Paul Ruppert is all about building community in Petworth, with neighborhood-oriented operations like Petworth Citizen, Upshur Street Books, and Cappy’s Crabs. New to the mix: Slim’s Diner, which opened today 4201 Georgia Avenue, Northwest. This isn’t your pricey, “new wave” luncheonette with foie gras French toast on the menu—and we couldn’t be happier.
The vibe: Neighborly. Slim’s was built with approachability in mind, both in terms of price—dishes are largely under $10—and the crowd-pleasing menu. “I’ve always gravitated to diners,” says Ruppert. “I know everyone in the family will find something on the menu that they’ll recognize and like.”
The food: Classic—with a few fun additions. “We didn’t want to make it fancy or chef-driven,” says Ruppert. Familiar items include club sandwiches, pancakes, and patty melts–though you’ll find more homemade dishes than at your average greasy spoon, like fresh-baked pies and doughnuts. Also: vegan options, like the breakfast tofu scramble.
The drink, for something stronger than a milkshake: A spiked milkshake! A small bar will offer booze, including a cocktail special of the day ($8), or a handful of wallet-friendly beers and wines.
The “must-try” dish: We have our eye on the “Petworth special” with two eggs, a choice of breakfast meats, potatoes, toast, and if that wasn’t enough— a biscuit with sausage gravy.
The breakfast: All day, all night. This is a diner, after all.
Slim’s Diner. 4201 Georgia Ave., NW; 202-783-0699. Open Sunday through Thursday, 7 am to midnight; Friday and Saturday, 7 am to 2 am. Note the diner closes at 4 pm on Wednesday, June 29 and Thursday, June 30.
Anna Spiegel covers the dining and drinking scene in her native DC. Prior to joining Washingtonian in 2010, she attended the French Culinary Institute and Columbia University’s MFA program in New York, and held various cooking and writing positions in NYC and in St. John, US Virgin Islands.
