Cracked Eggery

A New Neon-Lit Egg Parlor Gives Shaw a Reason to Rise and Shine | Eater DC

"Opening Saturday, April 2 at 1921 8th Street NW, the energetic, neon-lit Cracked Eggery brings inventive, delightfully messy egg sandwiches, bowls built on tots or veggies, and remixed diner classics to Shaw, serving roughly 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily (hours may be adjusted based on demand). Highlights include the Southern Charm — a next-level BLT with fried green tomato, pimento cheese, arugula, and lemon aioli on a challah bun — and The Animal, which slips a hash brown patty into a bacon, sausage, egg, and cheese sandwich (a menu hack Cracked Eggery originated). Co-owner AJ Zarinsky also developed a six-stick, fried-and-powdered challah-bun treat that riffs on French toast sticks. The 15-sandwich lineup ranges from a double bacon cheeseburger made with Pat LaFrieda beef patties to a fried-egg–topped pulled pork sandwich served on silver platters; six bowls include options like the Seoul Mate (sushi rice with sous-vide pork belly) and The St. Elmo’s Fire bowl (chicken tenders, tots, Buffalo sauce, blue cheese, shredded cheddar, fried egg, and scallions). Much is made in-house with local suppliers — challah from Maryland’s Lyon Bakery, eggs from Lancaster, cheese from Firefly Farms, and bacon, pulled pork and chorizo from Alexandria-based Logan’s Sausage — which helped during pandemic supply issues. The 14-seat space showcases an open kitchen along a curved ordering counter, dedicated takeout shelving, cement floors, steel accents, mod wooden booths, white subway tiles, and nostalgic ’80s accents including a hot-pink “Simply Irresistible” neon sign, VHS tapes, vinyls, and retro sandwich ads; delivery already accounts for nearly half of business. Co-owner Mike Tabb says plans for 24-hour service are on hold due to COVID, nightlife, and staffing, with growth envisioned from a breakfast-and-lunch base, and the brand intends to expand while keeping each location’s identity (Shaw’s logo even nods to the neighborhood’s jazzy roots with a saxophone)." - Tierney Plumb