Tabard Inn Sunday Brunch

A few weekends ago  Ben Sherman Classical Guitar played for a wedding at the 'Tabard Inn' in Washington DC.  This is a unique small hotel five blocks from the White House in the Dupont Circle area. An old townhouse, built in the 1900 Classical Revival style, the Tabard Inn has all the charm you would expect from such a building.   

Being a Sunday and quite a drive from home, I accompanied Ben so we could spend the day together.  While Ben played classical guitar for the wedding event I tried to stay off to the side of the activities.  Looking around the Tabard Inn is quite interesting for an artist, as the walls are full of paintings, prints, posters, both old and new.  
The Inn has a fun quirky mix of styles that seems to work.

The rooms remain warm and cozy even with modern touches of vibrant color.  Although it was a long trek up four flights of narrow curving steps, I was fortunate enough to have the bride take me up to the honeymoon penthouse suite for a peek after the wedding. Being an old building there are no elevators. There at the top of what seemed to be a secret passage was a jewel of a room. A really cool eclectic apartment space with a huge Matisse looking painting, and a funky mix of furniture with Moroccan colors filling the large open room.  She said they loved staying at the Tabard Inn.

The bride was absolutely beautiful in a long glamorous antique styled dress from the thirties.  She had the look of a movie star from the black and white movie days. Her ecru fishtail train swished as she moved quickly and effortlessly up the steps. Not so for me. Which is why that room is the perfect hideaway for a young honeymoon couple. Being a small boutique hotel the Tabard Inn only has 40 guest rooms. The bar is small and beloved by it's patrons as it is rated one of the best in the world. The Sunday Brunch is rated one of the top three brunches in DC. The menu changes seasonally with much of the food coming from their own nearby farm....and roof. Yes... roofs.

While Ben played during the cocktail hour I went and made our reservations for the famous Tabard Inn Sunday Brunch. Actually you are supposed to make reservations weeks in advance lest you sit for hours waiting for an opening. Not kidding! We tried making reservations that morning. They suggested that we try to get on the waiting list when we get there and see what happens since they were already booked.  I could see the crowd during the last hour of brunch had thinned out. I decided to put our names on the list.

The waiting area was in a very old looking timbered ceiling room with a fireplace and multiple old sofas much like an old English Inn. After Ben finished playing we went to the waiting area and were lucky enough to be seated shortly there after. Since it was sweltering hot that Sunday we were seated inside and not out on the patio area. We could see from the window the 'green roof project' the Inn created by covering a roof with fresh herbs. Your food is growing right in front of you! That patio looked wonderful and someday we will return in nicer weather and enjoy that garden courtyard.

Okay let me just say that while I write this post Ben and I are drooling thinking about the yummy brunch we had at the Tabard Inn. The chef uses all fresh ingredients and even the simplest items were fantastic. We started off with the freshly fried and sugared light fluffy donuts served with fresh whipped cream. Melt in your mouth goodness! Ben shared his bowl of watermelon-tomato gazpacho that was refreshing and delicious. Pancakes dripping with blueberries was next on the table for Ben. These pancakes were so incredibly light, but at the same time full of texture with crisp buttery edges. Perfection! High praises to their chef!!!

My choice was the toasted almond waffles with mango compote! Oooo lala! Look at all that fruit! So so good! Of course Ben and I shared tastes of each others meal. How could you resist this mouth watering food?  The Tabard Inn had a full menu of choices for brunch that included crab cakes, oysters, steak, salads and desserts. If you know you are going to be in DC in the future, I highly recommend Sunday Brunch at the Tabard Inn, Keep in mind you should call ahead for reservations weeks in advance. Plus have your car valet parked as it may be difficult to find a parking space on this charming street. Oh yes we will be back... Ohhhhhhhhhhh Yes!