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Cannelini bean bruschetta at Pizzeria Orso

15 Toasts To Try Around D.C.

Try another topping besides avocado.

by Lani Furbank Nov 20, 2015, 12:00pm EST

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Cannelini bean bruschetta at Pizzeria Orso

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by Lani Furbank Nov 20, 2015, 12:00pm EST

In the brisk fall weather, a freshly baked loaf of bread cooling on the windowsill isn’t just an homage to classic Americana. It’s the perfect thing to have waiting at home. What's even better? Fresh bread toasted and topped with an array of delicious spreads and goodies.

Here's a wide selection of toasts— an often under-appreciated appetizer. Toasted bread never disappoints, whether it's a tartine, crostini, bruschetta or a good, old-fashioned slice for breakfast. And for those who absolutely must have the classic avocado — there's always Cork Wine Bar.

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1789 Restaurant

The toast at this upscale Georgetown spot is as refined as expected. Served on brioche, the foie gras torchon ($26) is accented by a Concord grape compote, pickled celery, Medjool dates and candied hazelnuts.

1226 36th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20007

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A Baked Joint

At this health-conscious bakery and café concept from the folks behind Baked and Wired, there’s a whole menu section devoted to breakfast-style toasts that can be ordered all day. Choose from three fresh-baked breads (country sourdough, whole wheat sourdough, or pan de mie) and a variety of spreads. Customer favorites include the Nutella and banana with Maldon salt ($4) and the peanut butter and Sriracha drizzle with cilantro ($2.50).

Open in Google Maps

440 K Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

Boqueria

Find the Spanish take on toasts on the tapas menu or the rotating market menu at Boqueria. Cojonudo ($5), a tapas serving of fried quail eggs and chorizo on Stirato toast points, is just one of the tapas variations offered.

1837 M St NW, Washington, D.C. 20036

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L'Hommage Bistro

For a classic French toast (not the breakfast food, but a tartine), head to L’Hommage Bistro Francais. They’re currently serving a French-Italian hybrid. The tartine au Capri ($13.50) comes with tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella, basil and olive oil.

450 K St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

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Osteria Morini

Osteria Morini has a section on their menu dedicated to crostini, literally “little toasts” in Italian. It’s served DIY-style, with toasted slices of ficelle (a thin baguette) and various toppings laid out a butcher’s board. Diners can choose from a variety of combinations, including smoked trout with olives and sour cream, whipped mortadella with pistachios, and chickpeas with broccoli rabe pesto and almonds ($6 for one, $15 for three, $25 for five).

301 Water St SE, Washington, D.C. 20003

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Penn Commons

There’s no lack of toast toppings choices at Penn Commons, where diners can choose from three options ($13) from a list of nine dips and spreads to dress house-made grilled country bread. Highlights include steak tartare with Sriracha aioli, dill and cucumber tzatziki with black olive tapenade, and roasted eggplant with pesto and toasted pine nuts.

700 6th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

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Pizzeria Orso

Italy’s other type of toast is on the menu at this certified, authentic Neapolitan pizzeria in Falls Church. Bruschetta is distinguished from crostini because it's rubbed with garlic and olive oil before being toasted or grilled. At Pizzeria Orso, the cannellini bean bruschetta ($8) also has roasted butternut squash, sage, and Parmesan.

400 S Maple Ave, Falls Church, VA 22046

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Pizzeria Paradiso

Pizzeria Paradiso’s bruschetta ($8) is the quintessential Italian toast. The combination of toasted Italian loaf bread with ricotta, cherry tomatoes, basil and garlic is simple but classic. Several other variations of toasts and paninis are available as well.

3282 M St NW, Washington, D.C. 20007

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Also featured in:

SER

Spain’s traditional toast is the pan catalana, or pan con tomate. It originated in Catalonia, but it is now ubiquitous across the country. Commonly eaten in the morning to accompany a cup of coffee, chef Josu Zubikarai considers this dish Spain’s national breakfast. At SER, slices of country-style bread or baguette are toasted, rubbed with garlic, smeared with tomato, drizzled with olive oil, and sprinkled with sea salt ($8).

1110 N Glebe Rd., Arlington, VA 22203

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Society Fair

Society Fair has a trio of crostini with their house-made baguette ($9). Toppings include ricotta and kale, roasted red peppers and onion, and fresh goat cheese and red beets.

277 S Washington St, Alexandria, VA 22314

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Station 4

For a toast that’s a little heartier and more filling than the typical canapé, try Station 4’s Reuben toast ($11). It’s stacked with house-smoked corned beef, sauerkraut, Gruyere cheese and horseradish aioli.

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1101 4th St SW, Washington, D.C. 20024

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The Dabney

A pork sausage toast ($10) has appeared on the newly opened Dabney’s rotating menu. It consists of pork sausage, onion soubise, chilis and herbs on house-made ciabatta.

122 Blagden Alley NW, Washington, D.C.

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The Red Hen

The Red Hen’s “Small Things” menu is a selection of toasts with various toppings, served on rustic Italian country bread. The autumn toasts include smoked trout rillettes with celery, mascarpone, dill and watermelon radish ($10), and Tuscan chicken liver mousse with fig conserva and fresh thyme ($9).

1822 1st St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

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The Riggsby

At lunchtime and during happy hour, The Riggsby offers a brioche toast with Maryland crabmeat, avocado, jalapeño, and pickled red onion ($12).

1731 New Hampshire Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

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Urbana

Urbana showcases mushrooms in their bruschetta, which is a slice of rustic Italian bread topped with sheep’s milk ricotta, sautéed organic mushrooms, and black truffle ($13).

