You may have a go-to breakfast meal. For some people, it’s a stack of syrupy pancakes dusted with powdered sugar. For others, it’s a simple omelet filled with fresh veggies. Yet other breakfast aficionados swear by the classic American dish of poached eggs, hollandaise sauce, and Canadian bacon atop an English muffin. Eggs Benedict is a staple of breakfast and brunch menus.There are dozens of variations on the dish, with some adding avocado, salmon, or different types of meat to the stack. But eggs benedict fans know that you can’t go wrong with the original.
Here are a few places in Northern Virginia serving up the classic breakfast dish.
Shoe’s Cup & Cork
This quaint Leesburg café serves brunch all day, so you’ll never miss the opportunity to try the eggs Benedict, which is outfitted with two poached eggs, Baker’s Farm ham, and hollandaise served on an English muffin with a side of breakfast potatoes. There’s an option to add sliced avocado — yes, please! Enjoy your eggs Benedict outside in Shoe’s Cup & Cork’s back garden, the perfect setting to soak in some rays while chowing down on breakfast. 17 N. King St., Leesburg
Agora Tysons
Looking for eggs Benedict with a Mediterranean spin? Check out Agora, one of Northern Virginia Magazine’s 50 Best Restaurants in 2022. It’s where you can pair your eggs Benedict with a starter of hummus or htipiti, a roasted red pepper dip. Executive Chef Ismet Sahin is a native of Southern Turkey, and his goal is to provide traditional Turkish cooking with a fresh spin. Agora’s classic eggs Benedict is served with turkey bacon and hollandaise, but it offers a salmon eggs Benedict that comes complete with smoked salmon, guacamole, hollandaise, and salmon caviar. 7911 Westpark Dr., McLean
Del Ray Café
The Del Ray Café is a casual neighborhood eatery in Alexandria that serves French-style dishes using fresh local products. Located in a refurbished Del Ray house, the restaurant oozes comfort and makes for the perfect spot for a lazy Sunday morning brunch. Its eggs Benedict is served on a croissant, instead of an English muffin. Enjoy Canadian bacon, poached eggs and hollandaise on a buttery, soft croissant. 205 E. Howell Ave., Alexandria
Chloez Café
This family-owned restaurant in Fairfax Station boasts a beach-like atmosphere — bright, fun, and sunny. The eggs Benedict, listed under the menu’s specialities, features grilled ham, housemade hollandaise sauce, and a side of home fries. Pair it with one of Chloez’s smoothies for a refreshing, balanced breakfast or brunch. 5622 Ox Rd., Fairfax Station
Eggspectation
The restaurant’s classic eggs Benedict is two poached eggs on Applewood smoked ham and an English muffin, all topped with hollandaise and Lyonnaise-style potatoes. Eggspectations also serves a Chesapeake Benedict, complete with lump crab meat and Gruyère cheese, and an avocado toast benedict that’s piled with smashed avocado, grilled tomato, and drizzled with chimichurri sauce. Multiple locations
Feature image of Agora; photo by Alice Levitt
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