B Smith’s

B. Smith’s #DC (Union Station) should have closed years ago. The food is awful, service pitiful, and it was over-​priced. Press release from B. Smith website says they will re-​invent and re-​open elsewhere in DC.

The cornbread was delicious, if you like cornbread from BBQs you will be blown away by these. Yes, they are tiny but the large portioned entrees will not have you looking back. Our waiter was very personable and attentive. He gave us a little history on the building and his recommendations on the menu. I went early Saturday afternoon with a friend and we were seated right away. We had the ribs and the catfish. They were nothing to call home about but they were good. The collard greens were well seasoned and the mac n cheese was yummy. Considering the portions were large, at around $ 20 per meal, it was not extremely overpriced. I can’t say the same for the drinks, $ 3 for soda and $ 4 for juice.

I went here for my graduation lunch so we were a decently large group and had a reservation at 3:30pm – odd combo, I know. I made a reservation a while in advance so when we got there and saw that the place was completely empty, the wait staff was vacuuming all around, and our table wasn’t ready, it was quite disappointing. If you only have one table you should be ready for them, right? Instead it took at least 10 minutes for us to be seated, not good. Waitress was nice but barely audible so we had to ask her many times to speak up. Perhaps they put the trainees on at that hour?
Our food was mixed: Swamp thang had potential but the different ingredients didn’t meld together at all, just sat randomly on my plate and the sauce was very salty. Shrimp, Crawfish Étouffée was lacking the actual shrimp. Breads were good though – I’ll definitely give them that. The room was also nice, with high ceilings and gold accents. A bit dated, but it felt like a special place which was a plus because the food didn’t give off the same feeling.
B.Smiths is in a great location, has nice big dining rooms and has a lot of history, but it’s definitely past its prime. I remember when it was one of the «go to» spots in DC, but that was certainly a while ago and unless they overhaul their service and food, I see it continuing its downward spiral.

Such a beautiful space, such disappointing food. Had a salad with chicken, and thought it might be great because of the watermelon and feta, but it was nothing special. All the salads looked pretty small and boring, and the one person who ordered a salad without the addition of meat had an extremely small scrappy portion. Service was an odd mix of overly attentive water-​filling & busing and under-​attentive food ordering & running. The acoustics also made it pretty loud and hard to hear without yelling. Despite the sense of history and pretty ceiling, I would not recommend this place.

One and done. How can a restaurant be so SLOW with only 5 tables of people in it. Everything came slowly, drinks, water, the check. Just slow. The food was just okay. Appetizers a bit over cooked — I had the chicken livers. Lamb chops were okay. It was very average and for that it was overpriced.
They did allow us to bring a cake and they brought it out with candles and then cut it for us. That was the only thing that got them that second star. Too many options in DC to spend that kind of money and receive bad service. Explains why it was empty at 7p on a Saturday night. I don’t need to ever go again.

Food was decent enough… maybe good enough for a return visit. But *MY GOD* the service was slow!
20 minutes for drinks to arrive – entrees almost an hour later, and then only after the server came back to ask us what we had ordered. Can you say, «…kitchen dropped the ball and forgot the order?» Yes, I think you can. We briefly considered dessert but figured that it would take another 60 minutes, which would have pushed the meal toward the 3 hour mark.
I should know better than to eat in Union Station, but I did enjoy my food. I wonder if B. Smith does take-​out? I could order mid-​afternoon which would mean my food would be ready early evening.

This is what happens when you let friends select restaurants. Sadly I wasn’t impressed. Not a large selection of items and the food wasn’t hot. I remember eating the same thing over and over again and that isn’t a good thing when you’re at an all you can eat Buffett. I prefer to get the most out of my money and eat many selections.

Met a friend here for Sunday brunch this past weekend and we were both looking forward to brunch at B. Smith’s. Got to say I was less than impressed. The food was good however, the restaurant neglected to keep plates available at the buffet… how is that possible? Also, they dropped the ball on the basics such as keeping condiments such as butter and syrup available during brunch.
The service is really where it all fell apart. The servers were polite but less than attentive to your needs such as refilling water glasses and taking your beverage order. In order to do this, you had to catch someone as they passed by. Interestingly enough, one server was hanging around talking to the patrons at the next table the entire meal and supplying the table with mimosas, orange juice and water at every turn. I attempted to order tea and coffee during the meal and was advised the restaurant was shutting down at 4pm for a special event so no tea and coffee for us. Not cool, not cool at all…
Also, the restaurant was experiencing some power issues that day. Therefore, they couldn’t process credit cards without using impressions (carbon-​lined credit card sales slips) but insisted on cash. O. K…
They really need to train the staff on how to serve customers. Please don’t assume that the beautiful location in Union Station and resting your laurels on the B. Smith name is all you need to attract customers.
Take your hard-​earned money elsewhere.

