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Categories: Cajun/Creole, Breakfast & Brunch
Neighborhood: Adams MorganMon-Sun. 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
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These stars reflect my deep and abiding love of Bardia's biscuits. I have eaten 4 of them in one sitting. 4. I don't eat that much of anything.
Everything else is fine and Bardia himself is a sweetheart, but the biscuits are insane.
Fluffy, buttery, flaky, intense biscuity bliss.
Lordy.
There were a lot of options on this block, something about the look of Bardia's made me want to go inside.
I was sitting alone b/c on a business trip--luckily this didn't feel strange as a couple of other guys came in solo after me as well.
The place was cozy, lots of nice jazz-themed paintings. Menu was quite affordable and I was happy with my jambalaya, though it could have come with more vegetables (mostly just rice). My fried banana dessert, at about $2, was an absolute steal--I would definitely come back for that alone. Not to mention the really nice waiter, very soft spoken guy who knew a lot about the food.
Just like Megan Fox for Angelina Jolie, this is another poor substitute for the real thing. This is the place for people who've been to New Orleans once, a long time ago, and didn't stray very far from Bourbon Street, but are CONVINCED they understand the "authentic" New Orleans experience, or have just enjoyed lunch at World Port Orleans at EPCOT and think that gives them a good feel for Cajun or Creole food.
All that said, the food is not bad, but it doesn't occupy the same dimension as authentically New Orleans food. It's like BizarrOrleans, where it kinda/sorta looks right, if you tilt your head to the side, but it's a little (or a lot) off. The red beans are flavored with something that tastes vaguely like curry or a Middle Eastern spice. Decent consistency, but the sausage that accompanies it also doesn't quite seem right. I also ordered a catfish po-boy (sandwich) that was breaded in what appeared to be bread crumbs, instead of a more authentic flour or cornmeal dusting.
And whatever you do, do NOT listen to Brian K. and try the Louisiana Kitchen & Bayou Bar in Bethesda. It's neither more authentic nor more consistent, just uniformly bad. That place replaced the beloved (at least by me) New Orleans Bistro, which for a time served the best and most authentic Cajun & Creole food in the area.
Great fried fish 'po boy sandwich. Fish very well cooked and seasoned and the bread was crusty and soft. The gumbo was a little underseasoned. Bardia took care of us and was more than helpful. I'd be lying if I didn't say opinion on this place wasn't greatly influenced by my experience with Bardia.
While the central focus of eating out actually is "eating", there are still other elements that influence your experience. And as most experienced diners know, great service can go a long way. Bardia gave us a short bio on himself (An immigrant from Iran who moved to New Orleans and fell in love with Cajun food, how can you not love that?). Anyway, when we got our check he had brought my girlfriend and I some complimentary beignets. Great guy.
Wonderful Service, Good Food.
After walking past this place for years and never stopping in, I finally got a chance to try Bardia's on Saturday. I never realized just how tiny this place is until our group stepped inside...luckily, it was fairly empty when we arrived.
My meal was actually pretty terrible. I was in the mood for a sammich, so I had the ribeye po' boy. The steak was horribly greasy (think big nasty pool o' grease on the plate that left 3/4 of the sandwich soggy), and I wasn't a fan of their remoulade...too heavy on the mustard. The french fries on the side were an abomination - thin frozen shoestrings with Zatarain's creole seasoning dumped all over them. And I mean DUMPED - I had to shake off the excess. When you add the growing pool of grease from the steak, the results were pretty gross.
I would have given Bardia's a two, but the rest of my party fared much better. My girlfriend's popcorn shrimp hit the spot, the red beans and rice had a nice smoky finish, and the andouille linguine was soothing. If you're looking for a cool adult beverage on a hot summer day, the planter's punch was very nice...or, if you're not imbibing, they've got Abita root beer, too.
Overall, it was just okay. I might be back to try brunch based on the previous reviews here, but I won't be going out of my way for it. For something more authentic and much more consistent, check out Louisiana Kitchen and Bayou Bar in Bethesda.
