Adams Morgan has lost some of its club-scene momentum in the past several years with the rise of K Street but still draws a fairly significant crowd that draws from a variety of different communities within the DC area. The turnover has always been a bit more frequent in the area but there are a few venues that have managed to differentiate themselves and achieve a modicum of sustainability including Soussi. I visited Soussi this past weekend and found that it was still thriving.

Cost - $$

Service - C
For some reason I feel like Soussi is consistently understaffed and that creates some issues with service. For instance, it took us about 15 minutes or so to get served after sitting down and another 30 minutes or so until our waitress returned after the first round. I don’t think the servers are particularly rude or impolite but the scene is so chaotic they come off seeming ruffled and frantic.

Food - C
I’ve never eaten at Soussi but I must say that whatever they were cooking didn’t smell particularly appetizing. In fact, the entire restaurant smelled like fried fish and the entire time I was sitting I had to deal with the realization that I would also smell like fried fish throughout the remainder of the evening - never a good feeling.  Additionally, I had a glass of Esperto Pinot Grigio that tasted a bit stale.

Decor - B+
I went to Soussi because I really dig the upstairs lounge. It’s one of the few places in Adams Morgan you can go and feel an element of privacy. The outdoor patio is also great when the weather complies, if you can get seated.

Feel - B
I would have probably graded Soussi higher in past years or if I had been sitting out on the patio. It typically draws a very laid-back crowd and I’ve had some pretty cool interactions with people there in the past. I can get over the lack of prompt service however, this time I really couldn’t get over the lack of ventilation in the upstairs lounge and the stink that pervaded the venue so I’m going to give Soussi a B until they get their act together.

Soussi is at 2228 18th St. NW . Washington, DC 20009

Napoleon Bistro and Lounge in Adams Morgan has been gaining in popularity over the past year and now seems to have fully arrived. We are frequent visitors and it used to be more hit or miss but now, especially on weekends, there is almost always a good crowd in the lounge with a number of people dancing to a good mix of music. The restaurant on the other hand has received mixed reviews but I get the sense that over the past few months things have been getting better - especially for brunch.

Cost - $$

Service - B
I have heard some complain about the service but my experiences have all been pretty positive. The wait staff continues to be friendly and the food and drinks usually come out in a reasonable amount of time. The bartenders in the lounge do a great job and probably deserve an A-. Even on overly crowded nights, they seem to do their best to keep wait times to a minimum.

Food - C+
The food isn’t as good as many of the other French restaurants around town in the same price range but it is still a little better than decent. I have ordered the same entree on different visits and have it be very good one time and okay another. As I alluded to earlier, the food seems to be getting more consistent.

Decor - B
Napoleon falls a little short of French chic but it’s a good attempt. I like the idea of red walls, black leather booths and the coat of arms behind the upstairs bar. The lounge area is kind of cool too with the brick mixed with regal looking wallpaper but it is sometimes too crowded and dimly lit to see much of anything except the bar.

Feel - B+
Napoleon has been a go to spot over the past few months and it has consistently been a good way to end nights out in Adams Morgan. The crowd used to be more hip but now that it has more of a following, there is a lot more variety in the clientele which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The lounge tends to be on the small side so it can be crowded but not obnoxiously so. It also helps that the DJs are always good and keep the atmosphere energetic, fun and friendly.

Napoleon is located at 1847 Columbia Rd. NW. They can be reached at (202) 299-9630.

April 13, 2007 - Napoleon (Washington Post) - Whether your taste and budget call for a glass of sparkling Australian wine or an expensive vintage from a legendary French producer, champagne bars draw the hip and well-heeled from New York to Paris and beyond. Full article…

February 20, 2007 - Napoleon (DC Dining) - Café Bonaparte in Georgetown has opened a sibling restaurant, Napoleon, in the old Mantis space at the corner of Columbia Road and Mintwood Place in Adams Morgan. The interior, garish that it may be, is much more comfortable. Full article…

Leftbank is one of the few ultra-modern establishments in Adam Morgan and is known to have a few faces, depending on when one visits. On one hand it is a French bistro that also serves brunch and sushi, on another, it is a lounge complete with with a dance floor and DJ playing a wide range of music from hip hop to international. One of the cool things about this place is that during the warmer months, they open up the front doors which gives the place an open feel. When I first came to DC almost three years ago, Leftbank was consistently packed on weekend nights but for the past few months it seems to be slowing down a bit. However, it looks to be doing just fine as as a restaurant and special events venue.

