On the ground floor of the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in DC’s Shaw neighborhood, Unconventional Diner has been quietly redefining what a diner can be since 2017.
Chef David Deshaies, a James Beard Award semifinalist trained in Michelin-starred kitchens across France and Spain, built this menu on the idea that comfort food deserves real technique.
The result earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand distinction and turned weekend brunch here into one of DC’s most talked-about traditions. 🥞
How Unconventional Diner won Washington DC’s hearts
After moving to the United States from France in 2001 and rising to executive chef at Michel Richard’s legendary Citronelle, Chef David Deshaies took his mentor’s advice, quite literally, opening an upscale twist on the American diner format with restaurateur Eric Eden in December 2017.
The inspiration came from Richard himself. Deshaies has said his mentor once told him he should open a diner, and that offhand suggestion eventually became the blueprint for a menu built on globally inspired comfort food rather than the standard short-order playbook.
Just one year after opening, Unconventional Diner earned a spot on the Michelin Guide’s Bib Gourmand list, and it has held that distinction every year since, alongside four RAMMY awards from the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington.
Deshaies himself was later named Chef of the Year by RAMW in 2020, and in 2023 he became a James Beard Award semifinalist for Best Chef Mid-Atlantic, cementing the diner’s reputation well beyond its neighborhood. 🏆
What keeps locals coming back, though, isn’t the trophies. It’s the everyday brunch menu, served daily from morning until mid-afternoon, that blends nostalgic diner comfort with genuinely global influences, Lebanese fried rice next to classic buttermilk pancakes, all coming out of the same open kitchen.
The industrial-chic space, all exposed brick and vibrant contemporary art, gives diners a direct view into that kitchen, adding an energetic buzz that regulars say makes even a routine Tuesday brunch feel like an event.
Locals consistently point to the sheer range of the brunch menu as the reason they keep returning, since there’s rarely a repeat order needed even after a dozen visits. 🍽️
That combination, Michelin-level technique applied to the format of a classic American diner, is exactly why Unconventional Diner has become one of the most reliably packed brunch spots in downtown Washington.
Food Highlights
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Blueberry-Lavender Pancakes: Signature fluffy pancakes topped with blueberry compote and lavender butter, frequently topped further with mascarpone cream. 🫐
- Apple Pie French Toast: Thick-cut French toast topped with caramelized apples and a scoop of vanilla ice cream, turning a diner staple into a dessert-like brunch centerpiece. 🍎
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Chicken and Waffles: Fried chicken served over a cheddar-chive cornbread waffle, finished with habanero butter and house-made granny gravy. 🌶️
- Lebanese Fried Rice: A globally inspired brunch dish that brings Middle Eastern flavors into the diner format, standing out as one of the menu’s more unexpected offerings. 🍚
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Smoked Salmon Benedict: House-smoked salmon and poached eggs served over an English muffin with caper hollandaise and fresh microgreens. 🐟
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Cajun Shrimp and Grits: Shrimp prepared Cajun-style and served over creamy grits, one of the menu’s most popular Southern-inspired brunch plates. 🍤
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Unconventional Breakfast Sandwich: Egg, aged cheddar, and a choice of bacon or sausage with house-made aioli on a buttered brioche bun. 🥪
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Everything Lox Bagel: A classic lox and bagel plate finished with everything seasoning, offered as one of the daily brunch staples. 🥯
Atmosphere
Unconventional Diner blends industrial-chic design with cozy warmth, featuring exposed brick, sleek metal fixtures, and pops of color from contemporary artwork throughout the space. 🎨
The open kitchen lets diners watch the action unfold, adding an energetic buzz that carries through even quieter weekday mornings.
Weekend brunch draws a lively, often packed crowd, so arriving early is worth it. It’s polished but approachable, exactly what its Michelin recognition would suggest. 🏙️
Bottom Line
Visit for the beloved Blueberry-Lavender Pancakes, Michelin Bib Gourmand-recognized cooking, inventive global brunch options, a lively open-kitchen atmosphere, and a James Beard-nominated chef’s genuine reinvention of the American diner. 🥞🏆
Address:
1207 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001
📞 (202) 847-0122
🕔 Open daily, 7 AM–10 PM (brunch served until 3:45 PM)