On a recent weekend trip to DC, I wanted an early brunch before my flight out. Forgetting that basically nothing opens before 11, my compatriot and I found ourselves wandering Columbia Heights, desperate for coffee. It was before 11 AM, after all. So we did the nearly unthinkable, and entered the nearest instance of Starbucks.

After purchasing our small (yes, that’s “small,” not whatever test-marketed non-word they print on the menus) coffees, we stopped by the table where a very nice lady was administering the taste-test challenge to promote the new Starbucks instant coffee product, VIA. We both correctly identified the instant brew – to me it had a powdery taste, and was blunter than the drip variety. So we won free samples and coupons.

In my office the next day, I dutifully replaced my after-lunch pod coffee with a cup of VIA, and considered its (de)merits. For instant coffee, it’s not bad – certainly better than Folgers or Taster’s Choice. The flavor is smooth, slightly bitter but not too much so, and has the burnt overtones one expects from Colombian coffee (and especially from Starbucks). This isn’t going to replace the jar of Bru (or Elite, when I can get it) on my desk, but the convenient single-dose packets may find a home in my bag/briefcase for on-the-go emergencies.

Back in DC, my fellow-caffeine fiend and I wandered back to Commonwealth, and figured that if we stood outside long enough, they’d eventually open and let us eat. They did, and we sat at a table on their lovely patio. Well, lovely except that the tall buildings of the New CoHi blocked the sun and created a wind-tunnel effect, partially negating the gorgeousness of the morning. But not fully. It was still gorgeous and a nice place to sit.

Along with the menus, the host graciously brought us actual coffee mugs in which to pour our (definitely not supposed to have been brought in from outside in general, and certainly not from That Place) coffees. My friend ordered a tasty beer, and I wanted a Bloody Mary. The beer was indeed tasty, but the Mary was a bit bland. Hoping to improve it, I asked for some Worcestershire – they didn’t seem to have any bottles, but to my delight made some up fresh and brought it in a little dressing bowl. The addition was 50% of what the drink needed (as for the remaining half – I am, sadly, way too classy to ask for an extra shot of vodka at 11 AM. Obviously.).

We ordered food – shirred eggs and an eggs Benedict (with ham). The shirred eggs looked really good, and my friend liked them – basically, it was a bed of ham with eggs on top and cheese on top of that. I am always wary of ordering the Benedict, as it’s so often disappointing. This, however, was not disappointing at all. Three medium-poached eggs topped in a thick Hollandaise atop a big piece of crusty toast (not muffins) and ham that was really more like Prosciutto. Yum.

The bread served at the table was also really good, with a very nice raspberry jam, and who doesn’t love the fresh pickles to the side? So, all in all, I can halfheartedly not not recommend the new Starbucks instant coffee stuff, and wholly recommend Commonwealth for brunch on a sunny late Sunday morning.

-MAW