Levi’s Port Cafe

Food and prices are decent, unless they’ve run out of everything and are really slow. I know it’s soul food which takes a long to prepare, but it definitely doesn’t take long to serve, most items are just scooped and dropped in a clamshell.
And the décor makes no sense.
I’ll go back if they get their act together

Not sure whose soul food is better, but I don’t care. Go to both. Ooooohs and Aaaahhhs are gonna make me fat!

Levi’s has been closed since early November, which is a shame because they had the best mac and cheese in town.

I’m glad Levi’s isn’t on my end of town, or else I would be there all the time. Levi’s catered a friend’s birthday party and we loved it! You know the food is good when the room is quiet because people are chowing down.
We had BBQ and Baked Chicken, Mac & Cheese, Cabbage, Collard and Cornbread. I’m getting hungry just thinking about the food. I’m not really a BBQ chick fan but this was so moister & tender, I’m mad I only had one piece. I’ve had a hankering for mac & cheese for about two months, this hit the spot! Creamy, just the right amount of cheese to milk, slight hint of salt, great crusty top. Oh that was good. The cabbage & collards were fresh and very flavorful.
It’s a good/​bad thing they’re not close to me. I will however make a stop the next time I have a baseball game.

DC is a place where good BBQ goes to die. Or maybe it’s a place where it’s as elusive as a solid, bi-​partisan deal on the federal budget. I don’t know. Pick your favorite trite metaphor to describe the lack of uncreative, untasty and unappealing BBQ.
One day though, I found out that this place was on my way home and I felt my homesickness for the South pulling me nearer. So I headed there one day after work, about 4:30ish. I’m always hesistant to go on off hours to restaurants that have buffets but my fears were unfounded. The restaurant has a small buffet that they serve for you from. I went with a fried chicken plate which came with 3 huge wings and thighs. Very, very good, hot and fresh. I loved the collard greens which had a lot of flavor and weren’t too soggy, as greens tend to be. The macaroni and cheese, though good, was my least favorite. Although fresh with a nice crisp top that I liked, the cheese tasted fake, like velveeta. The real revelation of the meal was the cornbread though. WOW. At first bite it was nothing special but upon another taste you recognize the many flavors that are present — sweet, with a salty kick, crispy top. I literally wanted to vacuum all the crumbs into my mouth. GET THE CORNBREAD.
I was hoping to see some pulled pork, eastern NC style there which I hear they serve, but there was none on the day I went. Maybe next time.
The service was friendly and laid back. And the whole meal cost less that $ 9. What a steal!
I’ll be back!

This is a neighborhood gem with great soul food and generous portions — with very reasonable prices to boot!

Love, love, loved this place! I have to admit that every aspect of our meal was exceptional. We were there right at closing the day before 4^th of July and probably was last customer but everyone was very friendly and our service of course was excellent ;). My husband ordered the Fried chicken and he loved it, I ordered the pork ribs and you guessed it! loved it! Now let me tell you about the Mac and cheese and the Green Beans, I could’ve had that and left the meat alone. The cornbread doubled as desert because it is the sweet kind, which is my favorite. We ordered desert but had to take it to go since we didn’t have room to eat anything else. It stayed packed away for 3 days until we got back and we ate it last night, and WOW! The strawberry cake had homemade icing and was just great, I will never come to DC without eating here or recommending this place.

Why didnt I know about this place sooner?
Funny thing, I was actually looking for Quiznos but as I was searching for parking — my eye caught the Levi’s sign.
I decided to walk past Quizno’s and venture into Levi’s Port Café.
Yummy…
The food is setout as-​if its a lunch buffet — it’s really not. A server will fix your plate for here or togo for you.
I ordered 1pork chop, mac & cheese and greens AND a sweet tea to go for $ 11.
I nibbled on my pork chop and drank my sweet tea as I drove back to my office and it was absolutely delicious. Fried to perfection! I ate the greens and macaroni for dinner later that night. The mac & cheese was cheesey but a bit toooooooo salty for my taste. The greens were ok. The tea was just like I like it — very sweet.
The staff was friendly.
I was happy that I was allowed to look at the food on the «line» and asked if I wanted to place an order.
I will be back!

