Lucky Buns — Restaurant in Washington

It’s finally a sunny day after a week of torrential downpours. I find out it’s DC burger week. It seemed like the perfect time to finally try Lucky Buns, which I’ve heard a lot about from food critics and friends.

While out before dinner, I tell a friend I’m going to Lucky Buns. She warned, “The food is worth it if you can get past the mean hostess.” I shrug off this comment finding it odd.

Our Uber arrives a few moments after seven. The restaurant is lined with empty tables. I point an empty table and say let’s sit at this one. By God out of nowhere a hostess stops me and says “We’re booked and you’re not getting a seat until 8:31 - no earlier.” It felt like a challenge. I told her to put my name down for four. She said “I said it will be over an hour and half. I will not call you until 8:31.” I accept the challenge. She pulls out scratch from under her podium that probably doubles down as weapon, writes my name down, and writes 8:31 and underlines it several times.

We go across the street to have a drink at another lovely AdMo establishment. My phone rings. It’s 8:24. I was pleasantly surprised. I answer and get a quick “Your table is ready” and click.

Over an hour and half wait, we picked up another to join us. We are directed to our table. The hostess stops and says “You said four. I wrote down four.” I ask if we can pull another chair up. “If you can find one and get it yourself, sure. But don’t bother anyone.”

The waiter comes up. He is knowledgeable. The meat is from a great farm in Kansas, the staff all come from fine dining, and they have lots of unique options. I order the lucky bun with bacon rashers and patatas bravas. I order one of their specialty manhattans. Everything was lovely and the food was delicious. One of the best burgers I’ve had.

At the end, my partner asks the waiter “What’s wrong with the hostess?” The waiter doesn’t show any sign of emotion or answer the question. It’s clear she is in control. And he is afraid of her. Maybe she is part of the experience. A right of entry.

We leave through the door without making eye contact with her. ‘Twas an experience. I’ll be back.

But if I’m not, you know who did it.

TLDR: food is great, staff knowledgeable, but you have to get past the hostess/bouncer first (look at other reviews to confirm). God speed and...

Update: I've eaten here several times since my first unpleasant experience. The service has always been good minus the first time. I'd recommend it if you have a hankering for a beer and burger. I still find it strange that they won't cook your burger but for two ways.

The service was the worst I can remember experiencing. It started as soon as I walked in the door, where the hostess was rude and dismissive. It was painfully obvious that she wanted to be anywhere else but at this restaurant. After we were seated, it took awhile for anyone to come take our order. Keep in mind, this place has about 10 tables, including outside, so it's not a big place. When we placed our order, my friend who ordered a burger was told that it can be cooked "medium well or medium rare," and when I asked why, I was told that it's because the "kitchen is small." I'm not quite where what the logic is there, but it seems to me that a burger place should cook your burger how you want it. The service was slow, but when the food came, my friend's burger was overcooked and there were pickles when she asked for none. She sent it back, and it took a good 10-15 minutes for her second one, which was also over cooked. The restaurant did comp her meal, and gave other orders a small discount, but even in giving us a discount, they messed up the bill, comping my friend's burger but adding it again by mistake at the end of the bill. And then the cash register wasn't working. It was almost comical how inept they were. We were given an excuse that they were busy, but a restaurant should be able to handle things when their 10-table restaurant is full. Positive things I can say: the bartender was friendly and attentive; the menu has some interesting burgers; there's nice outdoor seating; I appreciated them reducing our bill and acknowledging the...

The reason for the 2 Star rating is completely customer service based. The first encounter with the hostess, proves she needs to be doing something other than customer service. We called in, to see about burger week, and she couldn't answer any questions, and kept giving rude answers. We arrived,and got to meet the hostess, and she was just as rude in person. I asked her what burgers are part of burger week and her response was " I couldn't tell you because I'm the hostess. You'll have to ask your server." Is it too much to know the most basic of questions, during the one week which is dedicated to burgers. YOUR HOSTESS SUCKS!!! PAY ATTENTION TO THE OTHER COMPLAINTS BELOW!!! We finally got seated outside, and was informed that all orders must go through the bar. So to recap, our experience, we were met with rudeness, we had to get up and go place our orders inside at the bar, and we had to get up to get refill our own drinks. So who do we tip??? No one!!! There was no service to deserve a tip. We then hear a waitress, actually take the order of the table behind us. Maybe race was a factor? Maybe it was because I had my kids? I dont know, but this needs to be worked on. The only reason I didn't give this one star, is because the only thing good about this place was that the burger was actually really good. The one that I had to go order inside, because I was the one table that was too inconveniencing to have a waitress take our order. Will not return!

Update 1: I emailed you as requested!

Update 2: I emailed these guys, as requested, and there has been no response. They...