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Their tacos & Jamaican jerk wings are spectacular. I love this place and the customer service is great . Happy hour spot after work especially on Tuesdays. Check them out and let me know what you think!
I stopped by with a coworker during our lunch yesterday. They have daily drink and food specials, which definitely come in handy. We both ordered the shrimp po boy, which came with fries. I appreciated that the shrimp was crunchy and also generously portioned. The fries were very well seasoned.
4.25 stars. *Atmosphere- loved it. I went after a book tour and for it to be a week night the vibe was good. *Food- I got the catfish fingers and it was a healthy serving size with fries with a nice homemade tarter size. Lemon drop cocktail was 90% liquor and a splash of lemon. *Service- We had a great server who was helpful and kind. An iconic family owned business in an historic DC location.
Made a last minute reservation, so I'm glad that they were able to accommodate, especially on a Sunday! Got there and we were immediately sat. I appreciate that the waitress let us know that our time would start once we were sat. Bottomless mimosas were $30/pp. They didn't require the entire table to participate, which is nice to have a choice. They also have a few different flavors to choose from, although some were a little syrup heavy. The food was solid. If you like crab, the crab stuffed deviled eggs were pretty good. The blackened salmon and grits was delish too! That butter sauceeeee pulled it all together! Our waitress was pleasant and very attentive. Now it was Sunday funday and the music was poppin, however, there were several times it was so loud I couldn't even think straight lol. Other than that, I'd definitely be back.
Another visit to Ben's Next Door. We decided to get brunch before getting back on the road to Philly. I remember enjoying the food here so it was worth the return trip. This time we went as soon as they opened so it wasn't crowded at all. This time we sat at the bar. The vibes were just the same, good music, just no crowds. We thought that with it being empty that our food would come out pretty quickly, it didn't. The bartender was really cool though, I think his name was John. He kept our cups filled and offered decent conversation. As much as I love Ben's Next Door I'm ready to explore other options while in DC- there's no love lost!
This spot is right next door to the legendary Ben's chili bowl (hence the name) on the U street corridor. You're immediately greeted by the grass wall and neon sign at the entrance, it's probably got one of the longest bars on the block, with several TV's, smaller tables behind it, and further to the back of the restaurant larger group seating areas. There's always a good music ambiance happening in the background generally R&B, rap, and pop music. I've come here a few times but this was my first time for brunch. Their menu features a $30 bottomless mimosa option with 6 different flavors available, and food items such as shrimp deviled eggs, jerk wings, 2 different burger options, chicken and waffles, and shrimp and grits with prices ranging between $14-$28. The staff overall is usually very present and engaging with the customers. I went with the blackened salmon and eggs dish which was delicious, the fried eggs were buttery and the salmon was flavorful and perfectly cooked. Overall solid brunch experience and definitely recommend checking them out whenever you're in the area.
This was the most flavorful pasta dish I have had in a long time. In fact, I almost didn't get the pasta for fear of it being bland. It was seasoned so well. The sauce was flavorful. The catfish was seasoned and crispy. The service was great. Server came by the right amount of time. It's a sports bar environment so it has good energy. The blackberry mojito is a keeper.
Came here for happy hour with my sister and we had a blast. First off the service was impeccable and the drinks were strong. They offer bar and tables seating, this place is pretty big. My server was very attentive and the food came out really quickly and was very delicious!
Ben's never disappoints. The food was amazing. The service was impeccable. And the ambiance always adds to good vibes. I ordered the devil eggs with shrimp and catfish and grits. Everything came out hot and was very flavorful. I also ordered the bottomless mimosas which you can never go wrong when you order those. It was a great time! I will be back soon. Cheers!
I always love it here. It's not usually my first stop unless it's happy hour. But I will always end up here for some wings and Ben's for a chili dog. The food is good here. The service is kind of lacking... young servers that may not have the best customer service. But the music is good, it's dimly lit and they have strong drinks. My favorite part is that they allow me to mix the wing flavors. They're usually fried perfectly.
It's a bar. I've been here twice and there's not much to it. The bar is ideal if you want to grab a bite and watch a sporting event. You have access to TVs regardless of where you sit and lots of bar seating if needed. Came on a Thursday for TNF and was able to sit right away. I ordered: Calamari - 6/10 - Calamari can always be eaten alone or with a splash of lemon but I love me a good sauce to pair it with. That's all this was missing. The consistency of the Calamari was ok but not my favorite. They serve it wit a marina or a sweet chili sauce but my preference is a aioli. Not a shot to them just a personal preference. The bartender was attentive and quick with our food and drink order so no complaints on that front. I'd go back if in the area and try the wings.