Levi’s is TERRIBLE! If it wasn’t for the Groupon, we would’ve just left. Upon entering I figured I’d give this little shack of a restaurant a try since most places small like that can usually serve up some good grub. WELL, NOT LEVI’S!!!
First of all the service is awful. Nobody seems to know what they’re doing. My friend and I walked up to the counter and ordered our food which was 1 baked chicken dinner and 1 fried. Our sides were simple, mac & cheese and string beans. Our dessert was 1 banana pudding.(more on that later).
Ok, NOW, here comes the fun part. At the time we placed our order, they were running out of mac & cheese, SOOOO, they said they would bring another pan out. GREAT! Well, not so great because as we were waiting for the mac & cheese to come out, they ran out of fried chicken… DOH! At first they had made our plates with the chicken, but some how it was given to another customer… NOT good.
The young lady and the young guy that were serving us were clueless. They seated us and kept asking us what did we want for our sides. We had to tell them like 3 or more times… NO LIE! So, we wait, and wait, AND WAIT!!! FINALLY, we get the baked chicken dinner but no fried. I’m like what is going on here. I get up to ask her and then she says it’s in the back I’m going to get it. I was HOT at this point but I kept my cool.
So now that we’re COMPLETELY starved, we FINALLY get to eat!
What a waste of yard bird. They truly don’t know how to cook chicken here at Levi’s. The fried chicken looked good but was tasteless and greasy. As so was the baked chicken which seamed to be covered in some nasty cheap bbq/hotsauce…YUK!
The string beans were overcooked and just salty. The mac & cheese tasted like it was made from out the box. But it was probably the best thing about the meal.
Now for the banana pudding which I make myself and tend to be a bit of a connoisseur on banana pudding. Levi’s was a joke. I couldn’t believe they called that banana pudding. It tasted so bland, no vanilla extract, cookies weren’t fresh, I just couldn’t believe how terrible our experience was.
All in all we were very nice and kept our cool and even tipped, not much but we still tipped. But to be honest, Levi’s is not worth a dime. I don’t see how you can call your establishment a soul food restaurant and you can’t cook the basics. We were disappointed and would not come back. Sorry Levi’s but step your game up or just close down completely.

Do not go here!!! If I could give no stars whatsoever, I would. Stay away. The owner yelled at us as soon as we entered the restaurant and became more irritated when we handed him a Groupon. For a person in the hospitality industry, he was an angry, angry man.
The food was mediocre, bland. I’ve eaten better Southern style in London, unbelievably. Do not waste your time and money.
Thank you Vicky M because I didn’t Unilocal this verbally abusive idiot until after I read your post. And please, don’t make excuses for this sad, sorry, angry man. There is NO excuse for how we were treated, small business or not.

