Avenue Cafe & Lounge

WHERE IS THE PLACE FOR 10 STARS?
Avenue Café & Lounge is one of the few places that is affordable and has low carb options on its menu.
I attempted to get a reservation at our favorite restaurant for brunch, but, alas, they did not take reservations for brunch. So I went on a hunt for a restaurant that was near Logan and Thomas Circles and explored my options.
Since I am a lifetime low carber and usually have to order «around» a menu, I was «delighted» to find that Avenue Café & Lounge offered a low carb breakfast called THREE EGGS YOUR WAY: three eggs, any style; a 5 oz. steak and fruit.
We arrived early since there was a marathon in the area and started with their delicious coffee. When our «third» arrived, we ordered breakfast.
I requested melon as my fruit, and was given a generous serving of cantaloupe and honeydew. The eggs were purrfect! The steak was tasty. My compadres ordered Eggs Benedict. The food arrived fresh and hot. The endless cups of coffee were a great complement to our breakfast conversation.
The manager came to our table and was friendly and welcoming, as was our waitperson. I discussed the possibility of bringing my clients to the restaurant for a low carb dinner and support group. The manager was more than accommodating and assured me that arrangements could be made to meet my dieters’ needs.
I stayed behind to work on my computer and would be meeting with my companions later in the day. I was given a pot of coffee and retired to the lounge. When my private internet connection did not function, I was given a complimentary login by the management which is usually reserved for hotel guests.
In today’s world, it is rare to receive such exemplary service and great food quality.
I will be returning on a regular basis for Sunday Breakfast and hope to bring my group of clients from my Ideal Protein Weight Loss Clinic here for a dinner meeting.

All our breakfasts and have been with a well planned and cooked buffet — and a sweet I level chef m-​F.
We enjoyed a Surprisingly delightful lunch too, in our first day in this hidden spot in the Holiday Inn!
Marshall and Li took great care of us — my tasty bacon cheese burger as well my hubby’s spaghetti jumbalaya was excellent! Both cooked perfectly and seasoned just right without being too heavy.
And fellow chocoholics — the dreamy and divine molten chocolate cake — oooo YUM! It should be called deep dark devilish delight w a rich creamy center — our lunch may end up being our dinner again tonight! (And since our 27^th wedding anniversary, a terrific way to celebrate).
Totally worth the stop if you are here in Washington visiting as we are or local and nearby.
Terrific service and food!

Not bad.
Stopped in for dinner after work. Sat at the bar and had a burger. Not fancy but good service and decent food. I will return.

Ate a delicious New York strip steak, with sangria and the cheesecake for dessert.
The food was paired brilliantly with the music selection. John Mayer, Bruce Springsteen, Jennifer Hudson and a few classical compositions.

Being a hotel restaurant, I did not expect much, but it is actually very good.
Excellent service all around.
Burgers are great, some of the best I have ever been served.
I tried an omelet one morning, that was a mistake. it was thin, flat, greasy, and tasteless.
That evening I had the braised ribs, oh my goodness, fantastic. Tender, tasty, succulent.
Tiramisu, the best of the best.

For a hotel restaurant the food was very good. The staff was extremely helpful with special orders to accommodate my food allergies. Service was prompt and the staff was responsive to our requests. I felt the quality of the food was exactly what I expected for the café type restaurant and the price point of the menu. Overall I can’t see any reason to dock them stars. Clean environment, quick service, helpful staff, good food. I would recommend it to anyone. Extra plus: the environment was fun with interesting historic yet candid photos of the presidential families over the years. Take time to browse them if you can.

It’s pros are its ambiance and nice muzak. Service was caring but slow. My burger with an egg on it, fries, and a key lime pie came to $ 26. I’m not sure how, but hotel food is generally on the pricey side. The burger was so-​so. I asked for the egg to be over easy but it was not. The fries were excellent as were the two small rolls served ahead of the entrée. The rolls were not usual fare for restaurants of this ilk. The key lime buy was tasteless and not worth the $ 7 despite all its whipped cream and unique custard drizzle. Overall, DC has a lot to offer but if you’re tired after a long day, you can’t go wrong at this hotel’s restaurant.

I work in the area so I thought I’d try this place out. Typical, non-​flashy mainstream hotel restaurant; has the interior design to make me feel like I’m in an IHOP.
I ate at the bar, where two different TV’s on opposite ends of the bar were at medium volume, making it difficult to focus on just one or on conversation for that matter. The service was fine, the bartender was friendly and divided his time equally between the three guests at the bar.
I ordered from the BBQ menu, getting the ribs/​pulled pork combo. The food was tastefully mediocre, not a true smokehouse quality, but not bad either.
With all the dining and bar options in the neighborhood this restaurant would be satisfactory for hotel guests who wish not to travel out anywhere. I would consider going back again just for a quick lunch, but not a «destination» type of place I’d seek out for a dinner outing.

Quiet Friday night dinner with only two other tables occupied at this hotel restaurant nestled in a serene corner. There’s a nice wine list, and since it wasn’t that crowded they even let us sample a beer.
Had the braised beef short ribs that came with mashed potatoes. They were succulent and juicy. A side spinach only costs $.99 — so much more reasonable than places that would shamelessly ask for $ 6 or even $ 8 for a tiny saucer of this vegetable.
The dessert menu doesn’t impress, though the sundae with chocolate ice cream and whipped cream on top wasn’t bad.
Nice, serene, and laid-​back yet not devoid of class in a spacious venue. Would be back for relaxed and quiet meals where I feel comfortable talking with people without worrying about others eavesdropping.

I can usually count on a hotel restaurant to have a decent breakfast. Not so in this case. I ordered the waffle because the menu claimed it would come with «warm maple syrup.» When the waffle arrived, I had three reasons to be disappointed — the waffle appeared to have been pan fried after coming out of the waffle iron, the butter was fresh-​from-​the-​refrigerator hard and the «warm maple syrup» was Smucker’s Pancake Syrup in the little tubs…
At least the bacon was crisp and the coffee reasonably palatable.
I will be staying in the Holiday Inn again Sunday and Monday night. I will not be eating in the hotel restaurant.