This place is nestled inside of what appears to be a hotel. Valet parking available. It's very beautiful with elegant decor. I enjoyed the r&b dj who's volume was at just the right level to not disturb you from talking to your table mates. Our server was so funny. I can't remember his name, but he was an older Asian gentleman. He was very attentive to our needs. I wouldn't say i was a huge fan of my steak, but I'd come back and give other options a try.
Went here for brunch. We arrived early on a Saturday and partook in the bottomless mimosas. We were glad to be provided with a huge carafe of mimosas and actually never needed any more refills past that. We ordered the catfish and grits and the waffles with breakfast fixings. In my opinion the catfish and grits were SO delicious- that sauce that it came with was so delightful, and the cheddar grits were so thick and yummy. My friend enjoyed her food as well. We loved the music. It was a little on the pricier side for a brunch but would come back for happy hour.
Street parking available, if you're lucky. Made reservations just to be on the safe side. Came on a Sunday for brunch. We were greeted and seated immediately. Our server was friendly, and helpful. Everything was good and drinks were strong. read more
We stopped here when in DC just before going to a show at the Lincoln Theatre. This place is conveniently located next to it. I had not read reviews, I would have found the swiping of a credit card prior to getting our food a bit off putting. This place was loud and busy. I felt like I was eating dinner in a night club. I ordered the shrimp and grits which were quite tasty. Service was fast. read more
I visited this place while waiting for a show at the Lincoln Theatre on a Friday. The bartender was really nice, and she made a really strong Old Fashioned. This is a nice place to sit before or after going to the Lincoln. read more
1 year ago
I've been here numerous times over the years and they are pretty consistent with the food and service. The prices continue to rise as everywhere else. For the most part the price and value line up alright. I most recently was here for brunch and week or so later for happy hour. Brunch, if you arrive before or around noon, you can typically be seated right away as far as I can tell. I arrived first from my group of 4 and they reluctantly sat me despite not having 1/2 of my party present first. Thanks for that. Everyone seemed to enjoy their breakfast. The chicken and waffle were good though the entree that I wanted (one of their most popular stuffed French toast items) was already sold out halfway barely halfway through the day. I'll have to go back early on Saturday instead of Sunday to maybe have a chance to try it. The bottomless Bellinis actually had alcohol and weren't just juice. Too many restaurants cut corners when it comes to bottomless and I'm happy that they don't here. Happy hour is decent here in the fact that they open earlier than many of the bars in the area which don't begin until 5. Throw back a couple of espresso martinis to get yourself ready for the evening. read more
The bottomless mango mimosas are so good and a must try! They have a 2 hour time limit so be advised. Took my husband and we had a great time. Great atmosphere, cute setting, and good service. The food was delicious as well. I got the blackened salmon, eggs, and potatoes and enjoyed it. My husband got the salmon cakes, eggs, and potato's and he was satisfied as well. The music is good and we just vibed out. The pricing is decent for brunch and for two people it was about $150 without appetizers. There is street parking and the bathrooms are unisex (I don't mind that but some people do). Make a reservation because it gets busy. I've been here several times, I'm late with my review. I've tried all the appetizers and love them all lol. FYI read more
1 year ago
This weekend during my visit in Washington DC, I decided to host a Meet up with my " California" chapter . In addition, each person requested a " Black Owned" restaurant so this was perfect . I had a RSVP for Tahoe of 7 but 10 people showed this was a happy hour and I must say, Ben's Next Door has a great happy hour and Salman Cake Sliders and Birria Tacos was fire . The happy hour drinks were reasonable . My glass of Rose was $6 and I had four of them (don't judge me) lol The customer service was great from the Bar to the table . The music was bussing and of course I had to shake a tale feather briefly . The gave Ben's Next Door a 4/5 only because there was a difference between the table and the bar . I love sitting at the bar however while ordering at the table, the food and drinks were arriving at slow pace . I did find myself getting frustrated once or twice however I still love Ben's Next Door . read more
1 year ago
We were visiting the DC area and ended up eating here. We came on a Sunday during brunch and really enjoyed it. The staff was very friendly from the hostesses to the wait staff. I ordered the blackened catfish and grits and bottomless mimosas and peach and mango flavor. The food was delicious and a good portion size. read more
5 months ago
2 years ago
I have nothing bad to say about the brunch in Sunday. Went with a large party ablande the service was perfect! The drinks kept flowing and the food was amazing. Ohhh and the grits stood out in the best way possible I would surely come back to explore the rest of the menu read more
