Cheap Eats 2007: Breadline

Reviewed by Todd Kliman , Ann Limpert , Cynthia Hacinli , Don Rockwell , Michele Kayal

Breadline

1751 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-822-8900

Cuisines:
Deli/Quick Bites, American

Opening Hours:
Mon,Tue,Wed,Thu,Fri:
General: 07:30 AM - 03:30 PM

Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes

Nearby Metro Stops:
Farragut West
Farragut North

Price Range:
Inexpensive

Dress:
Informal

Crowd:
Worldbankers, journalists, even the Mayor pepper the work-lunch throngs.

Noise Level:
Rowdy

Reservations:
Not Accepted

Special Features:
Kid Friendly

Website:
Click here to open in new window.

Best Dishes
Prosciutto with watercress, mascarpone, and fig jam on walnut-raisin bread; fried oyster po'boy; fried softshell crab sandwich; BLT; Persian chicken salad; chocolate cookies stuffed with mascarpone.

Price Details:
Sandwiches $6.90 to $9.95; salads $5.95.


 

Reader's Rating:
No Reader Reviews

Bread-baking guru Mark Furstenburg sold his stake in this downtown bakery and lunch spot to a bigger company, but the quality of the sandwiches remains largely unchanged, and the place runs more efficiently now that a take-away counter lets you avoid the often out-the-door line for sandwiches, many of which are preassembled anyway. Yes, the place now sells Coke, which Furstenburg wouldn’t do, but there’s still a lineup of Fizzy Lizzy and other artisan sodas and Virginia-made Route 11 potato chips.

Standouts on the menu include a buttered baguette with cooked French ham and Swiss cheese, an egg-salad sandwich with sun-dried tomato, freshly roasted turkey on ciabatta, Persian chicken salad, and sweetly seasoned ground-beef empanadas.

While daily specials can be hit (Niman Ranch pastrami with coleslaw) or miss (could there be a blander Philly cheese­steak?), if it’s Thursday don’t miss the oyster po’boy, a brioche loaded with crispy oysters and splashed with Tabasco. And summer Fridays are made for the soft-shell crab sandwich and a house-made lemonade.

Open weekdays for breakfast and lunch.