Busboys and Poets
American restaurant · U Street
2021 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20009
Highlights
Bookstore, coffee shop, restaurant with global fare & events
Bookstore, coffee shop, restaurant with global fare & events
"Founded by Iraqi American immigrant Andy Shallal in 2005, this restaurant–bookstore–community space was created as an activist, intellectual hub on the U Street/14th & V Corridor that combines food, books, art, and public programming. The author remembers traveling there as a college student and being enchanted by the ``walls of vivid, colorful artwork,'' bookshelves stocked with Toni Morrison, James Baldwin, and Zora Neale Hurston, and conversations nourished over the shrimp and chicken chorizo pasta (the author’s favorite). Shallal explains the concept and intent plainly: "I always imagined a place like this, and I wanted to create a place that I didn’t find elsewhere in the Washington metropolitan area. Restaurants in particular and gathering places like this are perfect for the type of conversations that we need as a society to bring people together." He frames the project as a response to feeling like an outsider after 9/11 and a desire to "bring in the dreamers, the people who believe in a better world," designing the space with a bookstore at the front, a lounge for interaction, and a back room for poetry, author talks, and panels, with murals and artwork representing the diverse people and values the venue aims to uplift. From the start the menu emphasized accessibility and plant-based options—"we were one of the first places that offered vegan and vegetarian food options in the city"—and programming accessibility: "It’s open to the public, and it’s open all the time. You can hang out, drink water, and enjoy some of the programming we have; 90 percent of it is free of charge." The space has hosted figures such as Angela Davis, Harry Belafonte, Alice Walker, and Howard Zinn and, by 2008, was even ranked by readers over the National Mall as a favorite place to take an out-of-towner. Along the way it has weathered controversy—tensions over a non-Black owner running a Black-centered activist business, debates around international issues and local DEI fights, the practical and existential shocks of COVID, and the political shifts of recent administrations—but Shallal insists on the venue’s mission: "It’s the people’s business. It’s a service," and that "the fact that there is a safe space to come and retreat from the insanity that’s around us, I think, is really one of our strengths." Having grown to eight locations (including two in Maryland and one in Virginia), he says he wants the enterprise to remain at the forefront of progressive ideas—protecting immigrants, sourcing food responsibly, using green energy, and using its platform to speak judiciously on local and international policy—while acknowledging that "as you grow bigger, your responsibilities get more serious." - Kayla Stewart
"From shrimp and grits to sweet potato hash, nearly every section on the menu of this D.C. classic offers a wide range of gluten-free alternatives, from crispy cauliflower bites to steak and asparagus salad. Find gluten-free menu items clearly labeled online." - Missy Frederick
"Busboys and Poets is a participating restaurant in D.C.'s overdose prevention program, receiving naloxone kits and educational materials to handle emergency situations related to opioid overdoses." - Tierney Plumb
"The Washington, D.C. restaurant continues its tradition of an annual staff costume contest, with the community eagerly awaiting the results of this year's creative entries." - Bettina Makalintal
"It’s hard not to be taken with Busboys and Poets, particularly if you have an affinity for cozying up with a compelling book and a steaming cup of coffee. Part restaurant, bookstore, and hub for driving social change, the establishment is eclectic and comfortable, outfitted with murals and art depicting activists and progressive movements. The crowd varies, based on time of day, event lineup, and what’s going on in the world when you visit. Weekend mornings can be lively, with folks tucking into a DC favorite brunch." - Adele Chapin
