There's a reshuffling of hours up at the Capital City Diner (1050 Bladensburg Road), so be sure to take note lest your rumbling stomach be confronted with a locked door.
Monday: closed
Tuesday-Thursday: 7am-3pm
24 hours on the weekend (6am Friday through 5pm Sunday)
23 comments:
3pm instead of 10pm? Uh oh, I hope this doesn't spell trouble for the diner.
Not open for dinner on the weekdays any more? That's a bummer.
The bottom line with the diner: they guys are super nice, but the food just isn't that great, and the diner's a really cool step back in time, but the booths are really uncomfortable. Tried it a couple of times, but the novelty wore off fast. Indifferent staff who constantly seem to be trying to figure out how to do their job haven't helped things - they need to hire a classic "Flo" type of waitress to give this more of an authentic feel, but they'd probably need to import her from Baltimore. Maybe Taylor could bring her down each morning with their bread delivery...
@Anon/11:52: We cleaned house and have all-new waitstaff as of about 2 months ago, and have worked hard to improve service & other issues. We also recently updated our menu, with good customer feedback, and will refresh it again soon.
If you haven't been in recently, give us another shot.
Matt
Cap City Diner
Is it strange that I'm a bit nostalgic for the smirking dude (now cropped) in this photo...
The make a really good rueben. Never noticed it before, so maybe added with the newer menus & staff?
Definitely love Cheryl (sp?)- the "flo" type waitress, always brings coloring books for our kids.
11:52,
Taylor's now using locally sourced bread. No way to snag a ride.
12:36,
I didn't crop him. It's just a completely different photo from the same night. I like to mix it up a little.
The "cropped guy in the photo" was damn cute, too.
I love the Diner - The Steak and Cheese is one of the best in DC - I can't wait for some nice fall nights on the back patio!
The problem with the diner is their eat-a-lot challenge isnt crazy enough. 10 pancakes in an hour? Double that. Then double it again. Then add 5 lbs of uncooked bacon and a 32 oz buttershake.
...Then get on TLC and have the DC Rollergirls take on the challenge. The credibility and allure of the diner will further skyrocket if you get that big dude from 9:30 Club with the frisbees in his ears makes it into a scene
Give the Diner another shot. Previous staff were definitely inattentive and under qualified; the new staff is so much better. The food is also better-- and I hear they are going to be offering more vegan/vegetarian fare.
The back patio is pretty great too.
Yikes. Looks like Denny's for dinner. Hope folks don't completely abandon capital city!
My experiences with the Diner were like Anon 11:52s; I could only comfortably sit at the counter, the food was OK (nothing was bad, but no standouts either) and it seemed like the waitstaff didn't know a lot (I didn't think they were indifferent, just new & clueless). None of these things were a dealbreaker preventing me from eating there, but I've probably passed on going there a few times. I'm glad Matt chimed in to say he's addressed these issues (and the patio helps), if those changes were made I'll have little to complain about except the new hours.
Makes sense. Without a big dinner rush why be open those hours? Whenever I went for dinner I usually was either the only party or one of maybe two or three. Bladensburg Rd is pretty barren at night.
Speaking of that, has Sullivan's closed, or did they just change hours? Been closed the last few trips I've made.
A recent surprise discovery at the Diner: the fried chicken. I've recently ordered chicken and waffles at the Diner a couple of times just for the chicken -- some of the best I've had in the DC area, which I was not expecting at all.
curmudgeon,
you should try the chicken fried steak. I typically order one of the following four:
1. the chicken fried steak
2. the club sandwich
3. the BLT
4. the Super Happy Fat Boy Breakfast (I can't eat all of it, but I can never decide what to order for breakfast, so the SHFB covers all the bases).
I second the Super Happy Fat boy, and the Steak and Cheese those plus the omelets are pretty much all I order anymore but one day I will try the fried chicken and the pecan waffle.
The only order I've ever been disappointed with there is the wings, maybe a year ago.
Agree- the fried chicken is the best in DC. Had it for lunch today, with waffle of course.
Elise -- my gf has had the chicken fried steak there and likes it, even though they use a different sort of gravy from what she expects.
The only two places in the DC area where I've had fried chicken I liked more than the Diner's:
- Ray's East of the River. Some people find the seasoning kinda odd, but I really, really like it.
- Blue & White Carryout in Alexandria. If you've never been . . .this place is more of a dive than any dive you've ever been in, and more of a shack than any shack you've ever been in. But it has some of the best fried chicken I've ever tasted. And it's cheap as hell, too. But it's effectively lunch only (well, they're open for breakfast too, but I don't know if they have their chicken then), so not very convenient.
Anyway, back on topic: I hope the Diner's doing OK.
Anyone who thinks that the Diner's chicken is the best in the city probably hasn't tried the chicken at Horance & Dickie or the Argonaut monday night special. The chicken is nice and crispy but just ok. My vote goes to Rays for the best flavor.
Surely you jest- nothing at Argo worth the prices they charge & no way their chicken is the best (haven't had the diner's, must say, but will try it out).
Haven't tried H&D's chicken either, but usually have been unimpressed with the fish.
Anon 7:58 -- I don't think the Diner's chicken is the best in the city; I suspect I've never had the best in the city, since there are a zillion places to get it. But it is one of the best I've tried.
I haven't had the Argo's fried chicken. But as for Horace & Dickie's, I find it *very* hit or miss. I've had chicken from them that's quite good -- not the best I've had around here, but very good and definitely worth skipping the fish for; but other times, I've had chicken from them so dried out it's almost inedible. And that wasn't a one-time thing. Sometimes they overcook it. Sometimes they cook it right, but it sits in the tray for a long time before you come and order it. But also, sometimes they cook it right and you're right there to take it, and *then* it's really good.
Ckn and waffles are on point. The new staff is definitely much better, also and the back patio/bar is a nice addition. Support our local businesses!
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