I visited Ben's Next Door Restaurant & Bar for lunch and tried the Hennessy sangria, which is on their Friday drink special list. The drink was very refreshing, and the sangria paired well with the Hennessy. I've been searching for a spot with Cajun pasta for months, and their version with the option of salmon was irresistible. It was excellent--very saucy, and the salmon was a great size. Next time, I'll ask them to make it spicier, as it wasn't very spicy, but the Cajun pasta is still a hit. The place wasn't crowded and had a chilled vibe. The music was at a decent volume, perfect for getting some work done while you wait, just like some other patrons were doing. read more
This establishment is such a vybe. I visited here for brunch and had the bottomless mimosas. Once the mimosas hit, the music starts jumping and you just vybe out with your party. Singing all the latest R&B hits and enjoying the ambiance of the establishment. Every time I visit this establishment I eat the wings, Mumbo flavor is the best don't forget the side of blue cheese. read more
3 years ago
The grits!!!! THOSE GRITS! Ben's next door had Ben on my brunch list for a while and finally I was able to try it out. The bottomless mimosas start at 22$ a person and our waiter had the carafes coming consistently!!!! You only get a 2 hour brunch window so get to drinking quick! As for food I went with the Doin' The Most and really enjoyed it! Subbed the potatoes for grits and was blown away! Eggs were made great, I got bacon but would totally get sausage instead - nothing bad just too much bacon, and the French toast was pretty good (although not the best). The space is hustling bustling with great mix of trap, r&b, and hip hop music you can really grove too. The prices are really reasonable and it's perfect for date night. read more
4 years ago
Always a good time win I visit Ben's Next Door. For brunch we tried the fried catfish and grits , shrimp and grits and the lump crab deviled eggs. You know it's good when there's no need for a to-go box. They have specials for every day of the week, so it's literally something for everyone to enjoy. I'll definitely be back to try some of their other food and drink items. read more
1 year ago
1 year ago
My friends and I love BND! Always a blast every single time we go; no complaints ever! Two hours is more than enough time to get your fill. My favorite brunch entree is the fish and grits. The catfish is fried to a perfect crisp and the grits and broth compliment it well. If you're like us, you like your mimosa carafe with less juice lol so be sure to ask your server for their suggestions! A great Black owned business to visit when you're in the city! 10/10 always. **each day of the week is dedicated to a specific kind of liquor and features deals on them in addition to their happy hour menu read more
2 years ago
Good food Good service Good music Wanted the jerk salmon sliders for happy hour but found out it was just one small slider read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
True rating is 3.5. Rating this location a 4 because the food is good and it's a vibe. Service was great once we got seated;however, we had reservations for 2 @ 1pm, didn't get seated until 1:35. Catfish was delicious, cooked to perfection and bottomless mimosas were a win!! Parking was free and convenient with a short walk up the street. I would 100% recommend. Can't wait until my next visit. Current rating of 3.7 is accurate. read more
3 years ago
~ Arrived Sunday for brunch & it was lit! My waitress was on point with everything. I wish I could remember her name. Bottomless mimosas kept coming... Long Island kept coming. Music was rockin'. Everybody in the establishment was showing off their vocals. None more impressive than me tho. Diesèl !! Favorite Dish ??... The chicken & waffles !! Man-o-man! Loved it. Moist, fluffy wit a lil crisp & the chicken was nice too. Must have. The shrimp and grits were solid. Eggs (which is my fav food) we're solid. Vanilla French toast was something different, but cool. Returning ?? A must! They showed so much love. It's supposed to be a 2-hour limit for brunch, but she saw how much fun I was having & let us do our thang. Respect. I hope you enjoy it. ~ #TeamDieselEvaaaa read more
5 years ago
Whew finally getting around to writing this. Ok here we go. So my friends and I came here for brunch on New Years Eve and it was my first time. Although I've lived in the DMV for years and it's been on my list- just never got around to it. In conclusion, it's a vibe: good food, good music, good people. Shoutout to our waiter, Marshall (Marshmallow) who was very nice and did his best to attend to us even though it was so busy almost the entire time that we were there. He's the reason I'm giving 5 starts because the oven was broken yall and so I had to switch me u items twice! But he assured me that the food would be good and it was. I had the shrimp and grits which was good ( I do wish the tails were removed but small matter) and I had the bread pudding which was also good. Y'all we were there for legitimately 5 hours and I don't know how they didn't throw us out . Although yes we were still ordering etc the entire time but somehow our table became THE table at the front of the restaurant and people just kept coming over and adding more chairs and I know we were loud and at one point people were dancing in the middle of the hall. Bless the waiters hearts for walking around all of that. Overall I had a great experience and would do it again. read more
2 years ago
Love the vibe! it's a real cute spot. I came in for HH and got the bone-in wings with the mambo sauce, those were very good. I also got the jerk salmon slider, it was sadly, bland and didn't have much flavor. Same with the HH po-boy. read more
