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Buck's Fishing & Camping
Rating Details »
Categories: Parks, American (Traditional) [Edit]
Neighborhood: Chevy Chase5031 Connecticut Ave NW
(at N Fessenden St)
Washington, DC 20008
(202) 364-0777
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good for:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
17 reviews for Buck's Fishing & Camping
I just read some of the other not-so-hot reviews of Buck's and I guess I'm nuts because I loved it. First off, I'd like to give props for the decor and ambiance. Who knew canteen houses could be arty? The whole vibe, complete with a long wood picnic table in the middle of the restaurant, was clever and quirky. From the odd little chicken figurines on the shelf next to our table to the old, dusty-looking books in the rustic bookcase, to T.S. Elliot's quote on the menu...I felt like I stepped into this funny, special little place that definitely didn't feel so...D.C.
Then, the food. We started off with the iceberg wedge with a blue cheese dressing and apple wood bacon. We polished it off in no time flat. Generous chunks of bacon, a huge chunk of blue cheese on the side and scrumptious dressing.
We then each got the steak. (They ran out of the chicken tacos, which perplexed me. I am always left scratching my head when a restaurant runs out of food. Don't they prepare? Over-prepare? Don't get it. Never will.) I'm not gonna lie...the meat was p to the r to the i to the c-e-y. I'm talking 45 bucks for a slab of beef. But, then it came out. This was no ordinary slab of meat. This was a gargantuan steak fit to feed every single person sitting at our canteen table. It was seasoned and cooked to perfection. And the fries. They were soft on the inside, slightly crispy on the outside, lightly seasoned -- perfect for soaking up malt vinegar on the side. Deeeeeelicious.
We couldn't finish our steaks, but that didn't stop us from ordering the "very good chocolate cake" (loved that description, by the way. Captured exactly what we got). The cake was coated with fudge chocolate syrup icing stuff. It was gooey and great.
If there is one complaint I would make about Buck's...it's the service. I agree with the poopy-pants reviews out there in that it took forever-and-a-day just to get some starch on the table for us to munch on. By the time the salad came, my blood sugar had dropped to near-bitch levels. (I get a leeetle grumpy when hungry.) But, if you're ok with having a long, leisurely dinner, then I really don't think it's that big of a deal. The staff was very friendly so they must have read some of the earlier reviews on the restaurant's piss-poor attitude and service.
Overall, I would definitely hit up Buck's again. And all that steak we couldn't finish? Made me thankful for leftovers at noon the next day.
Ate here last night expecting the worst. It wasn't quite as bad as I had anticipated, based on the reviews and countless google hits about the Chef's tyrant-like management.
We were seated by a pleasant, if distracted, older dude who described everything on the menu in about two minutes (that's how limited the options are), and then a waitress came and took over. She wasn't quite as pleasant, but nonetheless got the job done.
The bread, as others have said, leaves much to be desired -- tasted a little earthy. We ordered the deviled eggs to start which were OK, but definitely not rave-worthy. Grabbed a bottle of white off the menu - forget which, but it was very nice.
I really wanted to try the mac and cheese, but didn't want that in addition to a whole meal, so I ordered the mozzarella salad and macaroni as my entree. My grandparents each got the oysters.
The mac and cheese was tasty, but much to warm to eat for a good 10 minutes. Lots of cheese, not a lot of macaroni. it was almost like a cheese soup. The mozzarella salad came with two wrinkled asparagus spears, two unripe cherry tomatoes, a few chunks of fresh mozzarella, a spoonfull of pesto, and about half a cup of olive oil. The pesto would have been magnificent if it wasn't drowning in the oil. I'd say the same for the asparagus, even though they were a bit dry.
My grandparents seemed pleased with their oysters. I tried one, but don't know enough about the ugly little things to say whether or not they were cooked well.
Finished with a strawberry pie which was absolutely divine. I'm not a big fan of strawberry shortcake because of the shortcake, and I believe I've found my solution. The strawberries weren't too sweet and it came just a little bit warm. Excellent crust, too, with homemade whipped cream to boot.
Food came out fast and our drinks were always filled. The decor is nice, but even with only a few other tables occupied we had to shout a bit to hear one another. With the long communal table in the center, the place would be excellent for a large party. There is a parking lot in the back (go around Comet), but it was packed full at 7pm. They do not take reservations.
Could have walked out..food is too oily & salty, they over charge for small portions, they up-sell after you have already ordered & the best part...you have to watch your bill because they will definitely try to add on "by accident"...
