Busboys and Poets - Columbia

(FIrst visit) My wife, daughters and I came here for a family member’s birthday. I really loved the design of the restaurant with the indoor and outdoor seating, private rooms on the 2nd level, bookstore on the main level, and beautiful artwork surrounding you. Our event was on the 2nd level in one of the rooms that had the bar and access to the outdoor seating area. The wait staff took great care of us. Since I was not that hungry I just had the Busboys House Salad and for dessert I had a slice of their Carrot cake + some Vanilla Ice Cream. Carrot cake is one of my favorites and this was some of the best carrot cake I have had. Overall it was a great experience and would definitely go back. (Second visit) Brought my family here for lunch on a Sunday. It was busy but we did not have long to wait. We were seated in the 2nd level. Our wife's father, who is a vegetarian, was with us and we had already scoped out that they had a good selection of vegetarian options. Our drink order came promptly but when the food came out one of the two orders of the chicken tenders and fries for our daughter came out. It took a little while to get everything sorted out regarding the missing 2nd order (turns out our waitress only put in one order). Both our waitress and the manager made things right by offering to reheat the meals that did come out and comped the kid’s meals. Though it was an inconvenience I give them high marks for making amends. The girls enjoyed their chicken tenders and fries. My Shrimp and Grits were really good, I also got the Honey Caramel specialty coffee drink which was just ok. Overall the experience was good and I would still go back.

This was my very first visit here. I came to meet up with friends. Once we were seated, our servers took our drink orders. I had the mint mocha. For my meal, I ordered the classic eggs benedict with sweet potato fries. I was very pleased with my meal, except a little perplexed that my fries were on the warm side and not hot. I guess the food was coming out slow due to the crowd. Overall I will come back and try different dishes and drinks.

Great spot in a family-friendly neighborhood, surrounded by shops and restaurants. The exterior is well-kept and welcoming, and inside, there’s a cozy bookstore and a creative, artsy vibe. I believe they host poetry nights upstairs, which I’d love to check out next time. We stopped by for happy hour and enjoyed the firecracker shrimp, wings, and a the color purple cocktail—everything was tasty and well-prepared. The overall atmosphere was relaxed and inviting, and it even feels kid-friendly (there’s a swing set outside!). My only critique is the customer service—it felt like the staff was a bit tired, and the greetings lacked the warmth I expected from such a vibrant place. That said, I’d definitely return, especially to catch an evening with live music or poetry. Worth a visit!

We had a great experience at this location. I really like the upstairs performance space and fresh modern decor! The food was good, too and there is something for everyone ! The hostess with the funky glasses was delightful!

Busboys and Poets Review Breakfast at Busboys and Poets was delicious as always! This place truly never disappoints. The food was fresh, flavorful, and hit the spot. My waiter and host, Nelson, was incredibly attentive and kind—his warm energy added to the already inviting atmosphere. Whether it’s your first visit or your fiftieth, Busboys and Poets consistently delivers great food, great service, and a vibe that makes you want to stay a little longer. Definitely one of my favorite spots!

We have been to Busboys and Poets throughout the Washington area. We were in Columbia and decided to try this one. Glad we did. It was a Monday night but still pretty crowded, a good sign. I believe one factor is that this Busboys & Poets is located within a new development, Merriweather Station. Very hip location teeming with people enjoying themselves in the outdoor spaces. Nice. The restaurant is huge with an upstairs and large outside eating area. Somewhat different inside decor from other locations but nice. Even fewer books to peruse, however. Menu similar to other Busboys locations. Good and American, with a pub flare. Plenty to chose from, even vegan and vegetarian. And try one of the seasonal cocktails. Always good. Easy to park in the Symphony garage right across the street. It was free. Maybe because of the hour. It was after 7pm. Restrooms are clean and private. Located right next to Merriweather Post Pavilion.

What a wonderful experience, a book gift shop amazing atmosphere very cool outdoor seating and a menu that pleases all. Unique vegan dishes along with choices for meat lovers. Standard and alcohol menu with great drink specials for certain days and hours.

