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Categories: American (New), Breakfast & Brunch
Neighborhood: Dupont CircleDupont Circle (Red)
"Fantastic brunch spot! Some of my friends in DC organized a going-away brunch in my honor, and I don't think they could have chosen a…" read more »
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A little out of my periphery, but when someone else is footing the bill, I'm there.
If you can afford to take a broad here, you're setting yourself up for a nice swiving.
I'm still salivating over that rib eye steak.
I went to a wedding here and pretty much got the whole Tabard experience - stayed at the Inn, wedding was at the Inn, ate brunch at the Inn.
The Inn is a great venue for a small wedding, a bridal shower, a fancy dinner event, etc. It is old and antiquey feeling but with a funky, cool vibe. The public rooms have a lot of great character - the upstairs banquet area is very Georgian, while the downstairs lounge/bar area is more Pub like in feel (couches, darkly lit, interesting art). Be warned that the spaces are small - don't expect to hold a wedding for 250 people here, but it would be great for a wedding of 60. There is a beautiful little outdoor patio/courtyard where they usually serve food - the wedding we went to was held there and it was gorgeous.
The food is amazing here. Held true for the brunch we had, but also for the wedding. It was some of the best wedding food I've had and the vegetarian dish was really good.
The rooms - were a bit funky for my taste. Lots of old lights, old victorian furniture, older fixtures. The bed was very comfortable, but the room wasn't terribly upscale. It was comfortable and clean, definitely.
We had brunch.
crab bisque 5 stars
omelet - 3 stars
almond waffle - 4 stars
Recently voted "Best Brunch in DC" in Express. I went with a group of 10 for Sunday brunch this past weekend, and we were given a big round table in our own room.
The food I tried--the donuts, my order of eggs Benedict, and sampling friends' waffles, gumbo--wasn't amazing, but all were pretty good. What stood out the most to me were the rest. The bread, esp. the one with cheese and (scallions?), drew raves from everyone and we had to ask for more. I loved my mulled cider drink, as well as the chocolate banana layer cake with toffee ice cream I had for dessert.
Given the hype over Tabard's brunch, I expected to be blown away by this place, and I wasn't. Though I did find it very charming and everything was, at a minimum, good. I'd def like to come back and see if some amazing huevos rancheros would put this place over the top for me!
Quaint location that has a nice vintage bed and breakfast atmostphere. Service is great and the food was pretty decent and on the pricer side averaging about $40/pp. I came here for dinner with a co-worker and reservations are definitely recommended! Otherwise expect at least a 30 minute or more wait. There's complimentary coat check and a nice seating area to wait for your table if you do forgo the reservations.
For dinner I tried the seafood gumbo with fried oysters which was a little spicy for my tastes but pretty delicious nontheless and for dessert I had the pear tartin with housemade ice-cream. A little on the sweeter side but enough to share for two and not try to finish on my own.
The service was great and we were well taken care of by our server.
A lovely space with a lot of issues.
The place is really nice: A serene courtyard and a quaint interior. The wine list is extremely well-chosen and occasionally magnificent (GET THE VERDUNO). The service and kitchen, however, need a major upgrade. The servers are indifferent and unknowledgeable. The menu is somewhat pedestrian and the cooking is occasionally quite shoddy. Bacon is often overcooked and rarely drained. Meat is often egregiously overcooked or undercooked and spicing (particularly salt) is haphazard. There's just not a lot of care put into the conception or execution of the dishes.
The space brings enough wow to overcome a diner. However, I live a couple of blocks away and, for me, after a LOT of visits (some really good, some awful, but most in the middle) because of the convenience, I now can disassociate the space from the rest of the experience: I see a beautiful space with marginal service and an iffy cook. Great place for a glass of wine in the lobby though.
I came here today with Mom and Dad to celebrate an employment milestone. We showed up pretty early in hopes of finding a parking spot somewhere, but even after looping the block and surrounding areas a couple times there was nothing to be found. My dad conceded defeat and valet parked the car.
Ambiance? Eh. A girl might come here and gush about how "cozy" and "comfortable" and "homey" this place is; her boyfriend is more apt to say "It's really fucking dark". It's also crowded and loud.
