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City Perch Kitchen + Bar

These Elaborate Bread Baskets Are Worth the Calories

Baguettes, popovers, corn bread and more, served with rich, creamy butter.

by Travis Mitchell@travisjmitchell Mar 30, 2015, 3:00pm EDT

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City Perch Kitchen + Bar

| R. Lopez

by Travis Mitchell@travisjmitchell Mar 30, 2015, 3:00pm EDT

It's common for restaurant meals to begin with a hearty bread basket. Too frequently though, bread baskets seem like an afterthought — a pile of empty, flavorless calories. But when done right, good bread can be a highlight of a meal and turn a restaurant into a must-hit spot.

Think crusty, airy baguettes with butter or warm, puffy pita accompanied by oil and vinegar for dipping. Here are some of the best bread and butter offerings being served up in the D.C. area.

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Acadiana

Diners rave about Acadiana's complimentary — and indulgent — biscuits with pepper jelly.

901 New York Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

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Ambar

Consider ordering the $6 bread basket, which comes with a choice of the pita-like lepinja, fried sourdough or a mix of both. It's served with a selection of three traditional Balkan spreads.

523 8th St SE, Washington, D.C. 20003

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Birch & Barley

Diners here are treated to a board of three kinds of breads, including pretzel rolls, served with butter and beer mustard.

1337 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20005

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BLT Steak

Meals at this steakhouse start with a free order of hot, cheesy, fluffy popovers served with fresh butter and salt. The popular treats come with their own recipe card.

1625 I St NW, Washington, D.C. 20006

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Bombay Club

Choose from a selection of a la carte naan and roti, such as the garlic or truffle naan. Or, purchase a basket of assorted breads for $9.

815 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20006

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Del Campo

Everything at Chef Victor Albisu's upscale Argentinian restaurant has an element of smoke, and the pre-meal bread is no different. It's served in a cast-iron skillet alongside smoked olive oil.

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777 I St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

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Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab

This swanky seafood and steak spot serves up a free basket brimming with a variety of breads such as bialy, pumpernickel and pretzel sticks.

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740 15th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20005

Le Diplomate

Sourdough baguette is the star here, complete with a crusty, flaky exterior. It's served alongside two other types of bread — a cranberry walnut boule and a rustic rye wheat boule. Enjoy all three with the rich, creamy butter.

1601 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

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Lupo Verde

This buzzy Italian spot starts diners off with a gratis basket filled with homemade goods like tomato and rosemary focaccia, bread sticks and walnut and raisin bread.

1401 T St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

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Pearl Dive Oyster Palace

The rolls and cornbread here are the perfect partners to Pearl Dive's Louisiana sensibility. The first order is free, and refills are $3. [Photo: Yelp/Norry H.]

1612 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009-4307

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Range

The $12 baker's basket comes with a mix of breads and spreads from the bakery section of this restaurants vast menu. Expect things like cheddar chive biscuits and ciabatta with garlic and olive oil.

5335 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20015

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Rasika

Diners at this acclaimed Indian restaurant can order naan a la carte for $3 an order or opt for an $8 basket with three bread varieties including onion and sage naan and mint paratha.

633 D St NW, Washington, D.C. 20004

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Rose's Luxury

Waiting in line should work up an appetite for Rose's complimentary homemade challah bread loaf, sprinkled with sesame seeds and served warm with honey butter.

717 8th St SE, Washington, D.C. 20003

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Vidalia

This Southern-inspired bread basket comes with a selection of cornbread, onion foccacia and buttery rolls with jam and butter.

1990 M St NW, Washington, D.C. 20036

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Zaytinya

Meals at Jose Andres' Greek spot come with complimentary orders of hot, puffy, soft pita. It's great with the house olive oil and pomegranate vinegar or with a traditional spread like hommus or tzatziki.

701 9th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

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City Perch Kitchen + Bar

Chef Sherry Yard was known for her pastry prowess before taking the helm at City Perch. Find cornbread and biscuits among the offerings.

