When One Door Closes...Order a Cocktail…read more Over the years, I've visited a few Buffalo & Bergen locations, including the one in Union Market, but this was the first time I pulled up specifically for a cocktail! After catching a movie, my friend and I headed to one of our favorite sandwich spots in Union Market, only to discover they had closed their shop just FOUR DAYS earlier. We were genuinely hurt lol, so naturally, we decided to soothe our hearts with a drink at Buffalo & Bergen. When we first sat down, one of the bartenders immediately offered us menus, but his shift was ending so he left shortly after. We sat for a few minutes and tried to get the attention of the bartender closest to us, but he basically ignored us -- despite not appearing to be helping anyone else. Thankfully, the bartender working on the other side noticed us and came over to take our orders. Much appreciated because we were thirsty AND grieving our sandwich. We both ordered the Lavender Fizz, which is traditionally made with vodka. The only problem? We are NOT vodka ladies. We asked if he could swap the vodka for tequila, and without hesitation he said, "Of course!" The cocktail was really refreshing and exactly what we needed. It was a rainy Sunday afternoon packed with errands, but we managed to sprinkle in a little fun -- and a tequila Lavender Fizz certainly helped! Price-wise, the cocktails are comparable to what you'd pay at a regular DC bar, but the drinks themselves are noticeably larger, so I definitely appreciated that. I've also had their bagels several times over the years, and they're delicious! They serve other food as well, but I haven't ventured beyond the bagels yet. Buffalo & Bergen sits right on a corner near one of the Union Market entrances, so it's pretty hard to miss. The bar itself has maybe 10-12 seats and can definitely get crowded when the weather is nice. But on this rainy Sunday, there were only a few diners, which made it a nice, chill afternoon stop. Overall, the service started off a little shaky, but I really appreciated the bartender who noticed us, stepped in, and was accommodating with our drink modification. The cocktails were good, generously sized, and reasonably priced, and I already know the bagels are solid. Will it replace the sandwich we were emotionally prepared to eat that afternoon? Absolutely not. But the tequila Lavender Fizz certainly helped us cope with the loss. RIP to our sandwich spot!

Probably one of my favorite spots at Union market! The bagels are always fresh and the price point…read moreis so worth it. I usually always order ahead of time. They stay pretty busy so if you know you're short on time ordering online is so helpful! The staff is always kind and friendly! They also have great vegetarian options. But if you eat meat the BEC & SEC are delicious lol Inside of Union market so lots of other options and it's always busy.

Always pleased with any food we order here. The bagels are delicious. Breakfast sandwiches are…read morehuge and very filling. Staff is great and pushes orders out. It's great for dining in or taking out.

This place has great bagels. Customize it the way you want and it's quick service. Recommend…read morepreordering ahead of time. Coffee choices are limited but it has a neat little sitting area inside and outside.

This was the very first food spot we tried after arriving in DC, and it did not disappoint! As a…read moreserious cheese lover, I wanted to try basically everything on the menu. I finally went with the Greek Goddess grilled cheese, and OMG, such an explosion of flavor! The bread was perfectly crunchy, and everything tasted so fresh and delicious. We also had a couple of ice cold beers, and the staff was super nice. Definitely keeping this place on my list for the next time in town!

We saw tons of GF reviews for this place and decided we had to try it. They use different papers…read moreand gloves, etc for gf orders. You order up front on a screen (and can input all allergies). If you need help, the staff is super willing to put your order in for you. We got the French onion grilled cheese, a build your own with cheese and meat, and some Mac n cheese. While I wish the Mac n cheese was a little creamier, everything was delicious and filling after a long walk. We couldn't finish it all! A great place to go for grilled cheese and great allergen protocols!

Sweet Home Café is located inside the African-American History Museum. They serve a selection of…read moresoul food favorites. The number one item is southern fried chicken. Many customers were ordering this so it seemed like a safe bet. They also carry desserts and small snacks. They have beverages as well. We got the southern fried chicken, mac & cheese, and some cornbread. The meals were fresh and tasty. Not our usual fare yet still enjoyable. Plenty of seating in the café. We got there just in time. As we were exiting the café, we noticed that the lunch line was outside of the café. It was roped off at the entrance and customers had to wait.

"Home Sweet Home" Sweet Home Cafe is a fast pace, energetic environment that provides a plethora of…read morefood options. Each station comes with its own unique cultural cuisine. I was honestly impressed with the quality of food they served. I had the buttermilk fried chicken, Mac & cheese, and Gold Coast white rice ( absolutely delicious) and a side of sweet potato pie. Sweet Home Cafe is located in the atrium of The National Museum Of African American History and Culture. So, for sure it is a major tourist dining area ( which keeps the atmosphere jubilant ) I definitely give them two thumbs up !!!