But any lingering displeasure about darkness, cramped spaces or loud conversations will immediately disappear with the food. For everything on the menu, it's the baked goods that shine, and as a baker I can tell you it's a real delight. The donuts are absolutely worth the hype: sugary, soft, warm and rich yet still feather-light. The bread basket isn't quite as good but still very nice. Despite my hatred of all things hot and spicy I really enjoyed the gumbo. A+ on the grits with fontina; you couldn't have picked a better cheese to match. My mother's pancakes had only the mildest pumpkin flavor, which I think I prefer to the kinds that actually have pumpkin in the batter.
We had all planned on separate desserts, but by that time we were so full we could barely stay awake. The milk chocolate banana cream pie was very good, although the ice cream and cookie interested me more than the pie itself. After brunch we walked outside to pick up our car, which had been valet parked all of ten feet away across the street. Of course.
I had an excellent time at Tabard, although I wish it were a bit quieter, and our server (who was admittedly very polite and helpful) disappeared inconveniently. This is a place to discuss last night's date rather than have one. I'll get on that...right as soon as I have a date, that is. Damn it.
The food is great, but the manager of the place leaves a bad after taste.
After being seated in a dark corner on a sunny morning, we asked if we could be placed at another table. Not a big deal really, but worth asking for.
The manager came over and told us because we were a walk in, the better tables were only available to those with reservations. Annoying answer but whatever.
After 45 minutes though half the restaurant was still unseated and the reservation tables remained empty. After talking with the manager about this, she said we were "lucky to get a table" and dismissed my annoyance by saying that it "was only brunch".
Unbelievable.
It's not like I was wearing cut off jean shorts and a muscle t-shirt either. For some reason she didn't like us and made it clear. Maybe we weren't old fashioned enough. The food and waitstaff were excellent though.
Damn her! Because I'll never go back. Plus it is too dark, especially on a sunny sunday morning.
I am drawn to the Tabard Inn simply for its atmosphere, and while the food is usually quite decent, today's lunch was not the most pleasant.
To start, the bread was good, the butter was soft and the wait staff was, well, present--nothing more.
I ordered the bbq duck sandwich with horseradish sauce, salad and sweet potato fries. May I suggest that you never order this?
My entree arrived and I dug in. The bbq duck stood alone on two miniature bread patties--no mayo or anything. I took one bite and knew I could not finish the sandwich. Duck is very rich, but the bbq sauce it was smothered in was even richer. It was completely overpowering. To add to this, the duck was dry as hell. I pulled the sandwich apart and proceeded to pick at it with my fork.
I moved on to the salad. I took a bite and almost cried. I had forgotten that the dish somehow incorporated horseradish--the dressing was straight up horseradish. I am a huge fan of horseradish, but the salad was ABSOLUTELY unpalatable.
The sweet potato fries were fine, albeit very greasy.
Undoubtedly my number one pick for brunch in WDC! This number lived up to everything I hoped it would be. I came here for a Saturday brunch after a couple unsuccessful attempts to get in here for Sunday brunch (w/o reservations). To my surprise, wait time for 2 was only 20 minutes (if that) for al fresco brunching. My dining companion and I soaked in the beautiful (October!) upper 70s sunshine on the tucked away garden patio.
Atmosphere: 4.75 stars -
In a word - charming. You are completely tucked away from the bustle of Dupont Circle. The outside patio is gorgeous with its flora draping down and hugging the tall red brick walls surrounding you. Flowers in bloom, fountains quietly trickling, and tables with umbrellas granting a comfortable amount of shade; couldn't ask for more. Docked a star for table spacing, I was sitting back to back with the guy behind me and neither one of us had room to push our chairs in further.
Food/Bev: 5 stars -
The bread basket was filled with so many options and such tasty fresh bread. I really had to restraint myself before I devoured the entire basket.
I opted for the applewood smoked bacon, corn cream, scallion, basil, and fontina quiche served with a light mixed greens salad. And dining companion went for the tasso-ham eggs benedict and potatoes. Both were delish. Plus, every other item on the menu looked equally appealing - guess I'll just have to return to try 'em all.
Of course, we indulged in the freshly made donuts as dessert. Served up with heavy whipped cream topped with a big, fat, juicy blackberry. (Drooling on the keyboard just musing over them.)
Bloody Marys are great - served with a bit of a kick just how I like them (a little too much for my DC). The featured spritzer was deceptively not as sweet as it appeared, but it was okay if that's your thing.
