Rosa’s Diner debuted in May in a glamorous Victorian row house attached to the Downtown Moxy hotel, where consistency is key: That means it’s quite possible to have the vegan tagliatelle special at sunrise and eggs Benedict at sunset. Rosa’s is under
the watch of Francisco Pomalaza, a friendly and talented tattooed chef who comes to D.C. by way of Miami.
The distressed-mirrored bar in the middle, lined with slick stools (with backs. yay), leans into Latin ingredients, too. The daiquiri plays with Naranjilla orange from the Andes, and its espresso martini is made with horchata.
What to order
- Pomalaza’s eggs “Benedict” is actually his house-made pupusa topped with beef birria and aji amarillo hollandaise ($20). For something sweeter, the Pop-Tart pastry features guava, brie, and a candied pecan dust ($11).
- Found under the “blue plate specials” section, the believable “harvest” Bolognese sauce – a compilation of toothsome cremini mushrooms, carrots, and onions – didn’t have me missing meat ($21).
- The big chopped salad stays interesting through the bottom of the bowl, starting with a tangy cover of diced pepperoncini peppers, followed by chickpeas, avocados, tomatoes, olives, and grapes ($15).
- The diner smash melt is one of the best burgers I’ve had in a minute. The decadent order with sweet-and-smoky bacon is wedged between two hefty stacks of Texas toast ($22).
- A breakout star on the menu – the apple pie ($14) – does take time to bake, but it’s worth the wait. The sizable skillet of tart sliced apples and a crispy crust can be finished with a dollop of ice cream for extra. Once it’s full-on fall I’ll definitely come back for it.
The vibe
- In keeping with its retro cred, the day’s national news is displayed on front-page newspapers lined up in a row as you enter the restaurant. You can do that one of two ways: through the lobby or its own side door. On a recent Thursday, the neon-lit Moxy lobby was pretty packed with a DJ playing.
- Rosa’s leans into the diner part of its name with super-bright orbs of white light dangling from the ceiling. Maybe too bright, however; I’d suggest dimming them a bit during dinner hours to make it more date-night friendly.
Insider tip
Rosa’s is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily but will soon extend hours – upstairs, at least. This month, head up the spiral gold staircase to find its new speakeasy with its own bar and dramatic drapes.