Don't go...not worth your health or time...
We enjoy eating at the bar. The bartenders are always very cheerful and friendly, and make great drinks. The food has always been good, though a bit on the pricy side. They recently changed Chef's which is a very good thing.
I definitely can understand the qualms with the service, but this was good food, no doubt about that. Pricey, but good. I don't usually comment on decor, but I really loved the look and feel of this place. The dark colors, the long tables, dim (but not dark) lighting...I was feeling it.
The waitress had an off-putting attitude (although she did recommend a tasty Spanish wine), and I wholeheartedly agree with whoever mentioned that the bread is terrible (cold and kind of stale!), but my fennel and grapefruit salad was lovely, as was my spicy mac n'cheese. Better than lovely. Fantastic. Small, for eight bucks, but seeing as my aunt shelled out $18 for two (excellent) pork tacos, I guess the price was in line with the rest of the menu. It's a tiny menu, only about 5 entrees, but I'd rather they choose a few things to serve and do them quite well, rather than have something more expansive and uneven. Would it kill them to offer one meatless main course, though?
I would go back to try an entree for sure. And that chocolate cake looked incredible! I was kind of salivating from the next table over.
People thought this was:
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Regarding "Sucks Bitching and Cramping;"
The host is an obnoxious twit.
The picnic table seating is ridiculous.
The service is loathsome.
...and the food is overpriced third rate canteen slop.
Can't wait for the day that I drive by and see a lease sign on this yuppie tripe bucket.
And further Misha's on-point review, check out the link below to learn more of the Gorgon in the kitchen:
http://www.accidentalh...
People thought this was:
- Funny (1)
Ambiance: 5 stars-- I glow when i walk into this cozy camping atmosphere
Bartender (they call her Cake Lady): 5 stars- she is so fun and makes awesome margaritas
Food: 4 stars.
I LOVE this kind of food and Carole Greenwood knows how to make it. The down side is that you can make ZERO changes. The poor waiters-- they struggle to work around this and it's not their fault. Here's the thing, though. Carole makes it the way it will taste delicious. She won't compromise on the flavor of her food and I do appreciate that. But does she have to be SUCH a tyrant about it? -- absolutely not. If you have the cash to spend on the steak, it's worth it. The soft shell crab is fantastic. I LOVE the wedge salad and the deviled eggs. But if you want huge portions, go elsewhere. What I recommend is that you spend the money on your own app, your own entree and share a dessert. If you go enough, they take care of you in the wine department too. And finally, this place is tons of fun if you have time to hang for an evening with good friends.
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hmm.. I don't hate Buck's but I can't help feeling responsibility of telling some truth about Buck's.
Buck's does provide good portion and so-called american dishes. .. but is it enough for Buck's to get more than 1 star?.. Not really..
I strongly suggest that you go to Cheesecake factory or Outback steakhouse for big portion or you-think-good american food. Buck's don't have fresh bread. Buck's suggest (probably not always but when they need) a certain dessert when it needs to be thrown away (it's old or too much left), not because a certain one is really good or special.
Chef will NEVER do any change when a customer asks modification on any dish, even the request is 'the dressing on the side'. If you ask to put the dressing on the side when it says it will be over the lettuce, the server will take the dressing off from the lettuce after getting the dish from the chef and before giving it to you.
I do understand the tips.. you should give and the servers expect.. but because you are not a good tipper, you shouldn't be cursed .. Buck's will remember you. so if you are going to Buck's and you might go there again, don't be a bad tipper. Most servers have been working there for years.
Unless you are dying for american and over $50 steak .., the Uptown cathay (right cross the street) chinese or betsy pizza (right next door) might be a better choice for dinner.
But, if you have disposable money, never mind:) Go to Buck's and enjoy the food and leave good tip, then everyone's happy.
Again, I don't hate Buck's...It's just not my type of good-dining out place and so I won't go there:)
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If you love Carole Greenwood's cooking, as I generally do, you'll find Buck's to be cozy, welcoming and a delicious place to have dinner. You'll also overlook her reputation for being something of a tyrant (note to diners: this is NOT the place to snap photos of your food).
I like everything about the space from the relatively dim lighting to the bar to the long communal dining table running down the middle of the room. I'm not in love with the somewhat tough bread.
