Discrimination against babies. Do not allow stroller or baby in this pretentious place. My family was turned away at entrance with a reservation stating that we would bring a baby in her stroller.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Theodore
Horrific. They deserve less than zero. Don’t make reservations with a baby or toddler and show up only to be told that they won’t allow you into the restaurant.
Luis Galarza
Just go
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Nancy Van Frank
The quality of food seems to have changed here. Their staple menu item of shrimp and grits came with a handful of small shrimp and a large spoonful of tasteless grits - not the way it used to be presented at all. But the most egregious thing was the “crab cake special” which consisted of two burned crab cakes the size and shape of a miniature hockey puck (but thinner) placed over some steamed vegetables. Maybe the chef was different on the night we were there, because it was so strikingly bad. I’m giving it two stars because maybe it was just an off night.
Linda A. H. Prell
Loved the soft shell crabs!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Dr. Cheryle
Absolutely top drawer, wait service was very nice and joined the B'day lunch for my daughter. So nice.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Hardwood Grilled Steak Frites
Marlene Sapperstein
Everyone loves Blacks. The setting is so unique and the food is very gourmet. Dinner here is always a special treat. We had the Mountain trout. I highly recommend it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Black Market Salad
Peter J.
My group of four came for drinks at 4:30. Food and bar service were fine. BUT the receptionist was incredibly rude and overbearing. My wife and I moved a chair at the bar to facilitate conversation among the four of us. He (wrinkled shirt and jeans, dirty tennis shoes...isn't there a dress code for management?) ordered us to move the chair back...no conversation...no foreplay just DO IT! Perhaps he had a job to do... but the way he handled the situation was really offputting.
Yolanda P.
The restaurant is very quaint and the food is good however the service is super unfriendly. Starting from the person at the front desk, to the bartenders to the staff. All very aloof and no one smiles at you as if you were an annoyance by going to the restaurant. It is too bad because we used to go very often for the past 8 years but something in the last year or so has changed. I do not feel welcome there. Again, a shame because I live right there in the little neighborhood. Hopefully a manager will step in and fix the "bad attitude " problem that seems pervasive with the staff.
Debbie U
I usually visit this lovely place with the same friend. This was our first visit since Covid and we look the wrong turning. But, it was comforting to finally get there and find the same welcoming atmosphere. A delicious Cubano sandwich with salad and a cup of coffee, was the reward. Another thing to like about this Bistro is there is something for everyone. Omnivores, vegetarians or vegans can find something delicious.Vegetarian options: Black bean burger, salads, veggie pizza, soup. There are Also fish dishes for vegetarians who eat fish.
Enjoy the food and the service. We got the calamari and the muscles appetizers. They were great.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Soup of the Day Bowl
Miriam Michael
The food is mediocre with lip fries, and even limper onion rings. The fish appears to be their best menu item for suburban place. It’s not bad, but in a sophisticated market like DC this is truly third rate with absolutely terrible service.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 1
Michael C.
mediocre food and terrible service. Specially the manager extremely rude and kept interrupting dinner for the prices. The food is extremely pedestrian.
Cheryl H.
It had been decades since I last ate here and now I'm wondering why it took me so long to come back! My friend and I enjoyed a tasty lunch in a sunny corner of a quiet room. Everything was delicious. Wait staff cordial and attentive. The bill for two of us came to a little over $50 for the dishes pictured. This quiet venue was just right. It reminded me a lot of the vibe from my visits to Lake Chautauqua with the Victorian setting and the community atmosphere.
Anushik S.
Excellent place! You won't regret and the location is fantastic! The squid salad and smoked blacks burger are yumm!!! So are pizzas!
Discrimination against babies. Do not allow stroller or baby in this pretentious place. My family was turned away at entrance with a reservation stating that we would bring a baby in her stroller.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Horrific. They deserve less than zero. Don’t make reservations with a baby or toddler and show up only to be told that they won’t allow you into the restaurant.
Just go
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The quality of food seems to have changed here. Their staple menu item of shrimp and grits came with a handful of small shrimp and a large spoonful of tasteless grits - not the way it used to be presented at all. But the most egregious thing was the “crab cake special” which consisted of two burned crab cakes the size and shape of a miniature hockey puck (but thinner) placed over some steamed vegetables. Maybe the chef was different on the night we were there, because it was so strikingly bad. I’m giving it two stars because maybe it was just an off night.
Loved the soft shell crabs!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Absolutely top drawer, wait service was very nice and joined the B'day lunch for my daughter. So nice.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Hardwood Grilled Steak Frites
Everyone loves Blacks. The setting is so unique and the food is very gourmet. Dinner here is always a special treat. We had the Mountain trout. I highly recommend it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Black Market Salad
My group of four came for drinks at 4:30. Food and bar service were fine. BUT the receptionist was incredibly rude and overbearing. My wife and I moved a chair at the bar to facilitate conversation among the four of us. He (wrinkled shirt and jeans, dirty tennis shoes...isn't there a dress code for management?) ordered us to move the chair back...no conversation...no foreplay just DO IT! Perhaps he had a job to do... but the way he handled the situation was really offputting.
The restaurant is very quaint and the food is good however the service is super unfriendly. Starting from the person at the front desk, to the bartenders to the staff. All very aloof and no one smiles at you as if you were an annoyance by going to the restaurant. It is too bad because we used to go very often for the past 8 years but something in the last year or so has changed. I do not feel welcome there. Again, a shame because I live right there in the little neighborhood. Hopefully a manager will step in and fix the "bad attitude " problem that seems pervasive with the staff.
I usually visit this lovely place with the same friend. This was our first visit since Covid and we look the wrong turning. But, it was comforting to finally get there and find the same welcoming atmosphere. A delicious Cubano sandwich with salad and a cup of coffee, was the reward. Another thing to like about this Bistro is there is something for everyone. Omnivores, vegetarians or vegans can find something delicious.Vegetarian options: Black bean burger, salads, veggie pizza, soup. There are Also fish dishes for vegetarians who eat fish.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sausage Pizza
Restaurantji Recommends
Enjoy the food and the service. We got the calamari and the muscles appetizers. They were great.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Soup of the Day Bowl
The food is mediocre with lip fries, and even limper onion rings. The fish appears to be their best menu item for suburban place. It’s not bad, but in a sophisticated market like DC this is truly third rate with absolutely terrible service.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 1
mediocre food and terrible service. Specially the manager extremely rude and kept interrupting dinner for the prices. The food is extremely pedestrian.
It had been decades since I last ate here and now I'm wondering why it took me so long to come back! My friend and I enjoyed a tasty lunch in a sunny corner of a quiet room. Everything was delicious. Wait staff cordial and attentive. The bill for two of us came to a little over $50 for the dishes pictured. This quiet venue was just right. It reminded me a lot of the vibe from my visits to Lake Chautauqua with the Victorian setting and the community atmosphere.
Excellent place! You won't regret and the location is fantastic! The squid salad and smoked blacks burger are yumm!!! So are pizzas!