Marx Cafe Revolutionary Cuisine

Really good atmosphere, great server, and I don't know how or why, but they lit my cheese on fire, and it was awesome. Recommend something off the small plates menu.

Monday of last week my group got the $19 wine special and made sure to choose a wine that was in that price range. Unfortunately I was overcharged, likely for the full price of the bottle, and I didn’t realize it in the moment. When I went back the next day the Bartender was super friendly and said they’d try to sort it out, took my number and I left. Unfortunately I never heard from them again and I’m out my ~$20. Just a bummer because otherwise we enjoyed this spot.

Great food and ambiance. They have a large drink menu. I ordered the burger and my friend ordered the trout. The only reason I am not giving this place 4 stars is because my friend’s trout had so many bones and he couldn’t eat it. BUT the waiter was so nice that he exchanged it for a burger at no charge. The double chocolate ale was delicious. I will definitely come back to check out their live music nights. Give it a try.

Decent food and drinks. Great jazz nights! Would love to see more live music please

Would not return. The food was ok (chicken gyro, farmer veggie burger, grilled chicken lemon pasta), but service was terrible. Server never brought ordered appetizer and brought wrong entree. She left the more expensive incorrect entree on the bill. She didn't check whether we needed anything and took extra long to return when we did locate her and ask for drink refills.

The calamari was good and I really liked the music. It gets really crowded once evening hits but if you go right when they open it's pretty peaceful. I will definitely go back to see the live jazz.

Amazing vibes, great live jazz, best lemon drop in town. A lot of Argentinians happen to hang out here since the owners are from Argentina; love that.

Great little hole in the wall! Been by it a ton of times but stopped in for brunch on New Year's eve and had great food and a phenomenal bartender. Looking forward to coming back to watch a soccer game!

We had an excellent brunch. The food was delicious. Absolutely loved the avgolemeno soup! The service was good. They are very nice! It also looks like a fun place to hang at the bar and watch a soccer match.

Had a wonderful brunch on Saturday. Ordered off the breakfast menu and they had Chimay on draft and soccer on the TV. Instant favorite of mine. Service was outstanding.

Legitimately the worst food that I've ever had at a restaurant. I ordered the Greek Chicken Oregano and was served a hunk of tasteless chicken with a tiny sprinkling of herbs. My friend ordered a burger which was poorly cooked and seasoned. The service wasn't great either. When I give restaurant recommendations to people I tell them to actively avoid Marx Cafe.

I tried this place since it's close by. I didn't have high expectations for the food, but overall it was good. I would give it 4 stars because there were an insane amount of fruit flies everywhere and the place seemed dirty / unkept overall. We ordered tzatziki and pita bread for an appetizer, which was good. I ordered the fish and chips which were also good. Nothing really stands out about this place and I don't think I would go again.

I like Marx for a few reasons -- most importantly, it has a very friendly neighborhood vibe that isn't pretentious or trendy and makes you feel at home. It's kind of like a Mt Pleasant Cheers. The bartenders and owner are always happy to chat about whatever and are very friendly. It's also a great place to watch big televised events - from the Presidential debates to Obama's last speech - because they'll put up their projector, and people will cheer and comment. It's also a quite open place to all walks of life, and because it isn't in the hipster/uber expensive category, you can actually afford to go there. I also like the beer selection, from the Chimay and Deschutes Fresh Squeezed IPA on tap to many others in the bottle. The food is hit or miss. The salmon is tasty, the fries are very good and crispy, some of the tapas (like the mushroom crostini) are quite nice. I would steer away from the burger or trout. They also have some special music and dance nights - 80s, latin dancing, and others where they clear out the tables. I haven't been there for those, but maybe one day.

This place is a super cozy spot for drinks and live music! I came here last week with some friends and we really enjoyed it. It's located right on Mount Pleasant Street near popular spots like Elle and Beau Thai! The seating here is pretty cool because the dining tables are on an elevated platform across from the bar, which is a step down. I really liked how the bar was set up and the lighting made the whole place feel cozy and comfortable. There was a wide range of people which just shows how welcoming and loved this place is! We had dinner here, and I ordered the Grilled Chicken Chipotle sandwich and and a cup of the Afgolemono Soup. The sandwich was just alright, I couldn't really taste the chipotle mayo and it was a bit dry. On the other hand, the soup was SO flavorful and warmed me up after walking outside in the cold. The cup of it was so big too! There's so much more I want to try on this menu. We really enjoyed the talnted group of musicians who were playing that night! I had to leave before 11pm, but my friends stayed and said the music didn't stop until after midnight! This is a fun place for a Thursday night. The closest metro is Columbia Heights (yellow/green) and it's about a 9 minute walk from there to the cafe. I'll definitely be back for the atmosphere, music, and good food.

