Food

2013 Inauguration Brunch Specials

A national celebration AND a long weekend? This calls for a midday feast.

Celebrate Obama's second term with a brunch the First Lady would love: a veggie-loaded egg white omelet at Founding Farmers. Photograph by Scott Suchman

Sure, Monday is President Obama’s big day. But it’s also a three-day weekend, and a bounty of bars are open until 4 AM, giving you the right to roll out of bed and head to brunch like any good American. Several spots are offering special midday meals—especially those close to the White House and Mall—including service on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.

Cedar

The Penn Quarter restaurant will open on Monday to serve its brunch menu. Options include shrimp and grits, a wild mushroom omelet, and wild game sausage and eggs.

Price: À la carte
Hours: 11 to 3 Saturday and Sunday, 7 to 4 on Monday

Co Co. Sala

The Penn Quarter chocoholic’s paradise offers Saturday, Sunday, and Monday brunch over inauguration weekend, with both sweet and savory options. Dishes on the two-course set menu range from citrus-ricotta pancakes with berry compote to “grown-up” grilled cheese on truffled brioche. 

Price: $26 for main course and dessert
Hours: 11 to 3 Saturday and Sunday, 10 to 3 Monday

Equinox

Just a few blocks from the White House, Todd and Ellen Gray are throwing a brunch bash featuring favorite foods of both Obama and Martin Luther King. The three-course menu includes options such as the Obama family chili with smoked cheddar, MLK’s fried chicken with salt-cured pickles and slow-cooked greens, and Georgia pecan pie à la mode. 

Price: $35 for three courses
Hours: Monday from 11 to 2

Farmers Fishers Bakers

The newest restaurant from the Founding Farmers folks serves a full farmers market brunch all weekend and Monday. In addition to the buffet-style spread you’ll find complimentary perks such as drip coffee, iced tea, and biscuits with butter and jam. 

Price: $30 per person; $15 for children 6 to 12; free for children under 6
Hours: 10 to 3 Saturday, Sunday, and Monday


Firefly

If $2 mimosas sound like a great start to inauguration day, head over to Firefly. Chef Danny Bortnick offers his regular brunch menu from Saturday and Sunday—think cheddar cheese burger or egg-topped grits with smoked paprika hollandaise. 

Price: À la carte
Hours: 9 to 2 Saturday and Sunday, 10 to 3:30 Monday

Founding Farmers

Another White House neighbor opens its doors early for brunch, offering the same à-la-carte spread you’ll find Saturday and Sunday. We’re fans of the indulgent stack of pancakes studded with blueberries, as well as some of the lighter options such as the veggie omelet and the fruit-topped yogurt parfait. The Potomac, Maryland, location is also open for morning service on Monday. 

Price: À la carte
Hours: 9 to 2 Saturday, Sunday, and Monday (DC); 9 to 1 Saturday, Sunday, and Monday (Maryland)

Hill Country

The crew at this Texas-themed barbecue joint is working overtime during inauguration weekend, staying open until the wee hours and dishing up breakfast on Monday starting as early as 8. Morning risers can find breakfast tacos, coffee, and hot chocolate before heading down to the nearby Mall, while the rest of the day is devoted to food and drinks specials including $1 “POTUS-pop Jell-o shots.”

Price: À la carte
Hours: Breakfast 8 to 11, specials 11:30 to 4 AM Monday

Matchbox

All locations of the pizza and sliders spot will be serving brunch on Monday. Stop by for a skillet of cinnamon buns, huevos rancheros, or a veggie frittata with cremini mushrooms, red peppers, and goat cheese.

Price: À la carte
Hours: 10 to 3 on Saturday and Sunday; From 8 AM on Monday

The Source

The restaurant in the Newseum is usually closed Sundays, but Chef Scott Drewno is offering a special dim sum service on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday of the big weekend.

Price: À la carte
Hours: Noon to 3

Zaytinya

José Andrés is opening his Mediterranean spot early on the 21st and will offer specialty brunch options in addition to the regular menu. There is the Pharaoh’s foie gras with Egyptian-spiced honey croquettes, lobster tzatziki, caviar airbreads served with sustainable California caviar, and lamb chop moussaka.

Price: À la carte (from $10 to $22)
Hours: 10:30 to 2:30 Monday

Food Editor

Anna Spiegel covers the dining and drinking scene in her native DC. Prior to joining Washingtonian in 2010, she attended the French Culinary Institute and Columbia University’s MFA program in New York, and held various cooking and writing positions in NYC and in St. John, US Virgin Islands.