Highlands

Amazing neighborhood breakfast spot. Yummy chicken & waffles and good chill crowd. I’ll be back next time I’m in DC.

Can’t really write a review because we never got a chance to eat the food. Highlands has a confusing seating arrangement.
Me and my husband decided to try the place out. As soon as we came in we asked if we just pick a seat or how does this work. They informed us that we stand in line, order our food and get a number for your seat. We finished paying got our number and another patron that was behind us had put her belongings in a seat. Then there was another person sitting at a table reading a book with no number. We were told to go wait by the door for a table. So we inquired about how come they get a table before us also the lady that reserved her table was waiting for someone that hadn’t even gotten there yet. We didn’t want to address the patrons and thought that perhaps management or staff could assist with the fairness of the seating. The cashier told us that the patrons are aggressive and they want to eat here.
I mean we could have put our coat at a table but we followed the rules and excepted staff to enforce their first come first serve rules.
We asked for a refund, that was given quickly and without attitude and we left.
Food looked good and was affordable but not happy with the seating arrangements.

This was my first visit to this spot. I definitely want to go back to try other items on their menu. The Cuban sandwich was tasty. My only gripe is the description says it had spicy pork belly and there was nothing spicy about this sandwich. I also couldn’t really taste the mojo sauce. Overall I enjoyed it. I was disappointed with the wings. The description said it came either a hot & spicy sauce and these are dry wings. Other than that the staff was really friendly. The mimosas were also on point. The restaurant is also pretty small so I wouldn’t suggest going with a large group.

Atmosphere is intimate. Good is great! They also serve beer and wine.
I love their shrimp and grits, chicken and waffles. Sandwiches are also tasty. Try their bread pudding!!!

The food was great. We were looking for a tasty start to the day and def got it. The artwork and décor was on point. If you’re thinking about going just a heads up you order form the counter and seat yourself. Very cool place indeed.

This breakfast was everything grandma would approve of! Well my best friend’s grandma… as mine never made me grits. The first thing my bf said was, whoever made this breakfast, really cares. LOL. I think he found love when he realized I didn’t ask them to put peppers and onions in his home fries. They just did. We both got the 14^th st heights breakfast. BTW what the heck is 14^th st heights? I’m from the area, went to Roosevelt High School, and would like to know where and what that is?
Anyway, the eggs and bacon were great. I could have had my eggs cooked a little longer though. And the grits… mama the grits. Just wonderful. Didn’t NEED salt and pepper. consistency was near perfect. The only gripe, just a little too much butter. Other than that it was a winner! Also, the price, it’s a little high. But these are the things that happen when we start renaming neighborhoods and such…

Ok so not gonna lie, was torn between 3 and 4 stars, but went for the 4 because the bacon was so freaking delicious and cooked perfectly and just crispy enough that it put the rating in the 4 category.
That being said, I will say that it felt a little pricey for the amount of food I got. I was able to clean off my plate of the 14^th St special I ordered at brunch, but it would have been nice to have some leftovers to snack on later. My friend ordered the french toast which he was a fan of, and I ordered a latte.
There’s not a ton of room on the inside in terms of seating, you’ll get pretty cozy with strangers sitting next to you. In our case, they may get a little annoyed that you’re speaking so loud but you know what, it’s a public place so whatever. There are also a ton of baked goods and pastries to choose from, and though I didn’t order one, they looked pretty great behind the case.

Found this spot on Unilocal.One word — Delish!!! It’s a small spot but the prices were reasonable, the service was fast, and the good was cooked perfect. Based on the reviews, we order their signature dishes and we’re not disappointed. I just wish it was a larger venue.

I used to come here when it was the Mocha Hut they had awesome sandwiches named after the streets mines was the Crittenden.
Now that it’s Highlands there’s more hot dishes on the menu. I usually get the shrimp and grits which is listed as an appetizer but at 10 bucks you can always order two.
The chicken and waffles are also a good dish to try. I haven’t had the chance to try dinner due to my schedule but the two dishes I named are delicious.

Food was pretty good. Weird green lettuce thing on my waffle, lol. I pushed it to the side and kept going!
I had shrimp and grits. The portion was small though, glad i got that waffle as well. My food was pretty tasty. My friend got the chicken and waffles which she enjoyed as well.
The only grief I have (besides the mystery green lettuce looking thing) was that my friend arrived 5 minutes before me. However, they wouldn’t let her sit down until I got there. I’m fine with that policy but only if you tell everyone else the same thing. Several other people came right in and sat without ordering first and one larger party of 5 came in and held a table for about 10 minutes until their party came. They were not asked to move either like my friend was, so annoying. I need this place to be bigger or develop a consistent policy.

