I loved the food here so much, I came back the next day at a different location. They didn't disappoint, but I wasn't able to get the vegan lovers pasta that made me want to come back just because it's only available after 3pm I ended up getting a black bean burger, and another pomegranate lemonade with fries. This was good too but that pasta will be what brings me back a third time for sure. My daughter felt the same way about the vegan cheesecake. She bought one to go just because it was so delicious. I definitely recommend all vegans and non-vegans eat here. They really had something for everyone.

I'm disappointed! The food was pretty good. The setting is unique and inviting. I love the theme I had shrimp and grits and it was some of the best I have had but the service is abysmal! We only got waters because the waitress never took drink orders and never checked on us so we never got a refill on our waters and when we had obviously finished our food it took forever for our waitress to notice us. They really are a let down on service. A shame.

I really enjoyed my meal here. The service was great and the place had nice vibes. Wish they could have bottomless coffee for breakfast though, and not keep paying $4 for a fresh cup.

Y'all - stop 🛑 the presses this place is AMAZING!!!! I MEAN IT!!! My husband got the Egg and Cheese burger, my daughter and I got Shrimp and Grits, her friend got French Toast and our nephew got Red Beans and Rice and the Vegan Scramble. We ALL enjoyed our meals!!!! The service was impeccable and they have a bookstore with a great selection. I was able to purchase a book I've been wanting for awhile. Don't hesitate to visit this place and support them with your business. You ABSOLUTELY will not be disappointed. The vibe is beyond cool and the food is even better. Bless yourself with this experience if you're ever in the DC area. You're more than welcome for the recommendation!!!!! Update: (Late August 2023) - Visited this location while dropping our daughter back off at college. This was a must stop while we were making a "mad dash" to the airport. I missed it on our last visit to the area and wasn't going to do that again this trip. We ordered ahead to avoid waiting because time was of the essence. When we arrived the order wasn't ready. We took the time to peruse the book store and make a couple of purchases. We continued to wait and after a while I approached them and explained we'd ordered ahead and needed to get going. Finally our order arrived and we were off. Our bill was a little over $60 for two orders of Shrimp and Grits which I don't remember paying that much on our last visit. It's my favorite so I went on and paid it. The issue is while at the airport walking to our gate the food fell out of the bag they provided and onto the ground. The packaging they used for the "To Go" order was flimsy and soaked through the paper bag breaking the bag and spilling the contents everywhere. This broke my heart ❤ and I was really upset 😡 because not only did I waste my money but my husband and I had our mouths all ready for this food and it was completely wasted in a disaster of a fail to correctly package our order. To add insult to injury they charged extra for the "eco friendly" packaging that was a total joke. Extremely disappointed in the experience all the way around. Sadly, I have to adjust my rating to reflect such a poor experience.

Made a thirty min trip to try this location and it was def worth it. The waitress, Phoenix, was phenomenal! We also loved all of our food. The Mediterranean burger with lamb was such great combination of flavors. We shared the pancakes and French toast because our six year old couldn’t finish it. We had plenty of leftovers. My husband ordered the egg and cheddar burger and said it was pretty good. I loved the art and the vibe of the place. We arrived around 1030 and there was barely anyone there on Sunday. But literally when we left at 1120, the entire building seemed packed to capacity. Glad we came early for brunch! Well, three locations down and plenty more to try. This chain has a reputation of having great quality food, drinks, art, books and id family friendly. But could be great for a group of friends or lover.

This is one of the best restaurants I went to for breakfast during my recent visit to Washington DC ... with very friendly and professional service. 👍😍👍 Its interior gives you a feeling of a warm, cozy home ... with a great library ... with its books on sale. 😉 The menu is extensive with lots of great choices, and everything I and my friends ordered was really tasty & good quality! 😋🙂😋 The portions are very generous. For example, the pancake serving had 3 large pancakes, but since we knew we couldn't eat all that ... it was perfect for sharing. 🙂 The bagel with lox was 😋😋 & my omelet tops, simply presented with all the things I didn't want omitted; just as I had ordered! 😋👍😋 I'm definitely going back next time I'm in Washington DC 👍😍👍

Food and service was great I absolutely loved that the menu had gluten free vegetarian halal chicken cage free eggs, organic tea, matcha. Everything was so delicious!!! They also had a book store in the restaurant. I love the vibes at this restaurant. Definitely going to be back.

