Bistro 18 Adams Morgan

This place is okay. But I just tried to redeem the coupon from Unilocal for free chicken wings and they would not honor it. I am very disappointed in that. Plus I order mint Shisha, and it tastes like melon. I figure they don’t know the difference or they’re too tired. Either way, it’s not cool.

This place is actually decent for a hole in a wall. We went on a Friday night and it was packed. We waited until some space opened up at the bar in which you could start your hookah and then move to the main room when a table is free. That was nice to offer that. Place place some ratchet music if you like that atmosphere. I was def enjoying. I like that the music videos plays with the music. Very chill spot. Good pricing for the hookah and no min per person. And from what i get, they dont offer tap water, you will have to buy a bottled water. Service is slow… but overall a nice time

Knocked 3 stars off because service was disappointing. We get in, bartender/​host tells us a certain table we wanted is only available for parties of 6 or more. 15mins later, how is a party of 3 allowed to sit at the table we requested? No idea (place was nowhere near full)
Not sure of their patronage, but at least lie better? They could have told us it was reserved or SOMETHING… other than the crap they fed us when we asked for the table… THEN I showed a coupon I got through Unilocal for some freebies. The manager tells me; «Yelp keeps giving out coupons without our consent, we don’t honor those, sorry».(Yelp just brought you business, you dim whelps?)
Anyway, experience could have been better, Jumbo Slice across the street made was great! I recommend this place for 18 – 22 year olds.

I was into this place. Without looking at reviews first decided to give it a shot. Im glad i didn’t look. Im also glad my visit was on a sunday night and not a busy shift. I cant speak for the food. But the beer selection was good, amd discounted for happy hour. The bartender was super sweet. And i really enjoyed the hookah.
While i was there one of the employees came around with incense, which was a little weird. The other patrons were also annoying, and the place seemed too dark and shadowed. But i might come back for the hookah. And i say might, and not definitely because im not an avid smoker and might not want to smoke for another year.

Sometimes I like a little ratchet with my hookah!
I had the pleasure of coming here with a group of friends for mini bday get together. We ended up meeting someone there who reserved a table; she happened to be friends with the owners. So my review may be a tad biased by the good treatment we received.
We walk in and the music is poppin (I’m talking good olé 2 Chainz, Juicy J, Wale), there’s a table full of chicks who were seat twerkin, drankin, and smokin! Meanwhile, four spectators were seated behind them, looking dumbfounded at all the fun that was taking place around them (I guess they thought they were smoking hookah in Georgetown). Anyhow, the mood was right! And amongst all the shenanigans a Que Dawg gets up and starts stepping all down the middle aisle of the establishment, to the sheer embarrassment of his date…
My homegirls and I are seated and proceed to order buffalo wings for the table, which were pretty tasty! The ladies all ordered lemon drops and a couple of mixed cocktails. I attempt to order my good olé-​when in doubt Hendricks and tonic… No Hendricks, only Bombay Sapphire and Seagrams. Ok, I’ll take BS and tonic. The drinks weren’t bad, fresh lime, bubbly tonic, strong gin. Shots were passed, everyone was happy!
We had a couple of bricks of hookah. I think they ordered watermelon mint. The other flavor I can’t recall, I can only say that I felt an immediate rush upon my first pull! I’m not a regular smoker but I really enjoyed the hookah here. As soon as a brick was finished, someone swooped in to replace it with another fiery hot brick!
All in all, I enjoyed my experience. I only wish they had a better drink selection; I can’t speak on the menu options as we only ate wings.
So, If you’re looking for an upscale hookah experience, this isn’t it! But, if you like to kick back and have fun with no pretense, this might be the place.

