Busboys and Poets

"This mini-chain around D.C. has a beef and bean chili that gets topped with sour cream, scallions, and blue corn tortilla chips." - Missy Frederick

"With locations spread across the DMV, including one of the only sitdown restaurants in historic Anacosita, it’s no wonder this restaurant is continuously ranked as one of the best for Black Soul Food-style eats. The eighth location of Busboys and Poets opened at 2004 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue and features buttery biscuits, breakfast platters, and live events, including book and poetry readings." - Tierney Plumb, Tim Ebner

"There’s no denying that the Anacostia Busboys is one of the major players in the area. The American restaurant is known for its diverse menu and community events, and the Anacostia spot is no different. There’s often an after-work crowd here for Happy Hour, which runs Monday-Friday from 4-7pm, and families grabbing dinner. It’s a great place to go if you’re eating with vegetarians or vegans since there are a lot of options (we’re partial to the falafel sandwich smothered in hummus and tahini sauce and layered with fresh vegetables)." - Tristiana Hinton, Omnia Saed

"The American restaurant is known for its diverse menu options and community events, and the Anacostia location is no different. There’s often an after-work crowd for Happy Hour, which runs Monday-Friday from 4-7pm, and families grabbing dinner. Busboys & Poets is a great place to go if you’re eating with vegetarians or vegans since there are a lot of options (though we’re partial to the flavorful falafel sandwich smothered in hummus and tahini sauce and layered with fresh vegetables). " - Tristiaña Hinton

"Busboys and Poets remains open around the DC region, including its Anacostia location, which opened this time last year. The family meals come in Italian, Southwestern, and vegan options that feed six to eight people for $80. Order online for contactless pickup." - Tim Ebner