If it weren't for the hothead owner, this place would be heaven. As it is, he continually shoots himself in the foot by alienating both customers and employees. Which is a shame, because at heart he is a genuinely wonderful person... but he lets his temper get the best of him and it leads to many ugly scenes. If you are looking for some great Greek-influenced food (the owner's mothers recipes in many cases) and a great crowd to hang out with, this is a great neighborhood place. BUT... if you deign to make any suggestions or ask why there's no heat in the bathroom... b3 prepared for the wrath of an owner that is in over his head. (Still, I DO love the guy... just needs to get his hot temper under control) For a meal - yes Drinks - yes Long term relationship with the establishment - not so much read more

This is a good bar for good bar food. The name and attempt at interior design leave a lot of room for improvement - nothing Marx themed about it. Its a neighborhood bar, and a good one at that. Food is good, staff is friendly, no frills. read more

Marx Cafe-- it is what it is. Their beer selection is okay... but if I want to get it cheaper, it makes more sense to walk another block away and get it elsewhere (ahem, The Raven). I've been here for brunch a few times too-- one of my favorite brunch dishes is eggs benedict-- sad to say that Marx Cafe's eggs benny doesn't make my cut. The hollandaise sauce was definitely lacking (is it made on-site? Why is it always too tart? Is it even made on-site? What's up with that ham? Many burning questions...) Again, needless to say, it's just not that impressive. As for the service-- don't even get me started. It's slow. In the case of restaurant service-- slow and steady does not win the race. Despite the slow service, at least the servers always have a smile on their face. One redeeming quality is that they show English Premier League matches during the season, which is nice. Glad to see there are other crazies out there who are willing to get up at 10am on a Saturday morning and start things off right with a beer for breakfast. Also-- I really enjoy grabbing a seat by the front bay window in the summer and for primo people-watching seats. read more

A pretty good restaurant/bar that has a little bit of everything. From steaks to tapas to salads to just your average bar food, this place has it all. I was apprehensive of the wide range of offerings, yet my steak was pretty tasty with its "chimichuri" sauce while my friend's hummus was quite tasty. Plenty of drinks to choose from, so something for everyone to be happy with. Dark, hipster atmosphere. If only the waitress knew what she was doing and wasn't fumbling around clearing plates from other tables. Good neighborhood joint if you're in the Mount Pleasant/Columbia Heights area, but I wouldn't go out of my way to come here. read more

Surprisingly bad food. I was prepared for bar food and didn't expect too much excitement from calamari or gyros, but boy were they un-edible. The calamari was the strangest texture. Not the usual problem where calamari is over cooked, but tasted like it was warmed from defrosted-already-cooked calamari? The crab cake had lots of filler. drinks were good. service was ok. i just won't order food here. read more

This is based on brunch only. Service was painfully slow, the food sub-par. It was massively inconsistent; while some components of the meal were delicious, most of them were not. I had the Marx breakfast which consisted of an English muffin, some rubbery sausage patties, home fries (bland and oily), two perfectly poached eggs and fruit which was so tough it was like eating melon rind. The hollandaise was not really hollandaise--just some weird orange sauce with a lot of paprika. The bloody mary was great even if it was small. My friend got a chicken, bacon and ranch sandwich. The ranch was grody--we both recoiled after trying it. We also saw a roach strolling along the bar, but I'm getting used to these guys now that I live in the city. You gotta have love for the ones that come out in the daytime, they have some cajones. read more

