, was the least memorable part of the experience. “It came out cold and was just average,” says Meaghan. Lauren, a bit nicer in her review, adds: “This was the one dish that didn’t really stand out to me. It was a good French toast, but my favorite part was the strawberries on the side rather than the toast itself. I would order it again, but it would not be my favorite on this menu.”
Upping the ante, when the weather warms up, Local 16 will serve brunch on that fabulous rooftop patio—and you can expect us to be there drinking $5 cocktails in the sunshine.
The Bitches say: A- for a pleasant ambiance, great service, affordable prices and delicious food. We hope they snazz up the French toast and add a few more brunch options—hopefully before summertime!
Local 16 1602 U Street N.W.
Washington, D.C.
(202) 265-2828
Confession of a brunch blogger: I ate the exact same thing last time I went to Kafe Leopold. That’s right, I’ve failed you. I’ve done it. I’ve let you down.
The thing is, they just have these adorable little sandwiches. They’re just so cute (forgive me?). And you can get three different ones, allowing you to sample three different flavors (what about now?). One of them involves truffle oil, gruyere, and caramelized onions (ok, so now you understand). No one turns down truffle oil.
My precious petite sandwiches—(1) the aforementioned truffle oil heaven on pumpernickel (2) salmon and cucumber salad and (3) apple, walnut, honey—were accompanied by lobster bisque, which I also had last time.
I returned to Leopolds for a few reasons (besides the delightful sandwiches). First and foremost, they serve brunch on Fridays, which was ideal for entertaining our out-of-town guests. Second, I adore the bright, open space with minimalist décor and splashes of orange on the napkins, chairs, and menus. It’s trendy yet unassuming, and so very European.
For this brunch, I had the pleasure of three lovely friends joining me. Guest Bitch Ryan agreed with my musings on the decor, adding, “I really liked the warm and inviting atmosphere at Leopold’s. The orange colors definitely livened things up.” I feel like you’d find Leopolds in Paris, Berlin, or Copenhagen.
Lastly, the food is creative, fresh, and healthy. The menu is both varied and extensive—pick from light options like breakfast, pastries, soups, salads, sandwiches to heavier choices like steaks, bratwurst, and mussels.
Ryan, surprisingly healthy for a man-about-town, ordered the yogurt, which was topped with granola and fresh mango, and oatmeal. This, however, is Leopolds, so this was no ordinary oatmeal. This was a chai oatmeal, served with cinnamon crème fraiche and figs. Frankly, I’m bored to tears by the mere thought of oatmeal, but I found myself envying his dish from across the table. And, while I was within arms-reach, Ryan and I were new friends, so I managed to (barely) restrain myself from jabbing my spoon into his bowl.
Miss Lindsey, a regular guest Bitch, ordered the soft boiled eggs and offers her insight:
“As a novice at cracking soft boiled eggs, I wanted to take on the challenge. I had somewhat of a difficult experience cracking into the hard shell to unveil the soft yolk inside, but when I got the hang of it, it was quite delightful and fresh. The presentation was lovely and the two eggs were accompanied by the cutest little spoon in order to successfully dig into the crevice of the shell. Served with buttered toast points and a side of fruit, it was a perfectly well-balanced and light breakfast to start out the day.”
Last but not least, Carter, who eats like a boy (you know what I mean), decided on the sausage, egg, and grits immediately upon opening the menu. Unlike the rest of us, who pondered over our options on the six-page menu, he saw his dish and stuck to it.
Frankly, I was surprised they served grits. I thought we were in Paris, not Charleston? I was also surprised by the plate’s pleasant presentation. I didn’t know you could make grits look pretty, but with the sunny-side up egg, Leopold’s managed to do so. I assume the dish was delish, because Carter was a member of the clean plate club.
The Bitches say: There’s a reason we came back … A (again).
Kafe Leopold 3318 M St. N.W.
Washington, D.C.
(202) 965-6005
Last weekend my parents came to visit me from the Eastern Shore. So, I thought, let’s keep with the Maryland theme and brunch at the Chesapeake Room. After all, I could get honest comparisons on the food from them, right?
Actually, to be honest, the Chesapeake Room was the only place that had puppy-friendly seating in the Barracks Row area to accommodate this little rascal …
It's exhausting being this cute.
Weary from all the excitement of the Barracks Row Fall Festival (we love festivals!), Daisy the dog and company were happy to sit outside on the big comfy armchairs in the shade of Chesapeake’s spacious back patio.
The menu at The Chesapeake Room focuses on sustainable, organic, and free-range cuisine (major bonus points). But, surprisingly, given its title and mission, there were less seafood options for yours truly, the pescetarian, than I expected. I was craving a crab cake sandwich or crab eggs benny, but there were no such options. So I settled on the shrimp and grits, which came with a tomato onion relish. The grits were fried into an arrancini-like ball, which was delicious. The shrimp were large and fresh. The sauce, which was pickled, was vinegary and briny. I would have preferred a rich, creamy sauce – the relish just didn’t mesh well with the rest of the dish.
Daisy (and Dad) had the barbecue grilled steak sandwich, topped with a light, flavorful tomato salad and goat cheese and pressed between two slices of ciabatta bread. As the smell of barbecue wafted across the table, I enviously eyed the warm, pressed panini with melted cheese oozing out of the sides. (Oh, the bane of a steak-free existence). Needless to say, there was nothing but happy chewing coming from that end of the table.
