Pete's Diner

Great, non-fancy diner, and lovely cat. In the midst of lots of more swanky places in the heart of the political centre of DC, this diner is a breath of fresh air. Oh, and they have a lovely cat too! Reminds me of home a bit too ☺️

We recently visited Pete's Diner in Washington, DC, and unfortunately, our experience left much to be desired. Despite its prime location near the Capitol Building and the charm of being a quaint little diner, the food and service fell well below expectations. To start, the food was disappointing. The eggs were served cold, which is never acceptable, and the rest of the meal lacked flavor and freshness. Adding to the frustration, the service was incredibly slow and incomplete. We had to repeatedly ask for parts of our order that were forgotten, which made the meal feel more like a hassle than a pleasant dining experience. On a positive note, the diner's location is excellent for tourists and visitors to DC. It’s conveniently close to the Capitol, and its cozy atmosphere has a certain appeal. However, the quality of the food and service overshadowed any charm the diner had to offer. Overall, we won’t be returning to Pete’s Diner, and that decision isn’t just because we’re from out of town. Consistency and attention to detail are key in the food industry, and sadly, Pete’s Diner missed the mark in both areas. If you’re considering a visit, the location might be a draw, but don’t expect much else.

We stopped by Pete’s for a late breakfast before heading to the Library of Congress, and overall, it was a solid choice, though not without its quirks. The eggs, pancakes, and sausage hit the spot, but the waffle had a little too much time to contemplate its existence on the griddle. The decor is intriguing (?)…There are plants, both real and fake, and an assortment of sticks hanging from the ceiling. Is it art? A tribute to the great forests of yore. No clue. Perhaps the most unexpected part of our visit was the neighborhood cat, who was first spotted outside before being welcomed inside by the staff. It then proceeded to patrol the diner, checking in on customers like an unimpressed health inspector. Personally, I love cats, so I didn’t mind, but if you’re allergic to or just not a fan of feline supervisors during your meal, you might feel differently. Overall Pete’s serves up a good, hearty breakfast with a side of local (cat) charm. Would I come back? Yes. Just skip the waffle and bring some cat treats.

I went to D.C. for my graduation and My husband and I decided to stop at a diner for Mother's Day. As soon as we walked through the door, we were greeted. The service was just amazing from the second we walked in to the second we walked out the door. The food was amazing. If you are ever in the area, I would make this a stop. Exceptional job!!

It's an American-style diner, run by Asians, with a Greek-style font on their menus, so you just gotta respect it. Oh, and they have a CAT, so be sure to ask about him if you don't see him. We asked and were told he was out enjoying the sunshine, which he was. Unfortunately, he wasn't too concerned with being photogenic so the attached pic is the best I can do. Food was solid, but nothing mind-blowing. However, it doesn't claim to be so you can't really take points off. That said, the bacon was perfectly cooked for my tastes with it being crunchy on the outside and chewy on the inside. What I also liked is that they have lots of condiments available at the table, ranging from ketchup, mustard and hot sauce all the way to Old Bay. Service was welcoming and friendly, and some of the regulars even got addressed by name and addressed the employees by name, so you can tell they care about their customers. You get water without even asking for it, but you can order whatever other drink you want too. Overall quite a charming little place.

A mom and pop locally owned restaurant. Excellent location at the eastern end of the National Mall, near the Library of Congress. Food portions very good. Speed of service excellent. Hospitality not their strong suit... maybe a cultural difference compared to traditional American custom. Atmosphere -- typical diner feel. Bar service by the kitchen area, benches along the wall, and tables in the middle. Very tight quarters -- I'm sure rent is brutal in this area -- so it can be quite noisy due to everyone in close proximity to one another. If you are a tourist (like me) in a hurry to catch your timed entry to exhibits nearby, have an appetite and on a fairly strict budget, it's hard to beat Pete's Diner.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Pete's Diner in Washington DC is a hidden gem that offers more than just delicious food. The menu boasts tasty delights, but it's the friendly staff and diverse clientele that truly make this place special. From locals enjoying their morning coffee to politicians discussing national issues and foreign policy, it's a hub of lively conversation and intellectual exchange. Whether you're looking for a hearty meal or a chance to eavesdrop and learn about what's happening on the political hill, Pete's Diner delivers. Highly recommended for both the food and the stimulating atmosphere!