I’ve had breakfast and dinner from here. I will warn you if you’re getting dinner the wait may be long but worth it for sure. For dinner I got their burger and the meat was incredibly juicy and thick. For breakfast I got chicken and pancakes, eggs, and their mocha latte. The pancakes were classic pancakes, but the chicken was dry. I recommend dipping it in the syrup they provide. Their eggs were perfectly scrambled and the mocha latte was delicious. Would recommend 👍👍

Beautiful place with a library inside, nice food, bread pudding was delicious with coconut ice cream

This my second time going the nthis very upbeat restaurant. The decor is lovely, very spacious two level restaurant with a great book shop area. The menu is very limiting but the choices are solid. Has the nachos both times and they rocked. My partner had the Cubano and said it was tasty. Good size portions. Would love to try their brunch menu. Service was seriously slow, that put me off a bit considering it wasn't very busy at all. Ok parking.

Great place. I have eaten at busboys and poets before and the food was great. This time jus had a drink and it was great. The service we recieved from our bar tender was awesome and quick. She had great conversation and she seemed to enjoybher job. The atmosphere is always great. I love books. So being able to listen to music, trad enjoy food ad drinks is A1 in my book. Overall everything was good. Great job

Love the food here. There are plenty of vegan/vegetarian options to choose from. I tried something new this time, Firecracker Shrimp. Very good flavor, slight kick. I usually get the shrimp and grits, which is my favorite, but the Firecracker Shrimp might be my new go-to. My sister got the chicken tenders and a grilled cheese sandwich for my nephew. My sisters only complaint, was there was no sauce included for the chicken tenders. All in all, a pretty great experience, as always. PS- My Gram loves the catfish, collard greens, and grits.

Came here for a nice Mother's Day lunch and expected to wait. They were so helpful and efficient they got us in ahead of time and everything was delicious. The fried chicken sandwich was great and the breakfast sandwich was on this really cool croissant/ roll hybrid that I've never seen before. The eggs were cooked perfectly and were great. Our Mother ordered a house salad with grilled shrimp and she loved it! Their specialty drinks are very festive. My sister had the Mint Mocha Iced coffee and said it was like a Thin Mjnt cookie mixed with a coffee. This place is so cool with the little bookstore and great vibes all around. Give them a try!

Looking in from the outside, it appears to have a speakeasy vibe due to the mix media cultured artwork wallpapered throughout the restaurant. When entering, you find out that there is more than just the bar and restaurant--a gathering area upstairs and a bookstore. Busboys and Poets (BPs) is most definitely not your normal restaurant. Though we didn't have a reservation for a Saturday "linner" time, we were seated within ten minutes and had Lauren as our waitress. Lauren gave us her favorite recommendations and was even able to check on things for us such as the type of dressing used on the Quinoa Kale Salad and had a special drink made for my Aunt. Lauren was very helpful! My Mom and I shared the following dishes: Quinoa Kale Salad $15 Smith apple, red onion, goat cheese, fennel, toasted almond, dried cranberries, and white balsamic vinaigrette. 5/5 Amazing. We added the $6 shrimp which came out separate from the salad (and a bit delayed) but they were hefty shrimpys and paired perfectly. This salad was so fresh--we wanted more. Blackened Salmon $25 Wild rice, asparagus, roasted corn salsa, tomato, shallots, and lemon butter sauce. This dish is what was seen on a lot of people's tables and highly recommended via Yelpers and even Lauren. We of course agree that it is incredibly tasty but maybe serve it on a smaller plate so it doesn't look like it should be listed for $25.00 or add a larger serving of the rice or have more asparagus plated. It is a great dish, but I agree with the other Yelpers on this--$25.00 was a bit steep. We both also got the 51st State drink which was a Sazerac rye bourbon, earl grey-vanilla, mixed bitter, orange, and cherry for $12.00. This was nottttt worth the $12.00. If you going to charge $12, at least put in the gourmet cherry! We felt robbed--it also wasn't the correct pour due to the ice cube being even larger than normal. I guess it's $12.00 for a shot of Sazerac these days.

I came on a Monday night with a party of 4 and was able to walk right in and be seated immediately. It's a really cool space with a little gift shop/library at the entrance. There were a few kids that were able to just sit on the carpet and read while their parents dined. Our waitress was amazing and attentive. They were between seasonal draft beers and she was knowledgable in what they had available and what they did not and was able to recommend me another one based on my unavailable choice. When deciding between two different entrees on the menu she was also able to recommend not only which one catered to our tastes more but also the particular way she enjoyed it cooked as well which I appreciated. The food is delicious and I love that they have so many vegan and vegetarian options. We did have an issue with one order not being submitted to the kitchen but the manager came out and let us know what happened and offered us half off that particular entree which was also appreciated. I will definitely be back!

