The melt-in-your-mouth oatmeal soufflé may not sound like a power breakfast, but it’s the go-to choice in this sunlit hotel dining room, a stone’s throw from the White House. Ornate moldings, glittering chandeliers, and potted lemon trees evoke Old World elegance, but the menu is straight-ahead modern. Eggs are perfectly poached, cornflake-crusted focaccia French toast is all about crunch, and that oatmeal soufflé is crowned with a tart berry purée. For the ultimate power trip, ask for a table with a view of 1600 Pennsylvania. Monday through Friday 6:30 to 11 am, Saturday and Sunday 7 to 2.
Ann Limpert joined Washingtonian in late 2003. She was previously an editorial assistant at Entertainment Weekly and a cook in New York restaurant kitchens, and she is a graduate of the Institute of Culinary Education. She lives in Petworth.
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.
