Busboys and Poets — Restaurant in Washington

Walked over here and ordered the crab grits and a bagel with cream cheese. The crab grits were okay, not a huge portion, but it'll last me a bit because to me the crab taste is too ocean-y, so I can only have a bite or two at a time. Not awful or inedible, juuust needs some restraint haha. Bagel came nice and warm, freshly toasted, but was a full bagel served with the tiniest little cup off cream cheese. Ya'll gonna charge me over $20 (with tip) for a small portion of grits and a bagel with an abnormally small cup of cream cheese? The girl who took my carryout order was very nice. I only tipped for her. The to-go bag was unusually nice, cloth or something, so maybe that's why they're upcharging. But I'd be happy to carry it instead. For some reason Google Reviews keeps claiming Error when I try to upload a photo, but I do have one showing how small the grits portion was, and how super small the cream cheese little cup was. EDIT: Ordered again the other day. Got the build your own omelette. I got double goat cheese and cheddar with spinach and a side of home fries. I also got a side of tomato, mushrooms, pico de gallo, jalapeno, and a cup of freshly squeezed orange juice.

I ordered carryout from UberEats and did not get excess charges like I did last time when I went in person and ordered at the desk... So if you can, order pick-up from UberEats! The omelette did not seem to have any goat cheese even though I ordered double portion of it. I LOVE goat cheese so that was disappointing. There was definitely cheddar, but for extra portion of goat cheese and paying for that, it would've been nice... I would describe the home fries more as breakfast potatoes. They were like the cubed style of skillet potatoes and were heavily laden with bell pepper. I don't like cooked bell pepper so would not have ordered them as a side had I known. Also came with toast and butter to add. The side of tomato was three slices of tomato-- a very large tomato! I salted them and enjoyed them. Side of pico and jalapeno were $2 each and came in larger condiment cups. Not huge but larger than those little dinky ones. The sauteed mushrooms were really good, but came in a laughably large container for their portion haha. I'm guessing they used the paper container since they were warm and that's the only size they have. Mushrooms were a bit pricey but they really were quite good. Orange juice is what you should expect for freshly squeezed orange juice, and at $5 for what I think is 160z, better deal than most. Was not pulpy. I liked it. I would only order carryout again, not go up to the counter since this just stayed flat price. The customer service was still incredibly friendly and nice. I asked for cutlery and ketchup and the girl was immediately on it. For $30 and all the extra sides I got, and taking into consideration how much other places charge for sides, I feel...

I had a memorable experience at Busboys and Poets after a late-night food mishap left me without my order. The night before, I’d ordered their Shrimp & Chicken Chorizo Pasta through Uber Eats, but before the driver could pick it up, the restaurant had closed. Feeling frustrated but still hopeful, I decided to visit the restaurant the next day to explain what had happened. As soon as I walked in, the staff quickly reviewed my receipt. Joseph, who was at the counter, wasted no time in going directly to the management to sort out the issue. Not long after, Ms. Marissa came out of the kitchen with a warm smile and asked if I’d prefer a refund or a fresh order of what I’d originally chosen. While I waited, she even brought me a strawberry lemonade as a token of apology. It was such a thoughtful gesture, and I felt genuinely appreciated as a returning customer. This team of young professionals responded so swiftly and made it clear they were fully invested in my experience. The restaurant itself is beautiful, adorned with artwork from all over the world, including pieces that honor the Civil Rights Movement—a true delight to explore. Busboys and Poets is more than just a restaurant; it’s a community space filled with culture and positive vibes. And the food? Outstanding! The Shrimp & Chicken Chorizo Pasta has become my go-to dish, and if you’re in the area, don’t miss out. The seafood options, like the Crab Cakes, are also perfectly cooked and full of flavor. One thing that stood out was the welcoming vibe I always feel at this location. The manager, who remembers regulars, adds a personal touch that makes it feel like a neighborhood spot, and the service, even during a busy hour, is always friendly. If you’re there on a Monday, don’t miss their Half-Off Burger special, which is a great way to kick off the week. I can’t wait to come back for more, especially to try out their happy hour!

If you're around, it’s also worth checking out Pull Up DC to keep the good vibes rolling after! Between Busboys and Pull Up DC, it’s like a double feature of chill energy and good food—an unbeatable combo. Whether it’s a low-key evening or a celebration, this spot should be at the top...

HORRIBLE experience at this location. I walked into the restaurant and sat at the bar on a Saturday evening at about 7:00. There was no one at the bar and only about five tables in the restaurant were even seated. The first thing I do is tell the bartender. I want to order the crab cakes, he tells me great choice. He then asked me if I want a drink and he made me a non-alcoholic cocktail. I waited about 20 minutes watching each table that was seated after me get their food. I watched someone who appeared to be the manager come out and eat fries with hot sauce on them right at the table behind me, then proceed to go behind the bar and blow his nose. Never saw him wash his hands. I saw one of the servers who was bringing out food, deliver food to a table and then rub her nose on her hands as if her allergies were bothering her. At this point I was just praying that neither one of them would touch my food. After about another 10 minutes when the bartender said nothing to me but stood right in front of me washing glasses, I asked him if he would check on my food. He said "excuse me?" I asked him if he would please check on my food. He goes over to the register, looks uo my order, turns around and tells me all he had down was my drink. I reminded him that I ordered crab cakes because he told me they were a great choice. He said he feels so sorry that it must have slipped his mind. Aftrr having sat there for about 40 minutes. I told him I just need to get home. He then proceeds to give me the check for my drink, which I pay because of course I did drink about half of it. The very least he could have done was told me don't dare pay for the drink. Even worse, how do you completely forget someone's order when you literally have one person sitting at the bar?! And never think to ask if they want anything?! And no customer wants to watch people who work there, eat their food and blow their nose and then go back where the kitchen area is. Horrible Saturday night, I'm going home to...