The atmosphere was one to remember! The layout, the artwork, the books and, overall decor was Chef's kiss great! I won't go in too deep about the food other than to say it was good, not great by any means. I thought with the use of large plates, they would provide more food, but it wasn't the case. Not on this day anyway. The service was excellent, as our server took extra time to find proper seating for our party (12) and explained in detail how the charges work (make sure you ask if you're going to split the bill). Parking can be hard to find at this location especially for the lunch and dinner crowd. I'll definitely return and try something different from the vast menu.

So this chain restaurant is kind of a coffee shop, but it’s a restaurant featuring great meals and a full bar - local art infused indoor and outdoor seating combined with comfortable lounge areas, also a bookstore, and a cultural, entertainment and learning venue. It has a lot going on! Service was great and the food (chicken, shrimp, and chorizo pasta) was incredible - large portions, so come hungry.

Y’all I didn’t know I needed a Dusse mimosa but it was sooooo good! The food was so colorful and filled with so much flavor. Those roasted brussel sprouts, charred to perfection and add an extra green to our meals. From the service to the ambiance to the food, 5 stars! Definitely highly recommend. My only caution: be mindful of the cute couch seats as they are low. So if you have knee, hip, back issues I’d pick a regular chair.

I loved this place. I was traveling and this was highly recommended. The book store blew my mind and I did find me 3 great books that I purchased. The food was hot fresh and so delicious. The catfish was fried to perfection and the kale salad with the mango was chef kiss. I would love to visit again on a night to hear spoken words. I really enjoyed this place. So relaxing and many vegan options also

This was a hidden gem for me, I found this random spot because it was raining and it was absolutely amazing. I would definitely recommend this place. The blackened salmon was one of the best I've had. Delicious flavors and nice service. Would def return again

My food and drink were delicious!!! The service, however, was pretty good...once I was actually severed. LOL I waited a long time after being seated. A couple seated after me was served before me. My server had to be told to come to my table and she barely checked on me. She apologized so it made me feel a little better, but I'm definitely expecting stellar service my next visit. Also, they have a nice bookstore! I forgot to take a picture of the carrot cake I took to go. It was so good!

A great birthday dinner! The food was good and well suited for lots of different dietary preferences. It was busy, so service was a little slow, but very friendly! Only real complaint is the drinks — although cheaper than most DC cocktails they were also a little underwhelming.

Food was good! Vibe was amazing! Great place to go! My first time there and I highly recommend!

Had to mask up and show our vax cards. Whatever I was hungry. The person who seated us was super nice and awesome. Our waitress forgot her name at first was cool but that changed quickly. Brought us our water and didn’t ask if we wanted something else to drink. Took our order: Vegan BBQ ‘chicken’ bites. (I was curious) I’m not vegan but they were freaking delicious. Wanted more water because sauce on the bites was kinda spicy. Food came out and we asked that person for more water and they said sure be right back. They NEVER came back. The waitress that took our order walked around dining room and asked other guest how their meal was NEVER came back to us until we finished. The burger I got was delicious and on point, one of the best I’ve ever had. The service sucked. At first I thought it was race then I realized I’m wearing a hoodie with American flag patches on both sleeves I earned doing GORUCK events. I believe that was the cause of the poor service we received. Willing to go back and give them a second try however I’m not going out of my way to get back there.

What could have been a great experience was undone by service that disintegrated throughout the meal. A great restaurant typically employs collaborative team service and this place resolved to having a well intentioned and hard working waitress fend for herself as she got sat with table after table while two disengaged hostesses lazily looked on. Hosts can typically help wait staff and food runners run food, pick up a plate, or grab a check. They did none of these things. We ultimately went through long droughts during our meal, culminating in us waiting for 25 minutes for our check. Sad because the food was fairly good and the atmosphere otherwise appealing. A note to management: don't employ people in customer service roles that actually don't seem to care about service. Whether it was asking to be directed to the restroom or whether we could order a dessert to go, the hostesses responded rudely and aloofly, as if they shouldn't be bothered with these basic questions.