Service: 4.5 stars -
Service was top-notch. The host and server were both very accommodating. Our server came around often enough to take care of our needs, but didn't hover or make us feel rushed to scarf down our food so they could turn the table around for those filling up the lobby and stoop outside in front of the Inn. We hardly noticed him the entire meal - which, in my eyes, can be a good thing.
Overall, it was a terrific dining experience! I'd recommend this restaurant wholeheartedly to anyone looking for a lovely brunch outing.
Had breakfast at the Tabard Inn this morning. I got there at 9:55 and was told they were transitioning from breakfast to brunch, so I had to wait until 10:30 at which point the waiting area was pretty full. I sat at the bar which is first come, first served. The food is fantastic, as well evidenced in the numerous reviews here. I did not find it to be noisy as some other folks have noted. I had the corned beef hash with poached eggs and hollandaise, it was REALLY good, which big chunks of corned beef. They've got a very interesting and unique wine list but I went for the homemade bloody mary, which was good, definitely not the best I've ever had.
The atmosphere of the place is cool, definitely feels like old world Washington, DC and the food really stands out. I consider it the best breakfast I've had in DC, which isn't really saying a whole lot, but I highly recommend it.
I can see why everyone can love this place. You feel like you are far away at a bed and breakfast in Vermont, while you are smack in the middle of DC. Everything seems so quaint and charming, almost everything..
To keep this short, I just have a couple of non-gushing comments:
(1) the donuts are not that amazing. it's fried bread
(2) the acoustics inside are horrible. It's the loudest place I've been to for brunch.
Well, this place has been thoroughly reviewed, so need to re-invent the wheel. I'll just say this: The place is LOUD. I don't know that I've ever been in a restaurant so loud before. If you're going with a party of more than 2 and actually want to talk, this place is a bad choice. Be prepared.
The food was exceptional; the menu was interesting and the food well-prepared.
And for everyone who is complaining about the reservation policy: shut up and quit whining, you stupid baby. I can see how such a small and popular place absolutely HAS to rely on a reservation system. I had a reservation and it was honored. Sorry if that means that special little you can't wander in whenever you want and be seated wherever you want. Get over yourself and learn to live in the world.
Great tastey breakfast in a cozy atmosphere. This place will not disappoint with it's quality, flavorful and good food.
The quick and dirty...
The Good - my food and the nibbles I stole off my friends' plates were excellent. I enjoyed everything I tried - EVERYTHING. Also, the price given the quality ofthe food was more than reasonable (about 20 per person - no alcohol)
The Bad - the space is small (I have heard rumors of this place being romantic but to me it had the potential of being as romantic as a crowded barn), the staff just isn't very warm, the reservations process is very unaccomodating (for example: made Sunday 10:30 reservations for 3 and they told us "3 does not mean 4," we arrive they seat us at a table of 4 and there were TONS of empty tables until noon).
I definitely will return for the food but nothing else.
I called in at 10 and received reservations for 1:30.
All of the staff was helpful and friendly. Despite the fact that I could not make up my mind for at least 10 minutes, the waitress was extremely patient with me and made tons of suggestions.
I settled on the chicken sausage sandwich, which is actually a variation of the classic hot dog. It was served with some of the freshest tasting yellow tomatoes and what has to be a homemade bun. It was filled with a nice savory flavor and not greasy at all. The sweet potatoes fries are the best I've ever had. They actually have some crunch to them and are delicious with just a sprinkle of sea salt.
My mom's corn, crab, and basil tart was the big hit(Shout out to the birthday girl!!!). It was cooked perfectly and resembled a large slice of quiche. There was an abundance of crab and the flavors blended well together. Even though I am a big corn lover, I actually could have done without it in this dish but that is more of a texture complaint than flavor.
We were stuffed from the amazing bread basket, which contained bread with scallions and cheese, mini banana nut muffins, and some other tasty pieces that I can't quite recall, and our filling dishes, but we fought through the pain like good little over-eaters and split a dessert.
It was some sort of chocolate pecan turtle dessert. It's a little mound of some of the most decadent, rich chocolate I've had in a while. I definitely had to cleanse my palate with water after a few bites, so if you don't like an overwhelming chocolate experience skip it. I have to say it was well worth the struggle.
I can't believe the prices are so low for such a wonderful dining experience. Thanks Yelpers (Kevin L) for including this place on your brunch lists. I will definitely be back.
I think this is my favorite brunch place in the city. Everything I have had has been great and the atmosphere and price cannot be beat.