First time here on Memorial Day for brunch. It was busy and we were second in position with a party of 2 with an estimated wait time of 35 minutes. The app said our wait could be up to 50 minutes, but we were seated in about 30. There is a small bookstore we were able to browse while waiting. Our waitress, Bella, was soft-spoken, so I had to ask her to repeat things a few times due to the background noise from guests. She was warm and attentive for the duration of our visit. She took our drink order immediately, and the restaurant accommodated my request for mixing orange and pineapple juice. My husband had a Mimosa which he said was good. Water was cold, but had a little bit of a taste to it. Based on other Yelp reviews, I selected the Sweet Potato Pancakes (I don't touch Sweet Potatoes normally, in any form) with a side of bacon. The pancakes were moist and almost reminded me of eating a muffin with syrup to dip in. I would order them again. The side of bacon was four slices, but they were limp and very fatty. I would not get it again. Although I didn't try the Eggs Benedict, presentation was gorgeous and my husband said it was delicious. Leftover packaging was foil and plastic. Overall, a very positive experience.

The service can be slow sometimes but they've never missed with their food & care when it comes down to it all. I like to visit during the work day when I want to get out of the house & get some work done. It doesn't get too noisy until after 6 so the vibes aren't distracting. My go to is the grilled chicken panini and a purple haze, never went wrong on my watch.

My wife, daughters and I went here for a family member's birthday. I really loved the design of the restaurant with the indoor and outdoor seating, private rooms on the 2nd level, bookstore on the main level, and beautiful artwork surrounding you. Our event was on the 2nd level in one of the rooms that had the bar and access to the outdoor seating area. The wait staff took great care of us. Since I was not that hungry I just had the Busboys House Salad and for dessert I had a slice of their Carrot cake + some Vanilla Ice Cream. Carrot cake is one of my favorites and this was some of the best carrot cake I have had. Overall it was a great experience and would definitely go back.

I have been a fan of Busboys and Poets for many years since visiting the original location which opened in 2005 in Washington, DC. The food has always been good and the little book area in the front makes me happy since I love to read. During my visit to Maryland my girlfriends and I met here for brunch on a Sunday at noon before heading to the airport to catch my flight back home. There was a small parking lot across the street where you could park for free and there was also street parking. We were told the wait would be an hour and a half, but we ended up only having to wait 30 minutes for a table. This location like all the others has a soulful and relaxing ambiance. The restaurant was clean and most impressive the restrooms were clean. Once we were seated, we waited another 30 minutes or so before a young lady came over to our table to take our drink orders and she told us she would find our waiter. All three of us ordered the Pineapple Mimosa and it was good. We then waited another 20 minutes for the drinks to arrive and then we ordered our entrees. I had the Western omelette with no Ham and a side of fruit, my meal was decent, there was nothing unique just a veggie omelette with cheese . My friends both ordered the sweet potato pancakes and enjoyed their meals. My only issue with this visit was the slow service and lack of organization when it came to the staff. Certain associates were busy doing all the work while you could see others standing around having to be told to help the customers. Next time I am in town I will try this location again and hopefully they will have worked out all the kinks. Simply because all the other locations have always given stellar service and Columbia is closest to where I will be.

This was my second time visiting Busboys and Poets and it has yet to disappoint! I've ordered the Western Omelette before and as expected, it was still as yummy! This time we also ordered the Wings Inferno and the Chicken Panini-both were so flavorful and delicious! The waitress was extremely attentive and the overall atmosphere was very easygoing.

We were greeted right away, then were seated in the upstairs section. The staff were friendly and attentive. I've had bad experiences in the past here so I was keeping an open mind. The decor is very artsy meets eclectic in a modern way. We came for brunch so I ordered my normal Irish coffee to start. It was pretty good, the whipped cream was nearly melted by the time I got it but still good. Just enough whiskey to give it a pop without knocking you out. (So I got two ) I ordered the 3 scrambled eggs with bacon and fruit. They forgot the fruit of course but brought it out after I reminded them. The eggs were cooked properly and the bacon was good. They could use better choice of bread. (Only wheat and white) the fruit cup was meh...not bad but not good either. They also have a little shop/library which has some cool fun stuff. All in all this is a solid spot for brunch. Don't expect anything amazing but good all around.