Located in Union Station next to the Thunder Grill. We went here for the first time last week for a friend’s birthday. It also happened to be DC Restaurant Week. You first enter a semi-​crowded bar area, turn a couple of corners, and finally enter the dining room.
The table we were seated at (party of 8) was in a corner tucked up against a server station. This made getting into some of the seats difficult and made it difficult for the servers to fill our drinks and bring us our food. They had space to move all the tables 2 feet over so we weren’t leaning against this huge wooden station.
Fortunately, we were all in a good mood and ignored it. I even joked with the waitstaff about it and they admitted it was terrible and that they had brought it up with management many times before.
Food was decent Southern-​style dishes. They started us off with a basket of cornbread muffins. I had etouffe, wife had peach chicken, some friends had the ribs (all off the prix fixe Restaurant Week menu). One guy ordered the steak off the regular menu and it looked delicious. All of our foods were pretty tasty. Dessert included Key Lime pie, chocolate cake, and cheesecake.
Staff was on-​point when it came to keeping our water glasses filled. I also had the B. Smith ale which was decent. I’m no beer connoisseur but it didn’t taste bad.
They have a live piano player there serenading us the whole time. I didn’t realize for at least half an hour that there was a live pianist there. I thought they were piping piano music through the speakers. Our server Bridget even had him play happy birthday while we sang and when they delivered birthday boy’s dessert to him with a candle.
If we ever make it back down that way, I’ll make sure to ask them to not seat us at that table again.

After my friend and I stumbled in here late due to a lot of traffic difficulties, we gave the name the reservation was under. To my surprise, the hostess had no idea who we were talking about. She came off as snobbish and didn’t help us at all in locating our table. However, the waiter we did have was super attentive and polite.
Since it was inauguration weekend, we had a special prix fixe menu. I got the gumbo, which I enjoyed but the two Texans I was dining with said that they’ve had better. My main dish was the salmon, which was somewhat underwhelming. The fried chicken and short ribs my dinner companions ordered looked good though. For dessert, I had the bourbon pecan pie which was delicious but I was too full to really enjoy it.
B Smith’s is good if you want a fancy dinner, but you will impress with the atmosphere and service, not the food.

Quality Southern Brunch. We’ve had dinner here almost every time we stay in DC, but today was a first. Brunch. This brunch wins, because the signature dishes on the full menu are to be found on the buffet line. Must get the garlic grits, the fried chicken. Catfish delicious even though the filets are cut into smaller strips. Shrimp at the omelette station? Yes. Best Mac n’ Cheese to hit these lips, perfectly creamy on the inside, and delightfully crispy on the outside. Only disappointments were the salmon which is always difficult to serve buffet style, as it dries out over the flame, and the pineapple ham which was surprisingly tough. Skip the pancakes and made to order waffles, instead indulge in B. Smith’s signature pecan pie or pumpkin cheesecake for a sweet and satisfactory finish.
$ 37.95 is a little steep, especially as coffee and tea are extra, and the buffet lacks finer items like a raw bar, or a cheese and fruit spread. That said, service was great and you receive a complimentary check for your bags before you lug that very well fed body of yours to the next train.
TIP: For brunch, go closer to the 11am opening if you want to beat the church crowd. Remember with any buffet: shorter lines + hotter food = better experience

A breakfast brunch that left me feeling underwhelmed and not full.
Waiting for our bus back to NYC, my friend and I decided to have the brunch at this spot. i wish we just went to Bojangles. The food was just not good. The service was even worst. It took 20 mins to get a refill, no salt and pepper, and then we watched another waiter give impeccable service.
Don’t go… Just got to the food court.