Open in Google Maps

11830 Grand Park Ave, North Bethesda, MD 20852

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Acadiana

901 New York Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

Diners rave about Acadiana's complimentary — and indulgent — biscuits with pepper jelly.

901 New York Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

Visit Website

Ambar

523 8th St SE, Washington, D.C. 20003

Consider ordering the $6 bread basket, which comes with a choice of the pita-like lepinja, fried sourdough or a mix of both. It's served with a selection of three traditional Balkan spreads.

523 8th St SE, Washington, D.C. 20003

Visit Website

Birch & Barley

1337 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20005

Diners here are treated to a board of three kinds of breads, including pretzel rolls, served with butter and beer mustard.

1337 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20005

Visit Website

BLT Steak

1625 I St NW, Washington, D.C. 20006

Meals at this steakhouse start with a free order of hot, cheesy, fluffy popovers served with fresh butter and salt. The popular treats come with their own recipe card.

1625 I St NW, Washington, D.C. 20006

Visit Website

Bombay Club

815 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20006

Choose from a selection of a la carte naan and roti, such as the garlic or truffle naan. Or, purchase a basket of assorted breads for $9.

815 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20006

Visit Website

Del Campo

777 I St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

Everything at Chef Victor Albisu's upscale Argentinian restaurant has an element of smoke, and the pre-meal bread is no different. It's served in a cast-iron skillet alongside smoked olive oil.

Open in Google Maps

777 I St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

Visit Website

Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab

740 15th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20005

This swanky seafood and steak spot serves up a free basket brimming with a variety of breads such as bialy, pumpernickel and pretzel sticks.

Open in Google Maps

740 15th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20005

Le Diplomate

1601 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

Sourdough baguette is the star here, complete with a crusty, flaky exterior. It's served alongside two other types of bread — a cranberry walnut boule and a rustic rye wheat boule. Enjoy all three with the rich, creamy butter.

1601 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

Visit Website

Lupo Verde

1401 T St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

This buzzy Italian spot starts diners off with a gratis basket filled with homemade goods like tomato and rosemary focaccia, bread sticks and walnut and raisin bread.

1401 T St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

Visit Website

Pearl Dive Oyster Palace

1612 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009-4307

The rolls and cornbread here are the perfect partners to Pearl Dive's Louisiana sensibility. The first order is free, and refills are $3. [Photo: Yelp/Norry H.]

1612 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009-4307

Range

5335 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20015

The $12 baker's basket comes with a mix of breads and spreads from the bakery section of this restaurants vast menu. Expect things like cheddar chive biscuits and ciabatta with garlic and olive oil.

5335 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20015

Visit Website

Rasika

633 D St NW, Washington, D.C. 20004

Diners at this acclaimed Indian restaurant can order naan a la carte for $3 an order or opt for an $8 basket with three bread varieties including onion and sage naan and mint paratha.

633 D St NW, Washington, D.C. 20004

Visit Website

Rose's Luxury

717 8th St SE, Washington, D.C. 20003

Waiting in line should work up an appetite for Rose's complimentary homemade challah bread loaf, sprinkled with sesame seeds and served warm with honey butter.

717 8th St SE, Washington, D.C. 20003

Visit Website

Vidalia

1990 M St NW, Washington, D.C. 20036

This Southern-inspired bread basket comes with a selection of cornbread, onion foccacia and buttery rolls with jam and butter.

1990 M St NW, Washington, D.C. 20036

Visit Website

Zaytinya

701 9th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

Meals at Jose Andres' Greek spot come with complimentary orders of hot, puffy, soft pita. It's great with the house olive oil and pomegranate vinegar or with a traditional spread like hommus or tzatziki.

701 9th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

Visit Website

Related Maps

City Perch Kitchen + Bar

11830 Grand Park Ave, North Bethesda, MD 20852

Chef Sherry Yard was known for her pastry prowess before taking the helm at City Perch. Find cornbread and biscuits among the offerings.

Open in Google Maps

11830 Grand Park Ave, North Bethesda, MD 20852

Visit Website

Related Maps