Booeymonger — Restaurant in Washington

As a previous review stated, Booey’s used to be one of the best, if not the best place to grab a sandwich. I have been eating at this location since the late 70’s/early 80’s when I was in high school. Usually a Manhattan with an extra side of house dressing. Up until the ownership change ALL four of the locations were amazingly well run. Always well staffed with friendly, competent employees, the food top notch and pricing was in line with the market.

I had the misfortune of getting a sandwich from their Chevy Chase location today. Not surprisingly, the prices have gone up even more since the COVID pandemic started while the quality of the food as well as the portions have diminished even further over the past months.

Since the ownership change it has been a steady decline. First all the seasoned employees were let go or chose to leave. Next to go were the quality and portion of the food served. Then the pricing started creeping up and the stores were not nearly as clean as before. Fountain soda area was always filthy in their Bethesda location especially. Mentioned it to the employees but nothing ever changed so I stopped getting anything to drink other then in a bottle.

Today was really the cherry on top at the Chevy Chase store. Ordered a sandwich, bbq chips and a bottle of water. Paid and then looked at the receipt. I was charged for the Miss Vickies chips at $1.49 or so though what I asked for was the cheaper, small bag of Lay’s. Receipt said Vickies on it. Asked the cashier to swap it out for the Vickies since I already paid for it and she argues with me that, even through the receipt says I was charged for the more expensive chips, she says I owe her more and starts to ring up the item. After showing her the receipt, she still argues with me. Finally said fine and gives me the correct item. This was NOT the first time I have questioned the pricing on an item at one of their locations but was never given an attitude after pointing it out.

Get my sandwich and of course, hardly any dressing, no pickle (well played by the aforementioned cashier who packed the sandwich) and the meat was tough.

Giving the location two stars just for the fact that the employees, in the end, are working through these difficult times. Beyond that they are only doing what they are told by management and ownership and the attitude the cashier had was no doubt a trickle down issue. That is where the issue is in my opinion and again, this started LONG before COVID.

Such a shame to see another DC institution steadily heading...

I went in for frozen yogurt. It was a horrible experience. The person behind the counter was a jerk. No one was in there except her, me and her brother. Yet, neither of them would help me until I asked who works there. She did not respond, moved behind the cash register and proceeded to be as unfriendly as possible. She acted as if I was bothering her by asking a question about one of the flavors. There were only two flavors from which to choose as the machines were broken and the one was a flavor I never heard of. It was so off-putting that I will never return. I got a small cut with sprinkles on it and it was $8.00 (eight dollars)! Way too expensive to be treated like trash by someone who has no business working with the public. There are so many better places to go that this place is...

Been coming to this place for 30+ years but hadn’t been in a couple years. It’s never looked worse. Dingy, cheap signage, dirty… and they opened a liquor store in the front??? This place used to be kinda healthy and now it’s littered with pictures of hamburgers and fountain soda like it’s still the 1980s.

Ordered the Georgetowner and literally every ingredient was worse than expected. That sandwich used to be jam packed with Turkey, this had a couple sad slices. They haven’t upgraded anything in the whole place in forever. Had a moment on my way out, knowing I will never go back.

I’m sure the closing of Mazza Gallerie has had a major negative impact, plus the wealth of other good food...