Artsy atmosphere! I really cannot say enough good things about this restaurant. The staff was friendly, the service and food prompt, attentive and amazing. Food tried was the Oaxaca omelette I added chicken for extra protein, sweet potato fries paired well with ranch. the spice latte and blue match latte was delightful. The Moroccan 2 bean soup wonderful. I also left my hydroflask on one trip the staff labeled the bottle and stored it in the back office for safe keeping. The banana nut muffin and blueberry muffin was delightful I wanted to eat the paper. I also bought a great book I can't wait to tuck into.
We always love coming here for the atmosphere and food. I love the bookshop they have upfront with a great constantly updated book section. Usually when I come in they have new specials on the menu and this time they had the Oaxaca cheese omelet. It was very flavorful and fresh. We also tried a side of the jalapeño grits which were cheesy and a little bit spicy. The coffee specials were also very good we tried the big daddy. If you’re in Tacoma Park, definitely come here and give this place a try.
Chenille Mitchell-Chambers
+5
I’m a DC visitor and I love this place! Ate there for the first time in 2017 and was so excited to see this restaurant on my recent trip to DC! I love the bookstore, creative, unique atmosphere. The food is amazing and very consistent! I had the western omelette with jalapeño cheese grits for brunch! Attended a private event on site with various menu items from hummus to Brussels to crab cake bites…all delicious! Came back again and enjoyed the tomato soup and Brussels. The drinks were great too! Even shared a pecan pie with my friends. All in all…I love this place and will visit every time I come to DC!
It is not the style of restaurants that I used to go to, it is a bohemian style, as if you were in a bookstore, but I let it surprise you and the food was very delicious as was the atmosphere. I definitely recommend the blackened salmon and the chocolate cake layer you can add vainilla ice cream and it will be the perfect dessert 🍨
Amazing food, service and atmosphere. Super cool vibes and messaging. A must visit in DC. Gluten free pancakes are delicous as are the grits.
The food was pretty good and the outdoor seating provided a great deal of fresh air, but the service was only ok. My beverage arrived several minutes after my meal and it was not how I had originally ordered it.
So many unique and interesting books greet you as you walk in. We hung out and enjoyed a nice drink at the bar before an event- everyone that worked there was down to earth and friendly. We were just passing through town, I’ll definitely come back next time I visit D.C.!
I've been here several times and the food is always good. Since I rode my bike and I didn't have a lock for it, I sat outside on the sidewalk seating area. The mosquitoes 🦟 were ridiculous. It was impossible to just sit there and enjoy the meal without constantly swatting away the endless barrage of mosquitoes. The waitress was kind enough to bring out the readily available mosquitoes repellent but it wasn't much help.
Busboys and Poets is a very chill spot. We went for brunch while visiting DC. The vibe of the spot was cool, with eclectic music. The spot on 450 K Ave. has fewer book selections but the artwork was amazing. We were there during a busy weekend so service was a little slow. Overall the food was tasty and presentation was fairly well placed.
Tanika J was our server and she was top notch. She was fast and friendly. She was knowledgeable about the menu and food options. The Big Daddy coffee was delicious! My daughters burger was a little over cooked but stuff happens. My French toast was perfectly cooked and a large portion. The wings aware juicy and the perfect heat! Will def be returning.
Love the setup of this restaurant/bookstore! You're immediately greeted by shelves of books when you come in. It's fun to peruse them after eating, which is what we did! There are other knick knacks like magnets and pins as well. Mostly LGBTQIA+ and progressive inclusive material! Feels very community based!
My sister and I were seated near the bar, and I believe it may be strategic to place more patrons closer to the front so it'll look more inviting to others passing by. However, I saw the staff was willing to accommodate guests who wanted to sit in the bottom section with booths. The menu options are expansive, and so were the drinks. I got a shrimp and chorizo pasta, which came with garlic bread. My sister ordered the tofu rice dish. Both were great and seasoned perfectly! Did i mention huge portions? We had to take leftovers to go! Our favorite was the fried cauliflower, which came with a delicious aioli sauce. The arancini balls were great, too. Our waitress, Makayla, was great too, taking care of us and other tables. I think the Espresso Martini was a tad bit too bitter but still OK. It is also a nice place to host a large party - saw a big group celebrating something in a room behind the shelves!
Would come back if I'm in the area!
I appreciate how they’re open late, and had great throwback tunes playing.
For service - we sat ourselves, so that was a bit odd. the hostess stepped away. But again it was late night so they probably had a long day.
As for the food- The sweet potato fries at Busboys are always a favorite. The blackened salmon was interesting because it was seasoned with Old Bay. Also I was only given 3 asparagus. Wish I had more.
All in all though, I got a nice healthy late night meal and that’s more than what other places are offering. Thank you!
This is such an incredible eatery and more! The staff is friendly and attentive. The atmosphere is trendy, eclectic, and a book lover's dream. Their selection of food and beverages, while not extensive, is quite varied to meet all tastes. We had a wonderfully relaxing evening to end our first day in D.C.
I enjoyed breakfast at Busboys and Poets with 5 others this morning. The service was slow but they were a little busy and stretched thin. I ordered a classic Benedict and orange juice. The juice was fresh and tasty and the Benedict was amazing. I was quite full when I finished my meal! My friends seemed to enjoy their food quite a bit as well. The service was excellent even though it was a bit slow. I love that this place is a bookstore too! I was able to peruse a bit before the rest of my party arrived. Nice atmosphere. Not too loud. Spacious with plenty of seating. If I'm in the DC area again I would definitely eat here again. Highly recommend!
Checked this place out on a Wednesday around 12 or so. The place started to pick up with larger groups and small tables as we dined. I ordered the Sweet Spice Latte, which was freshly made and quite tasty. Couldn't decide between Sweet Potato Pancakes and the Shrimp n Grits, so I ordered both! Luckily you can order a single pancake for a side. The pancakes, with fresh local maple syrup, were the best I've ever tasted. Ordered a side of whip cream additionally and it was homemade. The Shrimp n Grits were DIVINE. I am a huge fan of this dish, and this beats even the best of family home cooking. We also ordered the Chicken Panini with fries and it was perfectly toasted and loaded. I don't usually visit restaurants twice in larger cities when visiting due to exploration, but I'm certain I'll be back on a later visit.
I had the chicken chorizo and egg wrap with grits. Such a pleasant surprise that the chicken is halal!! Def recommend it but I do wish the portion was bigger. Grits were okay, but I do not recommend. Love the ambiance and friendly service that goes above and beyond.
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