May 7, 2018

Local 16

One of the best things about DC is brunch, and after this weekend I’ve found a new favorite: Local 16. Located at 16th and U, Local 16 is probably best known for its amazing rooftop. But, you should remember it for its delicious Afghan food.

Local 16 offers a variety of Afghan small plates – always great for sharing and sampling – including bolani (a filled flatbread), kebabs, ashak (dumpling topped with sauce), mantu (steamed dumpling), and kabuli pulao (rice pilaf with meat). They also serve sandwiches and gorgeous pizzas made to order in their wood-burning oven.

For brunch, Local 16 has brunch staples like french toast, waffles, and eggs benedict, among others, as well as their pizzas. The star though are their Afghan entrées. I’m a sometimes pescatarian, which means when the mood moves me I do indulge in meat. And, since I absolutely love lamb, I had to order the Lamb Karahi. It was between that and the Eggs & Spicy Lamb Sausage (because I do love lamb sausage). In the end, the Lamb Karahi won.

We had barely finished our first glass of bottomless pomegranate mimosas, when our entrées arrived. The Lamb Karahi was absolutely stunning – two eggs in spicy tomato, ginger, garlic sauce with home fries, Afghan bread, and a side of cilantro, walnut, jalapeño sauce. I knew I had made the right choice.