Unconventional Diner

Experience exceptional American dining in Washington, D.C. with a 4.6-star rating. Discover delicious dishes and a vibrant atmosphere. Visit today!

American$$4.6(6,012)Washington, D.C.

Industrial-chic bistro and bar for upscale comfort fare, coffee, beer, wine, and cocktails.

About Unconventional Diner

This popular spot in Washington, D.C. offers a delightful dining experience, consistently earning a 4.6 out of 5 stars from over 6,000 patrons. With a comfortable $$ price range, it's a go-to for those seeking well-executed American cuisine. Diners rave about the flavorful menu, with many suggesting you can't go wrong with any selection. Highlights include incredibly flavorful breakfast biscuits, top-notch pancakes, and a chocolate cake described as potentially the best ever tasted. The atmosphere is lively, and the restaurant is well-suited for groups, featuring outdoor seating and serving cocktails. It's a place where guests are encouraged to arrive hungry and leave thoroughly satisfied after a truly tasty meal.

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Restaurant Analysis

Restaurant Characteristics

Formula-Based Analysis

This restaurant has been analyzed using our formula-based system to help you understand its key features and match it with your dining preferences.

💰Price Range
Moderate
🕐Meal Time
dinner
👥Group Size
Groups Welcome
🎭Atmosphere
Outdoor
🍽️Dining Style
Flexible
Features & Amenities
Outdoor Seating
Cocktails
Beer
Wine
+5 more

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Why Travelers Love Unconventional Diner

Sourced from recent guest feedback and verified reviews.

4.6 / 5.0(6,012 reviews)

Absolutely Delicious. What should you order: Anything! This place has delicious food across the whole menu. We ended up coming two day in a row as it was that tasty. The loaded breakfast biscuits were crazy flavorful. My wife loved the pancakes, which were top notch. The star of the show was the chocolate cake, which may be the best Chocolate cake I’ve ever eaten. Overall come here hungry and leave super happy! We had an awesome brunch at Unconventional Diner. The food was cooked perfectly and so tasty. I ordered the loaded breakfast biscuits, which reminded me a bit of a Hawaiian loco moco. The sausage on them was spicy, super flavorful, and clearly homemade or locally sourced, not the generic, pre-packaged stuff. Every bite was rich and satisfying. We also tried the crème brûlée French toast. It came as one thick slice of brioche with a layer of custardy crème brûlée and a crackly sugar topping. I expected it to be overwhelmingly sweet, so I was a little nervous at first, but it was actually perfectly balanced. The sweetness was just right and paired really well with the brioche, giving it a great mix of sweet and savory. On the side, the cheesy grits were fantastic, creamy, comforting, and full of flavor. Overall, I’d definitely go back and would happily recommend Unconventional Diner to any of my friends looking for a great brunch spot. It was a pleasant experience, the atmosphere was nice and welcoming. The host and waiters were super friendly, super nice. The restaurant was tidy and clean, unfortunately there was a dirty glass which they changed with a plastic cup, I'll give them 8/10 on that. Talking about the food: I ordered, ● Chiken & waffles: was below average, came really dry and flavorless, very sad. ● Greek Full dead salad with Salmon: was ok, the Salmon was a little over. ● French dip poutine: was good but really heavy. ● Cajun Srimp & Grits: was dilecious. ● Double cheese Burger & Frise: was ok, could be better. The fries are really good. ● Buttermilk pancakes: was to the dry side, but it was ok. The Srawbarry and Brownie cakes area really dilecious. Food quality was ok, survise was really good though. Thank you Carlos. Would I come back? Yes, I would.

Find the Restaurant

Where to Find Them

1207 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001, USA

View on Google Maps

Opening Hours

Open Now
Monday8:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Tuesday8:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Wednesday8:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Thursday8:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Friday8:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Saturday8:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Sunday8:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Recent Reviews

Coach T.

October 27, 2025

Absolutely Delicious. What should you order: Anything! This place has delicious food across the whole menu. We ended up coming two day in a row as it was that tasty. The loaded breakfast biscuits were crazy flavorful. My wife loved the pancakes, which were top notch. The star of the show was the chocolate cake, which may be the best Chocolate cake I’ve ever eaten. Overall come here hungry and leave super happy!

Jeff P.

November 16, 2025

We had an awesome brunch at Unconventional Diner. The food was cooked perfectly and so tasty. I ordered the loaded breakfast biscuits, which reminded me a bit of a Hawaiian loco moco. The sausage on them was spicy, super flavorful, and clearly homemade or locally sourced, not the generic, pre-packaged stuff. Every bite was rich and satisfying. We also tried the crème brûlée French toast. It came as one thick slice of brioche with a layer of custardy crème brûlée and a crackly sugar topping. I expected it to be overwhelmingly sweet, so I was a little nervous at first, but it was actually perfectly balanced. The sweetness was just right and paired really well with the brioche, giving it a great mix of sweet and savory. On the side, the cheesy grits were fantastic, creamy, comforting, and full of flavor. Overall, I’d definitely go back and would happily recommend Unconventional Diner to any of my friends looking for a great brunch spot.

monear Q.

October 25, 2025

It was a pleasant experience, the atmosphere was nice and welcoming. The host and waiters were super friendly, super nice. The restaurant was tidy and clean, unfortunately there was a dirty glass which they changed with a plastic cup, I'll give them 8/10 on that. Talking about the food: I ordered, ● Chiken & waffles: was below average, came really dry and flavorless, very sad. ● Greek Full dead salad with Salmon: was ok, the Salmon was a little over. ● French dip poutine: was good but really heavy. ● Cajun Srimp & Grits: was dilecious. ● Double cheese Burger & Frise: was ok, could be better. The fries are really good. ● Buttermilk pancakes: was to the dry side, but it was ok. The Srawbarry and Brownie cakes area really dilecious. Food quality was ok, survise was really good though. Thank you Carlos. Would I come back? Yes, I would.

Alison J.

September 25, 2025

Fantastic experience at the Unconventional Diner! The menu lives up to the name with tons of different cuisines represented in the dishes (very unconventional… I’ve never eaten at a restaurant with this much variety). Everything we had was delicious. I loved the Lebanese fried rice and the meatloaf is the best meatloaf I’ve ever tried. The chicken pot pie poppers were also quite tasty. Our server was very nice and brought out a fun birthday surprise for me (thankfully no singing!). I would absolutely eat here again… highly recommend!

Alex P.

October 19, 2025

What a great brunch's spot. Love the vibes, gives old fashioned diner with modern twist. Their plates even look like paper plates, but they're ceramic. The service was fabulous. It took a little while to get hot coffee but that is my only negative. We ordered the blueberry lavender pancakes, sexy sandwich, and the loaded biscuits. The pancakes were delicious. My favorite savory option was the sexy sandwich, the sexy sauce is delicious. Will absolutely be back again!

What to Expect

Features and amenities that make Unconventional Diner special

Outdoor Seating

Cocktails

Beer

Wine

Coffee

Family Friendly

Dog Friendly

Groups Welcome

Reservations

Practical Information

Everything you need to know before you visit

Payment Options

Credit Cards
Debit Cards
NFC/Contactless

Parking

Free Street Parking
Paid Street Parking

Accessibility

Wheelchair Accessible Entrance
Wheelchair Accessible Restroom
Wheelchair Accessible Seating

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