Sassafras Lounge and Restaurant

This place has great potential but there are a few subtle but important things they need to work on. I’ve been to this place 3 times so far, and it seems to be consistent in its overall delivery.
I hope Sassafras improves it’s model, as it is always the subtle things that ultimately kills a business.
Me and a friend decided to meet here for a quick happy hour after work one Thursday.
The good:
We were immediately seated as there were only 2 or 3 other tables full. The place is well decorated with a nice relaxing atmosphere. Plenty of parking, and generally speaking the staff, including our server, were very nice. The music was great.
The bad:.
Service is slow. It took about 10 – 15 minutes before someone came over to take my order. I thought this was strange considering there were only 2 – 3 other tables with customers and I could clearly see 3 – 4 staff members chatting away at the bar.
We asked about the happy hour specials and we’re told that you received half off certain appetizers and $ 2-​$ 3 off drinks.
I ordered a rum and coke (with Mount Gay rum) and my friend ordered a vodka and cranberry with no specific liquor request. We ordered 2 appetizers.
The appetizers, while tasty, arrived luke warm.
The drinks were good but I was VERY surprised to see that each drink was $ 10 ea.
I asked the server if they forgot to take off for happy hour and was told that the regular price was $ 13 ea. To confirm this, I asked to speak with the manager. When the manager came over I asked him if the price was accurate? He confirmed the price. I stated that I thought $ 10 was a bit pricey for a happy hour drink in the suburbs. Most places in DC don’t even charge that during non happy hours. He stated «the price is the price, and the price is $ 10.» Then he walked away.
While I can appreciate the price being «the price» I left feeling very dissatisfied and somewhat cheated with the overall experience.

Good Bye Sassafras – This lounge had great potential & although small, it was cute. Limited menu options (small plate), live music, but big on ambiance. The bathroom was subpar– like an afterthought. Before closing, my coworkers & I would go after work because it was close to my job. However, mgmt failed to anticipate the overall changing needs of their customers and they started letting any old band perform which diminished the experience.

This place started off nice. Then as time progressed it turned awful. When the furniture started breaking down they put the patio furniture in the main dining room.
The food was very good but overpriced. One day the kitchen had a fire and they were serving a Buffett with random food from the surrounding carryouts.
I did a live painting there and the owner «bought» the painting and still hasn’t given me my $ 300.
The place had so much potential but was poorly managed and run.

I have visited this spot twice within the past month. The first time, the crowd was nice however most of the menu selections (beef short ribs) were «sold out.» I re-​visited the spot tonight around midnight, was seated, and provided with menus by the hostess. Once our waiter arrived 15 minutes later, I ordered the calamari and the beef short ribs. Our waiter gave us a look before telling us that the kitchen was actually closed. Huh? Sooo Why were we provided with menus?
After going back into the kitchen to check with staff, we were allowed to place orders. I was excited to finally order the beef short ribs. The excitement was short lived rather as I was once again told, the short ribs were «sold out.» Okay, so an order of calamari and firecracker shrimp would do. The calamari came out and it looked as though it was halfway gone. When asked the waiter about the small portion, we were told «maybe that’s all they had in the back because the kitchen is actually closed.» Absolutely not! The owner came to the table and was not warm at all. He explained that the food was pre-​portioned and it could not have been a lil bit of food. He walked away from the table and never returned. To make it worst, he left the item on the bill. This place is thee worst in customer service/​satisfaction. I give this place a few more months before its closed for good.
I forgot to mention, the fried shrimp with firecracker sauce for $ 11 was actually 5 lil pieces of shrimp on a bed of lettuce. Not worth the price but after dealing with the owner, it was not worth the fuss. After paying the bill, one thing was for certain, I would never patronize this business in the future. Wont be recommending the spot to anyone and its unfortunate because small successful black restaurants are few and far between in the Bowie area.