Went too this restaurant for a friends birthday got there early with our table, the waitress was accommodating at first getting me drink and asking if I wanted food. I had a good experience up until then, once my friends got there the server would hardly come to our table to check on us. One of the people at my table broke a glass by accident and it took 10 min for her to come clean up the broken glass. We went during the week so it wasn’t busy enough for us to have another server run all of our food and drink so she wouldn’t have to deal with us. I left early and needed my portion of the check so I had to go to the bar to get my portion only to find our server at the bar sitting with her friends. I went back to give her my card and she was on facetime in plain view of the restaurant, needless to say that I was not happy. She should be glad that she had already added gratuity because she would have gotten no tip at all, her tip would have gone to the girl who actually deserved it for getting everything for us.

In DC twice a month on business. Won’t be stopping in here again. Bitches? Really? I’m done.

It too long to get seated and after waiting 45-​min for our food to come out, we left.

This place is terrible. I was really excited to have the opportunity to smoke hookah with some friends during our night out in Adams Morgan, but the drink prices were insane, we were charged for WATER, and the waitress barely ever acknowledged us, but I guess she had no incentive since tip was included on our bill (even though we were a small group of 3).
I would not recommend a visit to Bistro 18.

This snazzy spot is kind of that hidden gem you’d like to take your significant other too just to impress but also to enjoy each one another’s company. I recently slid through here for July 4^th weekend and of course every place was packed but Bistro looked like it had a balance of what you we were looking for; booz and shisha. My girls and I walked in and was instantly greeted by a beautiful waitress whom I must say was busting her behind to tend to everyone’s needs. She was behind the bar taking orders and on the floor taking orders. Yes Gawd honey! She was on it.
It took a while for our hookah order to come out which is why I had to take away a star as much as I’d like to give them four but the weren’t moving in timely manor. It seemed like everyone one the floor was took occupied in the back, which I’m guessing was the kitchen? Not sure, but the beautiful waitress was doing the best she could to accommodate our needs which I appreciated.
I am hoping my review will send a flock of curious people to the place because the music was on one but it’s really what you make it. If you have hot friends you’ll attract a hot crowd and if you don’t.well at least you’ll get good service!
Shout out to the beautiful waitress for holding it down for me and my ladies that night!

Every time I come to this place I always have a good time and get good service.
I usually go on Saturdays or Sundays right before it gets completely crowded (around 5:30/6pm).
They have happy hour from 4pm to 8pm on Saturdays and so I usually go there with friends to hangout, have some shisha, and have a few round of drinks before heading elsewhere. Not sure about the food. I haven’t eaten there, but from what I saw it looks average.
They play good reggae music, however, I wish their music selection was more diverse.
There is a waitress that usually works the weekends there, Ellsie, she is very sweet and always takes take of me when I’m there.
The only reason I give them a 3 out 5 stars is because they need to be more on top of their customers when the place becomes crowded. It seems that they always have one cook and not enough waitresses. That is a major downfall, but I hope they can get it together.

Went there for dinner service — horrible experience. They were nearly out of everything on their already limited menu. The hummus tasted like it was store bought and was served with taco shells. The dinners were so-​so. We decided to take a chance and order dessert but they were out of 2 of the 3 desserts leaving the only option rice pudding. The rice pudding was inedible and was also the recommendation of our server. After dessert our server neglected us for nearly 45 minutes. We finally got our check and our server added gratuity (there were 3 of us dining) without letting us know. She also appeared to be on drugs or just completely brainless. DO NOT GO

Horrible service. I got my food after everyone was done eating. The juice was half cup of ice. Had to take my food to go. I guess I paid full price for leftovers?
i was just so pissed it cost me 18 $ for a beef kabob sandwich and mango juice!

Agree with Negesti — You’d have to be out of your mind to visit this shithole and positively certifiable to come twice.
Some con artists play the long con — milk the cow for years rather than just butcher it. Others are too short-​sighted to see anything other than the 20 bucks they can rip off of you for a lousy dinner just the once. The staff and management make it abundantly clear that they don’t have the remotest concern for your repeat business. Worst. Spot. Ever.