I attended a wedding at this location and everything was well organized. The event space located on the 2nd floor was perfect sizing for the intimate ceremony and reception. The space allowed the Bride and Groom to host their wedding ceremony, serve dinner provided by the restaurant, full bar service, along with a fun reception to follow. There was seating on the first, second, and outdoor areas for pre/post event "waiting" that allowed guests to mingle. Additionally, there are plenty of restrooms located near the main area of the restaurant and one on the 2nd floor. Bonus points for the 1st floor restrooms being located strategically near the elevator so you don't have to walk far. The dinner options were delicious and I would return to try other menu items.

So let me begin by saying I love busboys and poets! The food is amazing, the vibe and ambiance is amazing, I love how it's an (Iraq) black owned small business that has grown and the owners are awesome people who I've met ironically before. HOWEVER! I'm not the biggest fan of this location in particular and I live in this neighborhood. Sadly the service 2/3 times that I've been here have been below satisfactory for me. The first time I came here there was a fight with a server and a host and it was so awkward watching. I guess the host was eating too many people at once and the server just went off on her in front of everyone and a manager or someone had to break them up. The second time I came the server never spoke to us and she accidentally spilled a little bit of my drink on me and was like "my fault, I'll get you a napkin". I told her to get me another drink with that napkin. The third time was a good experience with my grandparents who recommended the place. Long story short, I'd expect this from Baltimore, not Columbia. I like the Hyattsville location the most, Baltimore, DC, And Columbia is only if a friend desperately wants to go.

I felt like I needed to update my review because the experience is just so inconsistent here. It's got so much potential to be a great spot in a great area, but there's been a few too many hiccups for me. I think a lot of it comes down to the staff being relatively young and/or lacking training. There's been a number of times where service has been quite slow (e.g. 15-20 minutes just to get a server to come to the table or check in on the table) even during completely off-hours. I'll say that the recipes here are solid. But, the execution has been very hit or miss. I ordered a burger and fries last night and it was very overcooked and I felt like someone accidentally dropped a cinnamon shaker onto the fries. It's never an entirely negative experience when I do go to BB+P, but I would really love to see improvements in certain areas in the future.

Delicious sandwich, very crispy fries to perfection. CICI was great and attentive. Raj was very kind. Highly recommend

Your next date night option! Food Catfish with Collards and Mashed Potatoes was ok, the fish lacked a little seasoning and tasted a little bland but, it was fried to perfection with a perfect crisp that you could hear the crunch. Now babyyyyy you know thats fried good. I did end up adding hot sauce which gave it a bit more flavor. The collards tasted like the family cousin made them instead of Granny and the mashed potatoes were delicious. All in all is ok The Cobb salad was amazing, unfortunately, they didn't have honey mustard dressing but the ranch was fine. Service We waited for about 30 minutes on a Friday night without a reservation which wasn't too bad considering they were pretty busy. Ambiance It's a vibe!! If you're an artsy person, you would love it. The bookshelves and music put you in the mind frame of being at a poetry club.

So we only ate here for breakfast I don't have any idea what the actual restaurant looks like but it was as good as breakfast could be. The delivery was fast the order was correct and they included the extras such as butter, jam, syrup, etc.. I would definitely order from them again on my next visit to Maryland. The eggs were cooked correctly. The bacon was crisp and the toast wasn't soggy. What more can you ask for?

We originally had our reservations for the location in Baltimore but we were moved to the Lucille Clifton room and couldn't have had a better experience!!! This location has tons of parking, an elevator, and enough space in this room for at least 50 people (easily)! It was a great spot for 25 as well!!! We ordered the brunch buffet which included scrambled eggs, grits, chicken sausage, bacon, home fries, wheat toast, fruit and vegetables!!! And the mimosas are only $6 during brunch time!!! Our servers/bartender - Chloe and Lauren were really attentive and helpful throughout the event. We had everything we needed and we're able to set the room up the way we wanted!!! I would most definitely return for an event again - this was a great location and everything was perfect!!!

Happened upon this place because Yelp is so helpful in narrowing down a search perfectly! We wanted a vegan spot and this did not disappoint. There are options for all kind of eaters!!! The decor, the greeters, the waitstaff, the food - GREAT!!!! I know I need to go back just to sample other options.

