tabard inn

we stayed at the inn and enjoyed both evening drinks and appetizers in the sitting room and morning breakfast in the main dining area. this place has lots of historic character and my sister, who lives in dc, told us that tabard inn is the place to take family visiting from out of town. highly recommend the meat and cheese board, but espresso drinks are probably better than the drip coffee.

loved the breakfast & ambiance - service was ok

i got here for brunch, was taken back by the muffins they bring out lol. this was my second visit and of course ordered the chicken waffles (as i always do) on my next visit i will try their raved over donuts. staff was friendly and drinks are also good.

originally opened in 1922 and now the oldest continuously running hotel in washington dc, a transfer of ownership to edward cohen and his wife in 1975 seeing the restaurant reimagined as a place where everything would be cooked from scratch using locally sourced ingredients, the tabard inn had long been on a bucket list of american classics to visit and on friday after a disappointing breakfast elsewhere the decision was made to finally stop by.

harboring more history than all but a handful of historic inns, its utilization during world war two as housing discussed in literature found on a table in the lobby filled with art and antique furniture plus various other relics, it was after checking in with the clerk that guests were led back to a dining room where several professionally dressed men and women sat lingering over coffee, the concise menu presented before dark roast coffee was poured and kept filled throughout the morning.

dimly lit and heavily wooded, ownership intentionally leaving things as intact as possible including the rooms upstairs which supposedly still lack televisions, it was a team of two men speaking spanish to one another that service was provided throughout the morning, most interaction perfunctory but efficient and orders taken without delay with check delivered shortly after it was asked for.

perhaps as famous for their sugar donuts as the hotel’s history, a strange fact as the dmv has seen a boom in artisan doughnuts recently that are far better than the somewhat dry rings served with whipped cream at $2 each, those looking for a better product at a lower price are encouraged to instead take a look at tabard inn’s seasonal scones, the $5 trio served with housemade jam and blended butter currently blueberry and peach with the scones not dry like those in england but muffin-like, buttery and soft.

still taking the ‘everything made in house’ theme as seriously as ever, both the yogurt and granola as well as bagels with a good skin and nice chew made fresh daily, it was with a daily special of boneless chicken and waffles that the order was rounded out, the thigh meat exceptionally juicy with deeply penetrating spices while the bacon-studded waffle was also quite pleasant, the maple cream cheese largely unnecessary as the $15 plate was served with plenty of 100% maple syrup out of vermont.

very small and often crowded restaurant. love the authentic vibes of this place. the menu is not that big, but the options to choose from are delicious. their chocolate dulce de leche bombe is to die for.

do you like restaurants with charm? in a lot of cases, people go to the restaurant for the good food and good service. don’t get me wrong – these are my priorities too. but for me, experiencing a pleasure of just “being inside” is a great bonus too. you walk in, just glance around and say “ahh, i like it here” – this is what i mean by “charm”. you are at the restaurant, waiting for your dining companions to arrive, then you are walking to your table, get seated and situated, and all that time you are thoroughly pleased with surroundings and the atmosphere – i hope you get what i’m talking about here.

dan and i started our gluttonous vday with brunch at one of my favorite spots in dc - hotel tabard inn . dc residents have treasured this place forever... who wouldn't love a cozy, romantic, bed-and-breakfast-type inn a stone's throw away from dupont circle? the inn oozes charm, and its restaurant oozes all kinds of deliciousness.

had higher expectations. place was crowded and pretty loud. i ordered the gumbo which was fine, but nothing to write home about. service was average given the price point.

tabard inn, 1739 n street nw, washington, dc, 202.785.1277. blue duck tavern, 1201 24th street nw, washington, dc, 202.419.6755. the colonnade at the fairmont, 2401 m street nw, washington, dc, 1.866.540.4505. corduroy, 1122 9th street nw, washington, dc, 202.589.0699. ici urban bistro, 806 15th street nw, washington, dc, 202.730.8700. adour, 923 16th street nw, washington, dc, 202.509.8000. society f

tabard inn serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but i'm most concerned with their brunch. i'm most concerned with their brunch because that is what they're known for. brunch is an institution in dc, and tabard inn is the gold-standard of dc brunch spots.

best brunch in dc. ...hands down.

i have to agree, the brunch is well worth the planning ahead it takes to go.

...tabard inn has gotten too big for its britches and is skimping on the service and details.

oh man, this was the best complimentary breakfast i’ve ever had. the scones were literally fresh out of the oven (i was there really, really early), so they were all warm on the inside, and steamed when i broke them open. they were some of the best scones i’ve ever had. so yummy

i would definitely recommend the tabard inn as a go-to brunch place if ever you find yourself looking for one. it may be a bit jaded now but still hits the brunch spot.