Food is great (my wife and I are vegan and my family is all over the place with dietary restrictions, so it's lovely to be able to find something for everyone). Half price burger Mondays combined with happy hour make it our go-to start of the week treat. The outdoor seating in the summer usually has availability, so that's a game changer (indoors can be slightly noisy, though it's not too bad). Service is always lovely. One of our regular servers, Tony, is great! read more

We were greeted and seated right away . Our server was very courteous. We ordered couple of appetizers and drinks from the Happy hour menus which was great. We also ordered an entree and a sandwich and they were delicious as well. The owner has kept the prices very reasonable compared to other restaurants in the area and we really appreciate that. The restaurant is very inviting and has a great vibe with the set up , the vibrant colors , the murals and pictures and of course the unique bookstore. read more

Was craving some gluten free pancakes and Busboys popped up on my search. I'm glad it did. Nestled in the walkable Shirlington development, which feels like a mini Reston Town Center, lies a gem in Busboys and Poets. I thought it would be a small coffee shop but it is much more. Ample seating inside with some outdoor seating, it is a fun atmosphere with a mini bookstore as you walk in and the main restaurant in the other half. There's a small stage for when they have different events. It is a positive and fun environment. I ordered the Turning Violet Latte. I am a big fan of lavender flavor and this latte hit the spot. For my food, I ordered the gluten free pancakes and bacon. You never know what you're going to get with gluten free pancakes and these were some of the good ones. They were fluffy with some fresh fruit sprinkled on top. The syrup was the perfect amount needed for these hot cakes. The bacon was crisp and a great add on. They have a robust menu so you can get a lot of great options here. The service was good and overall I had a great time. read more

Busboys and Poets - Turning Violet Latte - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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The food is always amazing here and our dogs love the attention they get from the staff. Kris was a fantastic server! Very attentive and friendly, and patient with us while we were chatting and not looking at our menus read more

I had a great time at Busboys and Poets today. I ordered the Blackened Salmon and an Agua Fresca. My waitress, Kristian, was extremely prompt and very courteous throughout my meal. I will visit again and bring my family the next time. I hope I get Kristian again. read more

I come to the open mic all they way from Fort Meade. I truly enjoyed my interaction with Enrique today. He was professional, attentive and pilote. Made an awesome recommendation to go with my cake (fries lol)! I will for sure come again. For an old retired Military with customers service background , Enrique provided outstanding service! Good job Enrique and Busboys...THANK YOU. read more

Tony was a wonderful server. He took very good care of us and was extremely pleasant. Thank you Tony!! We also love coming for half price burgers on Mondays and sitting outside. read more

I LOVE Busboys! You can't go wrong. Every time I come to this location, I ask for Kris. She is the best! So attentive, kind, and thoughtful. Definitely recommend checking them out and ask for Kris! read more

The nachos at Busboys and Poets are so good! They're loaded with fresh toppings, full of flavor, and the portion is perfect for sharing--or keeping all to yourself! Every bite is delicious, making them one of my favorite appetizers whenever I visit. If you're stopping by, the nachos are definitely worth ordering. read more

Good Food, great selection and attentive service. The Restaurant is cute, artsy and clean. We love the little Bookstore and usually do Breakfast and a book. read more

I met up with a college friend for Happy Hour on a Monday night. I was fortunate to find an empty parking space across the street. Once inside, I was taken aback by the bookstore and also the size of the restaurant. It was packed, and after initially only being offered bar seating, I pointed out a couple of empty tables I noticed. After a brief wait, we were seated at a booth I didn't even notice was open. Happy Hour is from 3-7, which is an ideal time in my opinion. Unlike a lot of other places I've been to, the prices truly reflect a discount from normal times. I ordered the sangria, and my friend ordered the DC Tapwater. The sangria was delicious and a little on the strong side, due to the cab, chardonnay, bourbon, and rum. She said the DC Tapwater was like a juice that may or may not sneak up on you later. I enjoyed the firecracker shrimp for the spice and crispness. The heat from the fried chicken sliders caught my friend off guard, but she liked them. The braised short ribs dinner was only 1 rib, but it was a thick piece and very tender and flavorful. The mashed potatoes were filling, and the carrots and broccoli were cooked very well. read more