Haven’t been to B. Smith’s in a very long time. Now I remember why. The building and décor are gorgeous. The waitstaff is well-​trained. The piano player with his set list of standards make for a special atmosphere. But the food is overpriced and frankly just average. I got the catfish, macaroni and cheese and collards. Going for the healthier, I got the fish pan seared, and it was pretty lackluster. Should’ve gone for fried, probably for better taste. And the tiny portion was laughable. The macaroni and cheese was really good, but not the best I’ve ever had. The collards, though plentiful, were a bit too sweet. My friend got ribs with sweet potato fries. Again, good but not amazing. We both were sold when our waitress, flawless in her presentation, told us about the new STOLI honeysuckle cocktail. Silly me wanting to try something new, went for the STOLI pitch. Needless to say, neither of us liked the STOLI drink. Not the restaurant’s fault. For someone who likes sweet cocktails, it could be a win. At points, our waitress was a little inattentive, but when we had her, she really was amazing in her care of us. The kitchen was also a bit slow with the pacing of the meal. We finished off with dessert, $ 9 for one or $ 13 for two. We shared a slice of pretty good red velvet cake, but not good enough to be $ 9 for such a tiny slice.
This place would be a win for those who don’t really eat out a lot and are not real foodies. That is not meant to be an insult, but some people just aren’t as into food as others and are satisfied easier. I’ll leave B. Smith’s to those folks. I won’t be back.

Before I start this review, let’s just state for the record that I’m a fatty of the highest fatty calibre that will ever fat. Basically, I’m a glutton and a fatty and I’m oddly proud of this fact. I’m also a lush, but that’s a different disclosure for a different review.
It was Xmas Eve, and unlike many other crazy Xmas’ before, my husband and I were wonderfully bereft of family drama for the holidays. I’m not quite sure how it happened either, but I’m not complaining. It was arguably one of the most relaxing Xmas Days I’ve ever experienced. But I digress.
We decided to stop in on Xmas Eve to grab an early dinner. I’m glad that we made the decision to have an early dinner, because on Xmas, B Smith’s closes at 6. Fortunately, we arrived around 4:30, and feeling only mildly peckish, we were going to only get a quick «snack».
As I stated in the beginning, I’m a fatty and a glutton… because I ended up ordering the pumpkin bisque, chicken livers and the Swamp Thang. I was tempted to also order the bread pudding dessert, but my husband had a surprise of champagne and strawberries waiting for us in our hotel room, so he talked me out of it.
The pumpkin bisque was a touch too sweet for me, although my husband thought it was delightful. I also felt that the spices (I think it was cinnamon) overpowered the natural yumminess of the pumpkin… but then, I’m not a huge fan of cinnamon, so it’s probably a personal prejudice. The chicken livers were nice and the chutney was a nice contrast; offering the right amount of tartness. It wasn’t the best chicken liver I’ve ever had, but it was definitely decent. The Swamp Thang was *delicious*. It had all the rich flavors one associates with Southern cooking, but with a delicate and masteful touch.
While the food was good, I would have probably given this place 3 stars. The real star was the *awesome* server that we had. He was nice, charming, and was offering up historical tidbits about the space (it used to be the Presidential Waiting Room for the Presidential train before there were planes), and all sorts of fascinating facts about the party rooms (one of which was the First Lady’s changing room). Awesome awesome awesome!
I had a fabulous time, and the best part is that it’s not outrageously priced. Can’t wait to come back. I’m planning on throwing a small party for my mother in law, and I think this space and ambiance would be *perfect*.

April 2012: Brunch review… *SEE PIC*
I’ve been to B. Smith’s a time or two for dinner, media/​networking events and Happy Hour, so I decided to check out the Sunday Brunch scene.
Loved it!
There’s plenty to choose from, which is always good for a buffet. Besides a bunch of (UNLIMITED!) mimosas, I enjoyed catfish, collards, salmon, mac&cheese, jambalaya w/​jasmine rice, turkey w/​gravy, salad and cheesecake. (I’m pretty sure I’m leaving something out, but that’s all I remember being on my first round of plates.
Lots of big church hats and suits to be seen, so do be mindful of the dress code.
Georgia Brown’s is still my fav for «Brunch Buffet», but B. Smith’s does not disappoint. Would highly recommend this for someone looking for a GOOD place to Brunch.

5.0 for the historical dining room. Former presidents dined here, and there are four presidential seals.
3.5 food — nice presentation and good service. But somewhat pricey for lunch.
I bookmarked this after a friend suggested the restaurant. We came for lunch. It turns out there are two B Smiths on Unilocal and that’s how it’s posted on the Union Station directory. One entrance is from the East Hall inside Union Station. This door leads you into the bar lounge.
The other entrance is from the directly from the street. I did my Unilocal check in on the street entrance entry, and now I’m reviewing it from the Union Station Unilocal entry. One kitchen irregardless.
A basket of mini biscuits are brought to the table. They were warm and very good. A great way to start while you peruse the menu. If you’ve never been here, the waitstaff gives you a brief history about the significance of the huge dining room. Then you’re told which food items are the memorable ones.
We ordered four items including the fried green tomatoes as our starter, and then our individual lunch entrees.
I ordered the Swamp Thang as suggested by the server. A signature dish. $ 27 for lunch is pricey, and it was very salty. Better as dinner entrée with beans and rice! My daughter had the burger and sweet potato fries. Hubby had the fried chicken breast.
Tab including tax and tip $ 95.00 for lunch. And we only had tap water.
Diners were mostly folks in work clothes. Probably from nearby U.S. Capitol.