Bardia's is a small cozy restaurant nestled in the heart of Adams Morgan on 18th St. The food is not bad (I doubt it's authenticity) . I had the Shrimp Etouffe - the sauce was pretty good. The owner was very chatty and pleasant. He gave us a history of the area (Adam's Morgan)
Overall the experience was good. The prices are certainly reasonable to Adams Morgan. Did the place "wow" me? No. Do I feel I got a decent value for my money? Yes.
I've been avoiding reviewing Bardia's for quite some time. The owner is so nice and the service is anything but cold, but the food isn't stellar. In my humble opinion, Bardia's rating on Yelp is rather inflated. I understand why though... this is a place you want to like. Giving it anything less than 5 stars initiates immediate cognitive dissonance, which is why I haven't Yelped about this restaurant.
Okay... onto the food. I've lived in New Orleans and know Cajun/Creole pretty well. Bardia's reminds me of what Cajun/Creole food would taste like in a better than average home in Louisiana. It's neither super authentic nor totally out of left field. It's simple tried and true recipes that have probably barely changed since the restaurant first opened a long time ago.
Does it taste bad? No. Does Bardia's serve 4 star food? No. There aren't a ton of options on the menu, which is also disappointing. I've tried the etouffee, jambalaya, and beignets and would say the etouffee was best and beignets were the biggest let down. The beignets are too crunchy and hollow in the middle.
I like Bardia's and think everyone should come check it out. There's usually room and the service is stellar... but for anyone expecting New Orleans quality food, all you'll get is New Orleans quality charm.
It tastes cajun!... kinda. I had a sausage gumbo that, while spicy, tasted mostly like Italian seasoning. And while I enjoyed the Abita Turbodog served there, I was not exactly bowled over by the Shrimp Etoufee, which while spicy enough to be N'awlins, was not exactly flavorful. Service was slow, but ok... looked like just 2 guys running the place.
I might go back if I had a few drinks, or if it was in another neighborhood that didn't have a ton of better restaurant options. Shame, because I do love cajun food.
I wanted to like this place. It's very warm and inviting. Servers are kind. The beignets are good. But the breakfast was sub part. I don't think I'd come back for a meal. No soul in the preparation.
I think I'd like to come back for a drink and beignets.
We've noticed this place but only recently started going here. From the first visit we realized it is a treasure. It's a tiny place full of character. The owner walks through to make sure all is alright. It smacks of somewhere else but feels like home.
I've had the gumbo and the jambalaya. Both were very satisfying. The coffee was very good. The beignets tasty enough to order a guilty second order.
Since our first visit we've been there a few times and have added it to our list of those places that come to mind when we ask, "where should we go for...?"
This treat is hidden among all the trendy bars and clubs on Adams-Morgan's 18th St NW strip. As soon as you sit down, you notice things that set it apart--the narrow dining space, the plastic beer steins, the friendly and helpful service. The food is great. I don't know much about Cajun cooking, but I would imagine it is fairly authentic; while my dinner companion and I were eating, the table next to us, natives of New Orleans, had long conversations with the waiter, and seemed to enjoy the food.
What's not to like? I'll be going back.
I wandered between a 4-star and a 5-star review for Bardia's; while I'm not sure if Bardia's is the 5-star "As good as it gets", I chose the rating because DC needs more restaurants like this: unpretentious and satisfying.
I went to Bardia's Saturday morning for breakfast. The menu offerings are modestly priced ($33.00 for two) and, in accordance with the Creole tradition, smothered with goodness. The biscuits are flaky and buttery, the coffee is hot, and the service is warm and friendly.
Bardia's is a nice alternative to the American diner. It opens at 10:30am, so I can sleep in and still be one of the first customers.