I guess I stand alone in my evaluation of this place, but I thought it was delicious! I’m glad for once in my life I didn’t check Unilocal before arriving :).
I had the salmon and my friend had the scallop and shrimp pasta. We both also had ice teas… the place does seem to have a bit of an identity crisis going, but it was nice, bright and cheerful. I wish the windows would have been able to open up to the 18^th street scene. Anyway, they were out of many items, but the fish we got was cooked perfectly! I mean perfectly, and came out nice and hot.
The service was a bit slow, but very friendly and we were in no rush so that was fine with us. The portions were great and the prices for what you were getting was even better! I was shocked to see such low reviews for a place that both my friend and I truly loved!

Failure… This restaurant will not succeed.
My wife and I got a discounted brunch through Travel-​zoo, so keep in mind I was only paying about 40% of menu price and had a reservation.
Upon walking in, I was pleasantly surprised by a lot of natural light and spread out tables. –This was the high point of our brunch.–
After waiting about ten minutes to be sat, we were directed towards a dark corner in the back in which I refused to sit. We were sat in an open table near the front and our orders were taken. However, when the waitress came back to confirm my order, she told us we could not sit there. Our options were to sit at a bar that is way too high with cheap looking seats or the dark corner. I sat at the bar and considered walking out until another group left and we could take their table. (I continued to watch our original table, and during the entire time we were there no one used it.)
I ordered a bloody Mary, my wife had a coke and we would split a cheese board. The coke was completely flat and we sent it back in favor of a sparkling water. They were out of sparkling water and recommended a ‘sparkling mineral water.’ It was not sparkling water, but more annoying was that it was room temperature and we didn’t even get a glass.
Someone else brought the cheese plate, which was just pathetic. One of the cheeses was not terrible, which is the best thing that could be said for the whole thing. It looked terrible, it tasted terrible. When the cheese plate was delivered we asked for a glass with ice and reminded him that we didn’t have any silverware.
When our entrees came out we, again, almost just got up and walked out. We still didn’t have our silverware (a huge no-​no in food service), but didn’t need to wait for it to know that the food would be disgusting. We did get our silverware and were correct, The taste was terrible. The display was absolutely trashy. The eggs looked like there were beaten with dirt. The toast was squished, the potatoes were cold and the sausage was raw. It was just absolutely pathetic.
After a while we just gave up, we covered our plates with our napkins to cover up the fact that the food was inedible and asked for our bill. When the waitress brought the bill she explained that they had only been open for four months and only had one waiter and were having some troubles getting off the ground.
I can forgive the poor service (though I don’t understand why they would participate in a Travel-​zoo major sale with only one waitperson), everyone can have a bad day. But the atmosphere just didn’t work. The bar looked nice, but it was too high and the chairs looked cheap. There was some nice artwork on the walls, but it didn’t match the décor and strange music was playing throughout. What is completely unforgivable was the atrocious quality of the food.
I would never eat there again (and I suppose since it was mostly inedible, I haven’t eaten there yet.)
I feel for any new restaurant, but given the failure of the design, the miserable failure of the service and the embarrassment of the food, I don’t see how this restaurant can service another four months.
As we were getting up to leave, they brought my wife a glass with ice in it…

Awful.
After we were seated, we waited forever for a waiter to take our orders.
I used a travel zoo coupon that was entitled to the following: Cheeseboard, 2 brunch entrees, 2 cocktails.
The waiter forgot our cheeseboard, And when we were served this appetizer at the end of our meal, it consisted of a few slices of american cheese, swiss cheese, some marmalade, and a few walnuts. Retail price, $ 9. I kid you not.
For my entrée, I ordered the bistro breakfast. Which included 3 runny eggs, 3 links of sausages that were so undercooked, they were still red and cold in the middle, and some deep fried home fries. When I sent the links back, they brought 2 small sausage patties, because they «ran out» of links. We were the first customers there. Oh, the patties were served after the cheese board.
The wait staff however, was friendly, but non attentive.
Do not eat here. Ever. Unless you want undercooked food and overpriced options.