9 months ago
2 years ago
4 years ago
Fun Vibe! Good Music, Loud, & Great Food! Staff are Friendly & Fun!! Love the Chicken and waffles! And it was Patron Night..those Margaritas were Fierce!! Cheers!! read more
Went for a late brunch (be sure to make reservation) and it was still very crowded. Music was really good and our server was great. She was patient with us being indecisive with the menu and kept the mimosa coming. The floor was super slippery and the bathrooms weren't well kept. We were there into happy hour and ordered the deviled eggs which were okay, really wasn't a deal. The catfish was cooked very well. My friend said the chicken was a little greasy but waffles were good. read more
DC is the place to be!! I made reservations for 5pm for 4 due to the system glitch not allowing me to change it to 5. I explained this to the waitress and it was corrected immediately. My table was ready right on time. The service is a bit slow. Please note: This is Not much of a deal breaker for me. The cornbread was my least favorite because I'm not crazy about the cinnamon taste. My friend loved her chicken and waffles. The teenage girls raved about the fries lol. My chicken sandwich was on point!! The tables were spread apart from each other and two tents full of tables. I must warn you this restaurant was packed! I sat outside and i'm unaware of the protocols inside. From the outside it appeared the restaurant was on the smaller side (one reason I avoided going inside). The food and drinks were definitely on point!! The vibe was definitely there. I can't wait to return. read more
This is the spot! Was here for the brunch and I would say one of the best brunch spots that I have ever been to. From the vibe to the music to the service to the food, everything was on point. Made reservations and even though was a few minutes Kate, they were still honored with no problem and was seated immediately. Started off with the lump crab deviled eggs. There was definitely no shortage of crabmeat on each egg. Could have used a sprinkle of old bay seasoning on top (as seen on previous pictures). But still overall a good appetizer to start with. My entree was the 'Doin the most' which consist of french toast, eggs, potatoes, choice of protein and home fries. I choice the chicken apple sausage (2 links). Maybe 3 pieces of French toast would have been slightly better instead of 2 but I guess the home fries is to make up for that. Other than that, this hit the spot and every bite I took was very good. Waiter was very friendly and engaged. Good music to enjoy. All around friendly atmosphere and I'm looking forward to my next time coming here. read more
4 years ago
6 years ago
This was my first time at BND during the pandemic. The restaurant practiced social distancing by providing outdoor seating. I wouldn't recommend going at night with the wind and cold air. My meal was delicious. I got the steak and frites with the Jenny margarita. The steak was super tender and juicy. I definitely recommend. read more
It was very lively here on a Tuesday afternoon which was great to see. The waitress we had was awesome which encouraged us to grab some more drinks. Especially as they hyped up the happy hour deals. We ordered some calamari off the happy hour menu. The calamari was a little stringy but were good enough for the price we paid for it. As for drinks, I had a Patron Margarita and a Gentleman's Peachy Sour which were both tasty. Can recommend those if you're after some cocktails. For some reason it was faster ordering cocktails than beer. I guess beer isn't normally ordered here? I was living the speed of receiving the cocktails but after ordering a beer through the waitress we had to ask different bartenders what was going on. Apart from this we still had a good time and wouldn't mind returning. We were told the owner owns both this bar and Ben's Chili Bowl next door. Why can't we order half smokes while in the bar? We would've stayed for longer and had more drinks! read more
If you've been to DC then you are familiar with the popular #benschilibowl on U. street. In 2008 #BensNextDoor opened next door. They have happy hour, daily specials and brunch. Stop by the next time you're in DC. I went to college in DC and I think I've been to bens Chilli bowl and bens next door once. I was totally going to skip but glad my friend insisted. The waitress was super nice and we caught the tail end of happy hour. Lump Crab Deviled Eggs with panko gremolata & old bay ND Bone-In Wings - honey sriracha and Next Door's signature dry rub Braised Kale w/ Smoked Turkey I was really impressed with the Crab Deviled Eggs and the Kale! The Kale is their version of collard greens. The honey sriracha wings had a nice flavor. The dry rub wings tasted better with some mambo sauce. I'd definitely visit again. read more
More info about Ben's Next Door
1211 U St NW
Washington, DC 20009
U Street Corridor
Directions
(202) 667-8880
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https://www.bensnextdoor.com
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Ask the Community - Ben's Next Door
Do the still have she crab soup? I know they got the recipe from Market Inn which was the absolute best.
No they dont have it anymore
Are there any gluten free options for dinner or brunch?
No I don't think so. Feel free to call and ask them to be on the safe side.
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Ben's Next Door - bars - Updated September 2026
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