This town loves its power breakfast.

So we'd bet it's only a matter of time before the boldest names are greeting the day at the all-American dining room of The Hamilton.

Open around the clock, the bright, airy Downtown behemoth features enough Americana décor--including original Audubon prints and chandeliers adorned with the Statue of Liberty--to make a President proud.

Like the environs, the food is deeply American. A bacon-egg-cheese sandwich ($11) gets an elegant overhaul, its delicate poached eggs balancing on chewy house-baked ciabatta under shavings of prosciutto and a layer of Fontina.

Plate-size pancakes ($12) are made with oatmeal batter for nuttier flavor. They're served with fried apples, a coating of maple syrup and whipped butter. Salsa verde brightens the grilled flat iron steak with fried eggs ($15), and is an ideal dip for the thatch of thin, well-salted fries.

Order pastries to start the meal. Baked in-house, the choices ($4 each) include flaky buttermilk biscuits, a moist pumpkin muffin baked with pumpkin seeds, and a thick, pecan-dotted sticky bun.

We're powerless to resist them.

The Hamilton, 600 14th St. NW (at F St.); 202-787-1000 or thehamiltondc.com