Le Bon Café

Frommer's Review

Pennsylvania Avenue on Capitol Hill is a stretch of been-around-a-while pubs, as well as newer coffeehouses, bakeries, and the occasional fine dining establishment. The Capitol looms over the neighborhood, whose other big buildings hold the Library of Congress and Senate and House offices. Government edifices aside, this part of town is actually mostly residential. Pennsylvania Avenue and its town-house lined side streets compose a village, enlivened by the presence of young staffers who swarm here for lunch, dinner, coffee, or a drink. The local chains Firehook Bakery and Burrito Brothers have outposts here, as do national chains Starbucks and Cosi. Those are all fine places, but my favorite is the tiny Le Bon Café, whose menu is short but sweet: homemade pumpkin gingerbread and scones, smoked turkey club sandwich on farm bread, grilled salmon Niçoise salad, and the like. And it's cheap: The most expensive single item is that salmon salad, for $8.95. Seating inside is minimal, with most people grabbing food to go; in pleasant weather, you can sit at outdoor tables. FYI: Pete's Diner and Carryout, right next door, also attracts a loyal Hill following with its low prices and burgers-and-fried-chicken menu, so stop there, if you've got a greasy spoon kind of appetite.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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