Image: Shrimp & Grits.
Last Updated: October 2022
Current Status: Open for sit-down service, with indoor seating and covered outdoor seating. Take-out and delivery also available.
Overview:
Buck’s is going on two decades. For the community near the circle in Chevy Chase, it is an institution just like its neighbor Politics & Prose. As an institution it risks crossing the line between being reliably good and becoming stale, but it has stayed on the right side of that line. Classic American fare is at the heart of the menu, and the more classic it sounds the more likely you are to be happy, like shrimp and grits, steak and fries, onion rings, and deviled eggs. The menu may shift slightly with the seasons, but its core remains constant and well-practiced. Sticking with the Americana theme, desserts feature cakes, like an end of season strawberry shortcake on our last visit.
The drinks are good and attract locals. The wine list is interesting, both by the glass and bottle. It is not deep, but it does the job. The service is friendly and reflects a neighborhood feel more than a fine dining tone. That balance extends to the restaurant interior featuring lots of subdued lighting, but with canoes in the rafters. Couples out on dates, friends catching up over a meal, and families taking a night off from cooking can be found populating the tables in the cozy space.
It is a far walk from any metro station, so you’ll probably be driving (unless walking from home). But it is worth the short trip out of the way and a good place to keep in mind should you find yourself in these parts.
Summary:
Cuisine: New & Old American
Neighborhood: Upper NW
Address: 5031 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington DC
Website: http://bucksfishingandcamping.com/
Reservations: Resy
Other Critics/Voices
Washington Post: Tom has always had a soft spot for this place. He has chided it on occasion, then put it in his Hall of Fame.
Washingtonian: It made the Top 100 often in the early days, but 2011 seems to be the last one.