Recap: Patty Boom Boom is U Street’s Newest Loungespot
By DC Fab • February 2nd, 2010
It’s Jamaica. It’s reggae. It’s mad chill. Patty Boom Boom (1359 U Street NW), from the creators of Marvin, the Gibson and Eighteenth Street Lounge, this new carry-out/lounge (the combination seems odd but it works) is a must-visit on U Street now.
Don’t expect a sign or any indication that this place has opened, besides of course the buzz that surrounds this spot. Patty Boom Boom serves as a Jamaican-food carry out downstairs (although they only have an assortment of beef patties made from scratch now. They’ll have coco bread and roti to come) while upstairs bartenders from the Gibson, D.C.’s hush-hush speakeasy, serve up rum punch, Guinness and Red Stripe.
Everyday, Patty Boom Boom is spinning reggae hits and classics but on Thursday you can catch DJ J-Bone spinning classic reggae and on Friday you’ll hear Selassie sounds, Rastafari flavor and dubb.
Here are some more pictures of this U Street gem:
Ambiya Pinnix is the general manager of the store. She stands next to her husband's artwork that hangs on the walls.
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[ February 3rd, 2010 at 7:06 am ]
I first stopped in here about a month ago when they first opened. We got a free beef patty. It was good.
Came back a week later, the patty had changed. The people working behind the counter said the owners were ‘experimenting’ to get the correct patty.
To me, I would think you’d want to have your recipes and things like that in concrete before opening?
I have two BIG issues about this place though:
1) It’s a black reggae spot that is frequented by pretty much transient, gentrifying whites who hop on the newest ‘hip’ thing, whatever that is. This venue is not very welcome to people of color, who are being glorified through music, food, and culture. Where was the dancehall? No where… ..because these owners know that it will attract people of color. They are very deliberate in their thinking - wish they would have put that same amount of effort into their patties.
2) THEY.DO.NOT.SELL.COCOA.BREAD. What type of West Indian Restaurant doesn’t sell cocoa bread? Well, this one - sanitized jamaican food for yuppies who have never tasted real West Indian food.
Also, they should get rid of the ridiculous patties like Guava Goat.
[ February 3rd, 2010 at 7:18 am ]
Lol, to the above comment. I totally hear you, I went there for the first time last week, and was surprised by the lack of diversity, considering it was a reggae spot. It was literally spot the black person! I went on a Friday as oppose to Thursday so it may be slightly different, but I cannot imagine it.
Haha, I had a guava goat pattie and it wasn’t great. My friend said the spicy beef was nice.
[ February 8th, 2010 at 10:24 am ]
I cannot speak for the food - or alcohol - at the place. I did not try either. I had eaten before I left home, and I do not drink alcohol.However I can speak to, and for, the music. Thursdays are like church for me and my bredren. True Foundation & Rockers Music. Message Music. Its been a long time since you could find a spot - or a DJ - that would play them kinda tunes all night. Most people in this city don’t get it. They think ‘reggae’ music is either Bob Marley (on one side) or Elephant Man (on the other). They don’t know the Foundation - the Groundation. Thats what you can find at this place on Thursdays with the man J-Bone. He has been doing it a long time in this city. He knows the history of the music - and if you talk to him, I know he would gladly share - because he has taken the time to sit and reason with me before. As for the ‘color’ of the crowd, and the first posters remarks, I don’t know what night he was there, but on Thursdays I have always seen a good mix of all. Not all black - not all white. I don’t care about color (if you must know, if I must state it here to give this post ‘credibility’, I am black), I care about the music. I want everyone to be able to hear what is being played through those speakers. Really ‘hear’ it. Maybe then when they go home that night - whether they are black, white, yellow or brown - they will start to hear the ‘message’. And maybe then we can start treating each other better. Dread Out.
[ February 9th, 2010 at 11:54 pm ]
Ive never been to Patty Boom Boom, but I hear its a really nice place. Ive see a lot of good reviews.
One question: after a certain time, is the club 18+ or 21+?
(im not yet 21, but would like to experience this new reggae spot)
[ February 23rd, 2010 at 7:39 pm ]
Well said Ras Ibrahim. Thank you for that post. Was a breath of fresh air amongst some of the other comments.