I wanted to like this place so badly, which makes it all the more disappointing for me to have to give them a mediocre review today. My fiance and I just moved to the area and were looking for a great hang-out bar, hoping this might be the one, and it had so much going for it. Neighborhood vibe, cute decor, laid-back atmosphere, creative and unusual drinks, and lovely service all made me bump up the rating to the 3 stars it definitely does not deserve for the food, but I absolutely cannot bring it any higher than that. The decor is a complete hodgepodge of all different styles, with some pieces by local artists on one wall, the bar and TVs on another, and yet another filled with Marxist references and propaganda. The rustic feel is a touch hipster but in a way that I can still get down with because the clientele and the staff are so much more home-grown. They have a fun cocktail list and an unusual, if small, selection of beers on tap. We enjoyed our cocktails immensely and were impressed by the size of them. Then, however, came the food. The appetizers and main plates appear to be wildly overpriced, while the burgers and tapas are fairly normal. Unfortunately, neither his burger nor my tapas were acceptable. His burger was not even seasoned at all, and seemed a pathetic attempt at something very simple. I ordered the eggplant rollitini tapa with the intention of ordering another to round myself out; however, the eggplant was so tough and chewy and the plate so destroyed with cheap melted cheese that I decided it just wasn't worth it to give them money for more food. Would have been a really nice night had it not been for the food, and relatedly the price. It's really a shame because this place had a lot of charm and personality. Oh well -- on to the next one. read more

The lowdown: - MOST IMPORTANT: $2 off all whiskeys on Sunday - and a killer selection of whiskeys to boot. - Excellent food... Especially the addictive fries. - Amazing bartenders and a great laid back atmosphere. - Great events - a hilariously great 80s dance night and many live music events. I love this place, and becoming a regular has huge perks. Come at once!! read more

Having never eaten at Marx Cafe, I am basing my review upon my experiences as a bar patron and nothing more. To begin with, the name is quite intriguing. Just who or what might I run into upon entering this bar? A group of beatnik intellectuals debating Marxist philosophy? A rogue branch of the communist party or the Industrial Workers of the World discussing upcoming socio-political strategies? Might I even come face to face with the ghost of Marx himself (or the poorly underrated Engels)? Or maybe just some Germans with really large, tangled beard-mustache get-ups? More like friendly Mt. P residents and twenty-something hipsters, who, on the second Tuesday of every month (while I have been on other nights, I'm focusing on this special night for reasons I'm sure you will soon understand), engage in an enticing alternative bar ritual aptly dubbed "Outlaws Night." Yes, if you find yourself at Marx Cafe after 10:00 PM on that special second Tuesday of the month, you will be surrounded by a decent-sized crowd of "nuveau-outlaws" enriching Mt.P's already hipster-esque scene with country western throwbacks from Johnny Cash to Dolly P and everyone in between. It gets better. They even clear dance-floor space in the back near the DJ "booth," where you will find a skinny mop-topped blond man in tight blue jeans, cowboy boots, an old-school vest, and yes, a swanky bolo tie (if you don't know, google it) DJing up a storm. As the night wears on, amped up on $5 whiskey-beer combos (good-sized shots might I add), patrons begin moseying from the bar to the dance floor, with a little foot-tappin' along the way. Don't be scared. Immerse yourself in local tradition and you'll soon find yourself dancin' like a fool and hollerin' with a Texan twang--or is that just me--surrounded by alternative folks decked out in Western-hipster-chic accoutrement kickin' and stompin' to the Western beat. So worth it. So, so worth it. read more

I like this place a lot. Of the establishments on bustling Mount Pleasant Road, I'd say that this is my favorite one to go and "get away." The decor is tasteful and simple--lots of wood, creatively using wine crates as decorations on the walls, and the only real light in the place (in the evenings) comes from candle votives on tables and string lights on the bar--it's got a nice hue that I actually find rather relaxing. The beer selection at this place is pretty good--they're a few types shy of TONIC down the street, actually they prob have half the beers TONIC does, but they are all good beers and relatively well priced. Chimay on Tap here is a real plus. When it comes to eats, Marx does alright. The Menu consists of a bunch of different cuisines--french, spanish, italian, middle eastern, but it's not like they have overdone themselves. While i've only eaten a few salads and a plate of hummus here, i'd be tempted to try some of their main courses, despite that they cost $13.95. That said, when tapas costs about $3.95-5.95 and is a good size, i shy away from the entrees....The salads are ok, but you have to remind them to toss them for you in the dressing, otherwise you're trying to do it on your own on the place; the hummus is delicious. I definitely recommend it for a cozy place to unwind, with or without someone else. read more