I've taken my mom and grandmother here a few times, and they love it. Its very charming and old fashioned.
Obviously the wait can get long but they have a lovely waiting room with antique chairs and sofas. You can grab a drink from the bar and hang out so it makes the wait more enjoyable.
I recently dined at The Hotel Tabard Inn and it was nothing short of amazing. I must say that only two things ground my gears here.
I liked this place just from walking in the front door of the hotel, it has an old, charming, quaint feel to it that I loved. The theme is continued in the reataurant's front lounge which is a fairly sizeable low-ceilinged room with hardwood floors and Persian rugs. I felt transported back in time.
Since I was solo, I opted to dine at the bar; unfortunately it was packed, but the hostess greeted me kindly and told me that I could sit in one of the lounges and order drinks. Well I'm usually not opposed to sitting on my rear and having people bring me drinks, but I was on a mission to have dinner at the bar; I ordered the Loki water, which is out of this world, and plopped down to wait on a bench. Also while waiting I had a look around at the Brown Lounge and patio, they looked pretty inviting.
For dinner I believe I had the best fried oysters in my life! They are served with pork belly, red wine vinaigrette, cherry tomatoes, and frisée topped with a soft poached egg. I am a sucker for anything topped with pork belly, bacon, or a poached egg; having 66.66% of said ingredients on one plate really kind of set me back on my heels. Needless to say, I spent the eight minutes, after the half minute I spent taking it in, recreating the perfect bite and meticulously scarfing it down. I think it's a pretty sure bet that someone thought I was hunch-backed that night.
For my main course I ordered the Seared Tasmanian Salmon, my only problems with the dish was the rice, woo boy is all I will say; and the sweet glaze glazing the entire plate, not a fan. More importantly, the fish was cooked superbly, as were the vegetables. I loved the bok choy, carrots, and mushrooms. They were certainly not treated as an afterthought, which accompaniments sometimes are, the rice...moving on. After my meal I opted for a cobbler. I can't remember the name, I just know that it had Rhum Barbancourt [love my Haitian Rhum] in it and it was fantastic. If you haven't figured it out yet, cobbler the drink not the baked good.
I will most certainly return here, you'd be a fool not to.
I feel like this places deserves two reviews: 1 for dinner, 1 for brunch. Unfortunately, this review is for dinner.
I wandered into Tabard on a quiet DC Sunday night. I don't get why people thing the decor is so great. IMHO.... the front of the house (the lobby area and front lounge) looks dated and a little shabby. The restaurant and bar area are a bit better, though I do feel the place is a little too dark in the evenings. In it's favor however is the mosaic on the the far left of the bar area..... some incredible handiwork there. But the rest of the art work... unmemorable. So I don't really get all the fuss.
Anyways, I rolled up to the bar and plopped down. Service was good- unobtrusive, but very prompt. I wasn't too hungry, so I just ordered some snacks- tomato brushetta and the cheese plate. Had a couple glass of some Italian red to go with it.
The brushetta... well, it was the knife and fork variety, though, in some ways that made it more difficult. The brushetta was basically two slices of grilled sourdough, each topped with a slice of tomato and 3 small rounds of mozzarella. I found the sourdough to be tough, the tomato rather blah (though, in it's defense, it's not tomato season anymore...) and the mozzarella flavorless. Like the decor, the whole plate was rather forgettable.
The cheese plate was no better. Three types of cheese- a blue cheese, some semi-soft yellow cheese, and a hard cheese somewhat similar to Machengo. The cheeses came with tiny slices of green apple, 3 strawberry slices, and a dollop of honey. Hardly anything adventurous, and I had to dip heavy into the bread basket just so I had something to go with the cheese, as the small portion of fruit served with the cheese hardly lasted more than 1/2 dozen slices or so....
For desert, I went with the pumpkin bread pudding. Again, nothing to write home about- I hardly tasted anything pumpkin to the bread pudding, and oddly, it was served with sliced strawberries around the plate, which I assumed was suppose to make the bread pudding look more visually interesting, but really seemed like an odd flavor combination with something pumpkin... It did come with some toffee ice cream, which was the best part of the whole desert.
While eating at the bar was pleasant enough, which I enjoyed, and I was able to put a good dent into the book I brought with me, the seating was rather uncomfortable after awhile (you are on backless wooden stools) and I felt like I was constantly being bumped up against as customer's walked behind me on their way out of the restaurant area.
