Washington DC Food Tour pt. 2 | Busboy & Poets

[@Khendra886]

I am the general manager at this location. So glad we were able to serve you. Please come back and see us soon .

[@herbertmitchell6258]

Cap.

[@moniboo523]

10:46 did you not see that?

[@TheStscrew]

😂​@@moniboo523

[@VLP_123]

I LOVE Busboys and Poets! This is a really nice location. Been there before with a friend last summer.

[@TheKos2Kos]

Bring it back to Baltimore, MD, again please! 😢

[@user-wn7ds7tt4e]

Cuzzo’s palate ain’t seasoned enough to give reviews lol

[@philo2189]

at least he stopped wearing that sweater all the time and got varied drip and a crispy haircut lol he looks ten times more presentable. Idk what happened if he got a girl now or something

[@k3n12ock]

for real..

[@nwsmgquis]

@@philo2189true lol

[@nwsmgquis]

He have real high expectations

[@meme-zw1dg]

He shouldn't have said that it didn't look good . Cuzzo might have given it try . He took a tiny bite 😂

[@WillPooleNYC]

Glad you’re enjoying my second city. Home to some of the most intellectual, artistic, cultured citizens in America.

[@chrisconklin873]

Id love to see you list over the last 50 years. Chuck Brown Dave Chapelle ???

[@nca4794]

I'm glad y'all found something you liked. They have good sweet potato pancakes. Oh, and Langston Hughes was the busboy, not the owner; it is named in tribute to him.

[@anonymouse692]

That's what I love about being from this area: the culture, the intellect, and our unique brand of blackness. That may have been the FIRST restaurant with a bookstore you've seen but trust it's not our only! 😂also, I prefer their old recipe for their VEGAN nachos. Bring back the blue corn chips, cashew cheese, the chickpeas--man so much flavor!

[@wawa9883]

I'm going to visit that location the next time I come to DC the food looks amazing and I love the whole vibe and atmosphere. We got to keep supporting our people 🙏🏿

[@clarktownsend8991]

Go to the Hyattsville location

[@franktruth6322]

You are going to be disappointed and bring your wallet. They taxin 😂😂😂 and whatever you do, DO NOT GO TO MISS TOYAS. Straight boo and the staff is BEYOND GHETTO

[@2raretmac758]

Cuzzo counted that chicken out before he even tried it lol. Seems like he just feeds off of Alex energy.

[@allysonherndon6528]

Exactly.

[@ABoogie-x1r]

And Alex energy was kinda off it seems. I just had the chicken breast and cauliflower three weeks ago. Both on point!

[@ABoogie-x1r]

Cuzzo lying unless the chef is off point.

[@bresams2917]

Yeah. It's annoying I really want him to have his own opinion

[@latanyaburke7196]

Thanks for coming to our city love you LATRYGUY SE DC..love it❤️❤️

[@geminiqueen4775]

Ayyyeeee SE all day

[@cherylrleigh1912]

