Lets all just face some facts here: the general opinion on DC is that if you are out at night, your food options past 11 pm (when most restaurant as well as parental kitchens close) are limited.
Everyone “knows” this, and this is why everyone eats that godforsaken jumbo slice against their better judgement.
Now, for some reason, this has has caught on the attention of all sorts of (live) blog(ging) media as of late and I figured, as I always do, that a nice little digest (all puns intended) is in order.
So, it all started innocently enough with DC Nightlife Raw a blog dedicated to helping you spot Flava Flav in a crowd, who posted this nifty: HOT OR NOT LATE NIGHT EATING CHART
Now, horrible pixelation aside, I have to say that while “sort of” agreeing with this (I never got quite sold on the whole M’Dawg deal, even if I was so excited for it initially), I still think that the 2 am slice of apple pie a la mode at Kramer books and afterwards is a little bit of heaven on a plate. Too bad that they stop serving desserts after 2.
then
DCist (and their amazing title department) did the whole The Fab Forno Smackdown: Firing up the Pizza Debate which showed that people cared A LOT about their cheese and tomato sauce on bread.
and finally
Gridskipper (via Wonkette) published their list of 10 spots to get your late DC food on:
including: Full Kee in Chinatown, Haydee’s in Mt. Pleasent and Georgetown cafe, among all the other old reliables (red: The Diner, Ben’s, Amsterdam falafel etc)
+this both drunk and non drunk dining list courtesy of EatDrinkDC.com which focused on both satisfying your soon-to-be-hungover-self and looking at some post-theatre/show/sex/exhibit hopping options.
places no one has mentioned thus far
(but we know of, since all we really do is eat while we drink):
The Greek spot (aka the G spot) referred to by Becca in the first ever BYTE me column as being: At 11th and U, a hop, skip and not-too-dangerous-drunken-bike ride away from dive-bar central, The G Spot has plenty to offer the hungriest hipster. From falafel sandwiches to cheeseburgers, hummus to spanikopita, seasoned french fries to ‘Pastachio’ (described as macaroni layered with sautéed soya crumbles, topped with a béchamel sauce – umm…pretty sure that all means “mac and cheese”) there is something for everyone. And it’s cheap! Nothing on the menu costs more than 9 bucks. And lots costs less than $5. Boo yah!
in Dupont: Sette, nicer than your average pizza joint and open till 3 am on weekends, the Bistro du Coin 1 am steak frites (open late only on weekends, so take note)
and also: the amazing bar menu at R’N'R hotel (why even leave the bar to eat, we ask you when you can have fried ravioli, vegan samosas, cheeseburger sliders and the best fries in town IN THE BAR)
Any other suggestions/opinions of course welcome, especially since we are slowly starting to assemble our DC directory for use on site.
Marty and I are way into Old Jerusalem on Columbia (just south of the Safeway in Adams Morgan) for late-night weekend food. They have great food, lots of choices and a falafel bar like Amsterdam Falafel (which I also love but it’s too crowded on weekends and you can only get one thing there). Anyway, Old Jerusalem is really slow but otherwise totally awesome.
October 2, 2007 at 11:32 amThere’s plenty of late-night food on weekends - no debate there. but if you go out on tuesday or wednesday night you’re definitely caught short after 11 or so.
October 2, 2007 at 11:40 am…don’t forget Annie’s @ 17th & Q.
October 2, 2007 at 12:23 pmWhile Amsterdam is good, the problem is it is in Adams Morgan. On a Sunday afternoon it’s perfect. No one should be in AM on a Thurs, Fri or Sat night.
And while R&R does have good food, it shouldn’t count because “late night” should equal “after bars are closed.”
Philadelphia Water Ice next to Palace of Wonders has the best Cheesesteaks you’ve ever had. Even brought 5 peeps from Philly to test this theory and they agreed.
When I lived on W St. I ate at the Greek Spot constantly.
October 2, 2007 at 12:35 pmyou absolutely cannot forget Jumbo Slice on U Street, or Steak and Egg in Tenleytown. love love, and they are both open 24 hours.
October 2, 2007 at 12:43 pmoh look! that’s me!
i miss you dc.
if you think your late night eats are bad, try finding some in the chicago suburbs.
the bk lounge (that’s burger king. vom.) is about as acceptable as jumbo slice.
less, actually.
at least you can claim a jumbo slice at 2am is post-post-post ironic. or something.
the bk lounge is just a disaster.