Once I heard there was a deli with a pickle bar within walking distance of our DC headquarters, I…read moreknew I had to go. My colleague who told me about this place jumped to join me for lunch. I wasn't anticipating a nice dining room to dine in, but there it was so we did. Although it was uncomfortably warm in there. Must have been something wrong with their A/C because they couldn't possibly always have it so warm, especially in the middle of summer. I ordered The Clevelander and she had The Mel. And of course we hit their awesome pickle bar! Why doesn't every deli in the universe have a pickle bar?! The sandwiches are piled high with meat and so delicious. Several complaints about mine, however: the menu said it comes with mayo and provolone. It came out with no spread at all so I was brought mayo packets to apply myself, which is way less than ideal with a huge already assembled sandwich. And the brand new server (on her second day there) came back after we ordered and asked if I wanted cheese. I mentioned I thought it listed a cheese on the menu, which she confirmed. But then I ended up getting charged extra for the cheese that my sandwich was supposed to come with. Kind of lame. And while my friend was asked if she wanted hers toasted, I was not. I didn't think twice about it until mine came out toasted, which I neither asked for or wanted. Lastly, the sandwich was also supposed to come with "fresh cranberry spread" and if there was any on my sandwich, it wasn't detectable. But I decided not to even mention it because I didn't want to deconstruct my sandwich a second time. Regardless of these hiccups, I would certainly consider returning.

I stopped by to get a fresh hot bagel and it did not disappoint…read more Cinnamon raisins with cream cheese , for the win! Clean, spacious and plenty of natural light. The service is good and you can place your order at the counter, self enter the order or place the order with the waiter. The menu is extensive and I saw many people enjoying the eggs to order. I just did not care for a big breakfast.

Delicious gourmet sandwiches - the March monthly special veggie sandwich, The Truth hit the spot!…read moreThe sandwich shop is tucked inside The Gatsby hotel with only indoor solo seating on cozy bar stools with a window view and some outdoor seating in front of the stadium. It's primarily a take-out shop with a dozen or sandwiches and a few sides. The Truth veggie sandwich was bursting with flavor with sweet potato, crispy eggplant, juicy portobello mushoroom, and creamy lentil aioli stuffed between whole wheat bread. It was so good that I didn't even miss not cheese! Initially, I thought about adding cheese, but glad I didn't and stuck with the classic sandwich. By the time I made it through a couple of bites of the 2nd half of my sandwich, I was stuffed and didn't have any room or a craving for chips or fries that I typically get. It was a simple sandwich with quality ingredients made well. Crossing my fingers that the veggie The Truth sandwich stays on the menu and looking forward to coming back to try other sandwiches!

This is honestly the BEST reuben I have ever had!! Im a loyay Parkway Deli customer and I always…read moreget their reuben. This puts Parkway to shame! Unlike most places that slice their meat, this is more chopped for lack of a better descriptor. And it makes all the difference. Its perfectly seasoned and so moist and tender, it almost melts on the tongue. The bread is delicious too, as is the chocolate egg cream! Do yourself a favor and go!! No matter where you get your favorite reuben (even if its nyc or brooklyn), this will unseat it!

Loooooove the breakfast bagel sandwich. Maybe best I've ever had! Pro tip: add on bacon :)read more

I went by Bullfrog Bagel this week to get a Bagel Breakfast Sandwich and after I ordered I saw a…read moreworker scratching his head and slinging his head around. When my food came from the back someone handed him my bag to hand to me. Thankfully my sandwich was fully wrapped in a bag. I thought that was so unsanitary and gross. The bagel was good but I am not sure if I will be back.

It was my first time at this location, so I chose to get one of my favorites: the Chocolate Tower…read moreTruffle Cake to go, to test things out. Though the restaurant was extremely packed, I was able to get in and out fairly quickly. Staff were very friendly, and were good at handling ordering and pickups quickly. As usual, the cake was very moist, flavorful (with a big variety of chocolate flavoring), and was a nice size. Since, the location is more centrally located, I can see myself coming back to this one more often.

I had a very weird experience here that I wanted to mention. I love the Cheesecake Factory and…read moreappreciate the scratch kitchen they keep very much! However, this experience was very negative. It started with getting seated by a hostess. As soon as I sat down, a waiter instantly came over and moved me to a new table. This waiter was brusque and unhelpful throughout our visit. To top off the negative experience, he gave us a check with $50 of extra food that we did not order. When I called it out, he told me that the table next to us had been charged for our meal, so he had to charge us for theirs. Not only is this completely nonsensical, but it also felt extremely scammy and even fraudulent. I can't in good conscience recommend this restaurant.