I should start out by saying that it took about 4 attempts on 4 different days to dine here. If it weren’t for the Groupon we had purchased we would not have come back after the 2^nd failed attempt.
Our previous attempts to dine here were averted due to the establishment being closed well before their posted business hours. We finally got someone on the phone to confirm when they close, and he said ‘it depends on business.’ Wow. So we literally had to ask the guy ‘not close before we arrive” and we placed our orders.
Note: they were out of just about every menu item that the Groupon was valid for, so he asks if I want to substitute (the Groupon Menu) for extra $. Ha! They’re lucky Groupon tricked me into giving anything to their establishment. Oh, and before hanging up he tells me to «hurry up.»
We get there and there is a guy standing at the door. He scurries us in and our orders are waiting. I ask «why don’t you guys operate per your posted hours?» and he laughs and says «our hours have changed. You trying to work me to death?!»
I’m not going to get into my views on how I would run my small business.
The entire event was rushed and unpleasant.
Now, the FOOD:
We get home after about an 8 minute car ride and everything is luke warm, well i should say luke ‘COLD’ because it seemed as though the food hadn’t been hot since they cooked it (which tasted like days ago).
Mac & Cheese: Salty and cheesy. Seemed as though it was made two days previous and had been re-​heated in the microwave more than once.
Fried Chicken: The breast’s skin was extra hard and the meat was stringy + chewy. The drumstick’s skin was soft and the meat was moist. Go figure.
Cabbage: Tender, but was given a very small amount.
BBQ Chicken: The most basic bbq chicken ever. The sauce they used tasted like a cheap $ 1 bottle that they just poured on the chicken a minute before we picked our food up.
Sweet Potato Pie: DELICIOUS! Although it was a skinny little tiny piece that was to be a «Dessert for Two,» it was probably the best homemade Sweet Potato Pie I’ve ever tasted.
Sweet Tea: Pretty darn good.
1.5 of the 2 Stars given is based on the Sweet Potato Pie’s taste alone. The other 0.5 star is for the Sweet Tea. Too bad I’ll never get to taste either of them again. I refuse to return to an establishment that has such poor customer service and less than mediocre food.

The mac & cheese is ’bout the best thing going here that we tasted… and we tasted a few things. As far as the owner & staff, they were all great, but unfortunately, I tend to frequent restaurants that have food that is actually good, and this was not the case here. I guess, I’m a little spoiled when it comes to down home, soul food cookin’ being that I’m from down south, so I really expected more. Maybe the food will suite your taste if you’re not accustomed to REAL down home cookin’ but if you know the real deal when you taste the real deal, you’ll probably not want to waste your time or cash on this place. It just wasn’t worth it.

With a rare opportunity to eat somewhere else aside from the usual Sizzling Express, Subways, or the Navy Yard, I decided to walk up the street to explore the other potentially great finds. I walked over trying to decide over this place or Chicken Tortilla. After several minutes I finally decided on Levi’s.
I was the only non-​african-​american at the time, and I felt like an outsider not so much because I was the only one wearing a suit, but more so because everyone seemed to be a regular and know everyone else.
After asking a few questions I finally decided on the large pulled pork sandwich to go. The food on the buffet cart (especially the fried stuff) looked pretty good but finger lickin ain’t exactly kosher in an office setting. The pulled pork was alright, but I guess I didn’t realized North Carolina style meant vinegar based BBQ sauce… which I’m not very fond of. Ever since I had a pulled pork at The Shed in Ocean Springs, MS… I’ve been looking for a place that would satisfy that itch. Still haven’t found it but, this place ain’t bad.

After reading reviews the other day I decided to try it out for dinner last night. I don’t know how I never knew about this place, I’ve been to the Chicken next door a couple years ago and never paid attention to Levi’s.
So I got there around 6:45 on a Tuesday night, there was one guy before me and two people that came after me. The owner was making a plate for the guy before me from a steam table. I didn’t see a menu and was told that what they had is pretty much what is on that table. There was fried chicken, baked chicken, bbq chicken, meatloaf, pork ribs and fried pork chops. I decided to go with the ribs, they looked tasty. For 10.95 I got 3 ribs, two sides (mac & cheese and greens) and bread (which I declined). The price is not too bad. I read other reviews saying they only accept cash, well there were Visa, Mastercard, and AMEX logos in the window, however there was a sign on the front door saying the credit card machine was down. Luckily I had enough cash to cover dinner.
I can’t say it’s the best soul food spot in town, but it definitely wasn’t bad. The food was good, but nothing to write home about. I am a mac and cheese connoisseur and after reading all the reviews I don’t see what the hype is. It was just alright. I would go back and taste other items to see how they are, but I don’t think this is a place I would have cravings for. Maybe next time I’ll try the fried fish or chicken.

