Ben's Next Door

When I tell you this was the best brunch I EVER had, I'm not lying. I basically licked my plate. My friends and I came here on a Saturday around 2 and it was loud, fun, rowdy, just a good time and vibe! I got the Doin' the Most and the French Toast was sooo good melted in my mouth. Service wasn't Great but wasn't bad either, nothing notable.

Started off Sunday Funday with brunch here @3. Got seated 20 mins early.We sat in the middle section of the restaurant.Our table was wobbly but an employee came thru and helped to remedy the situationI got the Blackened Salmon Fillet & Eggs $25.95: Fresh pan-seared salmon, filleted daily, two eggs any style, home friesThis entree meal was delicious, filling and tastyFriend got the Organic stone-ground, 3 cheese grits, in a saffron white wine broth with Blackened Salmon$25.95. He said this was great. AND The GRITS were soooo good! I wish I got grits on the side :)We also opted for the Bottomless Mimosas, $30.00 each. For each flavor, the mimosas came in a carafe. The OJ and Peach flavor were the best to meA Live DJ started playing around 4p which was a lot of fun. Music was also playing before the DJ - good music!Glad we ended up coming here to brunch!

If you're ever in DC on a Sunday, Ben's Next Door is an absolute must for brunch. This spot nails the perfect blend of good vibes, great food, and endless drinks, making it a standout experience.From the moment you step in, the music sets the tone, creating an upbeat and lively atmosphere. And then there's the bottomless bellini faucet--peach, mango, and strawberry flavors flow freely, tempting you to get up and dance along with the crowd. It's the kind of brunch where you come for the food but stay for the vibe.We kicked things off with the Mambo Wings, and they were nothing short of phenomenal. The balance of sweet heat was spot-on, making them the perfect starter as the energy in the room grew.For the main course, I went with Doin' the Most, a classic breakfast platter. It was solid--nothing groundbreaking but reliable, satisfying, and exactly what I needed. My date, however, hit the jackpot with the & Grits with Catfish. Perfectly seasoned and cooked to perfection, it was one of those dishes you instantly regret not ordering for yourself. No notes, just perfection.All in all, Ben's Next Door captures the essence of DC brunch culture--fun, flavorful, and full of life. If you're looking for a spot that combines good food with an unforgettable atmosphere, this is the place to be. Highly recommend!

I absolutely love Ben's next door! I didn't realize it was a nice place to come and get some work done as well. I ordered my food and two drinks and it came out pretty fast! The bar tender was great and she checked on me quite often. They had nice music playing as well while I was getting my work done so that was a plus! The space was clean and I didn't need much, got my two drinks and my food and got some work done before class and I left out. I'll definitely be back around that 2-4pm time because it wasn't rowdy or crowded at all!

Ben's is ok. Food is fine. Drinks are below average. Vibe is cool. The best thing about Ben's is people watching. 3.2 stars.

I highly recommend Ben's next door. First of all, it is a dc staple but thats not what makes it worthy alone. The food and drinks are great, service is attentive, and the ambiance is upbeat and lively. I went with my friend friday for happy hour and it was great. I got the mambo wings and chili cheese fries; filling and delicious. The drinks were tasty and the r and b/hip hop had the place jumping. Stop by the next time you're on U street!

Did brunch on a Saturday. Got there around 11, the restaurant was kinda empty but it was crowded by time we left. Music was 90s r&b but I was glad it wasn't a sing a long concert. Food was good. I got the Oh you doing the most which was one thick slice of brioche french toast (unstuffed), scrambled eggs and home fries. The catfish was good too. The crab deviled eggs were nothing special. I would go back for the French toast and catfish again, and maybe try something different from the regular menu.

Great Vibe! Great food! Ben's Next Door is a great spot with a cool vibe and a welcoming family atmosphere. The food was delicious, with generous portions and amazing flavors. The service was friendly and attentive, making the experience even better. Whether you're coming for brunch, dinner, or just to hang out, the atmosphere is lively yet comfortable, perfect for families and friends alike. I definitely recommend checking it out if you're looking for good food and a great time!

I wanted to like it. I wanted to love it. It's on U street, next door to Ben's Chili Bowl, as the name suggests, but it's a MESS. The service is HORRENDOUS. The restaurant opens at 11. I arrived at 10:45 - there are no signs on the door with the hours of operation so I pull in the door to open it and am greeted with expressions of disgust and annoyance by the wait staff who IN UNISON yelled at me "WE OPEN AT ELEVEN." Oh and two of them were walking IN THE DOOR at 10:45. When I came back AT ELEVEN, they hadn't opened the doors, had an attitude and directed me to the bar because we didn't have a reservation. Long story, we were 7 and should have, but our reservation was at a restaurant that closed with no notice down the block. The ambiance gives club, not brunch. It's dark, loud, and the attitude of the host, servers and bar attendants were so poor that we opted to just eat and leave. Our waitress came around and was quite nice. I think her name was like Snow or something?!? She told us what was and wasn't good on the menu and everyone felt she gave good feedback. She knew the menu but doesn't eat fish so there was that lol. The food took an oddly long time to come out, especially given that we're now 1/9 tables in the place. When it did come, it looked awful (think home cook, not chef plating) but tasted pretty good. I had the salmon croquettes, my cousin had shrimp and grits, one lady had a salad, and three ladies had the platter. No one complained about the food, the temperature was good but they had NO DECAF (at 11am), no unsweetened tea, and the waitress forgot the girl's iced tea until well after the food came. Food Overall 3.2/5The reason for the 2 stars are 3 things:1. TERRIBLE FIRST IMPRESSIONS - the hosts and bar attendants were RUDE. Hospitality 1/52. It was LOUD and grimy- my seat was a little greasy, we were doing a book club brunch and trying to talk and the music was so loud we couldn't hear ourselves! We were 1 of maybe 7 tables in the spot right when they opened and we ASKED the manager to turn it down and it went down for 1 minute and then right back up. Horrible. Cleanliness & Customer Service 2/53. No split checks. Nobody has time to get stuck paying for one chick's 7 drinks. Restaurants who do this are LAZY. I served for years in a past life and, unless the place IS A CLUB, there is no reason to not let people pay for what they ordered. Business practices 0/5The place is also slightly overpriced for what it is. This is puzzling because Ben's Chili Bowl has done so well for so long by providing good service, a neighborhood feel and reasonable prices. It's sad that this iteration could go so sideways. For this reason alone, I likely won't be back. It wasn't that impressive and I honestly got a headache trying to hear and chat over the music. Another place that's NOT for the 40+ crowd unless you're still on the club.

Food was so delicious but service was subpar, as expected honestly. Waitress could care less about our table but everything was very good.