My family and I ate here for the first time. Dareinn was our server and man she delivered the best service I've had in a while. She was patient, went over the menu with us, check on us and we never had to ask for anything because she was on point. She was always with a smile on her face and I recommend coming here if you're in the area. If so make sure you ask to be seated in Dareinn section. 5 star service!!!!

Dine in experience 3 stars: I ordered the shrimp and grits entree. It was good, but the portion size is small. I thought I ordered white chocolate banana pudding, but I came out as bread pudding. It was okay, not bad, but not a fav of mine. My friend ordered salmon, greens and grits and said it was good. The inside looks nice. Service is decent. Bartender service is great. Carryout experience 5 stars: I returned after the dine in experience to order brunch to go. The food was delicious and the portion was enough for 2 servings. I ordered chicken and sweet potato pancakes. I added a side of potatoes. The chicken was perfectly seasoned. The pancakes had the perfect amount of sweetness. The potatoes were also perfect. I love that they give out high quality plastic ware and a reusable grocery type of bag.

I have been wanting to try a Busboys and Poets for a while and people rave about the food but it wasn't that great. We made breakfast choices and they were ok and we saw others ordering from lunch and that looked better. We had a good experience and I liked the decor and music and the waitron was good. I just didn't feel that the food was all that. Checking out the books afterwards was also cool. I'd love to see a show or poetry reading at one of their spots. I'm sure it must be fun! Peace!

Picked this gem for a girls night out and was not disappointed at all for a first timer. From the overall decor and ambiance, to attentive service, and the food was very good also! I ended up having the fried catfish which was delicious! We started with the nachos which were yummy also! I loved the music too! Just wish we would have thought to explore a little bit and see all of the decor. Would definitely come again!

I had such an amazing time here. I love all the African American history and greatness within their walls. The atmosphere is so warm and welcoming. I love the music selections. The DC Tapwater is so good. It tastes like Cotton Candy with liquor on ice! Amazing! The firecracker shrimp is so good, I had to order two. Lol! And the turkey burger...... so juicy and flavorful. It tastes like the real thing! I will definitely be back and I look forward to trying more items off of the menu!

I went in on a Saturday afternoon. I had joined their wait list online. Nobody was the door so we had to wait a bit. We were told we would be going to the second floor and were handed menus to head upstairs. We sat ourselves. We waited 10 minutes for someone to ask us about our drinks. We waited another 10 to actually get them. Our waiters switched mid way so it was another person grabbing our food order. It was a little confusing on who exactly I should be talking to. The food was mid. Nothing special honestly about bus boy and poets. Their book store is super cute tho. The location of this is also nice cause there's a parking lot and you're close to the mall! There are also dining options around.

Came here with family for lunch today. Loved the ambience, the books, the food and friendly service. We ordered the Brussel sprouts for an appetizer . I had the lavender lemonade and the vegan tuna sandwich, which was delicious. Husband had salmon and a salad and said it was outstanding! Definitely will be back soon!!

The service was great, and I enjoyed the meals. The ambience is very welcoming and clean. I enjoyed the upstairs area as well. There is a lot of parking too

Stopped into Busboys and Poets for a quick happy hour on a weekday. The hostess was welcoming and the server was very nice and attentive as well. She came over immediately with water and to take our drink orders. From the menu, we tried the classic margarita which was good and slightly strong. For food we had the mini nachos with chicken and the wings inferno. The nachos were pretty good but lacked some flavor. The wings inferno, which is a blend of hot sauce and bbq sauce were super delicious. We wanted to order more wings! The restaurant is very cute. I love the combination of a restaurant and a bookstore. It's nice that they have events that you can attend on their second floor such as live poetry! I am definitely planning to go back to this restaurant to try their brunch menu.

The team here is amazing! Zak & Ethan are truly the best! The food here is always a 10. The art on the upper level is a beautiful treat. Great vegan/vegetarian options as well.

I came in for coffee with a friend and would happily come back. I got a latte and it was served hot, steamed well, and I enjoyed each sip. I sat at the bar which allowed me to be served rather quickly. I would highly suggest making a reservation during peak times and especially on the weekends where they're really busy. The ambiance is lively, casual, with a community feel. Customer service was kind and friendly. They are really busy so I would factor that into service time.