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A friend suggested Busboys and Poets for brunch & I intentionally didn't eat beforehand in order to have plenty of room in my tummy to chow down. It was my first time dining here & all I've thought since taking both my first & last bites is "Wow, what in the lamb meatballs & falafel salad took me so long?!!!" The vibe was phenomenal; behind the host station, there was a small bookstore filled with socially-conscious literature, staff was friendly, there was ample seating & most importantly, the food was out of this world. I'm actually mad that I couldn't just get a fork & sample everything in the kitchen...especially because I came prepared wearing baggy pants with an elastic waistband. Get it together before my next visit, people ;) We ordered hummus to share & I thoroughly appreciated the hearty, perfectly seasoned portion with the incredible pita bread! Seriously, I'd like the recipe for both please...OR just an increase in my credit line so I can order an exorbitant amount & fill my freezer. My friend had the Chicken Chorizo Egg Wrap with sweet potato fries & I got the Chicken and Pancakes. As anyone with at least one functioning taste bud knows, pancakes can be a hit or miss...many are often bland rounds of rubbery, refined carbs that end up getting mercilessly drenched in syrup just to make them remotely palatable. These, however, were exceptional & I'm pretty certain they were made with a hint of vanilla. Coupled with just the right amount of sugar, they had the perfect ratio of density to fluffiness. Texture matters! And ZOMG (not to be confused with its predecessor "OMG"), I almost forgot about the chicken! Kudos to the person who seasoned & tenderized that bird...it was juicy & crispy beyond belief. And in classic Southern tradition, I drizzled the maple syrup over both the pancakes & the chicken. Heaven CAN be a place on earth, cluck cluck. My only complaint is that the mango mimosa wasn't served chilled. I didn't bother reordering because I was enjoying the atmosphere, conversation & meal but it's worth noting that a room temperature mimosa is strange. read more

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Love this location, feels like home, food is always so fresh and delicious, love that they practice conscious cuisine, have plenty of vegan and halal options. New BBQ salmon salad is a must try! Ask for Tony, he always takes great care of us! read more

Kris was the best waiter period! She was soo sweet and nice. She checked in periodically to make sure we had everything we need! She didn't complain when we asked for multiple things after she already brought one. She is the best! read more

I just cant begin to tell what an awesome time my birthday group had yesterday 7.12.26. Being a rainy dreary day, I didn't know what to expect. We were just hungry. I told my friends all about how great the food and fun was at Busboys and Poets in Shirlington. They have never been there before. We had 3 days. After church we arrived and greated by nice staff and one ended up being a manager. So sorry I forgot her name. I hope she will know I'm talking about her. The service was great by our sweet server, Bolormaa V. She ended up joining with us in singing Happy Birthday 3 times. She was a trooper and needs to be highly recognized. She made our time worthwhile coming in the rain. Created us and served us with a smile. Bogi made our day. Kudos to you my friend. As well as the lady manager. U made us happy! Thank you read more

Favorite spot in Shirlington, food and stuff is amazing! Love their lamb burger, falafel salad and honestly everything I've tried has been soo good!! I love that they have Guinness too;)) Their stuff is always on top of things, We come here a couple times a week and Tony has always taken a great care of us!! 5 stars all they way read more

Tony was great! Super patient with the kids and provided great drink recommendations.

The vegan chicken sandwich is so good. Soy chicken is soft and tasty. Tony is the best waiter, attentive, friendly and detail.

The food, service and atmosphere is always great at Bus Boys and Poet. Our server Alexa was AMAZING! She was very attentive and greeting with a warm smile. She ensured that we had a wonderful experience and I will definitely return. read more

I am a regular at busboys when I am in the DMV area. The food is consistent, clean, and the customer service nice. This was my first time at this location and I decided to do brunch not my usual dinner. My waiters name was Vern, for starters he was super friendly and knowledgeable. Although I knew the menu, my guest didn't and he walked them through it top to bottom and recommended some items that I've never tried (that were great). We had a great experience at this location and will be back! read more

Craving a late night burger, Busboys and Poets was still open and seemed to fit the bill. And they offered sweet potato fries with their burger? Sold. I placed the order through DoorDash, and even with a 15min drive the food was still very warm and the ice cream for the mini pecan pie hadn't melted. Unfortunately the drink I ordered wasn't included, even though it was on the receipt. Since it was towards the end of the night, I'll give them benefit of the doubt and hope it was a one time miss. The burger was perfectly grilled, and the bacon was the right balance of crispy but not burnt. The sauce that comes with the burger had a nice kick to it too. The sweet potato fries were plentiful and delicious. The side asparagus was cooked well, but the amount you get for the cost will have me side stepping it in the future. The mini pecan pie was adorable and tasty. Don't let the size fool you, it's got quite the sugary kick to it and the ice cream does help to balance it. I recommend heating it for a 30 seconds - 1 min, and then let that ice cream melt on top of it. Will definitely reorder the burger! read more

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Let me start off that METI provided exceptional service to our table. This will bring me back in again. Their hot chocolate was super tasty and the berry with strawberry salad freshly made. Such good vibes in this restaurant. I shall return and hopefully our table can get service from Meti. read more

Busboys and Poets - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Place of welcoming and good food....this is a spot to put on the radar. Busboys and Poets' mission is to be a community gathering place that fosters dialogue on social and political issues while celebrating art, culture, and cuisine. It aims to be a space where people can connect, be inspired, and create social change. The name itself pays homage to poet Langston Hughes, who worked as a busboy. I have been to this location several times and I have nothing but positive things to say. The service is attentive and pleasant. The food is excellent and exactly what I order. The drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) are on point. The book store is a nice addition as the normally have it. Make sure to look at the event nights as well so you can enjoy some of the events they host that are all inclusive. All in all this is a great location that offers amazing options and is in the center of plenty to do. read more

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Excellent service! Kris was amazing! She went above and beyond to ensure we had strawberries for our breakfast.

