Birndo Restaurant and Bar — Restaurant in Bailey's Crossroads

● SERVICE: The first three times that we went to Birindo, we waited 30+ minutes to get a seat. The owner/manager told me that I can reserve a sit in advance by phone. As advised, I made a reservation (two days in advance) for 8 people by phone for Saturday March 9. The person who I talked to confirmed my reservation for Saturday 07:00 pm, therefore I made plans with my 7 friends thinking that my reservation is good. After 6 hours, I got a call from Birindo and was told that my reservation was canceled because they were overbooked. Clearly, I was removed from the reservation list (most probably replaced by another reservation) ● ATMOSPHERE: If you want to relax, eat, catch up with friends, and have a great time in a restaurant, THEN THIS IS NOT THE PLACE. a) On both of our visits, we were pressured to leave in a very short time. The server rushed us to eat and leave the place right after we got our seat. She placed the bill and the "Reserved" table sign on our table right after we had our last bite. All this was happening under the owner/manager's watch. b) The place is overcrowded with tables and chairs. Tables are placed very close to each other. This place is good for a group of 4 people max. If you have a large group, THIS ISN'T THE PLACE FOR YOU. c) If you are a person who enjoy to have coffee or tea after you eat your food, THIS ISN'T THE PLACE FOR YOU. On both times on our visits, we saw a big Espresso machine by the counter but they refused to serve us coffee or tea. Instead they want us to drink alcohol (the money maker) on a Saturday at 02:00 pm. However, I noticed that hot drinks were served on one table (to preferred customers...I think ) although I was told that the restaurant doesn't sell...

We heard great things about this place and planned a weekend trip specifically to try their special KURT. Before making the hour-and-a-half drive, we called to confirm its availability, and they assured us they had it. Excited, we gathered a group of nearly ten people and made the trip, only to be disappointed upon arrival—they were out of KURT. With no choice to order something else.

Determined to try it, we rescheduled for the following weekend, ensuring we arrived early around 2:00 PM. To our surprise, they were out again. On top of that, we had to wait for a table. It was frustrating and disappointing.

Not wanting to go through the same experience a third time, I called ahead once more for another weekend visit. I even asked if we could prepay to reserve KURT, given our long drive. The response? At that moment, they had it, but there was no guarantee it would still be available when we arrived. I explained our situation, but they refused to hold any for us, even with prepayment.

Their resolution was basically: “Come now or take your chances.” Unfortunately, we can’t just fly from Maryland to Virginia. We simply wanted confirmation before making the trip, but their system doesn’t allow that.

The food might be great, but their customer service needs serious improvement. Our experience was frustrating and disappointing. If they cannot guarantee availability for a specialty item, they should at least offer a reservation system for the people who want to see their place from far. Great product by itself won’t keep the business keep well without great customer satisfaction. If you wanted to stay 👍🏼consistent and great customer service...

Brindo was our first Ethiopian restaurant experience in DC, and it presented a mixed bag of modern ambiance and service challenges. The restaurant has a sleek, contemporary design and was bustling even on a Monday night, which speaks to its popularity.

However, our excitement quickly turned into frustration when it came time to order. We were given a choice between Ethiopian injera and house injera. Concerned about the potential use of preservatives in the imported Ethiopian injera, we opted for the house injera and inquired about its ingredients. Surprisingly, neither of the two servers we spoke with could provide us with a clear answer.

Our concern stemmed from a sensitivity to self-rising flour, and as consumers, we have the right to know what we are eating. After insisting on speaking to someone who could provide more information, a third server finally disclosed that the house injera contained a mix of teff and self-rising flour. This was a significant issue for us as self-rising flour is bleached and unhealthy, which we are sensitive to.

Our dining experience was unfortunately cut short due to this lack of transparency. We urge Brindo to train their staff better on menu items and ingredients to ensure customers can make informed choices. It would also be beneficial if they offered teff injera or other healthier options without self-rising flour.

For a restaurant with such a promising atmosphere, improving communication and ingredient transparency will undoubtedly enhance the dining experience and customer...