Gotta lower the rating to 2 stars after eating the driest burger I've had in a long time - it must have been made with 98% lean ground beef or something. Service was even worse than last time, as well. It's stupid that this place markets itself as a "cafe" and the slogan is "revolutionary food" because the food is the exact opposite of revolutionary and they probably shouldn't be serving it. The burger was 8.50, which isn't horrible, but a burger at Ruby Tuesdays or Chili's would blow this burger completely out of the water. That's not good. Still, I like the atmosphere, but it's aggravating that whoever owns the place is wasting the nice space so badly. I forgot to mention - it was also maybe 60 degrees in there. 75% of the people inside were wearing their winter coats. C'mon. read more

$9 for 5 small wings, fries and a coke is absolutely not worth it. I went to Marx Cafe Friday night to listen to some good reggae music. While waiting for the dinner crowd to leave so we can get our groove on, I ordered solids to coat my stomach because I budgeted to spend about $40 on drinks. After being presented with a $9 bill for food that wasn't even tasty, I decided to hang around for a hot second, dance and leave without giving them another dime. Not worth it......probably won't EVER return. read more

This place is one of Mount Pleasant's not-so-secret secret treasures. They have a great beer selection and during happy hour the food is unbelievably cheap. We ordered this cheese on fire dish once and it was, of course, delicious. But also so darn exciting. Definitely an experience. It looks like a dump, both from the inside and out, but just trust me that it's awesome. The waitstaff is friendly, knowledgable and attentive. Go give it a try. read more

I really like the feel of this place. It's nice and dark, but they have windows looking out on to Mount Pleasant. Lots of natural wood. Plus, they have Jever on tap. Wow, I'm surprised, but I don't have much else to say. read more

wow .. I am so surprised a couple of guys actually gave this place FIVE STARS. I don't know about them but when you are used to fine dining and good food .. it's hard to settle for crappy food like the one at Marx.. My bf and I planned to have dinner there.... Horrible neighborhood... don't take your car or if you do be careful where you park. We got there ... most tables were occupied exept one, and the manager of the place told us we had to wait ( standing ) bc there were no more tables... he did not offer us that empty table ...we had to suggest it. I ordered pasta and garlic bread... first of all the bread seemed like they went to safeway and bought one of those super cheap frozen garlic bread loafs and just toasted it (and burnt it in the toaster) and the pasta was so greasy. My bf's food also tasted and looked like it was just poured out of a can. Like I mentioned before, I am used to fine dining, maybe if you just go for a couple of drinks this is the place for you but for dinner I would NEVER recommend this place. read more

The menu doesn't make a whole lot of sense; there's pasta, there's tapas, there's burgers and there's eggs, and it feels like y our eating in an attic. However, for the most part we liked our food, and there's plenty of vegetarian options, including the hamburgers and a tapas of falafel, so pretty much anyone can eat here. Looking around, it looked like most people went for a burger and fries, and the fries were perfect, I ate all of mine. Everyone else already talked about the beer options, so I won't get into to it, but I will add they come in fun fancy glasses that I feel only old men in smoking jackets would carry around, giving it a touch of sophistication. I have a a feeling I'll be back here, ALOT. read more

