homestead

homestead
3911 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, DC 20011
tel: 202) 627-2371

what was consumed: brunch! so, their breakfast burrito. and delicious biscuits. and qualia coffee (though, not sure what will happen once qualia moves :( ...)

always happy to see solid eateries come to my old neighborhood. i wish homestead was there when i lived there! i'd eat their biscuits every day ... 

katie and i met for brunch and were happy with homestead's selection of classic brunch foods, prepared deliciously (i only wish some sort of potato product was offered with my burrito! i should've ordered some separately, as i am wont to do). i'll have to go back one of these days and try their dinner menu (which, i hear, is also delicious). here's to hoping it becomes way more than a delicious neighborhood place!

online: http://homesteaddc.com/

little coco's

little coco's

3907 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20011
tel: 202) 853-9889

what was consumed: brunch! coco's daily doughnuts (filled with cream today!), italian baked eggs (bolognese, grilled bread, parmesan), steak & eggs (grilled hangar stea, eggs, argula, crispy potatoes), coco's delux pizza (fresh mozzarella, pepperoni, broccoli rabe, red peppers, pecorio)

more italian food, please! happy to see little coco's added to the list of restaurants in the DC area. c had mentioned little coco's to me and i was glad to finally get the chance to visit.

the ladies and i got together for a yummy italian brunch and some good conversation. we ordered a couple of different different dishes to share. delicious daily doughnuts, check (that cream! creamy and not too sweet. i would like a vat of that, please. steak cooked and seasoned well, check. delicious pizza check. bolognese on grilled bread that we seriously contemplated ordering another of, check (definitely get the italian baked eggs).

thank you ladies, thank you little coco's!

Online: www.littlecocos.com/

espita mezcaleria

 espita mezcaleria
1250 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001
tel: 202) 621-9695

what was consumed: 3-part brunch meal! including a fresh cole rizada (curly & baby kale, kale chips, savory nuts & seeds, queso fresco, avocado, jalapeno garlic crema), tacos (al pastor - adobo rubbed pork, pineapple, pickled watermelon, salsa verde, salsa ranchera), and postre (milk chocolate caramel and white chocolate mousse, peanut sesame brittle)

add espita mezcaleria to your list, especially if you're in the mood for southern mexican cuisine. or if you just want a cool place to go to have good conversation with friends. we all opted for the brunch menu that offered an antojo, a choice of entrada, and a chocolate caramel and white chocolate mousse postre. while i probably could have eaten a dozen more tacos (big appetite over here. also because they were delicious! the flavors, the tortilla the salsas ... YUM. i hear the tacos de zanahorias (carrots) are also just wonderful), i kept it to the three that came with my meal. for appearances.

a nod also to espita mezcaleria's drink menu. a colorful, tasty, and creative variety for you to choose from. be sure to give one (or some) a try!

online: https://espitadc.com/

china chilcano

china chilcano
418 7th St NW, Washington, DC 20004
tel: 202) 783-0941

what was consumed: ceviche clasico, tradicional siu mai, aji de gallina (peru's most precious dish), jook, tan tan noodles

shar is in town! and with her visit comes lots of super fun things, to include delicious eats. and so, we head to jose andres' china chicano in penn quarter for brunch. we were seated at a nice seat near the window, which we enjoyed as we waited the long intervals between our dishes being served.

china chilcano serves peruvian and asian (mostly chinese and japanese) fusion dishes. shar said she's not usually a fan of fusion but enjoyed the fare at china chilcano. i loved the tan tan noodles and that's all i care about now (and probably what i'd recommend out of what we enjoyed). 

if you're going to order the soup dumplings, be sure to put in your order asap (we dilly dallied with the rest of our order. by the time we decided, all the soup dumpling orders were gone gone gone). we were just a few minutes late, so didn't get to enjoy them this time around. next time!

online: http://chinachilcano.com/

logan tavern

logan tavern
1423 P St NW, Washington, DC 20005
tel: 202) 332-3710

what was consumed: beignets, steak and eggs omelet, breakfast tacos, french toast, eggs benedict ... and coffee.

i'd been to logan tavern before, but didn't know that it was some people's go-to spot for sunday brunches. now, i can see why! be sure to order beignets (though you maybe should to share. no judgement if you polish them off on your own!) and, if your sweet tooth is calling, the french toast (the special one). 

online: http://logantavern.com/

english tea house

english tea house
Street 16, F-7/2 next to Rana Market, Islamabad, Pakistan
tel: 051-2609361 / 051-2609362

what was consumed: brunch! mexican omelet and breakfast panini sandwich. coffee. and chocolate banana waffles with nutella for dessert/sharing.

