New Course

Good food at really good prices. Everyone is super nice. The sandwiches are freshly made with REAL ingredients. The meat is craved when you order and you get plenty of it. Too bad I no longer work in the area because I’d go all of the time.

Their club sandwiches are HUGE and really cheap! They carve the chicken, turkey, ham, or roast beef right in front of you as they make your sandwich! They also have a fantastic mission of training homeless and unemployed men and women in the food service industry, so you can know that your lunch is supporting a good cause!

It’s been quite a few years since I stopped in here for lunch, mainly because I no longer work in this area and it’s not close by anymore. But I happened to be here for some training sessions, so I decided to pop back in and see if the offerings here were as good as I remembered them to be. To my delight, nothing has changed. The food is still wonderful, as are the prices — 7 bucks for a beef, bacon and cheese sandwich (the District) is unbelievable. And the mission of helping the less fortunate also continues, which I am in firm support of.
I wish that I still worked in this area on a regular basis, because I would come back again and again. As it stands, this is the best under-​ten lunch you can get in D.C. Definitely good value for the money.
Still recommended.

Great place and an even better mission!
This place has a mission of training homeless and chronically unemployed men and women for a future in food service! I read about this restaurant’s training program and wanted to come check it out. The fact that the food is good was merely a fringe benefit.
My friend and I had lunch here. We are both diehard fans of fresh roasted turkey so getting turkey sandwiches was a no-​brainer. The place may not seem like anything that special since it offers your traditional All-​American sandwiches, eg roast beef, ham, turkey, but there is something to be said about doing simple things well. Portions were generous, too! The restaurant also makes breakfast but we didn’t get to try that since we got there at 1:30 PM. The only downside to this place is it’s only open until 3PM Monday through Friday.
The staff is very friendly, service is fast, place is clean, and food is well priced and tasty. What more could you ask for? I am definitely coming back and hopefully in time for breakfast next time!

This place is amazing. Between their mission to train the homeless to become chefs or chef assistants, solid deli type meals, and an affordable menu, this place would get 5 stars in my book regardless. Still, when i made a fool of myself, spilled all of my food, and was on the ground, their immediate reaction was to remake my sandwich help me out, and joke around with me as opposed to insincere quips that may happen in other places. Seriously, one of the most considerate restaurants in D.C. despite their rather simple approach to their lunch spot. This place is about people and food, not the atmosphere.

I love this place! I had the Washington Club and it was delicious. Everything was fresh and the portion was huge! The staff was friendly and the front of the house was clean. As well as the food prep area. Awesome food and even more awesome mission! I will be back!

I love the mission. I love the sandwiches. I am a new fan of this spot. It’s a hidden gem. Friendly service and clean environment. I will recommend the restaurant to everyone I know.

3 stars for being a simple, quick, affordable lunch and breakfast option that serves up great sandwiches with fresh roasted meat, a daily hot bar selection that is pretty tasty, and awesome omelettes.
+1 star for doing good work – training homeless and chronically underemployed people to work in food service. If I’m going to buy lunch or breakfast, I can’t think of a place I’d rather give my money.
For lunch, my personal favorite is the club sandwich – freshly roasted and sliced ham and turkey and thick and crispy bacon on toasty bread with a slather of mayo and some tomatoes for color – it’s simple and perfect and totally filling for about $ 7 after tax.
At breakfast you can’t go wrong with the omelette, which comes with 3 fillings, for under $ 5! It’s pretty sizeable, and the fillings are fresh.

The location is easy to get to — right on the corner of the street in the basement of a building. The inside of the restaurant is uninspiring, as other have said — they have a small salad bar, and a few tables, and the staff can be a little rude. BUT OMG THE SANDWICHES ARE AMAZING!
I had the roast beef today on toasted wheat with all the fixings. While the roast beef was a little warm — not hot — the sandwich was amazing. Good portion, and generous serving of mayo, lettuce, tomatoes, etc.
I’m not a fan of their fountain machine. Had Coke Zero and it just didn’t taste right. I suggest you buy a soda somewhere else or you just get a can or bottle.