Drink here, don't eat here. When looking for food after 10 PM in Mt Pleasant, a friend suggested this as a decent place to sit down and eat late if we weren't in the mood for latin food. Upon finding the place and realizing it was "Marx" and not "Mark's", I had my doubts due to my supreme love of capitalism, but I still wanted to give it a shot. Upon entering, it seemed real cozy with a lil bar to the right and a lil seating area to the left, it felt like a lil den. We seated ourselves and were almost immediately brought a menu and asked for our drink orders. I only wanted tap water, but I thought it was a nice touch that it was brought over in an old wine bottle. The menu is half tapas/appetizers and half full-size portions, which I think is great because sometimes you want big plates, sometimes little, and everyone can be happy. However, the food we were given, not so good. I ordered the turkey burger with cheddar cheese and my boyfriend ordered the regular burger with cheddar as well. The french fries served with our meal were awful. As in "came from a huge five pound bag of frozen fries at Costco" bad. My turkey burger itself was really good, but I thought the bun was really weak, like it came from the bakery section of the local Safeway, so I took the top off and ate with a fork and knife because I don't think crappy buns are worth their weight in carbs. Note: my boyfriend disagreed and thought it was fine. My boyfriends hamburger however, is another story. He noted right away that it had some interesting spices in it. A few bites later, he noticed this was parsley. A few bites later, he came to the conclusion that, since a lot of the Marx menu was pasta, the chef may have made his burger out of the meat seasoned for meatballs. Not cool. One of my largest complaints come from the music here. Although the music was pretty good, the volume kept on going higher and higher while we were eating our meal. At this point, only another table was seated with a couple and there was only a few people seated at the bar in groups of twos and threes. I didn't really understand why the volume kept on creeping up as the place started emptying out and quieting down. Additionally, someone was actually rapidly changing the volume at one point, trying to make the song fade in and out. Very lame and very annoying. The place is cozy, I would totally go back for a drink if in the area. Our waitress was super sweet, but really, the food is NOT worth it. read more

I *heart* Marx Cafe! What a great little place hidden on Mt. Pleasant Street. We got the best table right by the window on a quiet Wednesday night. I was starving an ordered a cheeseburger with a Magic Hat #9 and if this was what Marx believed in then SIGN ME UP! For all you people who didn't take the wise route and stick to bar food, think again next time. Order the tzatziki or a burger. Pass on the falafel. My friend had the lobster bisque and it was really, shockingly good. read more

Three and a half stars. The Marx Cafe had a rough first couple years. The original owner, Mark Peters fought to get his liquor license which the Mount Pleasant Neighborhood Alliance (the infamous MPNA) tried to block. Mark blamed it on racism (he is Irani and his wife black), but I prefer to think it was because the MPNA is a bunch of fascists, but what do I know? Anyway, after he got his liquor license, never one to let a sleeping dog lie, Mark antagonized anyone and everyone who he felt had slighted him, alienating many in the neighborhood. Fortunately, it has since been sold it to the Duni brothers, owners of Heller Bakery and Veranda in Logan Circle, and it has settled in nicely. Not much has changed with the interior, with the exception of the addition of a DJ booth in the back. It's very minimalistic with exposed beams and a nice long blond wood bar that seats at least a dozen. Only six drafts, but good ones, including Guiness, Deconnink and Chimay White. Also a decent selection of bottles, most impressive of which are the Chimay Blue and Red. The menu is pretty much the same as that at Veranda: slightly overpriced Greek/Mediterranean. Not a place I'd go to eat, but all in all, a great neighborhood bar. read more

You wanna start a revolution? Start it by revolving your tuchas around and straight back out the door of this place. Our first clue should have been when we requested iced coffee (while waiting at the bar for a table) and were brought hot coffee. When told, the owner of the place went back and just dumped the coffee on pint glasses full of ice. Then, when we sat down, no one brought us menus or took our order for 20 minutes. When the waiter came to take our order, we had to explain to him that no one had given us a menu, so we couldn't possibly order yet. We also requested water for the table, which didn't come until we complained about having been ignored (when one of our party members said "come on, you haven't brought us water, you didn't bring us menus" the waiter returned with not water, but menus. This was 30 minutes after we had placed our order!) At this point, it was almost comically bad. We smiled at each other, laughed, and tried to make the best of it. The owner came over to tell us our food would be coming out soon (this was 50 minutes after we had ordered) and tried to make peace. Owner: Can I buy you some ice cream at the end of the meal? Us: No, thanks, we have to drive home. Owner: Can I get you anything? Us: No. [Owner sulks away] Us: Yeah, you know those menu items we ordered an hour ago? That's what we'd really like to have. And then we got our food. My "eggs norwegian", which were supposed to be poached, were essentially hard-boiled. My friend's chicken wrap was almost inedible. My other friends' omlette "tasted like cake." It truly was an epic failure all around, and I would absolutely never patronize this place for anything ever again. At least they didn't charge us for the watery luke-warm coffee. read more

