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Cannelini bean bruschetta at Pizzeria Orso
Cannelini bean bruschetta at Pizzeria Orso
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15 Toasts To Try Around D.C.

Try another topping besides avocado.

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Cannelini bean bruschetta at Pizzeria Orso
| Official

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

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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.

A Baked Joint

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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).

Boqueria

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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.

Eater.com

L'Hommage Bistro

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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.

Osteria Morini

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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).

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Penn Commons

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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.

Pizzeria Orso

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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.

Pizzeria Paradiso

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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.

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).

Society Fair

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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.

Station 4

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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.

The Dabney

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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.

The Red Hen

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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).

The Riggsby

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

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).

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.

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).

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.

Eater.com

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.

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).

Official

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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).

The Riggsby

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

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).

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