Big sandwiches and high quality ingredients. My club was made with real turkey and ham carved fresh on the spot. It was very good!

I shared The Washington Club sandwich with my friend («Triple Decker with turkey, ham, bacon and Swiss cheese on toasted wheat bread»). He’s a club sandwich connoisseur and gave it a 9.7 out of 10. I’m not a fan of sandwiches but I loved this one! Plus it was a good size and reasonably priced (about $ 6). Also, the employees were pleasant and quick (quick being of the utmost importance).
My only complaint was that it was a little hard to transport a sandwich in a paper plate with plastic wrap.
(4 stars instead of 5 because I’ve only tried one item on the menu)

4.25 stars. Every time someone says that they can’t find affordable options within the District, I generally wearily nod my head «yes» and try to move on to the next subject. Here is what is really going on in my brain:
«You are a wanna-​be yuppie — which is sad, really — who considers yourself above standard favorites from across the globe and above really well-​made sandwiches. Please stop yapping at me.”*
Think I’m the asshole? Loeb’s. Mangialardo. Mi Cuba Café. Dos Hermanos. El Pollo Sabroso. New Course. DC Food Trucks. Julia’s Empanadas. Carving Room. Phở 14. District Taco. Pound the Hill. I really could go on and on. What do all these places have in common? They are located in the District and most of their menu is under $ 10.
So yes, I understand that people who whine about being priced out by the Source or Fiola act as if they are suffering some great catastrophe because they feel entitled to thirty dollar lunches. The fact is I don’t care. Frankly, I like the lunch at New Course better than both of those places.
At New Course, instead of some stupid four course lunch meal that takes an eternity to finish, you get a sandwich on white or wheat filled with delicious carved meats of your choice from anywhere between $ 3.85 and $ 5.95. You can finish your meal in five minutes in a casual environment. There is absolutely nothing fancy about the presentation. The service you receive is genuinely friendly with an underlying hint of self-​satisfaction in the knowledge that their product is spectacular. They even have a soda fountain with Barq’s Root Beer. By the way, if exactly none of this appeals to you, there is about a 99.9% chance you shouldn’t read my reviews. They aren’t going to be helpful, that’s for damn sure.
Places like New Course remind me that I don’t need to be around worthless hipsters, entitled thirty thousand dollar millionaires, or a most condescending breed of young professionals. Here, I can be around wonderful human beings who don’t think their everyday life should be an exercise in inauthentic coolness, in pathetic credit-​destroying judgment, or in loathsome self-​aggrandizing behavior. Thank you New Course for existing and keeping me away from these segments of my least favorite types of people.
*There were two reviews that I read about this place that sealed my decision to eat here. The first one was from Sean B. whose reviews I have come to trust for being the exact opposite of mine — namely, they are short, sweet, efficient and to the point. The second one was from Robert M. Loved that review because he was referred to New Course by a judge. I want to shake that judge’s hand. There was a time when lawyers ate a working man’s lunch, and not surprisingly, there was a time when lawyers were actually admired. Neither is the case anymore. It’s not a coincidence.

This review is based on breakfast as I’ve not been here for the sandwiches, which I understand are the star of the New Course show. The setup is reminiscent of a school cafeteria, where you queue up in the appropriate line for what you intend to order and then pay the very nice lunch lady once you’ve garnered your goods. Word to the wise — omelettes to the left, other breakfast to the right. I had a freshly prepared nicely seasoned omelette with three ingredients of your choice for a whopping $ 3.75. Are you kidding me? A decent omelette in downtown DC for under $ 4? Seating is also cafeteria like pedestrian, small cheap tables and chairs, but a better value you will not find. I hope to be able to happen back for a sandwich one day.

