I headed to Birch and Barley for brunch on Sunday with a fellow foodie from College Park. In our reservation, we specified that we wanted a seat near the window because we planned to take pictures of the food, and we were greeted by the hostess and led to the best table in the restaurant. Both my friend and I had heard great things about Birch and Barley, and we were excited to see what the hype was all about. The brunch menu here is pretty short, but that turned out to be no problem for us since everything sounded tasty. We ordered the chicken and waffle sandwich, duck confit flatbread, and coffee. The server who took our order was cheerful and welcoming, making us feel right at home. He quickly brought out our coffee (peep the adorable sugar in the jar below!) and a pitcher of water. He also informed us that we would be receiving something special along with our entrees, compliments of the chef.
The vibe here is definitely bumpin'. It's one of DC's hot spots for young professionals, who know how to brunch like nobody's business. However, even though it's packed with millennials seeking the perfect brunch, the noise level in Birch and Barley is manageable enough that you can still hold a conversation with the person across the table from you. Not all DC brunch spots are like this (I'm looking at you, Founding Farmers).
Our food came out quickly, and the presentation was on point. In addition to the chicken and waffles and flatbread, we were treated to the chef's bone marrow scrambled eggs. This was the first time I'd ever gotten a dish compliments of the chef, and we were both geeking out over it.
The duck confit was definitely our favorite. It combined sweet and savory for the perfect flatbread. The duck was tender and flavorful and the cheese was melty. What more can a girl ask for?
The bone marrow scrambled eggs was unexpected and unique— this was the first place I had been to that even offered bone marrow on the brunch menu. I was pleasantly surprised at how tasty it was and how well the bone marrow mixed with the flavor of the scrambled eggs.
My chicken and waffles sandwich was good. I liked the bacon and powdered sugar that the chef topped it with, and the maple jus was delicious too. I only wish they'd given me more of it! I didn't care for the polenta that came with my sandwich, but that could be because I'm not a big fan of polenta in the first place.
Overall, I give Birch and Barley an A-. The hostesses could have been nicer and the menu could have offered more options. However, these flaws didn't have a strong impact on our overall experience. I was impressed with the quality of their ingredients, the food presentation, and the friendliness of the waiters. Would recommend!
For more pics of our adventures, follow The Hungry Intern and Tianxin Chen on Instagram!