Needless to say $61 later ($10 tip, $51 for 2 glasses of wine, 2 apps, and a coffee and desert) I had nothing really memorable to show for it. So I can't say I'll be back again for dinner. Brunch on the other hand.... well, that's another review for another day.
Stars are for the service and quiet ambiance only.... it's one of the few places I can go, read at the bar, and not be bothered or picked up on. No stars for the food, value, or decor.
This restaurant is like stepping back in time. It is located in an Inn and feels like it's been around for 100 years. It's truly DC and if you appreciate history, I'm sure you'll love this place. The atmosphere is so nice and relaxing for a Saturday brunch.
Luckily we walked in about 11am and were seated within 10 minutes. I tried the scrambled eggs and my husband got the pumpkin pancakes. Both were very good. The service was excellent and you can't help but fall in love with the charm of this place.
Oh and the donuts! They are sweet little warm treats that melt in your mouth.
Next time I'm in the area, I'll have to try their dinner. It seems like a great place to have a romantic date!
I first visited the Tabard Inn in March. It was my first non-trivia Yelp outing, and I knew nothing about the place or the people I'd be brunching with. The Inn turned out to be charming, with delicious donuts and cozy surroundings. The people turned out to be assholes. Kidding, of course! The company was delightful ;).
I figured the place had been covered enough that no one needed a 217th(!) opinion, buuuuut then I returned this past weekend.
I was with a large group of people, set on a daring quest.... to play Apples to Apples. Seriously, 11 pm on a Saturday night, post-dinner, we are wandering the streets of Dupont, shiny red box in hand. Would the Tabard Inn let us in? Answer: Yes! We were given our run of the courtyard, and provided drink menus to boot. Our server gave us a last call heads up around midnight, but we were allowed to stay after we paid the bill.
If I had absolutely loved the food in March, the Inn would be getting 5 stars, but for letting 10 loud people in after the dining room was closed, 4 stars and my undying admiration.
We went here without a reservation, which one should never, ever do here. It was an hour-and-a-half wait. When you're feeling a little less than fantastic by Sunday morning on the weekends, you think you might die when the wait's 30 minutes, so you can imagine how painful this was for all of us. Our fault.
The building is absolutely gorgeous and decorated beautifully -- like you're living inside a glammed-up version of the Royal Tenenbaums. The food is like artwork and came out quickly, which was so appreciated after the wait. The huevos rancheros I had were fantastic, but the scrambled egg with chive dish a friend ordered looked so delicious I almost started forking at her plate. Another friend had a tasty-looking frittata (vegetarian) and another had salmon, which, although it's creepy to say, was a nice-looking hunk of fish.
The mimosas and bloody marys were kinda pricey (a friend paid $20 for two drinks), but I guess you'll have that here in DC. Definitely an awesome experience, just remember to call ahead! Will definitely take visitors here in the future.
** PS, if you're going in a group, the checks are 2 cards max and 1 check per table. :)
Their brunch is very good. Their service was pretty decent considering how crowded it gets.
the atmosphere is amazing, their morning cocktails were pleasant, the food is delicious. this is a great place to go with a group or with a date.
they are known for their doughnuts, and once you eat them, you know why. they are perfectly sweet and delicate. the best way to start off a sunday morning.
the hanger steak and fritata's were excellent choices.
the tabard inn is one of the only good places in DC to have a good brunch.
This place was so precious!...It was like dining in a cottage house somewhere in the middle of a secret garden. :)
I had the crab quiche...lumps of tender crab meat! YUM!
and Also tried their seafood gumbo...a little out of the ordinary for brunch but was very flavorful and spicy. I loved the fried oysters.
Oh, I almost forgot, their warm, just fried doughnuts are very good...a little dusting of sugar on the outside was perfect!
I went there last night, the first time in a few years. We had a 7PM reservation, and walked right to the table. The food and the service were very good. The menu varies daily. To start, I had an heirloom tomato bruschetta with baby beet greens. The beet greens were exquisite. The bruschetta was a little disappointing: the tomato was not quite ripe and the toast was very hard to cut with a knife.
The main course I had, the seafood gumbo, more than made up for the blah bruschetta. It was a perfect combination of shrimp, mussels, fried clams, home-made sausage, wonderful spices, and just the right amount of rice.
My dining partner had a green salad to start that he really liked, and for the main, had the Tasmanian salmon, which he also greatly enjoyed.
