Brunch throughout DC is such an over crowded shitshow, that i would recommend going at super off-times (like, first brunch of the day) or using a super small snap and go stroller (if you have one) instead of the full sized stroller. Because even if a restaurant theoretically can accommodate a stroller, brunch is such a different beast and your regular sized stroller is going to be a massive pain in the ass for you and those around you. With the snap and go, the frame folds up super small and they can usually tuck it somewhere and then carseat on a chair at the table. Full sized stroller, and you are the person that every person in the restaurant who has to squeeze by is glaring at.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Some great ideas, thanks! Baby is too young to sit directly in the stroller so is in a car seat in the stroller. some restaurants in this area have stairs leading in, so carrying the stroller plus car seat up and/or down and set of stairs is a pain I didn't want to get into, especially since I was meeting people for brunch, so likely entering the restaurant by myself. Also, while I usually baby wear on walks and short outings, I don't prefer to wear the baby if I'm going out to brunch since I have to wear him for hours and using the restroom gets tricky. He's 4 months old and not able to sit up yet.

I wore DD to restaurants at that age, but yeah it gets tiring. I also definitely used the bathroom while baby wearing. They should be tight against you and up high on your chest anyways, so shouldn't really get in the way. Anyways, it's getting hot enough that a stroller is probably more comfortable.

OP here. Some great ideas, thanks! Baby is too young to sit directly in the stroller so is in a car seat in the stroller. some restaurants in this area have stairs leading in, so carrying the stroller plus car seat up and/or down and set of stairs is a pain I didn't want to get into, especially since I was meeting people for brunch, so likely entering the restaurant by myself. Also, while I usually baby wear on walks and short outings, I don't prefer to wear the baby if I'm going out to brunch since I have to wear him for hours and using the restroom gets tricky. He's 4 months old and not able to sit up yet.

DC Reynolds in Petworth, strollers on patio via alley entrance or up one stair to get into the restaurant.

We've been to most of the restaurants in Penn Quarter with a stroller and didn't have issues at all. If there's not enough room by the table, they all have areas off to the side where the hostess/host can store it. You may have to fold it, so don't have much in the basket.

Jose Andres's restaurants tend to be big and spacious so a stroller wouldn't be an issue. We took ours to China Chilcano for brunch. We saw other strollers there as well.

Mintwood is baby stroller Mecca and has a bomb brunch. On the yellow line, we have taken the stroller to Convivial, Right Proper, Shaws Tavern, and basically all the coffee shops (although La Colombe and Compass get obnoxiously crowded on the weekends so I wouldn't plan to hang out with a big stroller there). We have a Vista which is pretty huge and had no problems at any of these spots.

Clydes is pretty accomodating but they'll put you off in a corner out of the way. I had brunch outside at Del Friscos on Pennsylvania (3 or 4 blocks west of Archives) and I'll bet they could handle a stroller. Not sure about inside. Likewise for Rosa Mexicano - outside, if you remove one of the chairs from a table.

Other than that, we travelled when our kid was a baby and I always found that a hotel restaurant would find a way, especially because they're not as busy as other places. Maybe you could find a decent one in that area.

OP, the DC thrillist has a list of restaurants by metro line:
https://www.thrillist.com/eat/washington-dc/dc-metro-restaurant-map-washington-restaurants-near-stations

It might help narrow down your options.

Anonymous wrote:Have you generally had a hard time with this? We eat out constantly and it's pretty rare the stroller is that much on an issue.

We had issues at small restaurants in the H st/Logan Circle area.

District Commons works well for this as doesnFounding Farmers. We ran into this issue a lot before my son could sit in a high chair since we didn't use or have a carrier.

Have you generally had a hard time with this? We eat out constantly and it's pretty rare the stroller is that much on an issue.

Can you bring a carrier so you aren't limited?

Not in your neighborhood but Brookland's Finest was our go to brunch spot when DC was in a stroller.

Any ideas where to go for brunch in DC where I can easily wheel my (not huge) stroller in? Preferably along the yellow line. I'm thinking around penn quarter/archives.