Marx is a relaxing bar with warm wood, open beams, and low evening lighting. There are rotating resident DJ nights that play some of the most unique, hard to find music in the DC area. The food is delicious and the beer selection is great as well. The staff is very friendly as well as the owner who is there for all the details. This place really is one of those place you can call your neighborhood bar...even if your neighboorhood happens to be in Arlington. read more

My first meal in DC was at Marx Cafe. I was tired, starving, and grumpy from my flight --- which included a few screaming babies (of course). I mean really, has anyone ever flown without the joy of a kicking, screaming kid behind him or her? Maybe that's just my luck. Anyway, not sure what the Marx influence is since I didn't see any German food on the menu but my crab bolognese was amazing. Crab isn't something I usually think of when I have pasta but it was so good. Perfect amount of cream and sauce. Even the leftovers were yummy when I reheated it the next day. read more

Marx Cafe is in my opinion the best bar in Mt. Pleasant. As Mt. Pleasant is a hipster type neighborhood, this bar is no exception to that stereotype. This is not a place I go on a Friday night to get rowdy, but rather a place to sit with a friend or two and have a conversation over some quality beers. Because it is tucked away back in Mt. Pleasant and it is more of a cozy bar than a "bro" bar, it is hard to convince a group to head out to Marx Cafe. And that atmosphere and seating set up is such that I probably wouldn't attempt to bring a large group here. I have not stopped by since I moved out of Mt. Pleasant. That said, the beer selection is superior to any other Mt. Pleasant bar. On draft they have: Weihenstaphaner Hefeweisse Chimay Yuengling Jever (worst beer ever, do not get this or you will be angry) There are some other beers on tap plus a bottled selection, the details of which I have forgotten, but includes the usual suspects like miller lite, budweiser, and probably magic hat #9. I wish they would replace the Jever with Paulaner Munich Lager. Shit, I wish any bar had Paulaner Lager on tap. The food doesn't compare to the beer selection. I don't eat here unless I have to, in which case I get the burger or chicken sandwich. Also, the service can be quite slow, as there are often few staff waiting tables. That said, the owner and his staff are very nice and friendly. For timely service, however, I recommend sitting at the bar if you can. read more

This place makes me think of the fern bars in the 70's that my mom went to before the world decided it was uncool to let children hang out in bars... All they need is a backgammon table. I feel quite groovy on the DJ nights. The Bartenders Kate & Damien are awesome and uber cool. I have only had the food as tapas but what I have eaten has been excellent. They have a great wine and beer list. The Neighborhood is a bit rough but hey this is what the real DC is like - and was like so if you don't like head on over to Georgetown or the burbs that may be more your speed... read more

decent variety of food, but quality was nothing to write home about. the selection of wine was great, between $20-$40/bottle. we had an overly-attentive waitress - but then our salads took ~30 minutes to arrive. this place is probably best for grabbing a drink with a friend. the best thing going for this place is the fun ambiance: wooden beams, xmas lights, and large windows in the front. read more

Marx Cafe - interior of Marx Cafe - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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The bf and I went back to Marx this weekend for brunch and were very pleased. He thinks brunch is ridiculous and a waste of time so Marx was really on point if he enjoyed it. He had blueberry pancakes and I had the crabmeat omelet. They seem to have only one waitress on Sundays so things took a while but the food was very good. Luckily, we just missed the rush after a World Cup match. From drinks to brunch to watching the game...Marx is pretty reliable read more