I went here for a chill Sunday afternoon brunch. You order from the cashier then choose your seating. At 2 pm, there was no wait, easy street parking, and the Skins game was playing on the TV — which put a smile on my face.
The chicken and waffles was exactly what I wanted. The chicken was crispy on the outside, moist and tender on the inside. The eggs were fluffy and just the right amount of cheesy. The waffles were crispy, light and fluffy.
The shrimp and grits was a smaller portion size but very satisfying. There were only 4 shrimp in the dish but they were all pretty big. The coating on the shrimp was delicious — a crunchy flavorful buttermilk outside which was both savory and sweet. The grits paired well with the shrimp. The cheese added a nice flavor, but I think it could have used a little more seasoning.
All in all, I was very happy, especially with it being only $ 10/​dish.

Highlands is definitely a treat when I visit my sister in DC. Fortunately this is one of her neighborhood spots, so she introduced it to me recently when I went to visit over Labor Day weekend. It’s charming, and they make delicious coffee for the caffeine aficionados, I was hooked. Even the rare time I ordered decaf (yes, every blue moon it happens!), the decaf was wicked good too. My 3 year old nephew loves their croissants and goes to town when he gets his little hands on one. My sister, I, (and nephew!) had breakfast there on Sunday and with the rave reviews the nephew has on the croissant (is a 3 year old ever wrong?!!), I asked for an egg and cheese croissant for my order. It did NOT disappoint. Soft, buttery, cheesy heaven, I had to go easy from inhaling the thing! The coffee that morning, was good ol’ fashioned Dark Roast, and it hit the spot.
Sooo happy that this place is down the street from my sis’s place. Looking forward to going back the next time I’m in DC. Thumbs up in my book!!!

With such good reviews and such cheap prices, I knew I had to check this place out.
Highlands is small. Be prepared to grab seats as fast as you can, and make sure you come with someone, so one person can order and one can save the seats.
I ordered a waffle, and it was definitely a good Belgian waffle. I prefer mine sweeter, but this is a personal preference, so I would not dock them for that.
As I mentioned before, the prices are unbeatable. $ 4.50 for a waffle at brunch is unheard of in this city. My dining companion got the chicken and waffles and thoroughly enjoyed it. The eggs were a tad weird of an addition.
I do wish that they had some sort of fruit option to go alongside the waffle. Overall, I would definitely go back, though.

An excellent breakfast and a great value for the price. I’m a vegetarian and found lots of options to choose from, which can be difficult at times. The décor is great, but the restaurant is fairly small and gets crowded quickly. Also, they received deliveries on Saturdays, which means that if it’s chilly outside, the door stays open and the breeze is permitted to flow through.
Great customer service and a nice little neighborhood spot to check out on a random weekend.

Highlands is one of DC’s best kept secrets. If you’re a foodie in the DC area, and haven’t yet tried this place, you’re missing out.
I have been here several times throughout the years, most recently being this past Sunday for brunch. A group of girlfriends of mine try to get together every few months to catch up and eat well while we’re at it. This month we decided to go to Highlands because the food is good and the prices are even better.
Two out of four of us arrived at 1:30 pm, and the place was packed. We scouted out the area, which is quite small, to see if we could grab a seat, but after ten minutes of waiting, we couldn’t find seating inside. Luckily, a group of people at a table outside got up, and we were able to take their seats.
Did I mention that it was 95 degrees outside? And that there were no umbrellas for the seating? Whew. Thank goodness they provided us with copious amounts of cups of ice and water.
Once we got settled, and the other two people in our party arrived, we went inside to place our orders at the counter. I loved that they use Square, and that you can easily provide your tip when you pay.
We ordered:
— Mimosas ($ 8/​glass)
— Morning Glory Omelet: Egg-​white omelet with Swiss cheese, spinach, mushrooms, tomatoes and Home fries
— Chicken and Waffles
— Brioche French Toast
— 14 St. Height’s Breakfast: Home fries, eggs any style, choice of breakfast meat and toast
You take a number from the cashier that you place on your table, and once your meal is ready, one of the servers will deliver it to you at your table. My meal was the Morning Glory Omelet and it was perfection.
If you have some time to spare, and don’t mind a crowded and sometimes noisy environment, Highlands may be your go-​to spot in DC. If not, here’s the silver lining: You can always order their take out.

I walked into this joint expecting some full on Braveheart Scotland action. Imagine my surprise when everyone and everything in the place screams Guatemala. :)
The Highlands is NOT a bad lil comfort food spot at all. I would actually give the place 3.5 stars if I could based on cuteness but… welp…I couldn’t justify a round up on this time around. The food is pretty good. Some elements were awesome. The shrimp & grits were FIGHT YO MAMA good! I mean chase her down the street, and Figure Four chokehold her tail, good. Buuuuut the chicken and waffles… see, the chicken was SO moist and juicy and flavorful… mmmm, and the eggs were fluffy and seasoned well… ahhh and then the damn waffle was brick COLD. BRUH!!! SMH… this is why I have trust issues. Siggggghhh. The butter wouldn’t even melt. So yeahhhh that was a turn off. I wasn’t in the mood to wait for another one and I just charged it to the game.
If you’ve never eaten there before like I hadn’t it was a bit off putting because some ppl were at the counter, some were sitting at tables, no one at tables had menus and no one said anything when I walked in so I didn’t know if was supposed to order at the counter or Debo a menu and the first table I see or what? In the end, I ordered at the counter then sat down, but then the one of two women behind the counter actually sat a couple of tables after me so Im not sure what to say about that except uhhh… just go to the counter, I suppose. You see the confusion in my text? Yeah… that’s where that other star and a half went… along with that cold waffle.
Anyhoo…it aint bad. The food is pretty good, lattes are ok, ambience is quaint and the music is
. :) I would definitely return to try some other things and/​or to at least get my boogie on while I sip my coffee. Thanks a latte! Get it? No? Fine. LOL 3.5÷5 tummy rubs.