Cost - $$

Service - B
From talking to others, comments from service range from being good to mediocre. I know the owner and manager so my experience has always been excellent.

Food - B
The food used to be sometimes inconsistent but a few months back, a new chef was hired and the food seems to be improved. The back sushi bar is pretty good and some of the sushi chefs really know how to make it fun for diners.

Decor - B
I really like the airy and open feel of the space which is complemented by a simple long three-sided bar. The orange banquettes and pieces of art add nice splashes of color to the minimalist decor. A good setting for brunch in colorful Adams Morgan.

Feel - C+
As of late, it’s been hit or miss as a night time destination but with a few tweaks, I think the place can pick it up because the space itself is actually pretty cool. For those seeking out an international crowd with international beats in Adams Morgan, Leftbank could be a decent choice. It also could work for those who want to dance and don’t care to be bumped into.

Leftbank is located at 2424 18th St. NW. They can be reached at (202) 464-2100.

Cost - $$

Service - B+
The service is pretty good. I like the bartenders there and the servers are pretty friendly as well. Actually they are as good as it gets in Adams Morgan. That being said, the door men I have dealt with at Bossa are just as prickish as anywhere else in the area (except for Tryst where the doormen are true gentlemen).

Food - B+
Although I can’t figure out why the food here is Brazilian, it is pretty damn good. They are known to have a pretty good menu for people who dig organic so that is something to keep in mind.

Decor - B+
Pretty chill little bar / lounge downstairs. It has a nice, comfortable feel. Upstairs sort of feels dirty to me but I’m anal retentive.

Feel - B
Honestly, I would have given this place a B+ because it is actually a really chill location. If you ever find yourself disgusted or overwhelmed in Adams Morgan you can often come here and decompress for a bit, downstairs. The only reason I had to drop it is because the last time I went there with a buddy of mine it was a sausage bonanza and his girl got hit on every time we turned away, so that left a somewhat bad taste in my mouth.

What’s the Buzz:

January 11, 2008 - Cold, Wet DC Winter: BOSSA Project (Juxtaexposed.com) - BOSSA Project on 18th St in Adams Morgan was a good cure for the seasonal depression that could have occured on a cold, wet, foggy night in January. If you can figure out how to get through the heavy tangle of curtains on the way in, you’ll find a cozy sofa area with lots of pillows to relax upon. Full Article…

January 16, 2003 - The Imperfect Beauty of Bossa (Cultureflux.com) - Organic is not vegetarian, and it’s not vegan. Bossa, a new restaurant and lounge on 18th Street in Adams Morgan, is organic. To owner Rachid Abdallah, that means everything from rack of lamb, to roasted halibut, to fennel-crusted tofu. Full article…

Cost - $

Service - A
Every single time I order from Baffetto’s, whether it’s in person or over the phone and regardless of hour, I get the same great service with a smile. Delivery is also very quick, sometimes as quick as 30 minutes but almost never over 40.

Food - B
Pizza types range from traditional to gourmet with thin crust being an option. There are also calzones, wings and hot and cold sandwiches. I am forever on the hunt for a good Italian sandwich and Baffetto’s has some pretty good ones. They also serve pizza by the slice.

Decor - N/A
It’s pretty much a counter with a couple of high tables with chairs against the wall. More like a waiting area.

Feel - C
I have been here over a dozen times but never before midnight so as far as late-night eateries go, it’s less crowded and chaotic than the pizza by the slice places up 18th Street.

What’s the Buzz:

August 1, 2007 - Baffetto (Washington Post) - Pie varieties include the Arrabiata with spicy red pepper sauce, mushrooms and olives, Chicken Pesto with grilled chicken, sundried tomatoes and olives and a simple Margarita. Full Article…

June 22, 2007 - Baffetto (Washington City Paper) - Though they’re not the gut-busting jumbo wedges Adams Morgan is (in)famous for, the pizza slices at this modest shop (counterspace, stools, black-and-white floor tiling) are as un-embarrassing as they are undistinguished. Full Article…

Cost - $$

Service - C+
I would have given this place a C but I had rapport with a bartender at Tom Tom when I used to go there and she hooked me up quite a bit.

Food - ?

Decor - C-
I don’t think Tom Tom is trying to make a name by being a stylish place to go in DC. Their strategy is to pile in as many people as possible and serve cheap drinks. Dealing in economies of scale inevitably means that the place is going to be pretty shabby.