I wish I loved this place because it's cozy and right around the corner. I didn't NOT like it, but there was nothing that really endeared me to it at all. I went for brunch with a couple of friends, and all of our simple dishes-- omelets and breakfast wraps-- were cooked just fine, and priced reasonably, but it was nothing that couldn't be done at home. The coffee was not great, and when we asked for milk, they said they didn't have any available, which made me really skeptical. What kind of cafe does not carry milk? Milk is my favorite! Milk is the basis for so many delicious things. Who makes omelets without milk?? Anyway, they offered us half and half instead, which curdled strangely in the coffee. Brunch without delicious coffee kind of defeats the purpose, in my opinion. Maybe Marx's forte is as a late-night bar and not an eatery? I saw they had bar trivia, which is tempting. If I return to find out, I will let you know. read more

Met up with some Jamaican friends for the once a month island music DJ shindig this Friday. I can't speak for the food here, b/c we didn't snack at all. It's a decent enough neighborhood pub with a couple 'o' TVs showing sports, and if it weren't for the old school Reggae/Dub/Ska/Rocksteady/Mento/Bluebeat that had some peeps swayin' in the back on the 'dance floor,' it would just be another neighborhood hang. I give it 3.5 stars and wish I had some more time up in this Mt. Pleasant area that I very much like, to stumble into the Raven a few doors down... read more

I was somewhat amused by Marx because it seemed like the sole place in Mt Pleasant's business district for the new hippies in the neighborhood to eat. Mount Pleasant is about evenly 1/3 African American, 1/3 Hispanic, and 1/3 White. This place is clearly functioning to feed the latter third. In this respect, it really sticks out on a street filled with hispanic and african storefronts. I wonder how long this neighborhood will last before it follows the gentrification footsteps of U Street. There is already a yoga studio... social cynicism aside, Marx is an A-OK place for an occasional brunch. read more

I think the fact that I used a ScoutMob deal to get $15 off my bill and still left feeling dissatisfied, sums up my experience well. Possibly the best part of our time at Marx Cafe was the waitress (sadly, I did not get her name) who was friendly, kind, and professional. Their food, however, is over-priced in terms of quality and quantity. We tried many of their vegetarian tapas, and the only one I would say you should order if you're planning on stopping by is the hummus. I've lived in Israel and I'm a hummus snob, and this was tasty and good. We ordered the cold appetizer plate so that we could try three dips: tzatziki, humus, and the tarama whipped caviar. The humus was the only good part of this, as the tzatziki was not the delectable dip I've had elsewhere, but just yogurt and cucumber, and we couldn't eat the tarama as it was overly fish-tasting. That last fact is probably our fault as we've been vegetarians a long time, but the waitress admitted that the tarama is the one most often un-eaten on the appetizer plate. The plate costs $11 and you get those three dips plus 8 small pieces of pita (possibly one pita cut up?). At least twice as much pita was needed, and we paid 75 cents for another small serving of pita. For $11, it felt stingy. We also tried their dolmas special (perfectly ordinary, it's hard to mess up dolmas), Eggplant Rollatini in which the eggplant was under-cooked (still chewy) and the sauce totally ordinary, the tomato bruschetta (also totally ordinary), and the spanikopitas (meh). You can get cheap beer there, and my husband had a couple. We were not full enough nor were our taste buds satisfied enough for the money spent. It's nice to patronize a local business, but I wouldn't go out of my way to eat here. read more

Funky little spot. Nice staff. Good beer on tap. Artwork on the walls are fun, digital paintings. A little weird but neat, especially if you like boobs, boats and lions. Who doesn't? I went for my friend's acoustic set last night. The stage area is quite small. My friend and I ordered an appetizer sampler platter. I recommend just going for the small plates like tzatziki and hummus over the platter. There was an odd tasting seafood dip that threw off my tastebuds with its fishiness. Overall, I will definitely come back. Also, the lighting and decor in the dining room is great for pics, so take some shots of you and your friends while you're there. read more

