Whether you’re an environmentalist, a feminist or just plain hungry for good food, Busboys and Poets will provide you with a fine dining experience free of popped collars. Rather than boast haute cuisine, this socially-conscious cafe prides itself on maintaining an oasis of community and intellect amidst the rapid gentrification of U St. and Columbia Heights.
The coffeehouse takes its name from former D.C. resident and literary giant Langston Hughes, who was working as a busboy when his poetry first received attention. True to its name, Busboys and Poets is decorated with a lively display of local artwork and often hosts poetry readings and independent film screenings.
Diners also have the pleasure of browsing the restaurant’s bookshop, which shelves an array of socially progressive literature and nonfiction. A portion of its proceeds are donated to Teaching for Change, a nonprofit organization which promotes social justice in the classroom.
The ambience of Busboys offers the customer a plethora of social options. Whether you’re single, attached or open-minded, you’ll appreciate the warm atmosphere that stimulates dialogue among strangers and friends. Lounge seating welcomes lone diners, while traditional tables and chairs maintain intimacy for a couple or small party. For awkward first dates, the lovely décor, which includes the mosaic tiled bathroom mirrors, provides an endless source of interesting conversation material.
The food is friendly to the college budget and the free Wi-Fi is more reliable than the wireless in Lauinger. Catering to the healthy eater, Busboys offers vegan pizza, which is big enough for two and can top any vegetarian dish that Leo’s manages to scrape together. If you’re wearing your fat pants (the ones with the elastic waistband), order a peanut butter and banana sandwich and gorge on the delectable chocolate layer cake. And for the budget-conscious, it’s perfectly acceptable to order a bottomless cup of coffee and loiter for a few hours, writing a paper or stalking your friends on Facebook.
For those seeking an evening of cultural enlightenment, Busboys and Poets is host to many proceedings, including open mic nights, poetry readings, live music and book signings. Political enthusiasts won’t want to miss Saturday’s Book Event, featuring The Case for Impeachment: The Legal Argument for Removing President George W. Bush from Office, by Dave Lindorff and Barbara Olshansky. The event, which is free and open to the public, begins at 6:00 p.m. in the Langston Room.
Busboys and Poets’ close proximity to the Black Cat also makes it a choice place to chill after catching a rock show. And since it’s open until 2:30 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, you can stay for the last encore, get your tee shirt autographed and still squeeze in a brownie and a cup of coffee.
Directions: Take the GUTS bus to Dupont Circle and take the Metro red line towards Glenmont. Get out at the Chinatown stop and transfer onto the Green line in the direction of Greenbelt. Get off at the U St. stop and from there it’s just a short walk to 2012 14th St. You can also take the G2 bus to 14th St. and walk 4 blocks north to U St.