Busboys and Poets is a full-service restaurant, bar, bookstore, coffee shop, and events venue in the Washington, D.C. area. It was founded in 2005 by Andy Shallal, with the original location situated at 14th and V streets in the U Street Corridor of Washington, D.C. Over the years, it has expanded to eight locations across the DMV region. A second location opened in Shirlington, Virginia, in 2007, followed by a third in D.C.'s Mount Vernon Triangle neighborhood in 2008. The fourth location opened in Hyattsville, Maryland, in July 2011, and the fifth in D.C.’s Takoma neighborhood on Valentine’s Day in 2015. A sixth location in Brookland, D.C., opened on New Year's Eve in 2016, while the seventh opened in the historic Anacostia neighborhood in early 2019. The most recent addition, the eighth location, opened in Columbia, Maryland, in late 2021. Busboys and Poets has been recognized as a gathering place for writers, thinkers, and performers, particularly those engaged in progressive social and political movements. The first Busboys and Poets is located two blocks from U Street, a historic commercial corridor in Northwest Washington once known as "Black Broadway." Concerned that introducing a trendy artistic space might conflict with U Street's traditional identity, Andy Shallal sought support from community leaders, neighborhood groups, church organizations, schools, and radio stations before opening the venue. He also secured a loan from Industrial Bank, a Black-owned financial institution at 11th and U streets. The restaurant's name pays tribute to American poet Langston Hughes, who worked as a busboy at the Wardman Park Hotel in the 1930s before gaining literary recognition. Several other names were considered before settling on Busboys and Poets, including Writers Block Cafe, Broken Bread Cafe, and White Rabbit Cafe, the last of which was inspired by *The Matrix.* Shallal personally painted the massive civil rights movement-themed mural on one of the restaurant’s walls, titled *Peace in Struggle Wall.* He chooses not to sign it, believing that doing so would be a "final gesture" that might prevent him from making future revisions. The mural features prominent civil rights figures such as the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela, alongside the words of Langston Hughes: *"Let America be America again / Let it be the dream it used to be."* Shallal once stated that he would keep Busboys and Poets running even if it only broke even, but the restaurant proved successful from the start, despite having no dedicated advertising budget. Within its first few months, C-SPAN, NBC News, and ABC's *Good Morning America* all filmed segments inside. Kevin Zeese, spokesperson for Ralph Nader's 2004 presidential campaign and director of Democracy Rising, described its impact, saying, "Boom! It just became an incredibly important landmark for the community. It definitely has a progressive feel to it; it's in the 'hood, not disjointed from the community like the National Press Club and Capitol Hill are." Reflecting on its immediate popularity, Shallal noted, "I've opened many restaurants, [but] this is the first time that people came in and got it right away." Busboys and Poets has attracted a wide range of notable guests, including Alice Walker, Angela Davis, Danny Glover, Cheryl Strayed, Amy Goodman, Nick Jonas, Common, Cindy Sheehan, Tom Hayden, Harry Belafonte, Amiri Baraka, and Representatives Maxine Waters, Lynn Woolsey, and Sheila Jackson-Lee. Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Anthony Shadid and Dave Meggyesy, a former St. Louis Cardinals linebacker who left the NFL in protest of the Vietnam War, have also visited. Former Washington Wizards center Etan Thomas has performed poetry there, and figures such as Senator Al Franken, historian Howard Zinn, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her daughter, actor Matt Dillon, and musician Keri Hilson have either dined at the restaurant or hosted events. Source Wikipedia

[@syncer.e7313]

@cherylrleigh1912 thank you!

[@Havingthetimeofmylife2008]

Councilmember Jim Graham was instrumental in helping Andy open the first location. Say his name loud and proud JIM GRAHAM.

[@halimasultan03]

I'm from Baltimore and I'm loving this DC food tour so far. Please show us more. We've been waiting for a food tour like this for a while. The health tour is ok, but the energy with these types of vids is better

[@faithmassey9489]

!!!

[@mangomaharaja6859]

I love this love right here. THAT BALTIMORE X DC LOVE IS STRONG AND SENSATIONAL ❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@Dimesoicy]

Have a blessed and wonderful day, @everyone.🌹❤️

[@deandre3038]

Thank you for showing my city some love

[@dwaynemccants8932]

You definitely need to try Founding Farmers DC 😋😋😋😋👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾

[@pisces363]

I’ve been there. That’s the spot, for real. I love their dishes.

[@mangomaharaja6859]

Wait is that the one in Potomac/Rockville Maryland location by the Harris Teeter?? Or is there another Founding Farmers location??

[@pisces363]

@@mangomaharaja6859 There’s one in DC on Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.

[@EdwardSanchezProductions]

The food looks so good

[@MsRoxie718]

The U Street Location is amazing from what I remember.

[@meeesaaa-sz6er]

loved the servers energy

[@Stillcooking4u]

I love Dc. Sending love from Baltimore. You gotta come down to try some food in Baltimore. I promise you you would love it .