This place was awesome! Could not rave about the service more - waitress was out of this world friendly and was eager to give me recommendations based on my preferences. I ended up getting the western style omelette which was good - just a little bland. It was piping hot which is always a plus! Definitely a cool spot to have brunch with friends.

Shrimp & crab fritters were tasty with the right amount of spice. Grits were alil chewy & not crazy about the capers on top of the fish. But the greens were good & cat fish was fried just right. The grown & sexy cocktail has just the right amount of kick to it! Service was kind of slow considering they weren't that busy when I was seated. All around good choice if you're in the area.

This place was recommended. That being said I highly recommend it to the rest of the world. You walk in and you'll be greeted with smiles and you can browse books for your brains 🧠 food. You can enjoy yourself in a environment of speak easy sessions and ofcourse you can enjoy the delicious food that they serve. It all good 👍

I really enjoyed myself. I had the fried chicken, greens, and potatoes. The portion size was adequate for price but don’t expect left overs! I’m from the south and I appreciate the southern staples with a city twist. The menu was expansive including food, coffee, drinks. The vibe was great. You could easily carry on a conversation or listen to the music playing in the background. A couple of things I wasn’t so thrilled about was the low chairs and tables. I would definitely request a table if you’re eating a full meal so you don’t have to awkwardly bend over to eat. I think the low seats and couch could be a cute date spot for apps and drinks but nothing for a full meal. Also I waited 30 minutes for a drink which I would’ve cancelled sooner if I knew they were out of ingredients for the drinks. Overall, I would return for the food and vibes. I’ll have to hit up happy hour from 4-7.

This was without a doubt THE best chicken panini I ever tried. Hands down. It was so juicy and tender, unlike other panini sandwiches where the bread is so tough and dry. The chicken is mixed with chipotle sauce that’s just heavenly. 🤤 I highly highly recommend trying it whenever you visit Busboy and Poets. Also, get some sweet potato fries on the side instead of regular French fries. It’s very difficult to cook the perfect sweet potato fries and get them so crispy. This place knew how to cook them!!! Unfortunately there was no poetry when I came this Friday, but I’m definitely giving it another try in the future. ♥️

Disclaimer: I visited this place 15 years ago. I was also 15 years younger. It didnt seem quite the same. The random hipness seemed a little faded, but i would still consider the place an icon. Food was a bit spicy for my taste, if you like your mouth on fire, you will enjoy most of the dishes. And there was no warning on the menu about the pasta dish and yeow! I reodrered, got a burger and everything was smooth as silk. There is a wonderful bookstore in house. The books had a lot of LCBTQ+ references. So if ypu are sensitive on that issue, heads up, This venue is unapologetically inclusive. We got there in open mike night, but live bands also perform there. Get the schedule online. Drinks were excellent and the staff was very responsive. Great Dinner and a movie kinda spot. Also diverse college town crowd.

A bookstore and cafe in one. This is the original location where one can enjoy good food while bringing some work to do. The servers are incredibly attentive, they have great deals (like 50% off burgers all day on Mondays), and the atmosphere is lovely. Would recommend trying their brunch options and mimosas!

Wow! Such fantastic service and delicious food! I'd wanted to come here for years, but for whatever reason hadn't made it up this way. I wish I would have come sooner! Our waiter gave us exceptional service and the food was exactly what I hoped for and more.

Came here with my cousins. Food and ambiance was perfect! Will definitely return😋🤩

I stopped by yesterday before heading to a concert at Black Cat. Right when I walked in, the hostess, Lauren, made me feel welcomed. After seating me by a window, she gave me a poem she had written. I loved it. I was served by Travis, who took great care of me. I asked what he thought about the chili. He said good things about it, so I had it followed up by a white chocolate latte. Both were amazing. The atmosphere was perfect for a solo eat. After I checked out, I wandered around their library section. They had some dope stickers and familiar titles that I adore. Lauren asked what I thought of the poem she wrote and she encouraged me to write one. I have not written poetry in years, so I did my best and left it with her. I hope to be back.

Awesome food, awesome service, and amazing ambience. Our server, Renee, was fast with our food and friendly to chat with. While the food was top-notch, we really enjoyed being surrounded by so many books and artwork.

