Busboys and Poets

Is a good spot if you are only gluten intolerant but not great for celiacs. Not a lot of the menu is truly gluten free with no risk of cross contamination and your dining experience is dependent on your server and whether they understand your needs and can clearly communicate with the kitchen. I’ve had ok experiences eating here but always worry about my meal and whether I can trust the staff to do a good job.

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Somewhat

Safety Feature Ratings

• Staff will clean kitchen space or change gloves if asked

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Not Much

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Good

Disappointing. Their menu has lots of “gluten friendly foods” but the majority is not gluten free as it’s in a shared fryer. Booo. Also the nachos are def not GF.

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Not at all

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Not Much/None

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Below Average

No dedicated fryer for the fried chicken. I called to confirm that they have a dedicated fryer and was told that they do not. The fryer is shared with food with gluten. They told me the fried chicken was not safe for people with celiac.

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Some

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Average

I was glutened here. I love the mission and service of this restaurant, but not all of their dishes marked gluten free are safe from contamination (the GF brussel sprouts are cooked on a surface that also cooks gluten items). The wait staff was patient and checked on a few items for me, but even though they assured me that the fried chicken (which was marked GF) was safe, I ended up with a stomach ache. I’ve had their sweet potato dish without a problem, but I now hesitate to try any other item on their menu. Sadly, I don’t think Busboys and Poets is safe for someone with celiac.

Celiac friendly?

No

Staff is pretty knowledgeable about gluten allergies, they've always been helpful and let us know what could possibly have cross-contamination. I've had breakfast (eggs and fruit) and lunch (Cobb salad with grilled chicken) here with no issues. Only 4 stars bc food is good but not amazing

Celiac friendly?

Yes

My husband and I have been eating here regularly when we are in town. First of all, the customer service is excellent. As for the food, the gluten free options are plenty and they even have GF fried chicken! Yes indeed!

Every staff member that we have encountered is knowledgeable about their gluten free items. That says a lot for how they are trained. Also, if a menu item (mainly the sandwiches) are not marked GF, often it’s just swapping out the break for GF bread, which they have... and it’s good GF bread. All y’all out there that know what I’m talking about understand this. It matters. I’m not sure why they don’t state it on their menu. They really should.

I have not been disappointed once eating at any of the Busboys and Poets. Love the coffee drinks too 😁.

Celiac friendly?

Yes

I love this place. And the toasted GF bread is awesome. I appreciate that this is something available to me.

Gluten free French toast! The staff is extremely friendly and very knowledgeable. Items are marked on the menu “gluten free friendly”, they also have gf bread to substitute.

The GFF French toast was a heavenly treat. Our server was incredibly knowledgable. I will be back!

Celiac friendly?

Yes

Lots of delicious options including quinoa tabouleh, fried chicken, etc. everything clearly marked. Knowledgeable staff.

Celiac friendly?

Yes

Eaten here many times (breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner) and had never had a problem. I'm always very clear that the GF is medical, and ask them to indicate that on the ticket. Once they came back and said that the fries were being friend in the shared fryer due to a malfunction in their separate fryer. Despite the disappointment, I appreciated the heads up.

Celiac friendly?

Yes

We ordered 3 items, all labeled gluten free: wild rice and beans with chicken, pan seared chicken and the nachos. The gluten-induced migraine kicked in about 45 minutes later. Unfortunate, since we enjoyed the food, but we won't be going back.

Celiac friendly?

No

Went there tonight and I'm very sick! Stomach is VERY bloated and I'm in extreme pain. Very disappointing. If you have Celiac Disease, please don't put yourself through this pain and sickness! 😂

Went on a Saturday after reading a local write-up about how gluten friendly they are for brunch. The only real brunch items that were made with gluten free ingredients were eggs with no toast/wrap. They didn't have breads, pancakes, granola, or oatmeal. GF brunch fail.

Celiac friendly?

No

Love the gluten free friend chicken and mashed potatoes and collard greens!

Went there for lunch on a Saturday. Said they couldn't absolutely guarantee gf due to volume. Decided to try anyway. Sat down and the only gf option on their brunch menu was beef chili. No options. So we left.

Celiac friendly?

No

I had missed fried chicken so much and their gluten free chicken is just delicious.

gluten free fried chicken

Lots of GF options for my Celiac son. He got a pizza, but tasted my chicken and my wife's basil tofu.

Celiac friendly?

Yes

went for brunch and staff was helpful and accomodating for my gf and dairy free etc needs. I prefer their dinner food but it was good. service great.

Celiac friendly?

Yes

I'm gluten free dairy free which

My non celiac husband enjoyed the food. Mine was delicious also but I got sick as it’s Gluten Free Friendly but not safe for celiacs. I didn’t order anything fried and still got sick.

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Not at all

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Some

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Good

The food was good (though the portions were a little small for the price). GF is labeled on the menu but there are TONS of options that you can get and substitute the bread for GF bread. They’re knowledgeable, labeled my food as an allergy without me even having to ask, and have the ingredients of the food on their handheld notepad in case you have questions or want to do subs.

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Very

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Most/All

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

My friends and I ate at the Hyattsville Busboys and Poets yesterday and it was a very good experience. I am celiac and had read the reviews of the GF fried chicken. It was delicious! I haven’t eaten fried chicken for years! And our server Josh was there when we needed him. In the past I have had very spotty experience with Busboys and Poets, both in service and also in their understanding of what GF means, (once, after ordering a GF dish, it came with regular bread toast points). When I questioned the server he told me just to not eat the toast points. Anyway, glad I came back

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Somewhat

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Some

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent

They don’t have a separate fryer, so everything fried that says GFF, is not celiac safe.

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Not at all

Safety Feature Ratings

• Staff is knowledgeable and can answer questions

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Not Much

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Average

Got dinner, Salmon with rice and the house salad were delicious. However they was a lot of miscommunication between staff on what was truly safe or not.

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Somewhat

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Not Much

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Excellent