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Three months after Little Beast opted to close its daytime cafe and bakery, the family-friendly eatery in Chevy Chase is going for a new midday meal model by serving pizza-packed brunch three days a week.
Little Beast brunch kicks off this Saturday, March 16. Going forward, brunch will be served Fridays to Sundays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The rustic wood-lined restaurant in Chevy Chase (5600 Connecticut Avenue NW) opened in October. Its interior cafe trailed a month later with daily pistachio croissants and Vigilante coffee. But the colorful 74-seat restaurant, which sports an adjoining 44-seat patio, wasn’t big enough to handle a high-volume dinner on top of a 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. cafe operation.
Owner Aaron Gordon, who also owns Red Velvet Cupcakery and Bakers & Baristas, says customers were also also bummed that the wood-fired pizzas served at night were missing during the day.
Along with adding several pies from its dinner menu for brunch, there will be a breakfast pizza that comes with bechamel, ricotta, mozzarella, caramelized onions, bacon, and two eggs. Other brunch items include avocado tartines, ricotta pancakes, a fried chicken sandwich, and Gordon’s favorite: short rib and sweet potato hash. There’s also a brunch menu for kids.
Here’s a look at the new daytime menu:
Little Beast Brunch Menu2.28 by on Scribd
The playful restaurant, covered in animated “monsters” created by a Berlin-based graffiti artist, is helmed by executive chef Naomi Gallego (Blue Duck Tavern, Le Diplomate). The pastry pro is also making quirky croissant-muffin hybrids dubbed “cruffins” for brunch.
D.C. diners get another brand new brunch option on Saturday at Gravitas, Ivy City’s splashy seven-month-old modern American restaurant.
Unlike the fine-dining tasting menu dishes chef Matt Baker serves at dinner, the brunch menu is more affordable and served a la carte (think braised beef short rib with poached egg, sour dough pancakes and a croque madame).