Great neighborhood spot for outdoors drinks and Greek food. Casual, low key, and has a decent amount of outdoor seating, some covered. There's also heat lamps when it's cold. Happy hour is a perfect time to pop in for cheap wines by the glass, delicious Greek apps, thin, hot fries, and good dog watching. Dogs are welcome at the outdoor seating area.

i love marx cafe. the coffee is so good. the bartender is hot in a scary way. what will she do to me? seems like it'll either be nothing or something i'll never recover from. 9/10

If I could give 0... I would . Disgusting! So dirty and terrible service . I love MT Pleasant and when in DC I like to stop in the area for a drink . Well glad I ditched this place and went over to Haydee's !!!

The worst Mediterranean experience I've ever had in dc, omg idk where to begin. It was a delivery order, it didn't come with utensils when I clearly asked for them. Second, please just take a look at how the food are delivered in the box, every single dish I ordered was a disaster, they looked like they were cooked by someone who just learned cooking at home. Steak Crostini came with four pieces of small steaks with three pieces of baguettes and lettuce all over the place. Their bread for the hummus must've been from two different batches, because half of them are rock hard and half of them are soft. I believe the pictures are more self explanatory, just take a look at their Salmon Pesto for more than twenty bucks. Please be careful ahead of ordering from this place.

I was here for a after wedding brunch. The menu we had was pancakes, salmon, and fruit. The salmon seemed a bit undercooked for sure but did have great flavor. I ordered a veggie wrap with French fries and that was pretty good!

Nice Mediterranean fare with attentive service. Appreciated that they let us order the dinner platter of mixed sauces and pita at lunch. Reasonable prices.

Came here for happy hour. The HH is from 5-7pm. They have $4.50 beer, $4.00 wine, $3.50 rail drinks and 1/2 off small plates. The bartender was very nice and very kind. I would return. They do need a official form of ID if you'd like to drink. The food was good. The flaming cheese and calamari were the highlights.

This little neighborhood place is worth checking out. You would never know looking at it from the street. We thought it was an Italian place, but the menu is more Greek than Italian. Inside its a little tight. But come after work hours, this place starts to hop with folks greeting each other and settling in at the bar. People meeting to talk non-work activities, friends visiting, and groups meeting up for business gather here for an easy place to meet and eat and drink. We decided to dine on wine and small plates. We tried the grilled octopus, lukaniko (sausage), grilled beef kebabs, sauteed shrimp, and steak crostini. Everything tasted really good and had nice Greek flavors. We really enjoyed out dinner at the neighborhood spot.

I have "passed through" here for years on the bus, always intrigued, yet never went in. Last night I found myself with some time inbetween buses in the next block, and dropped in; mostly out of curiousity. Cozy atmosphere, with friendly neighborhood vibe. On Sundays whiskey is $2 off, definitely a bargain. It was NOT an undersized pour either. The bartender told me about garlic soup, which I haven't had in MANY years. Delicous, and probably just the ticket on a cold night. Wound up sticking around for a while to watch the Nats game. Had a burger, which was nice, especially for $9, WITH a side of fries, which they even let me substitute vegetables for. The couple next to me was having salmon with pasts, which also looked nice. Genuinely friendly bartender was efficient, and had great suggestions. I left wondering why I had waited SO LONG to drop in, which I'll definitely be doing again. THANKS.

This is a cute little neighborhood spot. It isn't a place I would go to impress a foodie with gourmet cuisine, but it is a good place to get a decent, satisfying, casual dinner at a reasonable price. Staff is friendly and relaxed, and the wine list is pretty good. I've been attending a shindig they call "Stormy Monday." It's a once a month live music night with a fun, bluesy ensemble that doesn't take itself too seriously, and the bar offers half-price wine bottles. Last time I was there, not expecting to, I ended up downing a bottle of old vine zin by myself so watch out. Many people rave about the sagynaki (sp?) but personally I'm a fan of the salmon a la greek, which comes in a unique, creamy ouzo sauce. Oh, also, I discovered after getting home (the evening of the whole bottle of wine incident) that one of my brand new, not cheap, handmade earrings was missing. I called the bar and the bartender not only remembered who I was and where I was sitting, he went and searched the ground for me and found it while he was on the phone with me. A++.

I have been in here a couple of times, including my first night in the neighborhood. The service is always very personal, and the food is fine. I couldn't recommend them for brunch relative to the Marx's competitors, he menu is a bit basic for that, but it's great for a night out with friends, if you want some drinks from around the world, or if you're a soccer fan.

Marx is okay during non covid times, but they still haven't figured out pick up orders. I scheduled a pick up for 6pm, but it seems they made the order immediately when I placed it a couple hours prior and then left it sitting on a table, not under a heat lamp, until I picked it up at 6pm. Then they give it to you anyway, knowing that the food is definitely cold after sitting there for an hour and don't bother to say anything to you. This is the second time it has happened. I would order from here much more often if they fixed this issue.