The real chore is finding dessert that late! Okay, my idea of late is pretty damn early (midnight) but it is still hard to get a descent dessert especially since I prefer to skip Kramer’s, the Diner, etc.
October 2, 2007 at 2:07 pmseriously,
anything a-la-mode at Kramer’s is amazing (and served until 2 am) but it does get vaguely jungle like in there.
The desserts at Bistrot du Coin are killer too.
Their peche melba is what peaches were invented for.
Whatever happened to late night soul food?
October 2, 2007 at 2:21 pmIt annoys the pork-and-cheese out of me that people continue to misspell AND mispronounce PUPUSA! poo-POO-saws are delicious Salvadorean delights while paw-POO-sas are delicious Italian little girls. Shame on Wonkette. Shame on it/her/him/them. FYI, while I’m here. There are delicious PUPUSAS to be found at El Tamarindo (18th/U Streets) along with an extensive menu of GENUINE Mexican/Salvadorean fare.
October 2, 2007 at 2:31 pmYou forgot to mention the Fluffernutter Panini at The Hotel. So good.
October 2, 2007 at 3:04 pmAnd either of the two Bob and Ediths’s’s’s’s’ are good for 24 hour dining.
Once a crackhead jumped on a table and kicked all the dishes off while sooooooooiling herself.
It was funny.
October 2, 2007 at 3:06 pmTell us another story uncle Michael!
October 2, 2007 at 3:24 pmWell I got arrested this morning and spent a few hours in the 3d District holding cell.
And I had Sour Cream and Onion flavored Pringles, sunflower seeds, a coca-cola, and some gobstoppers for lunch so I’m really hungry reading this thread.
October 2, 2007 at 3:39 pmMichael, some of us live in Adams Morgan, which means we have to be there on the weekend. Which means we need somewhere to eat when we come in from being out (not out at Adams Morgan bars on the weekend, I’ll give you that - but out nonetheless).
October 2, 2007 at 5:46 pmdid you call your lawyer?
ahem
No, haven’t called my lawyer yet.
People live in AM? I thought it was just a gathering place for frat and sorority kids and Manassas and Bethesda folk.
Oh, and the old people who bitch about there being noise in a city.
October 2, 2007 at 6:08 pmSorry to venture into VA, but the other week I was down there and came across a really small pizza/ice cream place near the intersection of N. Highland and Wilson, right outside the Clarendon metro stop. Can’t remember the name, but they are open until at least 1AM and the $2 NY style pizza slice hit the spot…definitely recommended.
October 2, 2007 at 10:50 pmFairfax has the best 24 hour diner of all time: 29 Diner
There is no debate.
I used to go there after picking up my ex-girlfriend from county jail. It is heaven. Check out their web site, it is so amazingly shitty: http://www.29diner.com/
My favorite part is the “Customers” section where they describe what it was like when John Walsh stopped in: http://www.29diner.com/customers.htm
I think this may deserve its own post.
October 2, 2007 at 10:58 pmI think I am going to slap you for writing the sentence:
“I think this may deserve it is own post.”
October 3, 2007 at 9:15 amSince I’m an admin I get to edit the bad grammar out of my comments.
October 3, 2007 at 9:30 amFlorida Avenue Grill is now open until 5am on weekends. They have the best pancakes EVER.
October 4, 2007 at 10:45 amaight some others.. i work late so i eat late.
old ebbitt and clydes’ kitchens are all open until 1 am (except for gtown, thats 12 on weeknights) and have the late night oyster happy hour (half off after 11).
also, oh snap is a crepe place in gtown thats open until 12. they have some awesome japanese specialties like okonomiyaki (”japanese pancake” but totally savory with fish, cabbage, onions, and some wierd worchestershire sauce) and takoyaki (fried octopus balls yum).
October 10, 2007 at 3:04 pm“pastachio”?
Uh…. you mean pastitsio, I think. It’s a pretty normal Greek entree, found at every Greek restaurant.
October 22, 2007 at 12:32 pm
There’s also Crepeaway on L between 19th and 20th that’s open late. Plus Alberto’s in duPont and ADams Morgan.
October 2, 2007 at 11:16 am