[@kt3513]

Thank you showing DC positive light

[@marcustoney7762]

Bro got to hit up the curry out and get the mambo sauce and wings!😂😂😂

[@corysheer546]

Facts

[@KidGloves2112]

I'm always amazed by how picky Cuzzo is about the food.

[@rickimhotep1236]

He still young.

[@hittrennathompson8286]

I usually pay him no mine...he can be comical at times.

[@vfrazier3329]

SOUTHEAST (SE) DC. 💯 ❤

[@pisces363]

I grew up in SE, too. What part are you from?

[@cynthiawashington3995]

Looks nice the food got to be good 💯💯💯

[@algoriithmtheproducer]

Legendary spot right here.

[@cymphonicinc.3995]

I wish I saw you guys while you were here!!! I ❤ Busboys and Poets! I wish you got the fried brussel sprouts! You would have loved them. I feel like alot of people didnt recognize you. I wish I had the chance to chill n eat with you guys!! I always get the chorizo pasta.

[@Tha.Kid...LL3]

Prayers 🙏

[@DazzlingDivine777]

I was converted to bleu cheese recently and ain going back to ranch 😂😍🔥💪🏾

[@dahliar410]

Blue cheese is soooo good

[@bink1fly]

Frederick Douglass house is around the corner on w st. Someone should've told you about it while you were there

[@IndiePatron]

Woo keep the uploads comin baby

[@mayeday1263]

Peaks 100 is the DMV food guy...that would be a great collaboration.

[@johnny00700]

Yeah, I remember peaks doing a video recently at that busboy joint

[@WillPooleNYC]

I’m surprised they haven’t linked up. Maybe it’s upcoming.

[@VLP_123]

I'm waiting for the #bigschlim6105r and #Peaks100 collab!

[@SMKNGRL420]

Yass let's go ❤

[@Love_SumLotta]

DC is one of my favorite cities. I hope you get to go to the African American History Museum. It's life changing. They have good food at the cafeteria in there as well!

[@Les_05]

Drive further up MLK Ave you gonna definitely see them 🥷 outside

[@cUnHeavenCuzMoyacca]

😂

[@A1isDopee]

😂😂😂💯

[@yayareapurp]

🌽 ⚽️

[@ladyoflove60]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@brandonspencer4993]

@Les_05 YNs in the trenches! MLK Ave, Alabama Ave, Congress Street, 15th Place, Condon Terrace, Wheeler Rd etc

[@allysonherndon6528]

I really like you but you gotta stop hating on blue cheese cause MOST of us prefer BC to ranch. That BC looks great, looks like whole chunks of BC.😋

[@YooCeeWsg]

Cuz know that food be decent he tryna act out

[@geminiqueen4775]

He is down the street from my house and I still havent been in there to eat 🤦🏾‍♀😫 Ima make my way down and try their food and OMG it look sooooo huge on the inside, from the outside it look so small

[@mangomaharaja6859]

DAAAAMN MAMA I CAN ONLY IMAGINE YOU RANDOMLY STROLLED THERE AND MET UP WITH HIM DEEEYUM. I WONDER IF HE STILL IN DC

[@adriennesimpkins2275]

I love the salmon and collard greens from bus boys and poets

[@hittrennathompson8286]

This seems like an pretty cool spot... different. Cultural. I would definitely try especially with so many things going on. Reading. 😮. Books. 😊

[@richard-mr1vz]

Thanx sooo much for enriching us Alex, ya DA MAN (and Cuz of course)💗💗💗💗⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!!

[@syncer.e7313]

You should have had the Blackened Salmon... banging!!

[@DazzlingDivine777]

Mannnn you missing out on the Bleu Cheese... It gotta be good fire 🔥 Bleu Cheese tho

[@marvindowens8543]

You have to try the most iconic fish place in DC. Horace and Dickey's

[@TianaJ72]

Busboys and poets is easy one of the faves!