2121 P St NW, Washington, D.C. 20037

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1789 Restaurant

1226 36th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20007

The toast at this upscale Georgetown spot is as refined as expected. Served on brioche, the foie gras torchon ($26) is accented by a Concord grape compote, pickled celery, Medjool dates and candied hazelnuts.

1226 36th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20007

Visit Website

A Baked Joint

440 K Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

At this health-conscious bakery and café concept from the folks behind Baked and Wired, there’s a whole menu section devoted to breakfast-style toasts that can be ordered all day. Choose from three fresh-baked breads (country sourdough, whole wheat sourdough, or pan de mie) and a variety of spreads. Customer favorites include the Nutella and banana with Maldon salt ($4) and the peanut butter and Sriracha drizzle with cilantro ($2.50).

Open in Google Maps

440 K Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

Boqueria

1837 M St NW, Washington, D.C. 20036

Find the Spanish take on toasts on the tapas menu or the rotating market menu at Boqueria. Cojonudo ($5), a tapas serving of fried quail eggs and chorizo on Stirato toast points, is just one of the tapas variations offered.

1837 M St NW, Washington, D.C. 20036

Visit Website

L'Hommage Bistro

450 K St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

For a classic French toast (not the breakfast food, but a tartine), head to L’Hommage Bistro Francais. They’re currently serving a French-Italian hybrid. The tartine au Capri ($13.50) comes with tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella, basil and olive oil.

450 K St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

Osteria Morini

301 Water St SE, Washington, D.C. 20003

Osteria Morini has a section on their menu dedicated to crostini, literally “little toasts” in Italian. It’s served DIY-style, with toasted slices of ficelle (a thin baguette) and various toppings laid out a butcher’s board. Diners can choose from a variety of combinations, including smoked trout with olives and sour cream, whipped mortadella with pistachios, and chickpeas with broccoli rabe pesto and almonds ($6 for one, $15 for three, $25 for five).

301 Water St SE, Washington, D.C. 20003

Visit Website

Penn Commons

700 6th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

There’s no lack of toast toppings choices at Penn Commons, where diners can choose from three options ($13) from a list of nine dips and spreads to dress house-made grilled country bread. Highlights include steak tartare with Sriracha aioli, dill and cucumber tzatziki with black olive tapenade, and roasted eggplant with pesto and toasted pine nuts.

700 6th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

Visit Website

Pizzeria Orso

400 S Maple Ave, Falls Church, VA 22046

Italy’s other type of toast is on the menu at this certified, authentic Neapolitan pizzeria in Falls Church. Bruschetta is distinguished from crostini because it's rubbed with garlic and olive oil before being toasted or grilled. At Pizzeria Orso, the cannellini bean bruschetta ($8) also has roasted butternut squash, sage, and Parmesan.

400 S Maple Ave, Falls Church, VA 22046

Visit Website

Pizzeria Paradiso

3282 M St NW, Washington, D.C. 20007

Pizzeria Paradiso’s bruschetta ($8) is the quintessential Italian toast. The combination of toasted Italian loaf bread with ricotta, cherry tomatoes, basil and garlic is simple but classic. Several other variations of toasts and paninis are available as well.

3282 M St NW, Washington, D.C. 20007

Visit Website

SER

1110 N Glebe Rd., Arlington, VA 22203

Spain’s traditional toast is the pan catalana, or pan con tomate. It originated in Catalonia, but it is now ubiquitous across the country. Commonly eaten in the morning to accompany a cup of coffee, chef Josu Zubikarai considers this dish Spain’s national breakfast. At SER, slices of country-style bread or baguette are toasted, rubbed with garlic, smeared with tomato, drizzled with olive oil, and sprinkled with sea salt ($8).

1110 N Glebe Rd., Arlington, VA 22203

Visit Website

Society Fair

277 S Washington St, Alexandria, VA 22314

Society Fair has a trio of crostini with their house-made baguette ($9). Toppings include ricotta and kale, roasted red peppers and onion, and fresh goat cheese and red beets.

277 S Washington St, Alexandria, VA 22314

Visit Website

Station 4

1101 4th St SW, Washington, D.C. 20024

For a toast that’s a little heartier and more filling than the typical canapé, try Station 4’s Reuben toast ($11). It’s stacked with house-smoked corned beef, sauerkraut, Gruyere cheese and horseradish aioli.

Open in Google Maps

1101 4th St SW, Washington, D.C. 20024

Visit Website

The Dabney

122 Blagden Alley NW, Washington, D.C.

A pork sausage toast ($10) has appeared on the newly opened Dabney’s rotating menu. It consists of pork sausage, onion soubise, chilis and herbs on house-made ciabatta.

122 Blagden Alley NW, Washington, D.C.

Visit Website

The Red Hen

1822 1st St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

The Red Hen’s “Small Things” menu is a selection of toasts with various toppings, served on rustic Italian country bread. The autumn toasts include smoked trout rillettes with celery, mascarpone, dill and watermelon radish ($10), and Tuscan chicken liver mousse with fig conserva and fresh thyme ($9).

1822 1st St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

Visit Website

The Riggsby

1731 New Hampshire Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

At lunchtime and during happy hour, The Riggsby offers a brioche toast with Maryland crabmeat, avocado, jalapeño, and pickled red onion ($12).

1731 New Hampshire Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

Visit Website

Urbana

2121 P St NW, Washington, D.C. 20037

Urbana showcases mushrooms in their bruschetta, which is a slice of rustic Italian bread topped with sheep’s milk ricotta, sautéed organic mushrooms, and black truffle ($13).

2121 P St NW, Washington, D.C. 20037

Visit Website

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