Tabard Inn has a great wine selection: we had a half bottle of the Sancerre which fit the ticket for both our meals.
ahhhhhhmazing!
Donuts - amazing, check
Huevos Rancheros - amazing, check
Basket of baked goods - amazing, check
Fresh coffee - amazing AND CHECK
Our experience at Tabbard Inn was really special, we went for a friend's 30th birthday and we knew we would eat the crap out of everything so we walked there, a good half hour walk. We get there, thankfully we had reservations (which I had to make 2 weeks in advance), and were seating at a great little spot next to a window overlooking the back patio - too bad it was POURING at this point.
But regardless we enjoyed our food and service. Tabbard is a happy situation.
Perhaps Boo and I had a bad brunch experience. But, somehow, I fear ours was pretty much the norm. How this place could be booked 2 weeks in advance is beyond my imagination...
Staff was nice and seated us directly notwithstanding the fact that we were a tiny bit late as we dodged the Secret Service guys who wouldn't let us park anywhere and several streets were blocked off to ensure the safety of someone much, much more important than we were.
Bread basket and water came almost as soon as we sat down and our eager waitron was not far behind to take our drinks order. I got the sense that we had wandered into a very pretty factory. The pace was grueling and our neighbors so close that their conversation superceded ours. I order a bloody Mary (excellent) and a cup of lobster/corn bisque. The bisque was so salty that I couldn't finish it. I moved it to the side; and there it sat as three servers passed by three times. None of them ever asked about my abandoned bowl...neither was anyone interested in the fact that we had sampled each of the breads and left each on our plates. The corn bread had raisins in it ????? The other two varieties were also more like cake than bread.
The entrees arrived and yet my poor bisque remained quietly in the corner. No one removed it. No one asked whether I had liked it...no one cared, really. About it or my experience. Boo got the fried oyster BLT, which he declared bland but finished (not a huge compliment, as he would probably finish whatever was put in front of him since he was hungry.) I got the scramble with cream cheese and chives, home fries, and Toulouse sausage. Thankfully, the eggs were edible. The sausage, although interesting, was once again-too salty to eat. The potatoes were completely blah.
Why do people come here? Beats me. I will not be returning ever again.
A dinner review: finding myself in D.C. for a conference, I figured it'd be a good thing to invite my grandfather, who lives out in suburban Maryland, out to dinner. But where to go? I was staying in Dupont Circle for a conference at the Ritz, but the idea of mixing dinner with my granddad and that expense account scene just felt wrong. Enter Yelp, and by extension, the Tabard Inn. A great little place just minutes away from my hotel, with a cozy-but-upscale atmosphere that was perfect for two hours of catching up.
We split a half bottle of Oregon pinot, and I got a delicious crab cake (which as a born and raised Marylander, I tend to avoid in Georgia). The small watercress salad on the side of my entree plate was also fantastic. Dessert, a blackberry buttermilk cake with blackberry sorbet, was perfectly tasty but nothing I'd be especially tempted to re-order.
Thoughtfully, my date brought me to the restaurant for pre-dinner cocktails on Valentines knowing that my love of all-things quaint and romantic, yet brave and new with grand personality. Our cocktails were the staple, traditional cocktails that have lasted generations for a reason. I can't wait to go back. A friend proposed to his then-girlfriend, now-fiance at Tabard Inn, if that says anything more.
Delicious brunch spot. The brioche french toast was the perfect consistency and just a little crunchy on the outside with a side of delicious whipped cream and vermont syrup - who could resist? The compote on the side was a little strange for me so I did not partake. Those little damn donuts are also awesome, of course. Although they are only awesome because they are hot and soft and they give you whipped cream to put on top. I think we were all in a sugar coma by the end of this.
From what I tasted of the egg dishes, I would say they are quality breakfast fare - except for the potatoes which were a little cold and tough. The service was prompt although not too friendly and the waiting area was dark and crowded and I felt like I was a character in Clue, the board game.
Huevos Rancheros were a score. I've been craving some legit HR for awhile and this hit the spot. The bread/muffin basket they give you to start is a nice touch. My friends ordered the smoked salmon and something that came with fried potatoes (bad memory, definitely involved eggs). I jealously walked by others' tables with those yummy looking doughnuts. Will DEFINITELY try those next time. Cute, quirky interior. Make reservations since the walk-in wait looked a little daunting (I hear it's worse on a Sunday... much worse!). Well worth the $2-4 more per entree that I'd normally pay for breakie/brunch entrees. Will return.