Feel - C+
It is full of College kids, drunk girls, people from the military, etc. If you are in your early twenties then Tom Tom would probably be a B+ because it is such a raucous crowd. If you are anything older than that then you want to steer clear.

What’s the Buzz:

June 25, 2004 - Tom Tom (Drift Reality)- Tom Tom is located at 2333 18th St. NW in Adams Morgan and it may just be my favorite club in DC. Why is it my favorite club in DC? Well, I’m glad you asked me that question. Tom Tom is my favorite club in DC because it has affordable drinks, two floors so if you make an ass out of yourself on one floor, you can go to the other floor, a somewhat older crowd, and it is not pretentious nor is it very preppy. Full Article…

Cost - $

Service - B+
The servers deal with a lot of freaks and bad tips from what I’ve been told.  They also don’t have any mandates on how to behave so some of them can be a bit cantankerous but after going there for five years I have never had a bad experience with the staff at Tryst.  They also hire the only nice doormen in Adams Morgan.

Food - B+
The food at Tryst is actually pretty yummy.  They have a good selection of sandwiches and sides to much on.

Decor - C+
Tryst is definitely a bit on the grimy side with all the garage sale furniture throughout the place.  That being said it has a lot of character.  Its walls are also normally adorned with local artists work.

Feel - A
Tryst is the best coffee shop in DC.  It has a very loyal following of patrons of all types and for good reason.  It is also the only coffee shop in the history of DC where people go to actually hook up with others.

What’s the Buzz:

April 3, 2005 - Tryst (Drift Reality) - The issue of how to study and get drunk simultaneously is one that has plagued man for centuries. In our modern era or supposed convenience, it continues to befuddle us. We can go to a bar and get drunk, but we can’t take our books there because someone will throw the books out of our hand and then call us a pussy. Conversely, we can’t go to Starbucks and slam a shot of tequila because first, they don’t serve tequila; and second, mocha frappacinos are terrible chasers. Full Article…

Cost - $$$

Service - C
The doormen are a bit annoying, which is typical for Adams Morgan. The bar staff is nothing to really write home about. That being said, they don’t do anything egregiously bad so they get an average grade.

Food - ?
Do they serve food? Je ne sais pas.

Decor - B+
Not a bad feel for a place in Adams Morgan. You almost forget that you are in a trashy neighborhood when you’re up there.

Feel - B+
I would say as far as Adams Morgan goes, it probably attracts a decent caliber of people. Definitely not a bad place to go socialize.

What’s the Buzz:

September 28, 2005 - The Reef, Adams Morgan, Good beer, dining and rooftop deck on 18th St NW (DonRockwell.com) - Last night was a fantastic night to hang out on the roof top bar at The Reef in the Morgan. My bison tenderloin was fantastic, and they have a long list of new Oktoberfest beers on tap including Otter Creek (YUM), Ayinger, and Hofbrau. Full Article…

December 10, 2003 - The Reef (Drift Reality) - The Reef is located at 2446 18th St. NW in Adams Morgan. Not to say that anything is wrong with the Tiki lounge on the ground floor because nothing is. It’s foresty and green and you might feel a little bit tropical when you are sitting there drinking whatever it is that you are drinking. But I wanted to go to the fish tank room. So I told the bouncer, “Listen, I write for an E-Zine called ‘Drift Reality,’ and I have to review a number of other places tonight. When can you get me upstairs?’” Full Article…

Cost - $$

Service - C
They have some attractive waitresses, which is good I suppose. The doormen are normally dicks and that is inexplicable at this point because Saki has lost a lot of its momentum.

Food - B-
I don’t think people go to Saki to eat the sushi but it is actually not that bad.

Decor - B
It is okay I guess. The lounge has ample space to sit and relax, but also a small dance floor. Upstairs is a bit narrow but well furnished.

Feel - C
About three years ago, Saki was pretty hot. It has really lost a lot of its appeal in the past couple years and is definitely on the decline.

What’s the Buzz:

February 25, 2005 - Saki (Drift Reality) - Saki is the only sushi joint I’ve ever been to numerous times where I’ve never actually tried the food. It’s a pretty trendy venue located at 2477 18th St. in Adams Morgan and unlike so many venues that attempt to imitate a Manhattanesque ambience but fail miserably (see section on San Diego nightlife), Saki actually succeeds. Full Article…