Wonkette
The Florida Avenue Grill is an old-school Southern diner, serving classic fare since the 1940s. Go here for the history and the charm, but not for your health.
The small diner space is lined with autographed pictures of prominent African-Americans and Washingtonians. Since Florida Ave. is a small place, expect a wait for brunch. But while you wait, enjoy the ambiance — the photos lining the walls, the laid back Southern charm of the waitresses, and the feeling that you’re sitting at a type of restaurant that in other cities has become a dying breed.
The food’s a bit of a mixed bag, but fortunately, none of it costs very much. Pluses: the enormous, light and airy hotcakes and the eggs, which aren’t overcooked. Minuses: the bacon (dry) and the homefries (mushy); both had probably been sitting around for too long. Tossup: the grits, which were substantive and flavorful, but which came swimming in butter.
We also tried the corned beef hash and the country ham. The hash was crispy and delicious, while the ham was stringy and disappointing. The Virginia ham, which is a large thick slice, would probably be a better choice next time.
Leave the calorie-counting at home and pop a Lipitor before you go to Florida Ave. — a place that turns out decent diner food in an authentic atmosphere that reminds you of D.C.’s Southern roots.
Florida Avenue Grill, 1100 Florida Ave. NW, Washington D.C. 20009, (202) 265-1586.
…Tossup: the grits, which were substantive and flavorful, but which came swimming in butter.
I don’t think grits can be eaten any other way (and in most cases would be questionable even then). I believe there is a Russian proverb:
you can’t spoil a porridge with too much butter.
Yeah, this must have been written by a raw-food nut or something. Put down the yoga mat and eat a real breakfast, already:
1) Grits swimming in butter is delicious. Get over it. Oh man, I’m going to go eat some right now. Just saying that — “grits swimming in butter” — makes me hungry.
2) No mention of the biscuits, which are some of the best anywhere. IT’S ALL ABOUT THE BISCUITS. What’s up with not mentioning the biscuits?
3) The ham is delicious. Quit whining. HAM.
Sorry, I’m not down with these grits. Served with a little butter, fine. With a little gravy, better. You should be able to add more if you like. And a place like this should have biscuits please.
What about the chicken fried steak and the cream gravy? Mother of God, I am so not being ironic, those are vital facts you’ve not included. Can anyone update?
chascates: gravy? OK, I don’t get the weird gravy that gets made from some things in the south. Butter on grits is fine.
Commodities Desk: I tend to associate chicken fried steak with Texas. They have it at this place too? Fried chicken, on the other hand …
Oh boy you guys I have been loving Fl Ave Grill since my first trip to DC some 30 years ago (AS A FETUS, OBVS). Could you really have failed to mention “SCRAPPLE” and being called “HON?”