Busboys & Poets

Busboys & Poets has becoming a thriving chain of restaurants in DC, and their success is well deserved. One part bookstore, one part lounge, and one part restaurant, mix well, and you have what’s become a distinct DC name that’s hard to turn down as a favorite place to eat.

The menu tends to stick with simple comfort foods, both carnivores, herbivores, and omnomnivores alike, which of course means it’s a pretty easy pick for Jen and I when we’re looking to get a casual meal on any given night.

We opted to start with the sweet potato fries, which are slightly crispy and sweet, and well paired with a large dollop of sour cream. The wait staff is always super relaxed and friendly, which only enhances the casual dining atmosphere.

Sweet Potato Fries with Sour Cream

The ravioli here is a vegetarian’s treat, with the only complaint from Jen being the inundation of sun dried tomatoes that come with the dish. The porcini mushrooms hardly stood a chance. I tried to take a bite out of one, but Jen bared her teeth and threatened to cut me with her knife.

Asiago Porcini Ravioli

That’s not in anyway a statement to give less credit to their meatloaf. It sounds trashy, but hey, it’s comfort food, and very well made comfort food at that. I’ve the meatloaf on several occasions, and have yet to not be impressed. It’s flavorful and comes in a tart red wine sauce, complete with a bed of creamy mashed potatoes.

Homemade Meatloaf with mashed potatoes, sautéed mushrooms and spinach in a red wine sauce

No meal here, however, can be complete without one of their desserts. We opted for the bread pudding and coconut ice cream. Well, actually, I ordered the bread pudding to trap Jen, because I know she can’t resist.

I’m not evil, I swear.

heh.

They also have a key lime pie on the menu, which is my other weakness, but that’ll have to be saved for next time.

Bread Pudding with Coconut Ice Cream

Here’s another highly recommended place to dine if you’re looking for a place you can roll up into wearing jeans and sneakers without a second glance from the hostess. The menu is affordable, and with two locations in DC and one in Arlington, you’d have to reason not to check it out. The bar scene is also very casual, with open mic nights frequently held at each restaurant.

You can find the locations of each Busboys & Poets on their website here.

[ad#Google Adsense]