I went to Marx Cafe expecting a full experience. Hammer and sickles, portraits of the father of Communism himself, and other relics from the great age. Instead, I was greeted by our fantastic server, who, I ashamedly, didn't grab his name, who introduced us to a very typical "dive" bar. Shelves of whiskey, wine, and vodka, paintings, 2 bar TVs, and a dozen or so tables. The ambiance was quiet and somewhat nostalgic. Old rotting wood, smells of dust, dogs, and alcohol-filled Thursday nights. Me and hubby both got a few of the house "Jack Ciders", with glasses of course. The cider was a perfect accommodation to my meal, the salmon and vegetables. The salmon was lacking in flavor, but the spinach/basil toppings mixed well with the softened potatoes. The vegetables, although a good compliment to the salmon, were slightly underdone. Our server was very accommodating, bringing over hot sauce for the hubby, and provided quick and polite service. Overall, it was a great experience. Marx Cafe, although not representative of the Karl Marx, is truly revolutionary cuisine.

Servers are nice as long as you order from the specials menu, guilty you over tips, and for ordering olives and pita bread. doubt Mr. Chef takes over 30mins to dish that out ‍‍ unless you're planning to order a full meal don't expect full gold standard customer service

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.

Perfect spot for brunch on a rainy day. They have a excellent service and the place is cozy and welcoming. The selection of food is great. Excellent pancakes and eggs.

Great service and diverse menu, definitely coming back! Ordered the dolmades and humans to start, the lemon sauce on top paired well with the meat stuffing and both were reasonably priced. Ambience was really cozy, I recommend trying it out!

This family owned business saved my life today . As a bus driver who suffers from high blood pressure, I reached the end of my route today and my pressure read 168/98. I presented at the restaurant and asked if they could spare any kind of vinegar to bring my blood pressure down . Without questions or requiring a purchase they gave me a glass o apple cider vinegar and I am so grateful for their life saving kindness!

I give 4 stars just for being comfortable friendly bar. You walk in here and you will never feel stranger or alone in the city. The bartender welcomes you and as soon as your name is recognized (give your ID to him or say your name if he asks), you will be introduced to everyone (Friendly faces) at the bar. Then you know you are in for good time. You can just watch 80s or 90s movie playing against another TV playing NFL game.. or you can start talking to anyone sitting next to you.. or you can just talk to the bartender.. Food wasn't great (just one I had...) but maybe they have better ones on the menu. Small selections but good draft beer. Come by when you don't know what to do with yourself. PS: Monday: 1/2 priced bottle of wine and if you leave any, they let you take home leftover. Daily happy hour specials.. such as $2.50 PBR... and ask the bartender :)

Marx is definitely a place that I can unequivocally call off beat. It is hip but not too hip. When I lived in this hood it used to be a Mexican place I think. But I am not totally sure about that. The decor is different, too. The beamed ceilings are made of a well-worn light wood. On the walls are posters of its namesake-- Karl Marx. Friday nights is the place to be at Marx cause they move out the dining tables and there is a DJ spinning tunes. One Friday night a month is reggae night to get your Rasta fix in, mon.

I really wanted to like this place but I just found it to be really meh. Food and drinks were expensive and decor was a little stuffy for what feels like it should be a neighborhood bar. The Marx theme is totally lost here as well. Other than middle aged Eastern European staff that look like they're wearing standard Warsaw Pact factory clothes nothing here really screams "Marx". Maybe consider putting up some hammers and sickles? Red stars? Trotsky or Che posters? Anything to make this place less generic?! Then again, maybe the jokes on me, after all, I hear restaurant and bars in the old Soviet Bloc were pretty spartan... Two stars because it wasn't particularly bad and if you're already in the neighborhood it would be perfectly acceptable, but don't go out of your way expecting a quirky Marxist themed bar as I did because you'll be disappointed.

Totally enjoyed being greeted by Harris! Passes from Greece and really knows how to show service and hospitality tickets gas the food was very good and the service was great a quiet restaurant in a local neighborhood though I understand at 11 o'clock it turns into a nightclub

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!

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

My fvaorite restaurant in Mt Pleasant. The food is pricey, but super good. The ambiance is more dark, but it's Marx Cafe after all. Great small plates and they have hard cider (though, unfortunately, just Woodchuck in a bottle).

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.

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.

