Readers’ pick: Mercy Me

Location: 1143 New Hampshire Ave. NW

While this year has been a struggle for many restaurants in the District, a few new spots have popped up during the pandemic. And one of the best places to open throughout the year is known for its delicious Latin food and airy atmosphere.

The all-day restaurant and cafe, which opened in June, offers “sort of” South American fare, including grab-and-go breakfast, weekend brunch and dinner options. With ample amounts of seating both inside and outside, Mercy Me is the best place to go to study or grab dinner and drinks with friends. 

The daytime menu includes a range of options like The MIA ($6.50) – a za’atar bagel sandwich with jalapeno-cilantro cream cheese, red cabbage, quinoa crunch and pickled carrots and onions – Argentine croissants ($3.8) and a coconut yogurt parfait ($8) with tropical fruit and granola. 

Customers can also sip on drip coffee ($3) or espresso-based drinks, like a salted caramel latte ($5.50) or Colombian mocha ($5.50) – a caffeine boost if you want to spend all day studying and soaking up the sun on Mercy Me’s patio. 

At night, you can sip on an assortment of some of the best tropical cocktails around, like the Kick Ass Colada ($14) with coconut, caramelized pineapple and rum or the Pachamama ($14) with rum, scotch, passion fruit and lime. 

After a round of cocktails, order some crispy cheese bites ($6) with pepper jelly or hot fries ($4) for the table to snack on before your main course of banana leaf snapper ($26) in a Carribean curry sauce with coconut rice and fried plantains or adobo roasted chicken ($24) with epazote grits and pickled peppers. 

Mercy Me’s eclectic offerings can satisfy anyone – from a student looking for a quick bite in between classes to a first-date dinner.