Bright neon signs and a vast array of breakfast sandwiches meet the eye at Cracked Eggery (1921 Eighth St. NW) in Shaw. Egg sandwiches, bowls and tater-tots are the main features of this all-day breakfast eatery.
Co-founder Mike Tabb is a lifelong Washingtonian who said his love for breakfast food dates back to his childhood. “If I got up early, my dad would sometimes take me to McDonald’s breakfast on the way to school,” Tabb remembered. “It’s always just kind of been a nostalgia thing and something that’s been a part of my life and a lot of people’s lives. Breakfast is such a family thing.”
Tabb said his menu started out with a traditional bacon, egg and cheese sandwich but quickly expanded to include more diverse options. The eccentric menu provided “a new take on breakfast,” and he and his colleagues quickly learned that eggs can be used in almost any dish. A favorite menu item is the Southern Charm, a sandwich that started out as a BLT but now features fried green tomato and pimento cheese.
Many of the offerings are traditional Southern-inspired or side dishes that the restaurant has turned into sandwiches. “It’s still approachable,” Tabb explained, referring to the menu. “But I also hear customers say, ‘Wow, I’ve never had it in this form before.’”
“We try to keep it as local as possible,” Tabb said of the ingredients used in his breakfast creations. The bread, eggs, sausage and more are sourced from DMV-area farmers, something he stressed improves the quality of the food. “Building these relationships with local people is invaluable for us, and honestly, the quality is better.”
Cracked Eggery Shaw is open Sunday through Monday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. The Cleveland Park location (3420 Connecticut Ave. NW) is open Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
To see the full menu or to order online, go to www.crackedeggery.com.
Sarah Payne is a general assignment reporter for Capital Community News. She can be reached at sarahp@hillrag.com.
