Kramer's Book Store & Afterworks Café – Is it a bookstore or Café?

Sometimes you can have good food mixed with a good read.   Barnes and Noble may have the secrete to a good cup of Joe but Kramer’s tops it with its invigorating menu for all discriminating tastes.  This place is smart as you wait for a table you can peruse the bookstore of real books not the kind you read on your Nook but real paper and type. 

This place stays open 24 hours on Fridays and Saturday the rest of the week it is open till 1am.  The food is not your usual late fare of hamburgers and fries but something a bit more ecliptic.  Wednesday through Saturday nights there is live music from local musicians.  The atmosphere is warm and inviting not trendy so no matter what your style is there is nothing to hold you back from engaging in the food and festivities.

 The food is inspired by the music which plays an ecliptic mix of gospel to good old time rock and roll.  The food is the same mix from New Orleans style to hip vegetarian dishes. 

If you come for weekend brunch be prepared to wait ½ hour but its well worth it.  Sample the Eastern Shore Crab Omelet made with generous portions of sweet Jumbo Crab drizzled with lemon hollandaise sauce.  If you’re looking for something sweet the Banana French Toast will be to your licking.  Yes I said licking. Pan-fried Italian bread soaked in egg batter stuffed with sliced bananas served with homemade fruit compote.  The warm walnut syrup is light and not overwhelming.

If you want something heavier then I recommend the Butternut Squash Ravioli or Fettuccine New Orleans made with shrimp, julienne chicken and andouille sausage.  The St. Louis style pork ribs are meaty and sweet.  Better yet try something totally out of the box with Gary’s Jamaican Curried Goat.  When I said this place is ecliptic I meant it. Nothing on the menu is straight TV dinner style.  All dishes are kicked up a notch to please the picky eater but there is something for everyone.

I didn’t even tell you that the bar is a mixologist's day dream.  If you can think it up they can mix it up from the old fashioned Hot Butter Rum to the Strawberry Basil Mojito.  I have been a mojito kick lately so don’t mind me just give it a try.  Remember this place serves food 24 hours a day on weekends so after your night on the town you can stop by for some energy burning yummies. 

I am not going to kid you this place can be pricey.  I dare to stay that all food items are in the double digits but its well worth the price.  The staff is friendly and helpful.  The food is down right delicious.  You have to try it once as where else can you read a book and tie one on that being your food bag or a drink or two before heading home and calling it a night.  This place rates 3.5 Forks Up.  The price is the main drawback for me. If I was one of the rich DC lawyers or politicians I would give it a 4 but my pocket book will not allow me.

Located at 1517 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, District of Columbia 20036