«God is Great and God is Good!»…Let us Thank Him for Good Food! AMEN!
A Child’s Grace Prayer… Is the overjoy and elated kindergarten – childhood feeling humming in my head whenever I stop through Highlands!
I am sure many of you can relate to the feeling and happy-​dance that takes over when enjoying «Flavah-​Poppin’!» food. Well… Welcome to Highlands! Everything about this neighborhood food joint gets me excited. Breakfast, brunch and lunch eats that are so delicious in all simplicity! No frills, just great flavors of American and Latin fare… and on the cheap! Just how I like it. LOL.
I am a huge fan of small, local business in DC. And, this particular local business has an amazing atmosphere, friendly owners/​staff, and take great pride in serving up some of the best eats around the «Urrr-reah»…as they say in DC slang. This place stays crowded for a reason, simply put… Damn good food! When you walk into Highlands you immediately feel at home. You see everyone smiling and hanging out while the delicious smells from the kitchen make you rush towards finding a table and more importantly a menu.
I’m still making my way through the entire menu (as if 5+ visits are not enough… lol), but everything I have ordered has been on point — FANTASTIC! My favorites, so far, are:
* 14^th ST HEIGHTS BREAKFAST and BELGIAN WAFFLE — Served with two eggs any style, choice of breakfast meat. w/​Salmon Cake all for $ 8.75! A steal of a deal!
* JUANITA’S FRIED SHRIMP AND GRITS — To die for! Very flavorful, huge, plump, and juicy shrimp. Spicy fried shrimp and cheesy grits served with Apple Cider Bourbon sauce on top. The shrimp was perfectly crispy and tasted ultra fresh. The grits were so cheesy, buttery, and smooth. As if this weren’t enough, a delicious Apple Cider Bourbon Sauce laid drizzled atop the fried shrimp and grits. Lip smacking good to say the least.
* CHICKEN n’ WAFFLES — The Bomb! Crispy, tasty and well seasoned seasoned chicken. I sometimes substitute the Brioche French Toast in place of the Waffles. I think it better tasting and comes with a great strawberry topping.
* HIGHLANDS BREAD PUDDING — What?! Can we say MOUTH DROOLING GOOD?! Better than Mom’s! Served hot, with Strawberries and a Blackberry compote sauce that will have you licking the plate!
But here’s the real deal… The VALUE! I cannot think of anywhere in the city to get fresh food of this quality and service, at this price and on the cheap! I have ZERO complaints about this place, except that I wish they were open ²⁴⁄₇!
I duly certify and give this place my coveted «HITTIN’ & STICKIN’!» stamp of approval!
Do yourself a favor — try this place. If you don’t like it… then don’t come back — because I hate standing in line! Dueces.

Went there for brunch on a Sunday, street parking in the area wasn’t too difficult to find. Ordering the seat yourself system and we were lucky enough to grab a table. Not ideal for large groups though.
My spicy chicken and waffles was tasty and came out quickly, chicken was tender and flavorful (though not terribly spicy). Waffles were a bit soggy and scrambled eggs were pretty standard. Not the most cleanly place though, my knife was caked in food residue and my friend had a hair on her plate (the waitress was very apologetic).
I would return if I was in the area but nothing in particular is making me rush back.

Ok I’m officially addicted to this place. I’m not sure where I have been all this years esp as a DC native. I’m a little embarrassed that I had no clue. The only excuse that I got is that I was raised on the other side of town. Thank God I finally woke up cause Lawd this place is the atom bomb! Don’t expect some fancy trendy place. Naw that’s not what you come here for. Just expect to get great, down home food and good service. I highly recommend that you try the shrimp and grits, the open faced shrimp omelet, waffles, French toast, and the tilapia or salmon. You can’t go wrong with any of those. Best thing is that this food is reasonably priced.
Tip: don’t come during the height of brunch time. You will absolutely wait a while.

The spot here is small but it was easy to get seated even during a busy period. The whole operation is a family affair and you can tell it’s a local spot with the staff conversing with obvious regulars and other regular speaking with each other. I got the chicken and waffles which were solid. The waffle was slightly sweet, the chicken light, not quite as stick to your ribs but tasty. A great spot for breakfast or brunch.