While not all of us are lucky enough to have the “discovery” of America counted as a work holiday, those who do should spend an ideal Monday sipping mimosas and indulging in all-you-can-eat buffets.
1515 N. Courthouse Rd., Arlington
Chef David Guas keeps Sunday hours on Columbus Day, serving all-day breakfast from 8 to 4 with biscuit sandwiches, beignets, and other Louisiana-style fare.
B Too and Belga Café
1324 14th St., NW/514 Eighth St., SE
Both of Bart Vandaele’s Belgian-style eateries serve a long-lasting Monday brunch from 9 to 4. Starting the week with mussels and waffles—not to mention a mussel-waffle—can’t hurt.
4021 Campbell Ave., Shirlington
An extensive brunch from 10 to 4 can be as simple as a local egg omelet or a decadent mix of French toast sticks, short-rib Benedicts, and a sampling of the Bloody Mary bar.
EatWell DC restaurants
Multiple locations
All of this restaurant group’s locations serve Monday brunch, including tasty breakfast quesadillas at Commissary, bacon-filled eats at the Pig, fresh fruit smoothies at the Heights, and more.
3000 K St., NW
Spend your holiday on the Georgetown Waterfront picking from an extensive brunch buffet, which includes salads, eggs, French toast, tacos, jambalaya, and more ($30 per person; $15 kids six to 12).
Multiple locations
All locations in Maryland and DC are open for Columbus Day brunch, with plenty of American fare like local egg scrambles, fried chicken, red velvet pancakes, and more.
8296 Glass Alley, Fairfax
Why not check out a new restaurant on your day off? Chef RJ Cooper‘s brunch-time lineup includes an unusual variety of Bloodys (we like the idea of tequila and blistered peppers), Southern dishes such as an oyster pan roast or blueberry flapjacks, and a whole menu section devoted to mac and cheese.
539 Eighth St., SE
Head to Capitol Hill for Italian in honor of Cristoforo Colombo. The brunch menu includes bottomless mimosas for only $12, local egg Florentines, and focaccia toast.
1612 14th St., NW
This may be one of the best Mondays in Pearl Dive history: brunch from 11 to 3, trailed by happy hour from 3 to 7, and “oyster mania” from 5 to 11 with half-price bivalves on the half-shell and hot oyster appetizers for $6.
Multiple locations
All of restaurateur Richard Sandoval’s DC spots serve their indulgent all-you-can-eat-and-drink brunches for the holiday, meaning margs and tacos at both locations of El Centro D.F., Latin-Asian fusion at Masa 14, Balkan-style plates at Ambar, and more.
660 Pennsylvania Ave., SE
Start the week off with comfort fare like tomato soup and a grilled mac-and-cheese-stuffed sandwich. Brunch runs from 10 to 3, so there’s plenty of time.
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.
