This morning — like every Saturday or Sunday morning — there was a gargantuan crowd waiting for brunch at Coastal Kitchen. Capitol Hill people, we know Coastal’s chow is good stuff but there are plenty of other choices in the nearby vicinity. Why not consider these alternatives?
- Monsoon — Awesome dim sum and killer standards
- Kingfish — Soul in the morning
- The Canterbury — Our own medieval greasy spoon
- Volunteer Park Cafe — They have a line too. But at least it’s a different line.
Monsoon is often our choice. Of course, if the crowd shifts, you’ll see us in line at Coastal.
–j/k
Hello!? Just a few doors down is 22 Doors. Their service is a little amateur sometimes, but I think their food is a fine substitute for Coastal and I hate lines.
I should really go to Kingfish for breakfast again, too. That place is awesome.
Coastal Kitchen is so overrated, funny how people line up to eat there.
seconded on 22 doors – the potatoes are SO good.
Kingfish rocks.
i don’t understand that whole waiting thing. especially waiting outside with NO SEATING.
if i can wait inside, seated and preferrably be served coffee or other refreshment, sure I’ll wait maybe 15 minutes.
but i’ll never understand standing outside on the sidewalk for ages to eat somewhere.
lemmings.
i have to think a certain portion of those people made the plan without remembering or knowing about the wait and just decided to suck it up.
Monsoon’s brunch is fantastic – I’ve recommended it to everyone I know. Such good high-end dim-sum. The only nitpick is that the service is spotty.
We’ve thrown everything a customer can at Monsoon and the staff has always done right by us. I’m talking stuff like having a toddler and a newborn at a table and combining two tables of 4 into one table of 8 — and both of those scenarios AT THE SAME TIME! Maybe they were bored with you Jasmine because you didn’t give them a big enough challenge!
I often eat on Sundays at Coastal Kitchen, and I’ve never once waited to eat. But that’s because I generally don’t go until after 2:00 (not hungry before then) and I always sit at the bar. It can be a little drafty in the middle of winter but there’s pretty much always a spot open — and you’re right by the coffee so your cup is always full. Plus you can watch the guys make everybody else’s breakfast.
Didn’t know the Kingfish did weekend brunch, however. I’ll have to check that out.
looks like cypress is starting to serve brunch, and if dinner on a weeknight is an indication, you could expect: no wait and delicious, reasonably priced, greek inspired dishes.