We’ve been coming here for years, and it is a solid classic diner. Tasty breakfast and lunch options, generally effective service, nice outdoor seating, and friendly well-fed resident black cat ShiShi (sp?) who is the beloved local celebrity. The interior is a wacky mix of fake bamboo on the ceiling, law enforcement badges on the wall, and Chinese art. Prices are decent considering you’re practically kitty-corner from the Library of Congress and just a block from the Capitol. The fruit plate provides an impressively quality selection of fresh hand-cut fruit for a reasonable $4. Filling food to power your day.

Quick service. Good food and best prices in DC. Sidewalk seating. Near Library of Congress.

Fast service, comfort food, cozy and convenient location for visitors of Capitol Hill. Price is reasonable, chilly is spicy and great for a cold winter day. Will visit again.

4/11/24 Small diner, nothing fancy. Order, eat, and leave. Many people seem to be regulars. Eggs Bacon Ham Hash Toast Pancakes Coffee and Tea. It's just down the block from our hotel.

Food: It's a cafe'. The breakfast burrito was received like a Taco. The substance was good. The potatoes were good Cheese burger..frozen patties Chicken tenders...not the best. Could add some seasoning Service: Good Ambiance: Small cafe' with room to sit. Tight seating in some areas

Ok, don't blink or you'll miss Pete's and that would be a shame if you want a good hearty breakfast. A kitschy atmosphere to be sure, and the servers won't spend much time getting to know you, but for a decent greasy spoon meal, if your in Capitol Hill you'll like stopping at this small local haunt

Awesome breakfast and fast service, great find in DC for reasonable prices, went several time

This is a typical old style diner,just like back in the day. It's a small place with tables and counter service. There is a person working a large grill cooking up eggs bacon and other breakfast items. The rest of the kitchen is off to the side hidden behind a curtain. They have a large selection of lunch time food, it's a dinner they have just about everything. My wife got one of the specials, grilled cheese and chicken noodle soup. I just had the soup. I am pretty sure it was homemade. Lots and lots of veggies, noodles, and chunks of real chicken. The place was packed but the service was very good. If your up near the Hill give Pete's a try, you will be glad you did.

TLDR: left when cat pooped in the floor I've been to Pete's before and loved it... but today, I had to walk out. When we arrived, my fiancé and I spent a few minutes outside trying to figure out how to get into the restaurant without allowing this big cat that was loitering outside in. Much to our surprise, a restaurant employee opened the door for us, letting the cat in, and said "don't worry about the cat, he's ours." At that point, I started to feel gross - especially because I'm really allergic to cats. Then, as we were picking our seats, we considered the only open booth - until we saw the cat-hair filled cushion in the booth and a note that the seat was reserved for the cat. Then we looked to the bar - but one of the stools was also reserved for that cat... As we debated our options, a booth opened up! We made our way to the booth and we're about to sit down, until we saw the cat underneath it. And the cat wasn't just lying under the table - it was pooping. We left promptly and will not be returning to Pete's. Not sure how the health department hasn't gotten wind of this, but something needs to change.

Food comes in great portions. Coffee was fresh. I ordered the chocolate chip pancakes and they were some of the best I've had in a while. The service was quick, even for the large group that I was in. The seating is tight but comfortable. I love that it's a cozy neighborhood restaurant.

Nice folks working there, small portions, inexpensive. Problem with my salad - they tossed it and made a completely new one, were apologetic about it and provided a nice discount. If you're hungry, nearby and need something quick and inexpensive, this is the place for you.