the ladies who dine decided to take an american holiday to visit english tea house (for me, this was a few days after i tried yum!, a delicious way to spend the days). 

many of the ladies who dine were in town, so we were quite a large group. lucky for us, the english tea house was happy to accommodate. they were also good about accommodating our requests for a/c (initially, it was SO HOT inside). so once we were seated and comfortable, we were ready to eat.

english tea house has a pretty extensive continental menu, stretching from breakfast all the way to dinner as well as high tea (like their name) which is one thing i would have liked to try (next time!) we enjoyed what we ordered and were pleasantly surprised to see actual smoked salmon being served. oh, and their hash browns are delish (hash browns are just french fries for the morning. more hash browns, please!)

friends have also commented on their delicious lattes. i will confirm; the coffee does not disappoint. so go on over, order up a latte, and enjoy!

online: https://www.facebook.com/ETHIslamabad/ or http://ethpakistan.pk/

loafology

loafology
109 jinnah avenue (blue area), islamabad, pakistan 44000
tel: 051-2804044

what was consumed: coffee, grilled cheese, bagel with cream cheese, loafology omelet, mini lemon tart, lemon bread

looking for a nice place to grab a good cup of coffee and some delicious treats? check out loafology! a western style bakery, started by some expats, offers delicious fare in addition to quite a selection of breads and other baked goods; loafology has become one of my go-to brunch/sandwich places. 

and when they have it, be sure to try their lemon tart-lettes. a nice combination of tart and sweet in a delicious and flaky mini crust ... DELISH. but be sure to get there early, or call in your orders. once their supply is gone, their supply is gone for the day ... and you don't want to miss out!

online: http://loafology.com/ and on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/loafology/

chaaye khana

chaaye khana
shop # 11, block b united bakery plaza super market, F-6 markaz, islamabad
tel: 051) 8312192

what was consumed: stuffed french toast, omelet, coffee (with donut)

looking for a bustling place to enjoy some tea and brunch-y foods? put chaaye khana on your list! 

the first time i visited, it was for a farewell brunch for a good colleague/friend. we were sad to see her depart from post, but happy that we got to try chaaye khana in her honor.

the food is tasty (be sure to get an order of the stuffed french toast, to share at least. it's a little rich/sweet for my liking, but i was happy to enjoy bites of BJL's ;) the stuffed french toast also seemed to be the most popular, as quite a few of them passed our table. the toast is crispy on the outside, deliciously filled on the inside with a light cream). their pakistani options are quite a treat as well! 

chaaye khana is proud of their very large tea selection. tea drinkers, rejoice! chaaye khana takes it very serious, and i'm glad that they do; their selection is amazing and the tea looks (and smells) delish. but for an avid coffee drinker like me, my palate isn't accustomed to the subtle notes of delicate teas. lucky for me, coffee is also an option (phew!). they serve coffee in french presses (just as they serve all of their teas). if you order coffee, you also get a donut (for better or for worse). i'll just take the coffee, please. a lots of it!

be sure to get to chaaye khana early (or just test your luck. not sure if they take ressies) because it's always super packed.

online: http://www.chaayekhana.com/

classic rock coffee co.

classic rock coffee co.
#6-7, first floor, shaukat plaza, school road, F-6 markaz, islamabad
tel: 051) 873-6437

what was consumed: omelet, nutella french toast, bottomless (drip) coffee

yay for coffee and classic rock!

if you're looking for a fun place to brunch, put classic rock on your list! they have a nice selection of eats, along with fruit juices, smoothies, and coffees (including pour over - nice). and, really, you can't go wrong with a place that offers an all-you-can-drink drip coffee option (imo). the mexican omelet i ordered was really intersting, with the eggs inside of the bread. coupled with what seemed to be a cross between a tostada salad and nachos, it was a perfect meal with a bit of tex mex spice i had been looking for.

the slabs of bread that the pakistanis use here for french toast is different from what i'm used to, but a welcome surprised. and when topped with dollops of nutella, it's a delicious and sweet brunch option.

and be sure to pay attention to all of the little details they put in with the decor and music. classic rock lovers (loose definition, of course) will definitely appreciate all of the little things - the decorated walls, the guitar chairs, even the bathroom!

i didn't know that this islamabad location is just one of many. i'm glad to see that whoever it was that loved coffee and classic rock brought it here for us to enjoy. thanks so much!

online: http://classicrockcoffee.com/locations/islamabad-pakistan/