Our server, Kris, was great! Very sweet and was able to answer every question we had. We've been to other locations and the catfish nuggets here were the best! read more

Brought my family here for a late breakfast. It strikes me as a very eclectic place with solid food offings. My omelette was well made and the breakfast potatoes were on point. Our server was very personable and was great with my kids. Don't miss the fresh squeezed orange juice. read more

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Absolutely amazing setting, super attentive staff (like SO fast and on top of everything), and the food was really, really good all around, and so were the cafe drinks. Honestly just wish I had one out in Loudoun County because I would go all the time! read more

I ordered the cat fish which was seasoned well and delicious! The collard greens were also very flavorful ! The waitress was very polite and offered great suggestions! I will be returning ! read more

Every time we're in Arlington,VA! Located in the Shirlington shopping strip off of Campbell Avenue. Service is always acceptable. Depends on what time of the day you go. Can be extremely busy during lunch and on weekends. Different take on a diner look, books, small stage in the back area, poetry is recited on special occasions. We usually go for breakfast, sweet potato pancakes a must, western omelet with a side of jalapeño cheesy grits 24/7/365 and twice on Sunday! Highly recommend if in the area. read more

Busboys and Poets - Sweet potato Pancakes and western omelette. Jalapeño cheesy grits. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Great service, sat right away. Once at table server greeted us with a smile and quickly got our drinks. Relaxed vibe with a book theme. Main dining area has a stage for live music/open mic poetry/author discussions. I will come back for one! Located along the main strip in Shirlington across from Harris Tetter (easy parking there) Food was tasty and came out hot and fast! Tons of vegan and vegetarian options. read more

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This is my second time visiting BBP, and my first time at this location. I knew it was going to be good (hence my return visit). We arrived for brunch at a perfect time....no wait! I did take a few moments to enjoy the bookstore selections and beautiful artwork throughout the restaurant. Once seated, I had a cup of hot Earl Gray tea (delicious brand selection)? For brunch, I had Chicken and Buttermilk Pancakes. It was so good! No room for dessert. Other table dishes: Chicken wand Sweet Potato Pancakes Smoked Salmon Benedict Chicken Chorizo Hash 5 STARS! There's no doubt this establishment will stay on my short list for brunch! read more

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I had a yummy grilled chicken panin with sweet potatoes fries. The food was nice and fresh; it was delivered to our table in record time. The food and delivery was outstanding. The waiter was very attentive and professional. My dining pattern said her cubano sandwich was delicious. I will dine at this Arlington location again definitely. read more

Busboys and Poets - Chicken Panini and Side Sweet Potato Fries - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

The food is delicious! Try the sweet potato hash or build your own omelet. Don't sleep on the lattes...especially the violet one! The location in Shirlington is a neighborhood favorite! read more

Busboys and Poets - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Busboys is a staple. Can't really go wrong here with anything you order. I like to come here for quick solo brunch dates or with friends. It's a great spot to take my parents based on their menu having enough for all of our different tastes. The service is usually good at this location. No complaints. read more

I was in the area. I came for the open mic/poetry night. Great turn out. I went to the other location the day before. Same vibe. Different crowd. I liked this location better because of the atmosphere. More people and different poets. Oh and I ordered the mahi mahi plate. So delicious. Great ambiance, location and lighting. I enjoyed the whole thing. Thank you for an awesome night. read more

Busboys and Poets - Blackened Mahi Mahi 10/10 - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

My only problem with this establishment is that when you order out they charge you a three dollar green planet fee. I just vented to one of the employees there and they said they are not even sure what the three dollar fee goes to cover. In this economic environment of high inflation, high prices, high groceries, high rent, I feel it is incredibly tone deaf for the owners to assess this kind of fee. Especially when other restaurants are not doing Such a thing. It makes the restaurant appear untrustworthy and shady. Can you imagine my disappointment when I drove 15 minutes to get to the restaurant only to see that a $17 sandwich is now $22.50. I had no choice but to turn around and walk out. read more

Been here a handful of times, sometimes for brunch sometimes for a small bite and coffee. Overall service is pretty good and welcoming. Ambiance is very casual. On occasion they host poetry night or spoken word night which is fun. They have very good key-lime pie in my opinion. I've also gotten French toast which also stands out. For the most part the food is really good for this diner/book/coffee shop hybrid, and I was pleasantly surprised. They also have happy hour and serve alcohol. Hard to find a place that serves almost everything! Would return with others for a quick meal and swift service. read more

JR and Emilio are awesome!!! They went above and beyond and made sure that our dining experience was nothing short of amazing. They are so personable and you can see that they take pride in their work. Food was amazing and came out so fast even with the restaurant being busy. 100/10 read more

I was here for dinner the other night and I had an outstanding time! The food was really great, but the service was fantastic. Sammy was our server and she was so attentive and helpful and patient and professional and friendly! She did a great job I will definitely come back read more

Good variety of vegetarian and vegan options. Really enjoyed the omelette I had - usually I find omelettes dry and overcooked, but this wasn't- and the beans and avocado were very tasty. Would definitely get again! My wife had the lox and liked her food, too. read more

Busboys and Poets - Bagel and Lox* - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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