Jimmy T's Place — Restaurant in Washington

This is my go to breakfast spot. This small joint is the downstairs of the family house turned restaurant by the current owners dad back in 1969, and from what I can figure, not much has changed since it was started. The prices are cheap, the decor is old, and the food is always spot on delicious.

It's a small and busy room that can fit maybe a total or 30 if every seat were full. Cash only and seat yourself. Just be sure not to sit down before the table's clean because you'll annoy the servers and they'll ask you to get up so they can clean it. Everyone who comes here sort of forms a unorganized queue where you'll just have to know when it's your turn next.

My girlfriend and I typically order from the combo plates and a coffee. The combos are very cheap and pretty much right on perfect size if you're not trying to walk out feeling stuffed and lazy. We both will also typically add another egg to our meals and my girlfriend also orders toast. So far, everything we've ordered has been great and the bacon is especially delicious. (I was told they get the bacon from the local farmers markets but don't quote me on that.) Even with the add-ons, our bill comes to about $18 or maybe less but well worth it when I would most likely spend way more money at another spot.

One more thing that makes this place so great is that it isn't surrounded by all sorts of other businesses that have customers competing for parking and 45 min seating wait times. Farthest I've parked from this business is possibly a street away and most I've waited to sit down here might be 20 mins and that was a weirdly busy morning.

So clearly I love this place. I must note that even with so much that I love about this one, it's just not a 5 star spot. Reason is not really anything I can put my finger on and say this is why I took one away... It's just not 5 stars. Honestly though, if you don't need a 5 star breakfast house that is full of swanky, hipster, modernistic decor and menus that sound almost like their breakfast is from foreign countries, I highly recommend you give...

This is when I wish Yelp would allow us to give .5 ratings. I want to give Yelp a 4 if you live in DC because there's something refreshing about an all American, no thrills breakfast place just a few blocks away from the US Capitol Building. However, if you're a tourist, I'd give it a 2 or 3 star because you'll find the food subpar and the crowd a bit stressful as you try to enjoy a quiet breakfast before you hit the sites. I'll settle on a three.

Jimmy T's Place is a corner breakfast spot on the corner of a neighborhood in a row house. There's one floor with three booths, bar seating, and a few other tables all squeezed into a small space. The staff are all business so don't expect an outgoing introduction or smile to go with your morning coffee. The food is basic American breakfast fare with zero thrills. I ordered the #5- one piece of French Toast, a very small sausage patty, and a half of an egg scrambled. All for $4+. It's cheap and you pay for what you get. If you try to squeeze one too many people around your table, it's a little much. If you're in a group, walk over to Barracks Row and to Ted's Bulletin (if you get get in).

That said, Jimmy T's Place is a landmark on Capitol Hill and in a city where people are on time and in suits, a place like it is refreshing. I think that's why Capitol Hill residents flock to it. So, if you're from here, give it a try at least once. If you're visiting DC, do NOT go here. Head to Eastern Market and Barracks Row for another DC breakfast spot (Market Breakfast or...

My friends and I were looking for a nice brunch spot and settled on Jimmy T's because they serve hot cakes, which are apparently the same thing as pancakes. I'm allergic to eggs and gluten so I cannot speak for the hot cakes but we went three days in a row and my friends ordered them each time.

The oatmeal, home fries, bacon, and sausage are all good, all reasonably priced. I was a little worried about cross contamination when I discovered the eggs and bacon are all cooked on the same stove in a somewhat chaotic manner, but I'm not sure what I expected.

This place gets busy so watch out for that. Don't just sit down, especially if there are menus down, because it's probably meant for someone else, namely the rest of my group who have yet to show up. Also, they may run out of knives so be prepared to cut your food with a spoon.

The staff are all very entertaining. One server said something to the effect of, "what am I doing here when I should be at church?" (It was Sunday). The cook responded, "this is your church." To which he said something like, "I'm forsaking Jesus for eggs and bacon."

The atmosphere reminds me of homey diner with a decor that has a flare of hoarding. The old-timey cash register makes deafening noise anytime that it's used. You'll feel like you've walked onto the set of Cheers, or some other show you haven't watched but have a vague sense of there being 'regulars,' and feel like you're a special guest who was never given a script.

Can't wait...