Met up with a friend here after work and had gotten lost in Union Station to pinpoint B. Smith’s location. Finally found it, in the back of the alley through two double doors and a bunch of vendors. Not the best location for a restaurant but it’s discrete. I like it already. I was informed that the President eats here often and was welcomed by the waiter. The layout was upscale and water glasses were kept filled and bread was rotated out often. The biscuits and corn bread muffins are the size of gumballs in a vending machine. We couldn’t stop eating them.
Anyways, on to the entrees, my friend had recommended the lamb chops w/​smokey peach red wine sauce/​sautéed kale/​cinnamon glazed sweet potato wedge. Awesome! I’d mark this as a strong contender for my last meal on the Earth. The lamb was tender and the wine sauce blended well gave it a magical taste which was unique, mainly due to the peach red wine sauce. The sweet potato adds some sweetness to complement well with the lamb. The kale wasn’t overly saturated with salt and was flavorful as well. For dessert, I had the bread pudding and wasn’t too impressed with the bread chosen for it. It didn’t provide it the soft, pudding texture that I’m use to but everything else with the ingredients were on point. Still, great place to go to but I wouldn’t try out any other entrée. Lamb chops!

We ended up here on a Friday night, I had never been, just walked by, and had no idea what to expect. I was able to get a table with no wait and sat on the enclosed patio, which has a decent view of the area outside Union Station. They bring you a basket of mini corn muffins and biscuits which are good and disappeared quickly as we were hungry (I think you have to ask for refills, which we did). The fried green tomatoes were okay but a little greasy and should come with more than three for the money. The wings were good and had a sweet and sour sauce which went well and they give you a good number for the price.
I had the shrimp and lobster étouffée which is served with rice. It was excellent and contained more shrimp and lobster than I expected. It had more of a creamy texture as opposed to more of a gumbo like type I have tried at other places and was quite filling. I would recommend this. We tried the peach cobbler and red velvet cake for dessert (they have a deal where you can get 2 desserts as a special). The peach cobbler is good but not amazing and is fresh baked which is a plus. The red velvet cake was good as well but not amazing.
This place is somewhat overpriced so you’ll be paying a lot more than you would in the south for similar items. Being from the South originally I probably have picky and unrealistic expectations for any «Southern Food» restaurant. That being said, I enjoyed this place and would recommend it for a southern style meal. As JFK said, DC combines Southern efficiency with Northern charm. You won’t feel like you’re in the south here but you can at least enjoy the food.

B Smith has definitely passed its heyday. I was there for dinner around 7pm, and the restaurant was not even half full. The food mirrored the atmosphere, as it was somewhat dated and not prepared with much care or attention.
While the décor is somewhat interesting since it is in Union Station and the server tells you the history of the place, including that it was the presidential waiting area for the train, it is not enough to make dinner there worth it.
It starts with the somewhat sad bread basket. The biscuits are the size of maybe 4 quarters put together. I’ve never seen a biscuit so small in my life! The cornbread is the size of small mini-​muffins. I’m not sure what the point of making them so small is. On the other hand, the portions of the actual dishes are rather large. The gumbo and shrimp & grits were both fine, not exceptional or memorable.
I would pass on a meal here, just because the atmosphere is rather dated and depressing, with a lack of inspired food. Go to Art and Soul instead!

I definitely enjoyed eating dinner here. Went on a Saturday night, and the place was rather busy. Most of the food tasted delicious (I had the red beans and rice appetizer, which I thought was okay), and was worth the price. Our drinks took awhile to come out, but other than that, everything else was good.
This was the first time I had crab cakes in the metro area, and definitely loved them. I wasn’t about to order them, because it had curry (which I don’t like), but decided to give them a try. When the dish came out, the crab cakes weren’t covered in curry at all, but drizzled on. The curry was actually good, and wish the cakes had more of it on them. My boyfriend had the lamb chops and loved them, he also enjoyed his spinach salad with warm bacon dressing!
I definitely enjoyed the mini cornbread and muffins! =)