Mommy dearest had the organic granola with vanilla yogurt and fruit. As she said, you can’t really screw up yogurt. But, she did think that the yogurt should have been served with mixed berries rather than grapes and cantaloupe. Grapes and cantaloupe are rather odd in yogurt, don’t you think?
Beau went for the Oyster Po’ Boy with bacon-leek fondue, lettuce, cherry tomato, basil aioli and devoured it almost immediately. When he came up for air, he remarked that the oysters were delicious, the sauce flavorful, and the bread soft, just as it should be.
The Bitches say: B for great service and ambiance, hearty and sustainable food, and the feeling you’ve just taken a trip to the Maryland seashore. However, we’d like to see a better menu selection and some adjustments to the dishes.
On our way down to Kiawah Island, S.C., this weekend, the boyfriend and I stopped for the night in Raleigh, N.C., to visit one of my best college friends. It felt great to be back in the great state of North Carolina and we were just in time for the opening of the tiki bar at Humble Pie, a charming restaurant in downtown Raleigh.
Photo credit: Humble Pie
The weather was perfect for dining on the porch (low ’70s and breezy) with lots of summer brews and a varied arrangement of tapas. Humble Pie‘s ecclectic menu consists of small plates of varrying cuisines– Asian, Italian, seafood, and more. We shared a goat cheese mushroom Napoleon, coconut shrimp with pineapple chutney, sesame seared ahi tuna, finished with chocolate cake with peanut butter ganache and complemented by lots of Carolina Pale Ales.
Up early in the morning, we stopped by another Raleigh gem, Cafe Helios, for a speedy, healthy breakfast-to-go. Cafe Helios serves delicious coffee from Counter Culture Coffee based in nearby Durham. I consider an ordinary, healthy, breakfast– coffee, yogurt and granola, whole-wheat toast and fresh-squeezed OJ– an exceptional treat when found at 7 a.m., in a rush, on a roadtrip.
Photo credit: Cori Sue Morris
Photo credit: Cori Sue Morris
Photo credit: Cori Sue Morris
For the Raleigh crowd, however, Cafe Helios is more than just a breakfast spot. The cafe serves a great beer and wine selection (they rotate beer selections regularly), and features artwork by a local artist each month. And, it appears to be the place for some epic late-night dance parties.
Photo credit: Cori Sue Morris
Next time you find yourself cruising down I-95, you’d be well-served to check out these two spots in downtown Raliegh, and head over to Cameron Village for some great shopping.
Oh, Urbana. Your walls are so sleek. Your flowers so lovely. Your plates so shiny. The 173-seat basement bar and restaurant adjoined to Hotel Palomar is the perfect spot for that late-night glass of fabulous wine to top off a dinner date in Dupont. But what about for brunch? Hmmm.
Forty of us gathered there on Sunday (our party took up half the dining room, mind you) for a friend’s surprise birthday brunch (we love you, Michael). The deal was a buffet for $26 (including tax and tip) or $40 if you added bottomless champagne.
Sidenote: I believe the buffet was arranged on special request because of our large party. Most guests have to choose from the menu (check it out here) and add on the bottomless champagne to their brunch entrée. But, dear friends, this is how I would recommend going at Urbana anyway. Here’s why.
The buffet was minorly disappointing. Okay eggs with mushrooms, Parmigianino Reggiano cheese, vegetables and herbs. Smoked bacon and spicy Italian sausage. A very greasy croissant sandwich with egg, ham, and cheese. And a big boring bowl of low-fat yogurt with house-made granola.
That’s it.
Not that I eat like a cow … But this bitch enjoys having more to choose from in her brunches.
Photo credit: Cori Sue Morris
The shining light at the end of the buffet, however, came in the form of the extraordinary champagne bar. Bottles and bottles sitting on ice—my favorite sight at noon on a Sunday.
$11 bottomless gets you access to a selection of Montelliana Prosecco, Francois Montand Rosé, or Spruce Goose sparking juice. Even better, you can top off your glass with a variety of fresh juices and purées: orange juice, pineapple juice, cranberry juice, grapefruit juice, mango purée, passion fruit purée, strawberry purée, or peach purée. And look at the pretty coffee cups. This delights me.
Photo credit: Cori Sue Morris
Indeed, the champagne bar and its fruit purée selection is the golden ticket at this brunch spot. And not something you’d usually find in a hotel buffet. (We stayed sipping for over two hours, and then I tottered over to U Street to get my hair done whilst a bit tipsy: not the best idea.)
The hotel restaurant, which is owned by San Francisco’s Puccini Restaurant Group, could stand on its own, I think. And next time, I’m ordering off the menu, which I’ve heard is fab.
The bitches say: B+ for a sleek ambiance, extensive champagne bar, and good, but not life-changing food.
Urbana Restaurant & Wine Bar
2121 P Street, NW
Washington DC 20037
Tel: 202.956.6650
Brunch is 8 am to 3 pm Saturday and Sunday
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Bitches Who Brunch.
Becca and Cori Sue are brunching their way around Washington, D.C.