It's like a cafeteria for tourists and congressmen, a small neighborhood mom and pop diner with a homey atmosphere. The prices are inexpensive and the food, like mom's home cooking, good and decent, but nothing fancy. It's more for the ordinary daily routine meals rather than a treat. I used to come here every day for breakfast and often saw House Speaker John Boehner and his security details . This was the first time I came back since the Pandemic. We ordered: 3*Korean Bulgogi: recommended by my friend and I didn't see it on the menu - salad with kimchi: tasty and light. 3* Vegetarian Combo: served with brown rice, mushrooms, string beans and cabbage - healthy and light.

I loved the unique decor and ambiance. The family cat was also nice. It is clearly family run and the service is very nice and efficient. The food is great. It has a home cooked feel to it. For tourists who want to have home cooked American food at decent portions, this is the place.

Came back a second time! Service was fast and nice! Food was fast and delicious. Two for two and would make it a third if I ever come back to DC.

I had the blueberry pancakes and my son had the chocolate chip pancakes. Both were delicious! Lots of people who came in seemed to know everyone working there. Really felt like a cute little neighborhood restaurant.

Low quality food and service. Great location. We ate at a table on the street. They feed the birds right beside of you. I do not recommend.

Excellent service and great food, quick and delicious. Ate here a few days in a row for breakfast, visiting family. 4 stars

I sat at the counter for breakfast on 11.16.2023, and was thoroughly enjoying it. The spoiler FOR ME was a BIG CAT jumping up in the empty chair next to me. I understand that some folks are animal lovers BUT I am not one. I do not expect or wish to eat at an establishment that allows this. I was super disappointed and do not plan to return because it looks like this is a normal practice. Because of that, I would like to give it ZERO/NO start but you are forced to give it at least one.

An easy, breezy breakfast to get you rolling into an easy, breezy weekend. The pancakes were perfectly light and fluffy, and the service was incredibly speedy and attentive (my coffee cup not once sat without coffee). It felt just like a diner should, and while the food was casual and cheap, it was still pretty darn tasty. Sometimes, well...often, an expensive, over-the-top bottomless brunch is not what the heart wants. And on those days, Pete's Diner can happily fulfill your breakfast needs.

This is a diner that was probably great ten years ago, but has been clearly in a state of decline. It's probably a two star place now, but the way it's trending, it's gonna be one star quality within six months. What's the issue? 1) The place is filthy. Our table was just vacated so we asked for the server to wipe it when the server came to take our order (sad that you have to ask for this). She grabbed some grungy cloth and wiped the table, but all it did was leave the table with a fine layer of grease. They have a dozen bottles of stuff on the tables, and they're all Ali melt with oil or grease. Except the two corn syrup containers (not even Aunt Jemima, which I though was the low bar for diners). They were all sticky with syrup. There was such a build-up of sugar stuck to the top that the sugar would barely come out. 2) No small packages of jams, peanut butter, or anything for roasts. If you ask as my wife did, they bring out a tiny bowl with some jam scooped into it. They probably just dust costs by buying big jams at Costco and scoop some out when a customer asks to save a few pennies. Do health regulations even allow this??? Given the cleanliness of the other stuff on the table, I must say I certainly had concerns over this practice. 3) I ordered a tea and it was served in a to-go cup. If I wanted this I would have gone to a Starbucks. 4) the plastic water glasses had the rims all nicked and dinged beyond the point where they should be replaced. You might think it's worth putting up with a bit of the above because the owners are focused on keeping costs low. Well, you'd be wrong there. Our two plates of food were $9.75 each and the hot beverages $2.75. Unless you have a thing for disgusting, filthy greasy spoons, stay far away from this place.

Cat was pooping inside the restaurant!! It just walks around all over. A lady came out from the back kitchen and picked up the poop with a sandwich bread bag and went back into the kitchen. Needless to say we stood up and left. Disgusting would give negative stars but you can't. Avoid this place!

Nice spot for a super efficient and tasty meal! Went here with a friend and enjoyed the outdoor seating. They brought us a menu and it had a ton of breakfast and lunch options. I got a tasty western omelette and my friend got a melt with fries. The omelette had Italian sausage pieces in it, tangy like a sausage pizza, very good in the omelette with some chopped veggies and a little cheese. All excellent and above average tasting food, with a nice sidewalk cafe atmosphere. Clean and efficient service, when you are ready they being a check and you can pay inside. No pressure to move on, we chatted a bit and enjoyed the afternoon while nursing our drinks. Recommended!