I'll refrain from publishing my most venemous and condemning critique on Bardia's. In part, because the owner had such a friendly personality that I lacked the heart to break his bubble in person. Suffice it to say, the food was a disappointment and the kitchen devoid of any knowledge about cajun or creole cuisine. A single observation: there is one fryer used for frying both battered shrimp and Bardia's "famed" beignets. I suggest that you read all the glowing reviews with a great deal of skepticism. [Original Visit: November 2008]
2.5
I was pretty tempted to give Bardia's NOC three stars; the owner is nice. But the food is determinedly average. The jambalaya didn't conjure New Orleans so much as it did the kitchen of a friend at whose house I suppose I'll eat now and again. I'm not a native Louisianan, either, but the po' boy I had in New Iberia one afternoon made clear to me Bardia's status as pretender. The bread is good, however.
I am a sucker for regional beer, though, and I was always glad to take an Abita or Dixie whenever I dropped by. The beignets are good. The chicory coffee is blah. The bottom line is that there are much better restaurants in the DC metro area, much better restaurants in the city proper, better restaurants in Adams Morgan, and at least 3 better restaurants within two blocks' distance of Bardia's. Take at your own risk, though nothing is unpleasant or inedible.
After having brunch at Asylum, we decided to stop by this place because of the lure of beignets. Boy, were we disappointed. There were three and I was only able to force myself to eat one. They were puffed up, hollow, and hard. The worst part is that it tasted like it was fried in old oil. Couldn't convince my friends to finish them either. Really bad. It was a shame we just finished eating though, because of the rest of their menu looked really good. I'll have to come back and update on their entrees.
WHY, OH WHY, are people STILL lining up for brunch at the Diner when there are seats across the street at Bardia's New Orleans Cafe? I thought this smugly to myself when I took my boyfriend to the Cafe on his last trip out from LA and we sat down immediately for a tasty meal. I KNOW - apples and oranges. The Diner is the BIG BREAKFAST 'merican style, while Bardia's is...not. And even though I'm a Yankee through and through, I do love a good grit. But I just don't think the Diner is worth waiting for.
Now, back to New Orleans, I've not tried the gumbo, and other Yelpers are leading me to believe this may not be a good dinner destination (TBD) but the Cafe's egg dishes are fabulous.
One thing that must be mentioned is the price. I'd say this is one of the cheapest true brunches going.
The atmosphere: I agree with other Yelpers -- the coveted Window Seat is the only place to be on a sunny day. I even passed on this place once when that wasn't available in favor of outdoor seating elsewhere. But on rainy days, I think the inside is extra cozy and my sweetheart and I MORE than enjoyed smooching across our little table. Yes, we were THAT couple.
Now, I've never been to New Orleans, so I'm not one of those expecting anything other than tasty food. (check). I'm not a fan of the chicory coffee, and the beignets have been a bit on the greasy side.
But did I mention the egg dishes?
I guess this is a single-themed review. But tasty brunch, that you don't have to wait for, in DC? Priceless.
Double U Tee Eff Bardia's? Not only did you leave me with a bad taste in my mouth, you also left me hungry. Really hungry.
I ordered the Andouille gumbo, thinking it would be a great way to start off the Lord's Day (that's Sunday for all you lax agnostics and non-believers). Wrong. What I got instead was a bowl of bland, vaguely tomato-tasting goop that only managed to eek out a single note of flavor and even that was off key.
The rich smokiness I have come to love in gumbo was all together missing. After a few bites I knew I couldn't possibly manage choking down the whole bowl.
Only when we were seated at an entirely different restaurant for brunch number two of the day did I feel some happiness return to my soul.
Star 1... for the company. The scintillating conversation totally took my mind off of what I was putting in my mouth.
Star 2... for the window seat - we got the sole table for two that's right up front and looks out over the central strip of 18th Street.
Notice that there are only two stars for this place. Assume what you will about the food and the service here. In fact, it's quite likely that the company should be rated five stars, with negative stars for the rest of the dining experience.
I'm pretty amazed that this place got so many decent reviews. I wandered in with my girlfriend on a lovely spring evening, needing food between happy hour and clubbing. Got the seat by the wide-open window, which was amazing. That window is worth the two stars by itself.
After that? A pretty dismal meal. I'm not an expert on New Orleans cuisine, but this was sad stuff. The jambalaya was basically a flavorless, greasy fried rice. It was salvageable with enough salt and Tabasco, but barely. For some reason, I ordered an omelet, which was oily but tolerable. The waitress was competent, but indifferent.
