Neighborhood Gems: Brunch with Latin Flair at Rosa's Diner

Our NEIGHBORHOOD GEMS series features emblematic meals from around the world. This series shines a light on local restaurants and is designed to bring together inquisitive foodies and dishes that are unique and oh so worth a trip on roads less traveled!

Join us for brunch with a Latin twist at all-day Rosa's Diner!

From Eater DC

After going dark for two years, a tony corner of downtown D.C. makes a comeback today, Friday, May 22, as Rosa's Diner, an all-day ode to Americana classics with Latin twists.

The glamorous Victorian row house attached to the Moxy hotel was restored to its original glory back in 2023 to welcome Atlas Restaurant Group's polished oyster bar Parlor Victoria, which didn’t last long.

The brick-framed building’s latest culinary chapter falls under the watch of executive chef Francisco Pomalaza, who’s cooked in New York, Chicago, and his hometown of Miami – but never before in D.C. His newest post in a 9-to-5 corridor is a big departure from his recent beachside gig at Florida’s Havana Beach Bar & Grill at the Pearl Hotel.

“I felt that this was more freedom for creativity. There are so many countries to touch on,” says Pomalaza, who’s Peruvian. “It’s still an American theme, but influenced by Latin flavors.”

See: his eggs “Benedict” – which is actually a pupusa topped with beef birria and aji amarillo hollandaise.

Unlike its short-lived predecessor, which served seafood towers and steaks in an opulent setting, Rosa’s Diner dresses things down a bit with retro bar stools, slick green booths, and a walk-up counter with a full coffee program and a case stocked with its house-made pastries. A full bar spotlights spirits like a Latin gin made from Malbec grapes.

“Rosa’s is a fusion between American comfort food and Hispanic American flavors,” he says. The goal is to present familiar dishes with tastes and flavors “[customers] may not have had together before.” He wanted to stray from going all in on Mexican cuisine, since that’s what the Moxy’s rooftop bar Lucha Rosa already does.

Morning staples also include a breakfast burrito stuffed with Salvadorian chorizo and Pop Tart pastry featuring guava, brie, and a candied pecan dust.

Salads and bowls join “blue plate specials” like mushroom Bolognese and roasted chicken in a citrus marinade paired with Peruvian yellow potatoes. Churrasco, aji panca chimichurri, and a paper bag of fries answer the call to steak frites.

He’s especially proud of his churro French toast, topped with a guajillo maple syrup and roasted pineapple butter he makes himself. “It’s actually my daughter’s dish, to be honest. She loves French toast, and I told her I’d put one on there,” he says.

The butter also makes an appearance atop fluffy pancakes with Chantilly cream.

On the savory side, a diner smash burger melt on Texas toast is not for the faint of heart, piled with caramelized onions, cheese, and sweet-and-smoky bacon. The handheld section also features a beet Reuben and a chickpea “salad” sandwich, full of cumin and paprika, on sourdough. Starters include chilaquiles, beef birria empanadas, and fries topped with the house “spice” dust.

The same menu is served all day (7 a.m. to 9 p.m.), which means it’s possible to get a burger or breakfast burrito at the same time.

In a month, the 70-seat newcomer with a prime corner patio will roll out its speakeasy. Located at the top of its circular staircase – real estate that went unused under its life as Parlor Victoria – the “Library” can fit 100 and will function as a co-working cafe during the day and cool cocktail bar at night, complete with its own entrance.

Check out the menu here

Separate checks will be arranged in advance. All diners will settle their own tabs.

We ask that ALL folks honor their RSVP. If you are unable to attend after sending in a YES, please update your status so that others may join and help us support local businesses. In the event our group incurs a fee for no-shows / late cancellations, your ability to RSVP for future events will be restricted. Thank you in advance for your understanding.

To enhance the opportunity for great conversation, we will continue to limit the group size. Please feel free to sign-up to meet us along with up to 2 friends.

** WAITLIST: Meetup does not allow waitlists for paid events. If this event fills and you would like to be added to the waitlist, please send a note to the host through the Meetup app. **

In the future, we will vary the days of the week and the types of restaurants to keep events interesting.

PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU ARE COMMITTED TO GO WHEN YOU RSVP FOR THIS EVENT. Feel free to make suggestions for future meet locations.

** The small non-refundable registration fee helps us share the cost associated with the Meet-Up platform ($360/yr) and reduces the likelihood of no-shows, allowing us to better plan our events and accommodate all participants. Meetup charges $0.51 and Paypal charges $0.53 on the $2 registration fee. Thanks in advance for your understanding!**

If you are unable to join us in July, we hope you'll stay interested and join us for a meal in the future. Looking forward to catching up with you for brunch at Rosa's Diner!