I came to Marx Cafe for the first time for a little fundraiser for one of their bartenders who is running for DC's Shadow Senator as a Libertarian. A Libertarian working at a place called Marx Cafe? Oh the irony! Nice little bar though. Mt. Pleasant is one of my favorite parts of DC and cool, low key little places like this are a big part of the reason why. The crowd was pleasant and many of them seemed to know each other and many knew the bartender/Senate candidate. I only had a few beers, but they had several nice Belgians in bottles and half a dozen different things on tap, from a Yuengling to some higher-end stuff. There also seemed to be a lot of wine around, although I'm not much for wine. Definitely the kind of place I would hang out if I lived up here, despite being named after a commie.

Gotta love a bar with a sense of humor. I walk in. I look at the signs above the bar that have the specials written on them. I read down and see the words, "get your copy of Harry Potter here!... and a punch in the face" I thought it was hysterical! I know, I know, maybe to some that is blasphemy. I liked it. And thats my overall impression of this bar. Good neighborhood joint, friendly patrons, good music. I hear the food is good, too. Hip hip hooray for Marx Cafe!

The Mt. Pleasant neighborhood is so, well, pleasant! I can't wait for it to get warmer so I can walk around and explore it more in depth. This bar is pretty cool. The interior reminds me of a wine crate w/ its exposed stud walls and wood beam ceiling. Corks fill cases in the windows, continuing the wine theme. There is a bar on one side of a wood room divider and some booths and tables on the other side. We sat in a third little seating area next to the windows. It was actually really cold next to them, but that is to be expected. Only problem with this set up is there was no place to dance. They had a disco ball and a DJ, but absolutely no room to dance. Lame. Anyway the appetizers were great! Best bar food I have had in a long time. (We had calamari and spinach filled pastries). Drink prices were fair. It is just a cool little neighborhood bar in a cute little area. The only problem is accessibility. I guess it is really meant for nearby residents because the subway is kind of far away (not too bad, but far in that cold!) and parking is impossible. Come check it out if you are looking for an alternative to your usual night out.

You New Yorker's need to go back where you came from. Marx Cafe is an awesome neighborhood bar, where the staff makes every attempt to get to know each and every person who walks through the door. It is our own little Cheers, and if you Northerners don't like, quit complaining and go back to Brooklyn. Marx Cafe rocks, all the bartenders and servers are amazing. The atmosphere is always relaxed, welcoming, and wonderful. Manny and Will will always treat you like family, and the beers on tap are the greatest. I've yet to try much of the food, but Harris is a lovely Greek owner, and I have heard all the tapas are delightful and delicious. Marx Cafe will always feel like home to me, and I hope others will make it their own as well.

I have been to this place in the past for drinks and had an ok time. This past weekend I was in the neighborhood and decided to stop in for brunch. I realize this is not really a big place to go mid morning on a Saturday for breakfast food but they had a sign outside advertising it and I decided..what the heck and I must admit that I was a little disappointed. There was only one person working both the bar and the table area and you wouldn't think this would be a problem since there were only 10 people in the entire place. The bartender/waiter was not very attentive and seemed more interested in talking to the girl at the bar rather than taking our order. While the service was bad, when we finally did receive our omelets 30 minutes later they were very very tasty. Once the food was delivered the waiter never came back to our table and finally we decided to just go up to the bar to pay our check and leave. I will probably go back to the place again but just for drinks.

Really cozy pub scene here. One of those great neighborhood spots to grab a drink. They have food, which is why we went, but it was all just OK. Not bad by any means, but not great. The Cobb salad was good. The French onion soup was not. There were some other items that were fine. If you come, I'd make it for drinks and some light bar food.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

A good selection of decent, reasonably priced beer. Friendly service. Lively setting and interesting music and dance events throughout the week. Theres always a corner packed on the weekends with dancing couples and friends. Sometimes the music can be a bit loud for those choosing to talk at the bar and tables though. A good bar for a fun night.

Incredibly unpleasant experience in this place. After not finding my card in his Rolodex when I asked for the check, the owner seemed surprised when I asked about why it was lost and what they were going to do about it. At this point, the bartender named Will began rudely trying to bully me into god knows what about it. This dude was coked out of his wits, interrupting constantly and talking about off topic things the whole time. After 25 minutes had passed and he asked me to walk outside with him for a smoke. After never letting me get a word in edgewise and also actually admitting one of his workers might have stolen it and I should cancel my card, he and the owner suddenly got really aggressive, saying I'd wasted "hours" of their time. The bartender then said that if he found my card, he was going to staple it to the wall and that I was banned from the bar (as if I'd go back after this). These dudes couldn't handle their legal responsibilities when taking a customer's card, and they didn't even seem to understand why this was a problem. Their aggressiveness was unbelievable - two guys outside the bar who saw the whole thing actually came up to me afterwards to talk about it. Marx Cafe clearly needs to scale back their drug use and increase their focus on running a basic business.

My group only had drinks but we loved our fun and delicious cocktails. They didn't make a fuss that we were only getting drinks and they even had a DJ. I would definitely visit again!

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!!

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.