[@Ladi6333]

My neck of the woods!!!!!❤️ very historic and very hood too😊appreciate you for coming to DC💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯

[@SMKNGRL420]

❤

[@kizz9391]

Cuzzo, how you say it’s dry & not good BEFORE even trying it? LMAO😂 Alex immediately counters.

[@YuhDug]

You guys are great. Always a treat when yall drop another banger during my lunch break. Keep up the great content fellas and have a good one 🙏🔥😎

[@EBONY_HD]

I used to live right around the corner from this location! This is definitely considered the hood, but you’re on the part of the street that they developed well. Go towards the bridge and make that right on Good Hope Road you’ll see 😂 I’m from the suburbs of Detroit have lived in DC over a decade and have lived pretty much in every quadrant of the city. I love Anacostia so much but NE had my heart! You have to try Highlands on 14th St.!

[@EBONY_HD]

Shrimp and chorizo pasta hands-down is the best thing on the menu and I will still buy it at least once a quarter

[@Stonewallgaston]

It was so nice to meet you LAtryGUY❤ and thanks for coming to my restaurant

[@herbertmitchell6258]

Man... All I have to say is, y'all both know damn well y'all ate all that food regardless of the cap saying certain dishes were trash. I like your videos bro but if y'all really didn't eat it, hopefully you brothas gave the rest to the homeless. God Bless guys!

[@Tedoshikarito]

The whole blue cheese vs ranch on wings is fascinating to me. People from the south act like it’s a crime to eat blue cheese on wings.

[@rickimhotep1236]

I've never seen giving a review of the chicken being dry, on a dish that's meant to be eaten with gravy and mashed potatoes!😎😎😁😁

[@BT-jm3ww]

That pasta looked 😋

[@Cheffluff]

Great content as always... Keep this coming...

[@cyndinahicks8798]

I've eaten at the one in Hyattsville, Maryland. I love the food.

[@BrownsProFoodReviews]

Your facial expression when something is good😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@jaiferallee4458]

Kuzo u gotta stop not liking it cause latg say some ..like u just following what he say or do .u ain't try nacho and hated on chicken before tasting off what he said

[@WillPooleNYC]

Yea… that was weird.

[@lertub]

As big as he is he doesn’t look like he does not like too many foods. Just saying

[@teeerealsirrdee]

Bus boys is cool. I love that location.

[@PJ_White]

They’re trying to gentrify, but The “Hood Hood” is literally around the corner.

[@NL-ly3mq]

My favorite spot!

[@Acw4522]

Wondering if I should check this place out when I'm in DC. (You definitely agreed to the order of shrimp, my friend. 😅) The silence on the apps said it all.

[@Khendra886]

Yes you should

[@WillPooleNYC]

The best location is the U street corridor but parking can get dicey if I remember correctly.

[@Los_GGs]

Cuzzo capping you know he ate all that he looks like he eats anything. 😂

[@rionugroho1403]

'Busboy and Poet" sick name

[@BB-md8yf]

Don't forget Horace and Dickies in Takoma Park.. Florida Avenue Grill, Oohs and Aahs on U street..Love y'all ❤ DC❤❤

[@Chanellnbr5]

Horace and Dickies ain’t been the same since they started to branch out 😢 Oohs and Aahs 🤔

[@meme-zw1dg]

Florida Street Grill is good 👍🏽

[@allgelliebeaneverything1247]

Oohs and Aahs is nasty

[@EBONY_HD]

You can skip “who and odds”and Horace and dickies just go straight to Florida Ave., Grill

[@loceloce6073]

Oohs and Aahs is trash has been for a long time florida ave grill is the only straight one

[@chocolatecityhoney]

I go there weekly for the drinks…I can’t believe you was on the soufside!! Love this and u were definitely in the hood ❤

[@vichocker9221]

Damn homie, you are really hitting the popular spots in the DMV 💯

[@alw06git]

Bro put his fingers on both pieces of toast right when that dish came out. He making sure his friend didn't want any 😂

[@joedouglas571]

FYI Blue cheese is a northeen things. Ranch dress is a southern thing.