Very cool place! Tons of gluten free options. I haven't had fried catfish in decades and I finally broke that streak. The burgers are solid as well. The atmosphere is really neat, it's an actual book store, coffee shop, bar, restaurant combo. You can browse books while you wait on your food, and that's one of the best ways you could spend that time. Great place, I'll be going back when I can.

Great food and a book store all in one! I was in heaven! Our server was DaJane first of all I must brag on her because she was the best. Friendly, knowledgeable about the menu, timely; I mean literally checked on our table consistently. Plus held our entire party in great conversation. Second, those greens omg! I thought my momma was in the kitchen. Fried chicken cooked to perfection and mash potatoes so good they'll have you begging for more once you wake up from a comatose nap...lol There are also vegetarian options which was great as we had someone in our party that was still able to pick from quite a few options. If you're traveling to DC stop by, it's a great atmosphere and good place to find a book too!

Had fantastic ppl meeting us and serving food. The food was delicious - some items more so than others, but overall good quality food. This place has great VEGAN OPTIONS!!! 1 thing I disagree with is their “portion vs pricing” when it comes to vegan Cheesecake: don’t get me wrong, it was delicious, but it was a tiny piece of cheesecake for $8. I don’t know, maybe you do things differently in DC )))

First time to Busboys & had a great time! The bookshop is super cute, and I loved the laid-back, artsy, inclusive atmosphere & vibes. Our party of 5 sat in a comfy area, ordered some delicious appetizers & drinks to celebrate my daughter's 21st birthday on a Saturday night. Our server Diego was attentive & friendly. Would definitely return!

I can't believe I have never been here before. I loved it. Great spot. Wonderful food. I had the Salmon but I got it with collard greens instead of rice. The sauce on the salmon was bomb. Also got the hummus and pita. Chilli and chips. Everything was so good and prices are very decent. Love the bookstore. Definitely going back.

Unique, safe space. Nice selection of literature, amazing artwork everywhere. Chris the bartender was great! The food was so delicious. I ordered 2 entrees just for myself.

Love the vibe, and friendly staff. Very cool place. I didn’t like anything I ordered but it seems to be an isolated incident. I ordered a spicy latte which was supposed to include caramel yet it didn’t tasted sweet at all. I also ordered eggs Benedict with hard boiled eggs but had to return it because egg were runny, waited over 20 minutes (all my friends had finished eating and the table were cleaned by servers) when my food re-arrived only to have the eggs even more runny than the first time and the potatoes cold. Not my day I guess.

They accommodated our party of 11 as a walk-in despite being against their policy. The food is fantastic, and the service was top notch in accommodating our large party. Highly recommend Busboys and Poets to everyone. For my personal experience, I had a Bombay sapphire Gin and Tonic and the blackened salmon. The salmon is one of the best salmon dishes I've ever had, perfectly seasoned and cooked. The asparagus could've used a touch more seasoning, but was cooked perfectly. The gin and tonic was good, nothing special, I should've had one of their specialty cocktails off the menu. Many in our party did and they were all very good. All in all a fantastic lunch experience for a walk in party of 11. To be noted, they will only split checks 3 ways, so for larger parties that may be an issue.

Poor management and very slow service . We walked in and stood there 15 minutes with about 3 Uber eat drivers while workers walked up and down those steps , one worker was on her phone leaning on the wall and another one standing behind the bar I think she was the manager. The place had 1 couple eating and in the other room they were having a event . I stopped a waitress who was friendly and took care of us. The fish , shrimp and grits was good and so was the cauliflower but do not order the collard greens they were terrible. Loved the books and decor .

Yummy and lots of vegetarian options. The perfect balance of being laid back and in a restaurant with a lively atmosphere. I would recommend this place to anyone visiting for the first time as well. It's a must try.

When you visit places like this , it feels wrong that you can give it only 5 stars. I would give this place an entire constellation for the amazing atmosphere , great food, a mix of people enjoying the moment. The combination with food, drinks, art, photos and books makes this place a heaven on earth. Great service. If poetry had a place this would be the right one. If you live in Dc or you simply are visiting make this place a priority for your meals or just for a drink with your friends. Great job guys for this extraordinary concept