The best brunch I've had in the area. I usually judge brunch by its Eggs Benedict and breakfast potatoes, and the Tabard Inn passed with flying colors on both! I have tasted several other dishes, and all are similarly up to par. I also am not a huge fan of donuts, but agree with the rave reviews of the Tabard Inn's version. So good!
So the food is good, the location is nice, the service is great. It's totally worth planning ahead to make a reservation and worth the higher price. But I'm impatient and would draw the line at showing up and waiting an hour or two... it's not THAT life changing or anything.
My chocolate mint creme brulee swung it over to five stars. Otherwise, more like 4.5. I almost always order creme brulee if it's on the menu, but Tabard had so many great desserts including homemade sorbet in flavors like raspberry key lime and watermelon mint, that I almost wavered. In the end I'm so glad I went with the creme brulee. Definitely the best I've ever had. A nice crunchy crust, not a little wisp of caramelized sugar. And the custard actually tasted of chocolate mint, a perfectly balanced creamy flavor that relegate the mint to an afterthought but didn't have it dominating the custard either. Truly perfection.
I enjoyed the rest of my meal, too. I had the crab cake, which was flavorful and presented beautifully. The pieces of tasso ham that were part of the accompaniments on the dish had great flavor, but the fattiness overwhelmed the subtlety of the crab cake, and I think it would have been better left off.
The bread basket had a nice variety from olive focaccia to nice crusty baguette slices. I was with about eight coworkers for lunch, and even though the dining room was busy, our service was good. If you're going during prime lunch hour, a reservation would be a good idea. They have Pimms on the cocktail menu, which I would have snapped up if it hadn't been a business lunch.
This review is for the brunch.
I made a reservation about 1.5 months in advance...I expected something good...what i got was heart attack cuisine.
-too much butter.
-not enough flavour.
-the waiters kind of just threw the food on our tables.
-too crowded.
Overall, I won't be returning. I thought this place would be cool, but it seemed to be just another nonsensical tourist trap.
Too bad. Oh well.
Almost a two, but I understand that a Tuesday night in August is not going to have the A-Team, and they at least tried to make things better.
Service: slow. They sent another waitress over to take our orders eventually because they realized that things weren't going well. Each course was much too far apart. But whatever, we weren't in a hurry. Service in the bar was slow too. We had to wait at least 15 minutes for a waitress.
Food:
Oysters were served not on ice, and so in the middle of August, they were a tad warm. But they felt bad and brought another plate of iced oysters to make up for it. The sauce was tasty and the oysters themselves were a nice size and tasty. Not bad for 2.05 a piece.
Duck breast was a bit tough, but sauce was fine. Mushroom dish was fine, but nothing exciting. Melon salad was terrible: prosciutto was flavorless and the melon was flavorless and unripe.
Ice cream was good, but the cookies nothing special.
All in all, fine, but I wouldn't go out of my way to go to this place.
After many months of waiting for the right opportunity (and successfully getting a reservation), I FINALLY managed to get into the Tabard Inn for brunch last Saturday! As you can imagine, my expectations had climbed over time, and after hearing several rave reviews I was expecting nothing less than brunch perfection. Alas, while it was an excellent meal, it wasn't exactly my idea of the ultimate brunch. But it was awfully good.
The courtyard where they have seasonal outdoor seating is very cute, and amply shaded by big umbrellas and this rainbow parachute that is strung across like a fabric ceiling. Eating outside in such a quiet setting was the best part of this brunch for me. Probably. Except maybe the bread and the doughnuts...
Yes, they put out a mean bread basket here. The warm sourdough loaf was top notch, and the sweet mini muffins very tasty. For $1.50 each, you can't miss the cinnamon-sugar doughnuts as a starter. Served hot with just the right amount of crust on the outside and doughy goodness within, along with a dollop of fresh whipped cream, they are excellent. And seriously decadent...
"Decadent" was the word my friend and I found ourselves using repeatedly through the meal as we cast aside all would-be-skinny inhibitions and went for the full shebang. We started with a glass of chilled wine and of course, the doughnuts and bread basket, and proceeded to a couple very heavy entrees. I had the corned beef hash with poached eggs: good flavor, but whatever happened to the idea of a hash that features beef over potatoes, instead of the other way around? I practically had to look for bits of meat amidst all the taters. That was disappointing. My friend had the eggs hollandaise with ham and really loved it, which made me think maybe I should have gone for that instead. We also tried a side of the applewood bacon and it was good, though not the best or crunchiest bacon I've had.