The food was pretty good but I couldn't help but lose my appetite when roaches crawled across our table twice. We brought it to the attention of the wait staff who apologized and then went about their regular routine. The half-price wine night and food isn't enough to get past the bug problem. Nice place with great potential for a great neighborhood spot for casual dining but I'll take my food without the extra critters at the table. read more

Walked in to Marx wanting to love it as I have just moved to the MP area. Waited while the employee sitting in the window table got up and poured himself a beer. I ordered one myself and then brunch. The two regulars sitting next to me noticed the cockroach walking across the bar and then the glassware just as I did. One regular: Yeah I cover my laptop power cord holes when I come in (they were both on laptops). Second regular: Yeah, got to love Marx.(chuckling). She scoops up the roach with a cocktail napkin and chucks it in to the trashcan behind the bar (like she's done it many times). Says to the first regular, "They should start paying me an extermination fee". She says to bartender.. "caught another one". The bartender brings my order to me and goes to talk and laugh with the regulars. Doesn't glance at me to see if I had seen the roach, doesn't seem to care. I put a $20 on the bar and walked out. I emailed the bar manager and owner when I got home. It's been a month. No response. Now listen, stray roaches happen in the city. But, when they are running around the bar and glassware in broad daylight there is a problem. This is beyond a health issue for customers. The employees don't care the handful of hardcore regulars don't either. Gross. read more

I live nearby and saw they had a $6 off promotion for a Grubhub order. I was starving and ordered the salmon linguine ouzo, priced at $21 without the discount, thinking I was treating myself. It's described as a grilled salmon fillet with a creamy ouzo sauce with dill and parsley over linguine. What I got was the most awful dish at any price I have ever ordered from a restaurant. It seemed to be nothing more than canned and extremely salty salmon flakes mixed with pasta coated in some sort of tasteless paste. It is not an overstatement to say it was absolutely disgusting! I forced down a few bites ( again, I was starving) but ultimately had to throw it away. It was a very cold night, otherwise I would have taken it back right there and then and am still angry with myself for not doing so anyway. I ended up feeling nauseous that night and wasn't able to sleep at all. I will never ever eat anything from there again! read more

What a Mount Pleasant surprise! We were looking for something quick and casual, but tasty, and Marx Cafe was it! The intimate space is divided in two: a bar and a restaurant, but there are large wooden beams separating the two, which makes it feel separate, but still as one. Our server had an Eastern European accent and was very friendly. There were lots of great beers on the menu, most on special. We started with the cold appetizer plate. The hummus was fantastic, especially if you like it smooth. We also got the stuffed peppadews and OMG, yum! I've never had a peppadew. They were stuffed with kafteri cheese: a soft, semisweet cheese. The combo of spicy and sweet was so tasty. We almost ordered more! I'm so glad I tried this place. It's nearby, so we will definitely be back. read more

I see a lot of people complaining about the food on here. I'm not going to claim that it is amazing or anything, but considering the variety of stuff they offfer, it's usually pretty good. I live near Marx Cafe, and have been many, many times now. It's my neighborhood bar, and I'm still going there a lot, so they must be doing something right.... read more

I like Marx Cafe, I am not "Yay! I'm a fan" so maybe I would give it 3 1/2 stars. Great, casual neighborhood restaurant with a happy hour that is ever so affordable!! The small plates (I have never had an entree) are actually not so small and big on taste (that is one nice play on words, right (-:) . So not the small tapas plates you are used to from some of the places downtown. It is a bit dark and the TVs get a bit distracting but the staff is nice and it is just a nice laid back place where you don't feel out of place if you come in your gym clothes. Which BTW is a combination I can recommend.. work out and reward yourself with an adult beverage. What's not to like? (-: read more