Short version: I felt like I was on Kitchen Nightmares! I’ve lived on DC for five years and this is the only time I have ever walked out of a restaurant — it is the worst dining experience I’ve ever had in the District. I’m really not high maintenance about restaurants, but this was nuts! Stay away!
Long version: The place was super understaffed, and the staff was really slow and disengaged. I had the coupon deal through travelzoo and didn’t realize I had to print the voucher. After a lengthy wait to talk to the manager (aka one of two waiters and apparently the bartender as well), I went to kinkos and printed it out. Though the restaurant is a small space, we were ignored for at least 15 minutes when I got back.
When someone actually took our order, apparently I was being a little out there by asking for substitutes for a very carb heavy menu (sauce on the side and salad instead of carbs) and I was literally told it «might» come out the way I asked and that «we’ll see» if the kitchen does it. Really? «We’ll see» if someone can put sauce on the side?
My friend and I commiserated with both parties next to us; everyone was having comparably lame experiences. We had a lot of time to chat. This lady’s Crab Benedict came out without sauce and without an explanation; when she finally succeeded in getting the waiter’s attention 10 minutes later, he said «I know, we’re out of sauce.»
Um…what though? A) That is the point of a benedict, how are you out of this at noon on a Sunday, and B) why didn’t you disclose this earlier, like when she ordered? WHAT??? I had also ordered crab benedict and hadn’t been informed.
The coupon includes a cheese plate — we asked for it literally three times. The last time I was told the manager was my waitress and «she might bring it out, I don’t know.» By this point we had been there for nearly an hour, so I told him I looked forward to the possibility of actually getting the food I pre-​paid for and headed out.
Despair not — my friend and I went across the street to La Fourchette, where we got delicious food in a timely manner. Gordon Ramsey, this place needs your love!

I invited my gf to Bistro 18 for Sunday Brunch. Had I known it was this bad, I would not have taken my gf. It was an embarassment for me. Prior to going I made a reservation but when we arrived at the restaurant, the random staff walked up and told us they didnt have any tables, few minutes later he said he had one table available. I didnt understand why places required reservation when they didnt even take it seriously.
The staff were just bad — they were non-​responsive and appeared confused most of the time. Many patrons on Sunday came here for the brunch deal but they were just sitting there as the non-​responsive staff ignored them. Finally the server came up I wanted to start with a latte he said they didnt have it, how about a cappucino, he then replied the coffee machine was not in operation! WOW! So we ordered the cheese plate, crabby benny (crab benedict), asparagus goat cheese omelet, a mimosa and a martini. While we received the cheese plate with no flatware provided and no drinks, we looked at the next table that ordered the same brunch deal they had their mimosas while they waited their cheese plate. After I asked for the flatware, the server looked «surprised» that he forgot about that. My gf decided to walk over to the rack for a couple of plates. The cheese plate was not what was described with fig jam etc there was no fig whatsoever. Shortly after, my crabby benny came out there were two crab cakes and eggs on top of muffins but there was no sauce. The table next to us asked me if I asked the sauce to be left out. So I asked the server, he said that they did not have the sauce!!! That’s the most ridiculous thing I ever heard. Why wouldnt he tell us that when we ordered? He did the same to the customers two tables down from us they heard it and wanted it changed but ten other items on there were out so the lady orderd a plain omelet. My crab benedict was dry, eggs were overcooked and crabcakes were burnt at the bottom, at this point I just wanted to get it over with. And we had to ask for our drinks that were still missing. At some point I felt that the staff just gave up they stood around the bar while customers waited. The table next to us were waiting for their food since we got there, they gave up and left. A four tops came up and the table next to theirs warned them what they were about to experience so they got up and left. My friend’s omelet was overcooked and rubbery she didnt enjoy this brunch at all. We were just dying to get out of this restaurant.
When we were leaving, the server complained that people were leaving because other customers complained yet they were oblivious about their unacceptable bad service. Such complacency was just too bad.

A few words to the crack-​pot management at this place «Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice» does not, and should never equate to Sunny-​D… especially at $ 3 a glass. Also «home fries» are not French Fries.
I got taken on this place, but everyone else should avoid it at all costs and hope that something better opens in a few months once they inevitably shutter their doors.