I spent several years of my childhood growing up in the suburbs of Maryland where the late-night activities for teenagers were few and far between. We often found ourselves at our local Silver Diner, drinking milkshakes and eating French fries until the wee hours of the morning, as it was the only venue that was open past midnight. Since then, I have had an affection for diners and diner food. It’s been exciting to see the opening of several DC diners over the last few years and re-experiencing the fun of diners and diner food has been a blast. Here are some details on these spots, all of which have different themes and unique fare.
The Foodie Diner: Unconventional Diner
At Unconventional Diner, the cuisine is comforting, delicious and homey but each dish has a modern, upscale twist, hence the name of this 9th street corridor restaurant. I am a sucker for their Mexi-Cali chili, which is sweet and savory at the same time and comes crowned with chunks of avocado and thinly sliced crispy fried tortilla strips. Equally as delicious is their Lebanese fried rice, which is laden with lentils and raisins, the creamy curry-infused chickpea stew, and decadent mac n cheese. Dishes are clearly marked as vegetarian, vegan, and/or gluten-free which is especially helpful. Don’t skip dessert; all diners are known for their desserts and the Unconventional Diner is no exception. With carrot cake, banana splits, and apple pie a la mode you won’t be able to choose just one.
The Plant-Based Diner: Fare Well
The cuisine is diner gone plant-based, and it doesn’t get much better than this. This vegan DC diner serves some of the best classic American comfort fare I have ever had. From burgers to pancakes to pierogies to mac n cheese, it won’t matter to you if it is planted-based or not. Save room for cake; I am a huge fan of the funfetti and chocolate lovers will swoon over the s’mores cake. Wash down your cake with a classic American milkshake, because that’s what you do at a diner!
The Traditional DC Diner: Ari’s Diner
Ari’s serves the food of diners from my youth: chocolate chip pancakes, sandwiches with fries, French toast, omelets, sundaes, New York cheesecake, and malts. Sometimes when I go I just get fries and a shake! Located in the up and coming Ivy City neighborhood, this DC diner is the perfect ending place after an afternoon exploring the distilleries and breweries of the area.
The Southern Diner: Crimson Diner
The food at Crimson Diner is classic diner with a Southern twist. There are buttery and flaky biscuits, crunchy fried green tomatoes, hush puppies, a gooey grilled cheese, a vegetarian po’ boy and pimento cheese dip with housemade fries. The Southern theme goes even further, with cocktails like sweet tea rickey and Georgia belle gin-infused peach milkshake.
The Verdict: DC Diners
There’s plenty of variety to be found at DC diners. From vegan to indulgent food, there’s plenty to choose from!