After my first visit, I couldn't write my thoughts on the food, but I felt writing an initial review was necessary. I came to this place to grab a drink with a friend before an evening out (it was Christmas Eve, and both of us are non-Christian). I love the ambiance of the place. It has the appeal of a dive without it being dive, which I did not think was possible. The bartenders were really friendly, honest, and knowledgeable. My friend ordered hummus and falafel, and while I did not sample her dishes, they looked great and came at lightening-fast speed. She was very impressed with the food as well (taste-wise too, of course). For Christmas Eve, it was nice to see this place was open, and I could seeing it being a cozy night spot for a casual date. There were two big flat-screen TVs - one on each side of the bar. The lighting was easily adjustable to the clientle demands, so it can get dim, but the folks on staff will brighten it up if it's a little too low. Courtesy of the bartender's helpful input, I learned of new (to me) brands of vodka and other alcohol, and even better, saw their wide array of rare imported liquor. They had bottles of Ouzo that I had thought could only be found in Greece - I was very happy to be proven wrong, and the bartender happily poured my friend and I perfectly chilled shots. I can't wait to come back here for dinner or lunch some time soon. For the time being, this review is incomplete, but I am very optimistic - and will keep ya'll yelpers posted! UPDATE: Last weekend, I was able to meet up with a friend of mine for dinner. While the theme remains in question, as well as the origin of the head waitress' accent, the food and service without a shadow of a doubt fully exceeded my already high expectations. To start, the ambiance is as cozy as a living room fireplace...without the fireplace. You can easily grab a table despite the minimal seating of the entire place. It's great for catching up with a friend or even a solid low-key date spot. Feeling adventurous after? Mosey around to the bar, where you can read above on my thoughts regarding that spot. As for the food, the hummus was a fantastic start. You can tell that it is all freshly prepared, and even the pita is warm, soft, and top-notch - they don't just throw heaping piles of it into an oven and cross their fingers. The waitress also had no problem fulfilling my request of extra pita - and did so promptly. While I did not dabble in the entrees this time around, I went with ordering a few of the tapas dishes. When I first entered Marx Cafe, I was expecting a menu featuring borscht and potatoes...instead it's a wide array of different cultural tastes, whether it be tapas, standard burger/sandwich options, and some interesting entrees. Calamari tapas? Awesome - and darned tasty after sampling my friend's order. I went with the quesedillas and the chicken in garlic sauce (I want to say something along the lines of "j'alle" but the name escapes me). They were absolutely fantastic. There was this homemade, "potted" flavor to the chicken that reminded me of what my mom used to make. When you can say that about something and mean it, that's pretty special. Just ordering two tapas and sharing the hummus, I was absolutely stuffed. Most people know I have the appetite of a lumberjack too, so it goes to show you how big these portions are. I can definitely see myself ordering one for a lunch one day. The service, as I had alluded to before, was efficient, but also genuine. We didn't receive our check for a long time, as the waitress saw we were occupied with conversation amidst looking at the basketball games on the TVs (ranging from ESPNU to The Wizards to TNT's game). All-in-all a comfortable, filling, and absolutely FULfilling dining experience. Congratulations, Marx Cafe - if it were still the Cold War consider me the proudest member of DC's Blacklist. read more

As the reviews say, this is a nice neighborhood spot for a relaxed meal. To set expectations, the food is unpretentious - I haven't been disappointed with what I've gotten there (though I've only been twice). Anchovy crostini was a special appetizer and tasted really good. A new salad offering - orange and fennel - also hit the spot. The waiters really know (or seek to know) the clientele, asking if you've been before, which I like. The wood paneling and cozy interior make for a nice spot to hang out. read more

Really lovely atmosphere, affordable drinks, but I'm always disappointed when restaurants have single stall gendered bathrooms. I'd suggest that Marx Cafe change both their bathrooms to all-gender bathrooms. read more