Old-fashioned greasy spoon diner. Okay food. Super cheap. Everyone in the reviews is acting like the cat was walking over their plates or something. It's just a cat, it won't hurt you.

Great food, great service, great ambiance. Waltzers we're respectful. Nice place to grab local diner food and it was tasty!

Great little spot when you want something fast and easy. The menu is clear and the service is great. Cutest little diner.

My friend and I stopped in for lunch one afternoon in November and they greeted her with open arms. She used to live nearby and went there all the time, but hadn't gotten back there since moving to another part of the city. They recognized her and were so thrilled that she was back. I took it as a great sign that they love their customers and that their customers are loyal. The service is why I am giving it a five, otherwise I would rate it a four. We took up a seat outside (it was warm that day) although the rain clouds were really rolling in. It was easy to order and to get refills on water. My friend ordered breakfast (pancakes and the like), and because I had already eaten that morning, I went with fries and a salad. The food is pretty good, typical diner fare, no frills. It's not trying to be something fancier, which is honestly refreshing for DC. We need more places like that. We got our food quickly, and were able to eat before the rain started coming down. They have a $10 minimum on credit cards, but didn't mind letting me use mine, even though my bill was around $9.50. I'll definitely stop by again when I'm near Capitol Hill, it hits the spot for when you want something quick.

Food was good. Service was fast and accurate. A pleasant diner experience with your diner ambiance feel. I like supporting family owned small businesses in the city. Recommend

Worst restaurant and service I have ever eaten at. The waitress was disinterested, rude, would not even look us in the eye, then proceeded to yell our order over to the cooks before leaving our table. We had asked for water and she plunked down 2 plastic bottles with no glasses and walked away. When we finally got her attention to ask for glasses, she brought back only one. My ham and cheese omelet was filled with big chunks of ham fat which was disgusting, and the toast was underdone and cold. We should have known by the cluttered dirty windows with dying plants, dust and dirt, that this was a place to avoid. BTW, this is the very first restaurant review I have ever written.

If you are ok with just semi decent food, you will not enjoy this place. Food is either over cooked, too salty, or both. Sad to say, but you are better off at McDonald's for breakfast

Underwhelming. Condiments are all off brand (think catsup)....not particularly clean. Lots of potential here due to location but quality and cleanliness will keep me away.

Appears to be family owned. Reasonable prices. Everyone in our group enjoyed their food. Quick service. Clean bathrooms. The young man serving us was very friendly and attentive.

Quick, good, clean. Small local restaurant just around the corner from the Capital. We had breakfast and all enjoyed.

The food was out of this world but there so much going on the service is quick but not focused.

The vibe of this place was a bit of a surprise, it's probably the most diverse diner I've ever been to. Many different food and drink options that you wouldn't necessarily associate with a diner (and a few that were missing). Their breakfast selection is minimal but solid. They have outdoor seating and I think they allow customers to dine indoors as well. They use real menus however comply with social distancing (spread out tables). Service was friendly. It's a good option for the area, but I prefer Executive Diner in Alexandria for more of the diner experience/food selection.

This is somewhat of a hole in the wall, as it is not facing to Pennsylvania Avenue. The people working here are great, as they are pleasant, attentive, and appreciative of your business. A couple of places I intended to go nearby were packed, but this place had plenty of seating. My breakfast meal of pancakes, bacon, eggs, and iced tea was decent for the price paid. If you are in the area and other places are busy you can hit this place up if you want a good meal that is reasonably priced without a wait.

Super friendly greasy spoon breakfast and lunch spot. By far the quickest we've gotten our meals in DC. I had breakfast, my partner had a sandwich combo. Very satisfying in a non fancy way. Our meals with coffee and a coke came to $25. I highly recommend if you're looking for a diner in the capitol area.