3.5 stars based on the unusual service!
This was our first stop after landing in DC for our NYE quickie getaway.
The food was good… Once we were able to order it. First, the server suggested a BBQ plate over the fried fish plate but then realized there was no more BBQ. Way to go, guy.
Then, after ordering three fried chicken entrees (and the fried fish plate), the server came by about five minutes later and told us that there was only «one breast left.» Um… OK?
We were confused about what he wanted us to do with that information but after some clarification, I got the last breast and we changed the other orders.
The food took a bit long to arrive but once it did, we were happy.
I ended up having the fried chicken with green beans and mac ‘n’ cheese. YUM. Everything had great flavor — the mac ‘n’ cheese was divine!!! I loveeeee southern style mac ‘n’ cheese.
I’d recommend this place for lunch but go early or they’ll run out of the good stuff!!!

For months I’ve been wanting to try this place and I’m so glad I finally had a chance! The fried catfish is the best you’ll ever taste in this area! My friend had the fried chicken and couldn’t believe how good it was! The sides were amazing as well… potato salad, mac & cheese… collard greens… you will leave there stuffed!

I’m no BBQ fanatic but this place is pretty good and the best thing about it? is that not many people know about it!
Granted, the location may have something to do with it. It’s by 8^th St near Eastern Market — not exactly the place you want to take your date to impress her on great BBQ. Also, probably not the place to be after 8PM on any given nights.
I, however, am brave and also work near by this tiny but great BBQ crib. I’ve been here few times for lunches and early dinner before heading to night classes and they serve great foods. It is Carolina BBQ joint and they’re darn proud of their foods and traditions.
I’m going to explain what will happen for all you brave souls wanting to try this little place called Levi’s. Once you open the door, you’ll see somewhat dark but very well organized restaurant. You’ll see two or three boys sitting and chatting around but the chatting immediately stops the moment your eyes meet with their eyes. Now, you may take a step backward out of self-​defense, but it is a OKAY. They are the servers =)
You’ll be quickly seated and given menu by boys. You will notice that these boys will call you by ‘Sir’ and ‘Ma’am’ at all times which is very respecting. I’m in my 20s and these boys aren’t much younger than me, but they still referred me as ‘Sir’ which was great by them. The service is also quick and efficient. Don’t you dare judge them by their semi thuggish look and large earrings — just order the foods, enjoy some great Carolina BBQ, and the southern comfort by the owner (he’ll sometimes chat with you if he’s not that busy). I remember when I first visited this place, I told them this is my first time trying Carolina BBQ and told them it’s very spicy, all the boys and owner laughed and told me to come and because it’ll only get better. I eventually did.

I’ve been attempting to find North Carolina style BBQ since I arrived in DC and I finally found it! While I’m more accustomed to western style, this BBQ was fantastic. It was in the eastern style and therefore was more vinegary but not overpowering. The pork was tender, moist, flavorful, and not slathered in any kind of ketchup based sauce. Do I still miss my favorite place in NC? Yes, but if you are in DC this is the place to go!
The sides were just as good as the pork. I had the coleslaw, which balances the spiciness of the pork nicely, but I would recommend the yams and mac and cheese. The peach cobbler was excellent too, along with the sweet tea. You really can’t go wrong.
At first I was a little taken back by some of the not so hot reviews on here, but it appears those patrons got fried chicken. From my experience thus far at Levi’s, it appears pulled pork is the thing to get. Every customer in the place ordered pulled pork while I was there.