If you absolutely have to go here, snag the window seat. If you don't absolutely have to go here... um... then don't bother.
The food was good while it was going down. However, minutes later I had such a horrible headache and was so disoriented I couldn't move.
The food made me sick.
MSG city!
Three years now and I've never stepped foot in this place? What a mistake. The menu is simple and perfect in every way. I'm pretty sure the most expensive thing on the menu was $16. Only downside is that the portions aren't all that big. Also, the Chef/Owner/Manager is awesome.
I'll be back. Often.
Going to Bardia's is like walking back in time 20 years when Adams Morgan was charming and not full of sloppy drunk 20 or 30 somethings. The other day, I was sitting across the street at Amsterdam Falafel and thought New Orleans Cafe looked like a small neighborhood bistro on the Left Bank. I've eaten there twice. The first time I had a really yummy Oyster Po Boy, which was as good as any I had when I lived in Louisiana. The next time I had a very fresh and nicely seasoned Caesar salad with deep fried (but not breaded) strips of chicken. Those strips were a nice surprise and a nice touch. The coffee is rich and flavorful in a way you'll never find at Starbucks and complements the wonderful beignets. A big plus was being able to sit at a table in the bay window area which was open on this cool July Sunday morning. The waitresses were friendly and attentive, and I'm not just saying that because one of them happens to be my daughter. What's really special about the place is Bighearted Bardia, who treats his customers like old friends. And many are. This place is a god send for people who live in the neighborhood and I'm glad I finally discovered it.
I have had varied experiences at Bardia's; I have come of the conclusion that it is pretty much hit or miss.
The best:
Eggs Creole (their rendition is excellent -- if you are going for the first time, I would highly suggest this particular dish)
Fried Catfish (the catfish is nice and flaky, the remoulade is fine, but the generic spice mixture on top of the fish could use some work)
Beignets (not going to remind you of Cafe du Monde anytime soon, but they are still fine)
The worst:
Eggs Sardou (an unequivocal mess of veggies and a lump of hollandaise sauce that just didn't work)
Crawfish Etoufee (moderately disappointing)
"Cajun fries" (fries with Cajun seasoning unceremoniously dumped on top after cooking)
Shrimp Creole (a mess of tomato goo served with six overcooked shrimp and rice)
The service here has been friendly but a bit slow. The prices are quite reasonable for the eggs (i reserve comment on $10 po' boys). This is the closest resemblance (and it should be noted that the resemblance is not close) to the cuisines of Louisiana that one can find in Adams Morgan, but I have yet to find an authentic (yes, that excludes you, fine Acadiana) spot for either Cajun or Creole food here in the District (or Metro DC for that matter.
Ok, so there are only two cajun/creole restaurants in D.C. First, there's Acadiana -- part of a pseudo chain including Ceiba, D.C. Coast, and TenPenh -- all overpriced, mediocre "meh" food that caters to a business lunch (read: Orange Liners) crowd.
Then there's Bardia's. I've heard people on Yelp bitching about the food. Well, look, the place has maybe ten tables ... let's set realistic expectations, people. I've been to New Orleans many times. Is this experience the same as that which you would enjoy at Commander's Palace? Of course not. But the food is pretty yummy, if you know what to order, and furthermore, the price is right. The andouille linguine comes in a lovely tomato cream sauce -- it's absolutely delicious and my boyfriend and I always order it. The rib eye po' boy has the perfect combo of grease, spicy mayo, and old bay.
The owner is sweet as pie; service is attentive, but not pushy. And, though I already mentioned it, it warrants repeating that the menu is priced appropriately. It's nice to go out, order an app, two entrees, and two alcoholic beverages for under fifty bucks. Especially in this city.
Luckily, we too were sat at the window seat during a muggy night in Adams Morgan recently. Listening to the asshats native to A-M passing by supplied some fantastic entertainment.
