Winner: 2002 & 2003 "Best Neighborhood Pub"
— The Washington Blade

This place is serious about getting you hammered for brunch. I find that attractive in a restaurant.

— Maxim magazine, November 2000

Comfortable and cozy is the best way to describe this small U-Street basement restaurant and pub. Located one block from the U-Street/Cardozo metro station, Polly’s is a nice change of pace from the more standard urban restaurant scene in Dupont Circle or Adams Morgan.

Walk down the stairs into Polly’s on a cold night, and you will surely find a full house, tightly packed tables, and a bar crowded with eclectic patrons waiting to be seated by the restaurant’s wood-burning fireplace. From professionals after work grabbing a drink, to a casual dinner date, Polly’s sets a come-as-you-are atmosphere that most anyone could enjoy.

The menu at Polly’s is well rounded, providing both traditional bar fare, as well as some items that require a bit more care. Portions are big and hearty, which is perfect for a cold evening by the fire. In the warmer months, patrons enjoy dinner at one of the coveted outdoor tables. Snag one of these, and delight in the character and charm of the “new” U-Street scene at ground level.

— "Life in the District" by Scott Auslander and Kerri Wade

Welcome to Polly's Cafe, a cozy restaurant-bar on U Street that attracts an eclectic range of patrons: bankers and bikers, hipsters and political hacks; Gen-Xers and fiftysomethings; stalwarts of the official White House-Capitol Hill circuit, and residents of the real, unofficial Washington. It is one of the few Washington eateries where on a given night one is likely to find a genuinely balanced ethnic mix. There's a small outdoor section, fronting onto U Street. Inside, the feel is relaxed: The tables are varnished wood, the walls brick. There's a fireplace in one wall, a jukebox mounted on the other -- in the spirit of Polly's, the jukebox offers tunes ranging from Sinatra to Guns N' Roses. The music is live on Wednesdays. Polly's is the kind of place that's fine for first dates, business meetings and birthday bashes. The menu is basic and reliable -- steak, chicken, seafood, sandwiches, big salads. The hummus appetizer is particularly tasty. There are three specials every day, which are usually quite good, such as the chicken stuffed with spinach and topped with a tomato sauce, offered one recent night ....

— Washington Post by Ruben Castaneda

Eight varieties of eggs Benedict include avocado, portobello mushroom, smoked salmon, and spinach. We recommend the spicy Southwest Benedict with chipotle pepper sauce, black beans, cheddar, and tomato salsa served over a corn tortilla. Crispy French toast is dipped in a vanilla cinnamon batter and comes with bacon, sausage, or ham.

DIRT CHEAP EATS 2005

— Washingtonian Magazine by Ann Limpert, Cindy Rich, and Jeremy Stahl