FOOD: Ordered Pancakes, side of eggs and side of bacon. Pancakes were tough, dry, and tasted wrong. Eggs were tasteless fake eggs scrambled with tasteless cheese to add flavor. Bacon was way overcooked but edible. Moreover, this was the worst breakfast I've ever paid for. SERVICE: They have friendly and competent people serving the tables AMBIANCE: Unlike anything I've ever subjected myself too. Cannot imagine ever going back.

The food was decent. The ambiance very attractive. However, the service was extremely slow. This was my first time here. I visited on a Saturday morning and it didn't seem too busy. They had what appeared to be a fully staffed kitchen that at time looked excessive. The food was slow to arrive to my party of six. Our server although pleasant just wasn't as attentive as we needed her to be. It was one of things where you want to place your apps, dinks and entree all at the same time and not expect a refill on your water until the check comes. I hope this was just an off morning. I may go back just in case but I will be prepared to wait and write a follow up review.

Came in tonight with my boyfriend for a drink at the bar. Kaneshia was our bartender and she was an absolute TREASURE! Would come back simply to be served by her again! Fun spot

Let me start by saying my review is not at all a reflection of any of the Servers. I had a great experience with my server. She was attentive and polite. I do not really remember her name but she was the only thing that made my experience pleasant. I came in and was seated in a timely matter. Water was placed on the table almost immediately as it should be bc it's was so hot inside the restaurant I felt like I was melting. I had to keep a menu just to fan myself with it. It was crowded but that is no excuse for why the temperature in the restaurant was matching the temperature outside during a heatwave. When I looked around most people looked very uncomfortable and even the children were being fanned by their parents and looked very hot and exhausted. The food was great but temperature never adjusted the entire time we were in the establishment. My server looked particularly exhausted and sweaty but was doing her best in the over heated environment. Sweat was dripping into my plate when the food arrived. By then I just wanted eat and get back to my air conditioner in my car. I asked for a manager at the end of my visit to let them know that my server was exceptional but that they needed to address the problem with air conditioner and make sure that employees as well as guests were comfortable. The manager I spoke said his name was Mike. He seemed very dismissive and actually I felt that he was getting a little snappy stating that the air was not controlled in the building but it was controlled by the corporate office. I have never heard such bullcrap in all my life. He apologized and walked off. I was very surprised the corporate office would think it's appropriate to have over 20 staff members including kitchen and cooks working in a heat wave with a seemingly broken air conditioner. Overall this was most uncomfortable meal I have eaten out. I feel like the work conditions in this heat were absolutely unheard of. I had to give my server her koodos bc I could never focus on providing great service in that uncomfortably hot establishment. It felt more like a sauna than a eating experience. I suggest that bus boys get that air fixed. And make it easily accessible to be changed when customers are fanning themselves with menu and begging for water it is nothing a server can do to make the experience a better one. I wont be back until winter or on a much milder day temperature wise since obviously you will be almost to sweaty to enjoy your food. Also For management to be dismissive of that and blame corporate for such an issue is not common every place has a thermostat and in 100 degree weather we all should have ate for free and servers should have been awarded some type of worker's compensation for being subjected to such heat inside an establishment. Get it together Bus boys Of Columbia. It is unsafe.

This is like book store/library- restraunt lol very cool chill vibe. Good selection is like an all day brunch. They have specialty lattes too! I've been twice and both times I ordered their blue matcha latte which was delicious. Second time I went, the waitress made an error on our bill and fixed it with no issues. Staff is sweet and helpful. The food is good too.

I enjoy all the busy boys and poets locations, but this one is probably my favorite. The ambiance of the merriweather district definitely helps. The staff was friendly and super quick as well. The food came out right away and it was delicious.

Great experience for hosting a special private event! Food/drinks: I've always been a fan of BB&P, and this location didn't disappoint. We ordered a breakfast brunch bar (complete with scrambled eggs, bacon, chicken sausage, grits, toast, home fries, plus juice, tea, and coffee), and at $18/head, I can't complain! Fruit and veggie platters were very fresh. And the drinks: the $6 mimosa special on Sat was a hit (plus: FRESH SQUEEZED orange juice was a special touch to those avoiding the bubbly). Service: Fantastic. We had a group of 21. Chloe was a lovely presence and very helpful. And all of the staff who worked with us in the room were great. And I really appreciated how they let us come early to set up and bring our decorations to make the room festive for the occasion. Ambiance: This is my 4th time at a BB&P location and I love what they did with this location! It's open, airy, bright, has industrial touches, and the Lucille Clifton room where we held the event is a great canvas to personalize. I was initially nervous about the cost and value of hosting an event in the space but I was impressed! I would do it all over again, no question!