I was tempted to give this place 2 stars, but it has great potential to stick around and be a successful business in the African-​American community.
Pros: First let me say the music in this spot is amazing. Exactly what I love. R&B music. Musiq, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu just to name a few. It kept me busy during the longggg wait for service. The food was pretty good… once we got our order taken. The décor was pretty nice. Nice grown crowd and a good alternative to the DC club/​lounge scene. I ordered the chicken sliders with a side house salad, and a glass of Red Blend wine. Pretty good. My friend said the Reisling (not sure which kind — they had 3) was one of the best she’d ever tasted. If I go back, I think I’ll order the crab cake sliders. The couple next to us had wings which looked amazing.
Cons:
The service is not good.
The bathroom needs a major facelift.
Again, the service is not good. It was worth me saying twice.
Menu. It was not clearly written that the meat add-​ons in the salad (Salmon, chicken etc) was just that… an added cost. My friend ordered the salmon caesar salad, which appeared to only cost $ 10. We both were thinking that was a great price. However, when the bill came it was an extra $ 10 added onto the price of the salad which was about $ 7 – 8. The key word missing on the menu was «Add». She said the salad was good, probably not worth $ 17 – 18, so order at your own risk!
It took forever just to get a waiter to take our drink order. 2 of us arrived together and a 3^rd was joining us (which we mentioned when we walked in the door), however we only got one menu and the hostess said she would be right back with another menu. which we never received. We also asked the waiter for knives once our food came… again which we never received.
But given the food and music, this place has such great potential to be around for a long time. However, they may run out a few customers such as myself due to the poor service.

Went to this place on a Friday evening for a friend’s birthday celebration. I rode around the parking lot thinking I was in the wrong place. Just when I was about to initiate plan B, I saw the rib joint — then Sassafras.
First, I was disappointed with the size of the place since we were going to eat something then head to the bar for drinks after. The seating, while attractive, is cramped. It felt as if we were already AT the bar!
All the small plates I sampled were delicious. The drinks were well made.
But then I had to go «freshen up»…
What is up with the ugly, poorly stocked restrooms? I felt like I left Sassafras and went to the Sunoco gas station — and that bathroom may even be an insult to Sunoco. The bathroom does not match the atmosphere that the restaurant achieves by a long shot.
Note to the owners: The décor of the bathrooms IS important.
Pros: The servers were prompt and attentive
The food was good
Parking is ample (once you realize where you need to be)
The décor is nice and trendy
Cons: The sinage needs to be more obvious — I noticed the rib place sinage first and they are right next door.
If you want dinner, this is not a place to go
It is very noisy and loud, so be prepared to yell at everyone — even people you like
I have seen nicer bathrooms at truck stops

Still impressed with Sassafras! I am just returning from a very enjoyable after church brunch in which my omelette was delicious (made to order with shrimp, spinach, cheese, and peppers) and my teas kept on coming. Again, giving up carb for Lent had me twitching since some of the neighboring tables around me were stacked high with chicken and waffles and pancakes that looked oooh so tasty, but I definitely left satisfied and happy that we had decided to try out a meal here instead of just drinks when the restaurant turns lounge.
The atmosphere still feels like a lounge during the day, but with the smooth jazz playing in the background, it is a lot more relaxing and subdued — the way it should be on a Sunday. Our waitress was top notch and very attentive. The hostess on the other hand didn’t really get her job. When we arrived, she told us that there was a little wait for tables unless we wanted to sit at a table that gets a little draft. No worries. «We’ll wait» we told her. She suggested that we go to the bar. We were just about to take her up on that when I asked «How long do you think it will take.» She answered, very matter-​of-​factly, «I’m not sure. You will have to check back in with me.» Uh… excuse me. If you don’t know how long it will take, that’s ok, but aren’t you supposed to check back in with us at the bar? I mean, if there’s not a table ready, and we checked in with you once, and you suggest that we go to the bar, as a hostess, it is your job to come and get us when there is a table available or have a waitress do it. It’s not our job as customers to come back to you and ask all over agai

Some girlfriends and I stopped in for a quick drink one night after dinner and once they get themselves together, this could be a pretty nice hang out spot. The service is pretty good and the waitress was wonderful but the host (or owner) or who ever was standing at the door didnt seem to know much about the place and his answer to every question was «we just opened»… Me: «do you guys have a desert menu» Him: «umm im not sure what our desserts are, we just opened». those type of responses will only be acceptable for the first few nights. I will be returning so hopefully after my next visit I can up the stars.
The food was decent. I had the red velvet cake, which wasn’t bad, a friend had the wings and for 4 dollars (happy hour special) you cant complain! Next time i go i will be sampling many things since the menu is pretty inexpensive.