Busboys and Poets (Anacostia)
The Anacostia outpost of the beloved DC institution Busboys and Poets brings its signature blend of progressive community spirit, full bookshelves and genuinely good food to the east side of the river for the first time. It is warm, loud in the best way and deeply local.
What to Order
The kitchen leans into hearty American comfort food with global inflections — the salmon cakes with remoulade are a perennial favourite, and the weekend brunch menu draws a loyal neighbourhood crowd who arrive early and linger long.
Vegetarian and vegan options are unusually well-executed here; the black-bean burger and the roasted vegetable flatbread both hold their own against the meat dishes without feeling like afterthoughts.
More Than a Restaurant
Busboys and Poets was founded by Anas 'Andy' Shallal, an Iraqi-American artist and activist, and the Anacostia location carries that DNA proudly. The walls are hung with local art, the bookshelves stock titles on race, justice and DC history, and the events calendar includes poetry slams, author talks and community forums.
It is genuinely the kind of place where you might sit down for lunch and end up staying three hours because a conversation started at the next table.
Busboys and Poets (Anacostia) on video
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