If there was an aesthetic for “classy brunch,” this would be it. Tabard Inn is a beautiful hotel with a beautiful restaurant in the back, a really nice spot for a little indulgent brunch.

Tabard Inn is a half-hotel half-restaurant in Dupont Circle. Its a fairly small building and one of DC’s oldest hotels, as they boast. The restaurant portion is in the back. When we walked in, we came into the waiting area, a dimly-lit lounge with paintings of old men, pretty-looking but uncomfortable couches, and victorian-style decor. It was very reminiscent of an “old boys club” which was maybe not the right setting for two college kids.

The outside seating was absolutely beautiful. Exposed brick, plants everywhere, fancy statues. We felt way fancier than we actually were.

Onto the food! The brunch menu wasn’t terrible expansive, but it was just enough. Both of our meals ended up being a sugar overload – half intentionally, half unintentionally. We decided to split an order of donuts first – and then we got a basket of mini muffins! The muffins were poppyseed and pecan with a side of whipped orange butter. It was a really great start to the meal. I’m not a huge fan of muffins, i think they’re a sad excuse for cake. Like naked cake. But! These were nice and soft and a great appetizer.

Then we had the donut. It was warm and topped with cinnamon sugar with a side of whipped cream. Sooo yummy, sooo sweet. They were just the right size and price for a little taste without being too heavy.

I ordered the “Qatayef” for my meal. These were two Syrian-style stuffed pancakes. I’m not sure what I was expecting, but it was definitely not this! It was a very unique and non-traditional dish for sure. It was a spongy sweet dough, almost like a thick dosa or a sweet injera. One had a creamy orange ricotta stuffing, and the other had a walnut sauce stuffing. Both were topped with pistachios and a rose water syrup.

two Syrian-style stuffed pancakes, ricotta and orange zest

and walnuts with home-made rose water syrup

One word: SWEET. While it was a beautiful dish with a lot of flavor, the rose water was really overpowering. The ricotta stuffed one took over my mouth too. I wish it were paired with a less syrupy-sweet stuffing, like a fruit mixture to balance out the textures, or something cold like a sorbet. The dish was well executed but could be re-imagined a bit. Especially with the muffins and the donuts, I left feeling like I had eaten rose water sugar cubes for a meal. Even my friend Zach who brunched with me felt the same – he got pancakes that were delicious – but incredibly sweet.

Overall, I think this restaurant is great – but I will be trying something different next time I go. The service was wonderful, the ambiance is outstanding, I just think we were a little off with our orders. Its worth a second visit and the prices are pretty typical for brunch, around the 12-17$ range for entrees.

The Bottom Line

Interesting food, cute muffins, and a beautiful ambiance!

Cone Rating: 4 Cones

Price: $$ (10-20$)

Location: Dupont Circle, Washington, DC

On the Internet: Tabard Inn Website and Yelp page