We had breakfast two days in a row and the banana pancakes were very good. Prices are good and you get a large portion. This place is not anything special but it has all the qualities of a good breakfast spot. I would definitely go back.

Someone added hand sanitizer in my coffee. Also, inflation sucks, but their prices skyrocketed within a year...kinda wild.

Great diner with affordable menu. Always love to find small diners to eat vs restaurants as we support the small business. The pancakes were delicious as well as the rest of our food. The servers were really friendly! Great spot to eat if you are staying in DC

Alright look imma rate it 4 stars because the food was actually good. I did have a problem where they forgot to put the turkey on the club sandwich, I'm sorry but I've never heard of a club sandwich with no turkey. I'm assuming that there wasn't a dumpster in the back because they dragged the trash can through the front of the restaurant and I was honestly confused. Overall it was fine but idk if I'd eat there again.

Great local place, fast and friendly! We all had omelettes and toast, nothing "superb" but classic diner food. Ate outside, the inside is TINY!

If you're looking for some quick, simple, filling breakfast then Pete's covers that. With ample portions and enough options to ensure you're full, the diner becomes a no-brainer for the family or budget minded. The lady with the bandana (the chef) is super pleasant and happy. She was/is a nice contrast to the more hardened, no smiles shorter lady (NOT the shortest one, she was sweet also). My mom enjoyed her egg and cheese sandwich. We got plenty of french toast in a single order and the food was served well and quick. BONUS: If you stay at the Capitol Hill Hotel, it is right around the corner and a block from getting onto site seeing.

Was out for a early 7.5. Mile run/walk and decided to stop for breakfast. I was going to go to another place but this was close to where I was at the time. Prolly shoulda went to other place. $12 and some change for 3 pancake, bacon and a OJ. Other place is $5 cheaper. You can be forgotten about sitting at the bar when others at tables get most of the attention. Also trying to pay can be a challenge as everyone is either cooking, putting orders together or serving. Pancakes were fine but not the best bacon. A crispy pile.

Classic old school diner! Low key but has all aspects most like in diner: Simple menu with all day breakfast. Great and fast service, fair prices and lots of Capitol Hill history. Must do if you are beat Capitol and want a quick low key meal

This Diner on Capital Hill has very fast service. We stopped in for breakfast. I had the breakfast sandwich and pancakes.

A great place for ALL AMERICAN PATRIOTS to eat while in DC!!!!! If you are not an American, then you should definitely eat here too!

Owner Gum and her staff have been working tirelessly to feed our troops. They are so thankful for the delicious warm home cooked meals provided for them. America thanks you.

Cheapest food I've ever had. Bacon was from Walmart, shriveled up and fat. Pancakes were like hockey pucks. Had better breakfast cooked by cub scouts.

Been meaning to try out this little diner for years and today I was craving pancakes for breakfast so Pete's popped up! I thought I would be super busy with a wait but my surprise..... super empty for a holiday weekend! The diner is very small and you pretty much seat yourself. Being I was solo this morning I went for the high top bar area... a little dirty at arrival but quickly picked up. Menu is very basic and simple! I like the idea of different flavor pancakes so I went with the blueberry pancakes. I also order and meat and cheese omelet that comes with home fries and bread. The food lacked flavor and LoVE in my opinion... put me in the mind of cafeteria food or hospital. It wasn't terrible just not my favorite. I will say it's probably the cheapest breakfast in DC because I only paid about 10 bucks. Not on my list of nee to revisit .... but they do serve breakfast all day so that's a plus!

I don't know how I never found this place before. It seemed like there were a bunch of regulars. I had scrambled eggs, bacon, home fries, toast and coffee. It really hit the spot and was out very quickly. I will definitely be back!

A cute little neighborhood breakfast spot a block away from the capital. We started out DC adventure here and got a great breakfast to start the day. Service was friendly and quick and the food was yummy. I had the French Toast (Great!) and my son ordered the banana pancakes (lots of real banana). We got a great meal for a great value and it started off the day with a full tummy.