From heart-shaped plates to chic champagne-inspired decor, Butter Me Up certainly fulfills its mission of serving “breakfast made to uplift.” The location at 1409 T St NW features an adorable 1950’s inspired U-shaped bar and vases of sunflowers and tulips inside a former Post Office building.

The restaurant is black-owned and women-centered, employing an all-female staff. Simply walking into Butter Me Up bolsters one’s mood. It’s clear that the space has been carefully curated to bring customers together to connect and relax.

In conjunction with the atmosphere, Butter Me Up’s food has certainly been part of its success. Dishes range from indulgent breakfast sandwiches to toasts, açai bowls, smoothies, and shareable sides.

Butter Me Up was named to Eater DC's essential breakfast list in July of 2020. It was also awarded the crown for best breakfast sandwich in DC by Yelp.

Lauren Doherty

Flavors steer towards comfort, especially in dishes like the appropriately named “Feels Like Home” breakfast sandwich which consists of buttermilk fried chicken, soft scrambled eggs, caramelized onions, smoked cheddar, and dill pickles between a succulent brioche bun. It’s unsurprising that this sandwich was named one of the best fried chicken sandwiches in the District by the Washington Post.

While they aren’t the only thing on the menu, breakfast sandwiches are certainly where Butter Me Up excels. Found on the wall is a letter from Washington D.C. Mayor Murial Bowser congratulating Butter Me Up on their opening on 14th Street. “In your first year, you sold an astounding 72,000 sandwiches!” Mayor Bowser wrote in the letter.

Many thousand sandwiches later, Butter Me Up continues to satisfy its customers with creative and delicious meals. The “Ain’t Jemima” sandwich is another favorite, featuring bacon, cheddar cheese, and fried eggs between two perfectly round maple pancakes. It tastes exactly how you would imagine a pancake breakfast sandwich would… perfectly sweet, salty, and delicious.

Aside from the sandwiches, the Sweet Potato Tots, served with toasted marshmallow creme, are the perfect side treat. Their crunchy exterior paired with the sweet marshmallow will have you thinking about the flavors of Thanksgiving just a few weeks away.

Also found on the menu are Cinnamon Sugar French Toast Sticks, served with maple syrup. The french toast sticks are destined to satisfy your breakfast sweet tooth. Covered in powdered sugar and served in a pink heart-shaped bowl, these french toast sticks are enough to make your heart beat a little  faster.

Butter Me Up offers a variety of drinks to pair with breakfast. Colorful mimosas emerge from the U-shaped cocktail bar and silky lattes are prepared behind a quaint coffee counter. The Strawberry Açai Lemonade is an absolute star: picturesque with a strawberry stuck on the rim, the lemonade is perfectly sweet and refreshing.

Butter Me Up also offers catering, which can be requested online through their website. They are also available on OpenTable for reservations. 

Lauren Doherty

Consider Butter Me Up next time you’re looking to try a new spot for brunch. In addition to its 14th Street location, Butter me up has an additional location in the Montgomery Mall. It’s a must-try spot, sure to “uplift.”