Busboys & Poets - Washington, D.C.

One of my favorite places in DC – good food, good music, great ambiance, great little bookstore, a bar, and even a stage for performances. It is… perfect!!

Try the catfish. So good. It comes on a cornbread pancake. Also, a friend had the pb banana panini which looked delicious. Yum.

This is one of the newer places in town near the soon-to-be revitalized U St. Corridor. Liberals will love it all from the socially concious philosophy to the uber-leftist books to the vegan options on food, but conservatives can also enjoy a good drink and food at this loungy, urban chic place without feeling too overwhelmed. Busboys and Poets is a Langston Hughes reference, and particularly appeals to the creative types with their open mic, poetry reading sessions. There are even celebrity sightings, the most recent of which include Omarosa from the Apprentice and Ralph Nadar. This place is popular. Our wait was said to be 20, but I think it was less. There are plenty of cool books addressing veganism, racial disparities, anti-war, and environmental advice to keep you occupied. The service is friendly, even flirty. The crowd is late 20s on up. The lighting is dim and the seating is mixed with bar seating, regular tables, and couches to share. The food is usual bar food, but done well. The drinks are delicious. The prices are usual given the menu options.

The only thing that can make for long waiting times and bad service is good eating. you won't find this. ordered coffee and it came cold together with the other drinks at the same time as eating. we waited for one. When that came, we had to ask for cutlery. fish was hot, everything else was cold. the server said they had a lack of kitchen runners. but if that were the case, the cat would have been cold. not to mention when you use the bathroom before you left, there were 5 people who speak to the hostess writing. the location shirlington has much better eating and service.

My wife and I went there a few weeks ago. the first time, to the brunch. our meal was excellent I had the western omelette. my wife and I shared a sweet potato pancake that was perhaps the best pancake I've ever eaten! I have to give the four. while eating was great, the seat was a bit awkward, and the tables were a bit sticky. Nevertheless, a fun place to dinner or go breakfast.