The food? Pretty damn good, IMHO. We had the andouille pasta & the andouille creole (gumbo). I'm not quite sure why people are so down on this place, but it's clearly a hit-or-miss situation. Our food was thoroughly satisfying, especially for me - who does not see much culinary value to cajun food (sorry cajun fans). The portion sizes? It's not Denny's, folks. This is just the right size for a dinner portion.
The beignets were lovely with coffee, and the service was spot-on.
The bathroom, however, was broken, so I used the one in the kitchen. Everything seemed exceptionally clean back there, which also counts for something. I'll definitely be back next time I'm forced to go to A-M.
Wow.
Cheap, wonderful food in a nice environment. Great service. Had the eggs New Orleans. My party had self-created omelettes and the eggs benedict, both of which were met with equally enthusiastic reception. Four people with coffee, beignets and juice for $50. Unreal by DC standards. They serve breakfast all day too, so breakfast can be eaten at the proper time - after noon.
Love it.
Oh, and I'm a real person. I don't think most of the 5 star reviewers are. Note to Bardias: If you don't stop spamming these reviews, I'll never patronize your establishment again.
Cool liitle joint that serves some pretty impressive cajun food. The owner does tend to hover, but I guess that means he cares!
This place is great because it is not themey. There are no Mardi Gras beads hanging all over the place. What it does have is amazing, authentic Louisiana-style grub.
I love, love the fresh beignets here, and combine those with the French coffee and its pretty close to perfection. The service is friendly, and -- in a nice change of pace from other bars and restaurants in this hood-- Bardia's is a place where you can actually relax and enjoy your meal.
If you go for dinner- get the shrimp etouffe. It is wonderfully spiced and is so, so good. You can order wine by the bottle, and it is usually a better deal than the by the glass option.
And, if you think Cashions is the only place in Adam's Morgan with a good brunch, then you haven't tried Bardia's. How about a choice of gumbo, eggs sardou and/or fabulous po' boys?? And unlike the other place I mentioned, this one won't break the budget.
Cute little restaurant right on 18th St has a nice breakfast menu - I ordered the creole sausage with eggs. 2 poached eggs with a zesty tomato sauce with sausages and biscuit. The poached eggs were delicious! The entire dish was nice and light not too greasy. Would love to try some of the others stuff on the menu next time! Esp the beignets.
I almost didn't write a review because I don't want anyone to know about this place. Alas, the owner is so incredibly sweet that I had to pass on the good word. I had breakfast here this morning. It was not crowded, the mimosa came with an individual bottle of bubbly, the begniets were incredible. Hot damn. This place is the new black.
(By the way, I had the crab and creole omelet - it rocked.)
I tried Bardia's New Orleans Cafe for the first time this evening, and I was not disappointed.
First of all, the space is well utilized and very cozy. This ALONE (even without the great food) coupled with a host/owner who makes you feel welcomed and at home, (but also actually WORKS, rather than just stands there in some suit looking important), sets the cafe apart from the rest.
I never drink coffees with dinner or desert. The Cafe Du Monde coffee was superb though. I enjoy the chicory coffee quite a lot. It goes wonderfully with their beignets as well.
As far as appetizers go, we tried the Cajun sweet potato fries and the catfish bites. Both were lovely.
I went with the blackened catfish and rice for my entree and it was just the right proportion. It was fresh, well cooked and very delicious.
Their beignets were as delicious as is possible. To the extent where, I wish I lived upstairs, so that I could enjoy some with their coffee as an every morning ritual.
If that's not enough, the price is also very fair and very right. It's one of those places that you just want to stick around for a long time and never close. The owner and staff have reason to be very proud of their business.
I really liked their gumbo, and their po' boi's, and would have gone back if I had not been stricken with a migraine from the painfully dim lighting and tons of msg in their food.
I give them a mediocre 3 for their moderate level of culinary effort, and their moderate rendering of service.
Cheap and good food! I've searched all over the city for it, but rarely found it. The New Orleans Cafe definite delivers here.
The decor is pretty laughable and the place is incredibly tiny, but if you're looking for a quick and cheap breakfast on the weekend, this is the place to go. They churn out bruch-like items and they actually taste good. I've eaten here at least 10 times and have never been disappointed. Make sure you get an order of beignets, they're quite good.