The menu changes frequently, but some dishes make regular appearances. For starters, I highly recommend mozzarella with Greenwoods unique brand of pesto, when offered. The ingredients are fresh and often locally-sourced; both the cheese and pesto are made in-house, like pretty much everything else on the menu. A classic salad of iceburg lettuce is served with creamy (again) housemade bleu cheese dressing and crumbled bacon.
I like whatever humongous steak is on the menu--filet mignon-loving fat phobes beware: the steak will be nicely marbled--and I'll order anything that comes with a side of grits or macaroni and cheese; Chef Greenwood's are much better than I could dream of making at home. Most friends have enjoyed the fish of the day, served whole and prepared simply; some find the preparation a bit boring. Desserts are usually simple and homey such as a fudgy chocolate icebox cake with housemade whipped cream.
The downsides: The menu is small and the food is aggressively priced. Buck's also isn't the spot to ask for substitutions. Try it: ask your server if you can have the grits that go with shrimp & grits with your steak instead of whatever potato is offered and watch the server squirm or grimace.
Street parking only, but it's usually pretty easy to find (after 6:30).
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They've really gone downhill. We used to love this place, but recently we took my parents and we had a horrible experience. The server was downright rude.
First, she seemed to have an attitude when we didn't order any of the apps. I tried to order two side dishes instead (one being their mac and cheese). She said the mac and cheese would take ten minutes. Then when we ordered the main dish, she said it would take twenty minutes. So we decided to get the mac and cheese as an app. She didn't seem happy about this and ended up bringing us the mac and cheese w/ our entree.
Second, we had to request bread. It didn't come w/ butter and it looked like it was a basket that came from another table.
Third, they've clearly raised their prices and reduced their portions. My father couldn't help but laugh at the ridiculously small duck leg they served him as an entree. He took one bite and just like that...it was gone! This mysteriously small piece of meat cost a small fortune.
Forth, the server treated us like crap. Even though we didn't like our food, we were disappointed w/ the timing of our food and were overall in a bad mood b/c of the horrible experience, we never complained once. Not once word.
However, at the end of the meal, she practically threw the check at us. No, let me rephrase, she DID throw the check at us.
So, thanks Bucks for ruining a good time w/ my parents who were in from out town. We will not be returning.
Buck's Fishing and Camping consistently makes it to the Top Restaurants list in the Post and Washingtonian, so we decided to give it a try. I liked the rustic decor and the hunting lodge feel of the place, but one of us felt that it was too dark. Perhaps we went there on a slow night, the hostess was also our server and she was busy all the time so service was kept at a minimum.
The food was good but not great given the hefty prices. The salads were very fresh but the entrees that we got (fish, shrimp and grits) were relatively flat. Portion sizes varied across dishes as well. Many people have remarked on this, but the menu is pretty limited especially on vegetarian options. There wasn't even one vegetarian entree, which was strange because the restaurant apparently had some excellent produce. Overall our experience was mixed.
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I had trouble deciding how to rate this one. Reason being, right down to the canoe suspended from the ceiling, I absolutely loved the decor and ambiance of Bucks. It's down home and cozy with a classy touch. You really want to linger at your table and have a nice slow dinner (I think this would be a great place for a date).
The food was good but not fabulous. Don't come here if you are looking for anything on the "lighter" side. The menu is small, and everything is fairly heavy: think shrimp and grits, fried green tomatoes, and giant hunks of steak! Although I do love this category of dining, the whole meal was a bit too rich for me, starting with wedge salad (basically an excuse to soak lettuce in blue cheese, bacon and a creamy thick dressing); moving on to extra cheesy grits with shrimp and sausage; and finishing with the richest piece of chocolate cake I have ever experienced (I didn't like it much, but I think chocolate lovers would enjoy the bittersweet taste).
Worth a visit, but come with a healthy appetite!
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The reason this place gets two stars is because I wasn't poisoned. The food was bland, cold, or both. The stale bread was thrown at us and the beer selection was terrible. I believe I could have gotten a better meal at a high school cafeteria. I don't know how this place gets any higher marks then I have given it.
Expensive, but worth it. I am forever in debt to the fun guy that introduced us to this place. I love the atmosphere because it was something different and it was great for the group of 8 that I was with. The bar does a great job, the steaks are fantastic (per my husband) and I had fish - which was pretty good once I looked past the bones. What was I thinking ordering fish? The service is quirky, but part of the atmosphere - refusing to do any substitutions etc. but it was all part of the deal. I loved the lighting and the curtains that separate the sections.
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Me: "Should I give them three or four stars?"