[@RomaVilla]

I’m from the south and I’ll take blue cheese over ranch any day

[@marymyatt3004]

🎶🎵 GO-GO MUSIC AND FOOD 🎶🎵

[@kingcharlesharris]

These were the spots Keith Lee was supposed to go to.

[@stefanietrimiar9565]

Busboys and Poets! I like that, all right😂❤

[@anthonybrent-v8j]

My favorite place in DC ❤

[@genevalucas2514]

I watch your show all the time next time you here let me be your tour guide

[@Greedyfoodreviewz]

Cool 😎 👍

[@blah21blah22blah23]

Gotta come up to Baltimore to try koko pub crab cakes!

[@SS-ch6hl]

❤

[@Michaeljerido]

Great content

[@Itssasha1990]

I’m hungry asf after watching this

[@QUEENKILORA]

Cuh sitting there pouting about trying the good foods. 😂 are you putting in sir? That food expensive 😂❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@brianmoody2549]

You were right about chicken fried steak.the places-looks nice.and the chicken wings did look like a meal.

[@15VirgOs]

Puuhhhhhhleeeeeaaaasssseeeee, no smacking asmr is necessary in food videos. Thats is all!! Still a fan of Alex and his Ma Dukes keep the vids coming! 😅😅😂

[@valbutler8295]

He was here!!🎉 wow so happy so close to!!! 🤣

[@ChristalClearCarma]

It looks good all of it!

[@VLP_123]

I've been going to Busboys and Poets since 2012. I'm partial to the Hyattsville location, but I like all of the locations, to be honest. Awesome, wonderful restaurant!

[@michaelwalker865]

I love Busboy & Poets!!

[@brendajamison2903]

❤❤❤❤

[@pisces363]

Brookland’s Finest is under the radar as far as DC restaurants. Y’all need to go there.

[@deannagreen2006]

Hey Alex Them buffalo wings & Nachos looking good 🧀1/30/25.

[@JayDesLaRae]

DC is my city! Next time you come, go to Ms Toya’s

[@ShawniseDouglas]

It’s the shrimp and grits they have for me!

[@jamielunes1841]

Good to see

[@vonbrown292]

Amazing!

[@KELTEC_GLOCS]

I THINK ITS TIME TO REPLACE CUZIN WITH A REAL FOODIE 😂😂😂

[@redpillastrologist3080]

I love when y’all not lame frfrfr

[@spanky1945]

Love ur videos

[@Havingthetimeofmylife2008]

Someone in Kansas said he loves Busboys and Poets and can’t wait to eat there again.

[@marymyatt3004]

✨💖✨💖✨💖✨💖

[@LilYungKulai]

The chop need some xtra graaavy 😂

[@vichocker9221]

@latryguy go to a carryout and try chicken and mumbo sauce

[@PJ_White]

He did…already went to Hong Kong the last time he was in DC.

[@nevinmills351]

If you going to busboys and poets the salmon is where it's at with that butter sauce and rice and asparagus 🔥🔥

[@almurry8943]

Alex, I live in DC in the Brookland area. I am in walking distance of a Busboys and Poets located on Michigan Avenue NE. I’ve never been to that location. It looks larger than the one near me. I’ve been at Busboys and Poets for the breakfast and they have a delicious corned beef hash which I got with a chai latte. That pasta you had looked so good unfortunately I can’t eat a lot of pasta but if I could, I’d be on it. I know I would love the bread pudding since that’s one of my favorite desserts. I would definitely try that fried cauliflower. Even though it’s fried, I think it may depend on what it’s fried in.

[@timmcqueen5781]

Gentrification has been going over there for the last 8-10 years. It was the hood, but now that expensive apts are over there, including the new Washington baseball park. I get my crabs from over there when im on town visiting fam

[@FragileLense]

MLK Ave in SE def the hood you just on the other side where it’s starting to get gentrified slowly 😂😂😂

[@WillPooleNYC]

DC “hoods” are decent neighborhoods compared to South Central LA. That’s a good thing.