The food was absolutely delicious and it tasted amazing. The service was fantastic and accommodating. The ambiance of the restaurant was incredible as well. Not a dull moment in the restaurant.

Very nice restaurant on the eyes. I visited twice with my daughter , the first time the server forgot to put in my order so I did not get to eat there that day. I did not feel like waiting but my daughter said her meal was delicious. Just went back recently to give them a second chance, once again my daughter's meal was good. I ordered french toast but it was just toasted bread with fruit on top. No taste at all and I put this charge on my card the server over charged me by $17.00 I called the restaurant and I was told to come back and they would look into this matter. The server was new and stated she didn't know how to use the machine .When I signed it was for the meal with a tip , I was told my my server that she did not know how to print out a receipt so I feel I am out of luck . Just be aware of your bank statements when eating at Busboys and Poets. I will not be back

I was glad to hear B&P opened in Columbia since I used to go to the Hyattsville location when I was in college. Overall, it's a cool vibe and it's a great place to hang out and catch up with some friends. Pros: - the shrimp & grits. awesome. I can eat this every day. - shrimp & crab fritters are a nice appetizer to start your meal - shrimp & chicken chorizo pasta was pretty good, has a nice kick Cons: - the food came out very slowly even though the restaurant didn't seem too crowded. - the brussel sprouts were bland/a bit under-seasoned for my liking - the steak & asparagus salad wasn't very memorable. the steak was not well-seasoned a little tough - we didn't get offered any refills/service wasn't the best

I love this place. This location is very welcoming. The staff is super polite and they set me right away. I decided to sit outside today for the first time. I told my server that I wanted a mocktail. She suggested the mojito. She described it as refreshing. And she was certainly right. I ordered the 3 eggs with bacon and grits. I originally asked for the cheddar jalapeño grits but received the regular grits. I told my server and she fixed it right away.

Another enjoyable visit to this restaurant. What can I say, I found a interesting book while waiting for my food. Yes, They do have a book store inside the restaurant. The menu is interesting in a good way. The Columbia location is always busy; However, The service is always good. The salmon is delicious and my favorite dish here. Definitely be back soon.

absolutely love this new location! Columbia is definitely keeping up with the times and what people are looking for when it comes to dining and entertainment. Everything was clean service was fast and there was very good feng shui with placement of items. our server was really knowledgeable and very friendly even though it was 90° outside. She made sure a water was filled and who you are well hydrated. The food was amazing. The kitchen was a little busy because this is a new restaurant there are tons of people visiting at this time. However, there were still many great aspects to this visit. I will be back once it calms down a little.

There's a good chance you'll se John, the GM, observe his pleasant and welcoming easy going demeanor and know that your experience will be a good one. Browsing through the bookstore and noting the decor that sets the atmosphere is in itself, worth the visit. The Salmon Benedict was delicious but our server Kennedy recommended the crab grits that was um um good! When GM John refilled our coffee, we had to let him know just how much we enjoyed our experience. Thank you Busboy & Poets

Such and inviting, kind, and warm place, we were drawn in. Had breakfast here and it was terrific. French Toast for me, some southwest egg dish for my wife. Food was incredibly good, the service even better. Waitress took pride in her work and just brightened the day. Trip is not complete without visiting the book store, where we bought a book, and t-shirt.

We had a wonderful lunch. Menu has a great selection of vegetarian options. The service was quick. The music is loud enough but not too loud. Outside dining options are perfect when the weather is nice. Ample parking.

Still 4 ... I wanna give it five stars real bad but service is awkwardly slow ... the servers are all over the place maybe it's the open atmosphere idk .... As for a receipt never got one ... drinks took long even water.... Bathrooms were ok but by the overflowing garbage I can tell it's not routinely cleaned .... Imma go back because my food was good

Such a cool place and great menu selection. Can be kind of loud but we always have a great time!