The best part is that you can get out of here for under $25, if you don't get crazy with ordering bloody marys and such.
Yummy food, Nice owner..dont open on mondays and closes early..but a great place to try! ( Eat the po boy sandwiches)
I inherited this place from my brother-in-law, who was a regular when he lived in D.C. Bardia is so nice and he always remembers my brother-in-law when he comes in for a visit. Once he gave him a bottle of wine to take with him.
The beignets with cafe au lait or hot chocolate (the thick kind, just a layer of fudgy sludge with steamed milk that you stir up) are so awesome. In fact, we had already eaten breakfast the other day and went to Bardia's right after just for a little treat. Even though it was the later end of brunch, the staff did not give us any crap for not ordering more than beignets and drinks.
I only subtract a star because I have had some disappointing omelettes here that are kind of heavy and not very flavorful. I prefer the po'boys.
Had brunch here one day. Had an omlette with shrimp and cajun sauce, was excellent. They use Cafe du Monde coffee (mmm) and their beignets are a wonderful way to end a meal (or start a meal, or even eaten as a meal in itself).
Went on a Sunday morning, had to wait about 15 min. as the place is kind of small, however we met some tourists who were in town, originally from New Orleans but currently resided in Dallas. As I apologized to them for having to live in Dallas, they mentioned that they were extremely excited to have New Orleans cooking again since it does not exist in Dallas.
As I was leaving, I looked over to their table, and they gave me the thumbs up sign. So there you have it, the Stamp of Approval from native New Orlanders, or New Orleaners, or New Orleanians, or New Orleanese...people from New Orleans!
Fantastic! After weeks of trying new places i finally can add this to my "Weekend Brunching Hotness" list. On the main drag of 18th St in Adams Morgan, it's oddly inconspicuous. I'm a fan of places that create an ambiance that almost feels like you are somewhere else...at least for your meal... and having traveled to New Orleans myself I can testify this spot could easily be teleported from the French quarter. Warm yellow, deep blue and red walls with Victorian style black light fixtures set a that mellow New Orleans vibe.
The omelet combinations are obviously creole inspired, but if spicy/seafood is not your thing that have plain scrambled eggs or french toast as well. They have home made beingets and biscuits..we are talking from scratch...delicious. And yes..the coffee was dark and strong...a feature that is in my opinion a deal breaker.
The price was definitely right, and the food much more satisfying than the pricey options. I couldn't be more satisfied, and happy my brunching escapades finally culminated in a treasure. I love when DC surprises me.
This is one of the places I miss most in DC. The beignets are killer. The jambalaya is awesome. But the po' boy sandwich I tried was really greasy and oniony. But hey, it was only $5.
The place is tiny, so you can often expect a bit of a wait. And not good for more than 4 people in a group. But it feels very cozy and real. And you can get chicory - so random.
Love the Bardia's!
Super friendly guy, turbo dog beer, and yummy beignets.
The clam and shrimp po'boy makes it onto my DC's Top Sandwiches list. Lightly breaded and fried seafood, perfect remoulade sauce, and a crusty baguette. Deelish.
More than any other place I've been to in the DC area, this has a neighborhood feel. It's blessedly dark, with wood, and you feel at ease as the staff good-naturedly gestures you into the tiny, cramped bathroom behind the kitchen.
I always order the veggie po'boy, which has been excellent four times out of five. the fifth time I went, it just didn't have enough veggie variety--it was basically a cauliflower sandwich. As I'm not in Adams Morgan much, this was rather crushing. However, the food is a great deal, and the details are nice--cajun salt on the fries, yummy remoulade, and a delicious roll in which your sandwich filling is stuffed. A place where you can relax and read your paper in peace.
Alexandria, VA
Category: Cajun/Creole
Neighborhood: U Street Corridor
Category: Cajun/Creole
Neighborhood: Adams Morgan
Category: American (Traditional)
Washington, DC
Category: Cajun/Creole
Neighborhood: Adams Morgan
Category: Latin American
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