After a long evening of drinks out with friends, some people's attentions turn to one last meal before retiring for the night. Some places have now called this "Fourth Meal," however fast food establishments are not always a desirable option. Luckily, not located too far from H Street is an authentic diner car nestled between a couple old brick buildings.
The original diner, which was built in upstate New York in 1947, was moved to DC and has been residing at its current location on Bladensburg Road NE since 2009. The exterior is clad in stainless corrugated metal, with white and red horizontal racing stripes. The interior is mainly a pastel blue color and comes complete with a bit of that cramped feeling often present in small diners. There are a few booths lining the front wall, and a bar with wooden barstools providing for supervision of the kitchen area.
The menu is packed full of breakfast items, such as the classic omeletes, steak & eggs, bacon, corned beef hash and even scrapple. A variety of buttermilk pancakes and malted waffles also highlight the breakfast selection, which is served all day. If a waffle is currently being made when you're looking over the menu, the intoxicating smell may just influence your decision.
The "Lunch & Dinner" portion is fairly simple, filled with a cascade of fried dishes, sandwiches & subs, and burgers. All sandwiches, subs and burgers come with a side of seasoned waffle fries, which for 75 cents more, can be smothered in gravy. A few salads help add some greenery to the menu, though the majority are specialty types, such as a tuna or Club Salad. For those looking to use their knife and fork, platters such as meatloaf and T-bone steak are available.
The staff is very friendly, and it doesn't take much to engage them in conversation, further building on the diner experience. The food comes up fast, and truly is a great alternative to other late-night food options. As Bladensburg Road continues to be developed, this place will definitely be harder to get into.
Vegetarian Note: There are a couple items that are specifically vegetarian, such as the veggie sub and gardenburger. Some of the other items should be OK, however it may be best to verify cooking method and ingredients.
Capital City Diner
1050 Bladensburg Road, NE
Washington, DC 20002
tel. 202.396.DINR
web. http://www.capitalcitydiner.com/
twitter. http://twitter.com/capcitydiner
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