While the Southeast neighborhood of Washington DC is beloved for Eastern Market, I find that people rarely traverse outside of its borders based on an ethereal fear of the unknown. This entrenched mentality is tragic for a variety of reasons and excludes them from a wealth of experience. One such experience amongst the myriad of possibilities is the Soul Food that comprises a visit to Levi’s Port Café.
Nestled comfortably across the highway from Barrack’s Row, Levi’s Port Café is an unremarkable structure. What appears to be a shady bar is adjacent to the restaurant on the right and a colorful rotisserie chicken place is another neighbor. A Quizno’s completes the line of stores, yet it barely penetrates the aura of local goodness emanating from its sister stores.
When I arrived, I was a bit concerned regarding the lack of lighting at the restaurant. What appeared to a buffet line (it was not a buffet, but rather an area where one could pick a couple of meats/​vegetables to pair together) lined the left side. The walls were sparsely decorated with the small homage to Raven Symone (That’s So Raven «fame») prominently displayed near the cash register.
My order consisted of pork ribs, fried chicken, string beans, and mac-​n-​cheese. My dining companion ordered the North Carolina pulled pork along with the same sides. Initially, I thought I was going to be disappointed. While she spoke highly of the pulled pork, I was bored by the pork ribs. The texture was dry and there was absolutely too much pull on the rib. The consistency was much chewier than I would like and the sauce was neither sweet nor smoky. The string beans were not much better. They appear to have been pulled from a can and doused with vinegar.
So how on God’s green earth can I give this place 4 stars?
Fried chicken and mac-​n-​cheese. Holy mother of God, I found a place that does fried chicken right in the District of Columbia! Yes, I’ve been to Hitching Post, Henry’s, Oohhs & Aahhs, etc. While all of those places give generous portions and I certainly liked their fried chicken, it wasn’t excellent. Levi’s fried chicken, while not the best I have had, is easily the best I have had in DC. A nice, crisp flavorful batter encapsulates a tasty piece of chicken. Hot gasps of oil and tiny fat globules work their way out while you are eating. This is the way fried chicken is meant to be. Well done Levi’s.
The mac-​n-​cheese is different than what I expect, but was incredibly generous on the cheese filling. I think their version was cheddar heavy (unlike my version which balances the sharp cheddar taste with bountiful amounts of gruyère), but it worked. I would definitely come back for the fried chicken and the mac-​n-​cheese.
Levi’s might be hit-​or-​miss, but if you order correctly, you are going to have a tasty, generously portioned meal at a very reasonable price. Recommended as an alternative to the more «high-​end» places that populate Barrack’s Row.

Best Carolina-​style BBQ in DC. I grew up on the vinegar BBQ from that neck of the woods, so I’d been looking for a similar style place in DC for awhile. Levi’s does phenomenal ribs and pork. Ribs are covered in sauce and just slide right off the bone, while the pork goes absolutely perfectly with the thinner, Carolina BBQ sauce. Portions were also enormous… they serve you just a big delicious plate, and for less than $ 30 for two people, I don’t think I’ve gotten a better deal in DC.
I’m also a huge fan of their sides. I’d disagree about the mac and cheese being the best around, which isn’t to say that its not great. But for my money, the greens and coleslaw are the real gems. Levi’s also bakes its own pies and cakes; I liked the sweet potato pie, but I was really surprised by the quality of the more basic strawberry cake that my girlfriend ordered. For an ostensibly simple cake, Levi’s really knocks it out of the park. And, as with any BBQ joint worth its salt, this place has just amazing sweet tea. The authentic article, brewed so fresh that you need to wait for the ice cubes to cool it down.
Now we dined in, and we went at around 5pm on a Saturday, which isn’t exactly high tide. Service was a bit casual, considering we were the only ones in the place. However, I quickly figured out from the near constant stream of armed services personnel from the Marine Barracks that Levi’s is by and large a takeout joint, and if I were pressed for time, I’d probably order take out too. That being said, we weren’t in any hurry, and there are a lot worse ways to pass a late spring afternoon than sipping sweet tea, watching Tarheels basketball on the TV over the register, and enjoying the smells of BBQ.
Also, they have Raven Symone’s autograph by the counter, with a long personal note of thanks. And that’s gotta count for something.