Carlos: "Four. The service was bad, but the food and ambiance was lovely. And we did get a free dessert."
Well said. Though throughout the meal the server was so bad it was distracting (crazy long lag time, no bread or water, we had to get up and get someone to get more wine, wrong dessert order) the food was really very good, and the ambiance, once you get over gingham tablecloths and fishing lures bringing the cozy to an otherwise dimly lit romantic spot, lovely.
Fried green tomatoes with mysterious yummy sauce? Four tart tasty stars. If there had been more sauce, five. I don't even like tomatoes.
Whole fish with green beans and almonds? A strong five stars. SO well done - if I was better at navigating bones it would have disappeared off my plate in a moment. As it was, I lingered finishing it almost until the restaurant closed.
Soft shell crab with corn slaw? Five stars. Perfectly sweet and crispy - not too heavy for a whole fried sea creature.
Both the flourless* chocolate cake and the caramel creme brulee were not awesome. The cake had a bitter cocoa flavor and wasn't helped by the unsweetened cream. The creme brulee had a gloppy not crispy scorched layer - too little heat for too long had curdled the "creme" and made a mush of the "brulee". But because our waitress ordered the one we had not chosen, we got both, though that might have been because when she approached the table I was digging out a big "trial" spoonful...
Good wine. Great coffee. I like the long table that runs down the center of the place, though wonder how it would feel on a crowded night. Eek! Strangers' thighs pressed up against mine just like on the subway!
But for reals, highly recommended, especially if you're in the area. The staff (except our server) seemed very attentive and like they'd know your name if you came back.
*Please do not call flourless chocolate cake flourless if it has flour in it. Duh. People have allergies. It was really more of a fluffy brownie anyway. Do-over.
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Great food in a picnic atmosphere. Try the deviled eggs!
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2.5 stars here.
i had dinner at buck's fishing & camping (bfc) two days ago. my first time ever there. go figure. i have lived over seven years in the dc metro area. it took me 3 years to find out buck's was actually a restaurant and seven to give it a try. i guess i am slow sometimes.
i arrived early and sat by the bar waiting for my friend and was greeted by a very friendly staff, waiters and bartender included. i spent the next ten minutes soaking in the atmosphere which i thoroughly enjoyed. bfc exudes a combination of simplicity and warmth which made me feel very welcomed. a huge plus these days what with all these new, trendy and somewhat soulless restaurant designs cropping about these days. i particularly enjoyed the central communal table. a very neat idea in my opinion.
the menu is simple and small, another relief in this age of bloated food offerings. we settled on fried oysters, a pink grapefruit and fennel and the broccoli and mozzarella salad for our appetizers; mussels in red wine and a shrimp dish for our entrees, and the chocolate cake for dessert. what i immediately noticed was a) portions are on the smaller side which suits me perfectly (see my review of the cheesecake factory on wisconsin), b) attention to detail re. how each dish was dressed. the fried oysters had too much batter which was a pity because the oysters were done just perfectly. the grapefruit and fennel salad was the most interesting of all the dishes we ordered. a subtle explosion of taste what with the interaction of the light dressing, the grapefruit, the fennel. really a very interesting study. the mozzarella and broccoli salad was by far the most daring and fell flat as the flavors were too overbearing individually and detracted from the overall experience - the broccoli was too smokey, the dressing too oily and the mozzarella served too chilled for my taste.
i cannot criticize the mussels in red wine - a classic dish prepared classically - other than to say that we tasted mushroom stock more than red wine - and had i not been told it was red wine i would have figured white. the shrimp i did not taste but was told was ok.
finally, the chocolate cake was quite tasty, not too heavy, enough concentrated with chocolate while not too sugary.
i will make this overall observation: the chef cares about her food, takes pride in presentation and is definitely trying to come up with original dishes. my hunch is that on good days, the result can be more than positive while on off days one gets misses that, although quite edible, leave a certain "hmmm" expression on your face due to the oddness derived from the layers of flavors competing for your palate's attention.
my last two comments will center on the wine list and the service. i loved the wine list. it is off the beaten track, none of the names i recognized. we sampled two reds both which i really enjoyed, and the prices are just right to boot. the service was one of the best i have had in a long time. timely, attentive, not overbearing.
i definitely will try bfc again. maybe giving it some time to allow for a menu change. i am intrigued as i think the chef can produce interesting dishes and on the basis of good service, wonderful atmosphere and pleasant wine list, it would not take much for me to upgrade bfc to a 3 star rating.
