District Commons Restaurant By Chef Jeff Tunks

When 10 p.m. rolls around at District Commons, the kitchen slows down, the dinner bell rings and the staff dives into its communal meal.

Instead of keeping that meal a kitchen-only affair behind the swinging doors, the restaurant also offers each dish as a late-night special.

The eclectic dishes are different nightly ($12) but are universally hearty. On Mondays, chef Jeff Tunks serves his mom's meatloaf with a side of scalloped potatoes. Wednesdays are a feast of chicken-fried top-round steak with sausage gravy, mashed potatoes and bacon-laced green beans.

Tuesdays, the restaurant serves burgers from its adjacent sister establishment, Burger, Tap & Shake. Big enough to feed two, the single meal includes two signature burgers with American cheese, two sets of fries and two cold PBRs.

Thursdays, the restaurant pays tribute to the recently shuttered TenPenh with a Thai bento box. Fridays are the staff's favorite: griddled, braised-pork-and-cheese-filled pupusas with pickled onions and salsa.

Starting in a few weeks, the restaurant will open on Sundays. When it does, staff meals will be a Southern-style supper of fried chicken with collards and macaroni and cheese.

There's no time like family time.

District Commons, 2200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW (at Washington Cir.); 202-587-8277 or facebook.com/districtcommons