Little Pearl, the latest offering from the folks behind Rose’s Luxury and Pineapple and Pearls, is closed today, and it’s partially my fault.

They opened for the first time yesterday at 921 Pennsylvania Avenue SE in Washington, D.C., a few blocks away from the Pineapple and Pearls Cafe, where as you know, I once ate the entire menu. That venue was shuttered so the team could get ready for their new venture—where on opening day, I intended to once again do the same thing.

While I was likely the only customer who made the attempt, the enthusiasm in the neighborhood ran so high that Little Pearl late last night announced: “We have emptied our cabinets, fridges and cupboards, and have been eaten out of [carriage] house and home. We’re so sorry we can’t host you today. We are taking Sunday December 17 to reorganize … ” They will reopen Tuesday morning—when I hope you’ll be there!

So I apologize for you not being able to head there right now for their pastries and sandwiches, but … I’m really not that sorry. Because I sure had fun yesterday!

When I arrived at around 8:45 a.m. (they opened at 8:00), the line stretched to the front door, though not out the door, and remarkably, I was captured there in a photo taken by Larry Janezich of Capitol Hill Corner.

I wasn’t quite at the end of the line in this pic, as there’s a small front foyer not visible behind me within which a few more customers waited.

I intended to order every available breakfast item, but even though it was less than an hour after opening by the time I got to the front of their line, they’d already sold out of the breakfast wrap of potato, egg, and gruyere in a masa tortilla, as well as the cinnamon toast. (And when I say “every available breakfast item,” yes, I know, I could have ordered some of the sandwiches as well, but I’d planned to return later for lunch, so I figured those could wait.)

So here’s what I ate for breakfast yesterday at Little Pearl—

Potato Donut

Don’t worry that this one might be heavy just because the word potato’s in there. This was so light I thought it might float away!

Morning Glory

Sweet Potato and Turnip Tart

Definitely my favorite bite of the morning.

Hot Churros with Spicy Chocolate

Gravlax and sourdough
cured salmon with housemade crème fraîche, capers, and dill

Very refreshing, and the perfect final flavor before I headed out to wander D.C.

And in case you’re wondering—no, I did not eat all of each of these myself. I only wanted to taste them, not binge on them, and so ended up doing a bit of sharing with others at my communal table. All of whom seemed live no more than a few blocks away, and were thrilled that Little Pearl had opened. I do believe I’d travelled the furthest to experience opening day. Not that there’s any award for that. (Other than the food, of course!)

After visiting the Renwick Gallery, the National Gallery of Art, and points in between—walking around 10 miles in the process—I returned to Little Pearl for lunch, by which time the line was out the door, and I had to wait a bit to be allowed inside.

Here’s what I ordered yesterday afternoon—

Cinnamon Toast

Yes, that’s right—I started with the one pastry which had been sold out that morning. It made for a nice appetizer before what was to come.

Faro and Winter Greens Salad
with housemade yogurt, lamb sausage, and pine nuts

Though the yogurt, lamb sausage, and pine nuts are basically invisible here, they’re definitely in there, and the taste combination made for a great salad. I’d have devoured it if not for having to leave room for the other bites to come.

Eggplant Parm
breaded and fried eggplant with hand-pulled mozzarella and spicy marinara

My favorite of the four sandwiches I sampled! (Though it was a close competition.)

The Touchdown
corned beef with thousand island, provolone, and gem lettuce

And how about a peek inside?

Japanese Fried Chicken

My apologies! I started eating this one before snapping a pristine pic—so you’ll have to settle for one with a bite missing.

Spicy Fried Chicken sandwich

Hoo-boy, was this spicy! And I mean that in a good way, not in a “I’m going to regret this in the morning” way!

There was a second salad I failed to try—a Greek panzanella—but other than that and the sold-out breakfast wrap—and the gelato—I did end up sampling the entire menu. This time, though, the leftovers weren’t offered to those around me, but instead carried home.

I assume, but do not know, that the menu will change over time, since whenever I returned to the Pineapple and Pearls Cafe, there’d be different items offered, such as the tea cake last April to the right of the golden pineapple cake (which was always on the menu)—

Golden Pineapple Cake and Pistachio Rose Tea Cake 4/20

Plus this seasonal breakfast item, which I had one January morning—

Sticky Toffee Gingerbread

I do hope we’ll be seeing that Golden Pineapple Cake again!

Oh, and one last thing—I can’t end this without mentioning the restrooms. I love the inclusiveness of the signage—

—as well as the wildness of the wallpapers within the two rooms.

Whether or not you visit the restrooms while there, please do visit Little Pearl Cafe. I was as impressed as always by the food and hospitality on display.

I will be back!

Update: December 18, 2017

I was so focussed on the food at Little Pearl that I failed to take any photos of the dining area. Luckily, two different Yelpers snapped pictures during both of my meals there, and since I do appear in them, I figure that’s a good enough excuse for me to share them here.

Gina R. captured me during breakfast …

… while Austin G. snapped me during lunch.

Now you know where you’ll be eating what you’ll be eating when you’ll be eating it.

So go! Eat! Drink! Enjoy!