Tasty

3.5 stars
Big sandwiches with quality ingredients. Reasonable prices. Super friendly staff. Clean restaurant. Good fast lunch option if you’re in the immediate area.

I’ve been here for lunch, and they make a pretty good sandwich. However, I came here for breakfast this morning and I have to say that breakfast is where New Course shines.
I got a made to order omelet. The standard omelet includes three filling/​toppings, and they’ve got about twelve different fillings to choose from. I got ham, red pepper, and scallion. It was delicious! And cheap! An incredibly filling breakfast for $ 3.75.
My only regret is that New Course’s eggs aren’t great for breakfast if you’re in a rush, because the cooking takes a little time. But, if I was in a situation where I had a little extra time there is no doubt in my mind that I’d come back.
I think I’m going to start coming here more for lunch, too.

Took my 8 y.o. son here for lunch while we were walking home from school:
The mission of the restaurant is to provide solid jobs for homeless people. And let me tell you, the folks working here go out of their way to ensure everything is just right. From the cleanliness of the restaurant, to carefully carving the turkey, ham, and roast beef, the attention to detail really shows.
The quality of the sandwiches were superb. As I mentioned, all hand carved meat while we waited. The club was so large that I could only eat half, and I’m training for a marathon right now, so my stomach is not exactly tiny.
I’m looking foward to going back. I don’t think you’ll find a better bargain for the price.

I took a New Course the other day when I walked down the stairs to this little restaurant. The plan was to go to a restaurant across the street with my friend, but they were hopping, it was crowded and overwhelming.
New Course was quiet, calm and friendly. The menu is varied in terms of offerings. They have breakfast (which looks amazing), entrees, salad bar and sandwiches.
Boy, what a sandwich! I got the carved turkey with American cheese, lettuce, tomato and dijon mustard. The turkey was delicious, slightly warm and a nice large serving on the toasted bread. The other ingredients are what they are, complementing the delicious turkey. I also got an unsweetned tradewinds iced tea. I normally only want water, but I said what the heck. They also had an iced coffee in the refrigerator called Marley (Bob Marley) which I wanted, but decided I should go with the tea (antioxidants and all).
New Breakdown:
The Food: If you can’t tell, I enjoyed it.
The value: The total was $ 8.80. I’m not sure if that’s good or not, because I don’t normally get a drink. The sandwich was large though!
The experience: It was good! Everyone was friendly and I had zero idea walking in that this was all part of the bigger picture of helping out those. Hey, you need a job? I want a sandwich, let’s come together here! I like it. Also, beats the other options in Judiciary Square.
4 stars?: It was yummy!
Would I return?: Next time I’m in Judiciary Square, most likely, because the chain options are not so good.
In sum, Thanks New Course for being in Judiciary Square and having a mission. I like it and keep up the good work!

I’m nthing Jason D.‘s reccomendation to get the club sandwich. Delicious and huge. One day the steam was still coming out of the turkey and it was too hot to carve. But everything I’ve had here is good. The salad bar is quite small but things look fresh and it’s a good price.
They seem to default to being a little mayo crazy here. When I’ve asked for less I get a dot smaller than a dime spread very, very thin. Still working on communicating the right amount for me.
Grab breakfast here on your way to jury duty. You’ll be less tempted by the pastries.
Like fantastic food? Like getting your money’s worth? Wanna support people trying to get more jobs skills? Go to New Course.
If I ever need catering, I will get it from New Course.

Oh-​ho-​yeah. Had jury duty around the corner this week, and found New Source while Unilocaling around. Got a club on Jason D.‘s recommendation, and wow, it was amazing. Now this place hasn’t gone through the foodie revolution, let’s be honest, it’s got low ceilings, unpolished service, but when they make you a sandwich, they slice the turkey and ham right there, and make a large, juicy, tasty club sandwich right in front of you for five bucks. Will definitely go back if I’m ever in the neighborhood for lunch. You should too if you have jury duty or are touring the building museum etc.