I was hoping for a french toast or waffle option, which I see on their website menu but I don't recall seeing it on the menu that day... maybe I'm just crazy, but I don't think I would have passed up a chance at trying the Cinnamon Pecan French Toast advertised on the website. That might be worth a return trip, if they are still serving it.
The Inn itself is a neat old place with an oddball assortment of antique furnishings in the lobby and bathrooms. Very true to the original building, which is refreshing amidst all the ultra-modern, minimalist construction these days. Definitely the kind of place I'd bring my parents to when they visit, if I can get a reservation - calling more than a week in advance isn't a bad idea if you're able!
I also noticed a bridal shower going on a small private room off the dining room - it looked like a great space for a small party or other get-together, nicely separated from the other restaurant guests.
blehhh these types of places drive me bananas. you hear about Tabard Inn all the time and that you "have" to go for brunch, and I will concede that the atmosphere is adorable. I was there in the winter and they had the fire going and the checkered tile in the dining room is cute and it's cozy there, etc etc etc.
my issue is that the staff there thinks it's my privilege to dine in their establishment. I think I had Sunday brunch reservations 3 weeks out to a month, which is ridiculous because I just want a little french toast, not a face-to-face with Obama. Then a friend came in town and really wanted to go, so I said fine I'll suck it up and call them--they don't answer the phone! I tried several times over a span of 3 days!
the bottom line is that brunch food is difficult to mess up and I've had delicious eggs and a fat stack of pancakes everywhere worth eating in this town and the way I look at it, this crappy review may be a dream come true to the Tabard Inn, who is clearly too awesome and inundated to care about your business anyway.
One of the few restaurants in DC that doesn't have the feel/look of a hotel-- and oddly one of the (relatively) few that is actually in a hotel.
The appetizers/small plates and brunch are all very good. The dinner entrees have been average.
The desserts are mind-blowing.
It's a great spot in the winter to share a cocktail near the fireplace, and in the summer to chill out on the patio.
I have a small rant. I called 10 days in advance for a brunch reservation. The gal on the phone sounded like I'd just asked for her to give me her first born but reluctantly wrote my name down for an 11 AM reservation. We showed up a little early since we lucked out with the metro train and magically, our reservation had disappeared. No apologies, just a "we'll try to seat you". Luckily we only had to wait 10 minutes so I didn't get too annoyed...but another party of two that came in after us was quoted a 45 minute wait. That didn't make a ton of sense to me since the whole time we were there, there were dozens of empty tables. Not a fan of their reservation system, they need to get on the OpenTable bandwagon. End of rant.
Other than that, brunch went off without a hitch. Five stars for the donuts and the bread basket. Four stars for my boyfriend's crab quiche. Three stars for my huevos rancheros. Service started off at five stars but once a few more tables got seated our waiter kind of disappeared. We had a nice meal, but I'd probably put them in third place for DC brunch spots, after Cafe Bonaparte and Cashion's.
My husband and i were looking for the best eggs benedict in dc and we found it here. This place is a definate for those traveling or living in the DC area. A helpful tip is to make a reservation.
Fortunately we just arrived at 10 am and were able to take advantage of the few seeats they keep open for walkins. the rest of the place had all made reservations. Oh there are a few bar seats so if you are alone or with one other person, you might be able to sit there and eat there, but the seats did not seem comfortable.
I had a bloody mary. it was great, but a bit strong. I loved the little touch of a pickeled yellow waxed been in it. We ordered the 1/2 dozen fried donuts and enjoyed them thoroughly... I had eggs benedict with ham and my husband had eggs benedict with salmon, both huge fans.
Overall our meal was about $50 for brunch but well worth it.
Took a few minutes for our waiter to get our check but other than that, it was great and highly recommend it.
The guests were a mixed bag. A few high brow couples, a few gay couples and the rest just normal folks. Jeans and Tshirts are just fine.
Washington, DC
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Adams Morgan
Category: American (Traditional)
Neighborhood: Adams Morgan
Category: Breakfast & Brunch
Neighborhood: Dupont Circle
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: Dupont Circle
Category: Latin American
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