It's been written about in so many DC tourist guidebooks and newspaper articles about DC that it's a cliche.
Hell, according to this review, they were even featured on the Rachel Ray show. Uggh.
http://cityguide.aol.com/washington/entertainment/bens-chili-bowl/v-102199427?&=0&page=3 Old School Flavor, Idiot SonBy just1uponu on 06/20/2006
I went there this past Sunday, with my son & daughter & my ex - wife & my bride to be, & my grand parent's. It was packed for a min, so to speak because there was a show next door. About the late soul singer ~ Marvin Gaye. I & my son were the only ones who wanted to eat there, the rest of my group didn't & my fiancee had been there before, & she told us that we would be hot & uncomfortable because they don't have A/C. Plus I, had heard & seen, Ben's Chili Bowl ~ On The Food Channel & Rachel Ray show. Anyway we all orderd our food & beverages, my ice tea didn't come untill I, had finished my meal. It was hot in there as she had said but, they had a fan there, the crowd left for the show next door & we were starting to fell the fan. Well ~ Ben & Virginia, son was seated with a couple a lady who I, think may have had his baby, & a pregnant lady too. He decided to turn the fan toward's them, a customer complained & Ben's son, was very rude by telling the customer that a fan cost - what $12.00 & the pregnant lady was more important then us. The customer was nice & even said that these people = meaning my group would like to fell the fan as well. Ben son replied &&&&&&, now the customer who complained, had about 14 people in his group & I, had 7 in my group, then he = customer replied if we were white would you feel like that? We felt that way as well beause the pregnant lady was white, & we were not. Ben's son said ~ F.U. Now check this out - Rite Aid is down the block I, say buy a few more fan's. My Grand parent's wanted to leave they were insulted & hurt by this idiot son, of Ben's. Ben's son was lucky so to speak, because my ex - wife grabbed my right hand, & my fiancee grabbed my left hand, & my kids told me Dad, please don't do it. I choose not to recieve my black belt's in the art's because I, choose not have my hands registerd with the police dept. Thier son will kill there bussiness if he keep's that type of attitude, towards paying customers.
Originally posted by beetsnotbeats:
Originally posted by Charlie Nakatestes,Japanese Golfer:
I'm proud to say that in my 10+ years of living in the DC area, I've never once set foot in this cliched place.
How is it cliched? They've been operating pretty much unchanged for 50 years. "Cliched" would imply that they planned out the reputation they have, like a typical nightclub or coffeehouse, e.g. College Perk (yes, that's really it's name).
And what about the cliche of the pride of nonpatronage? [/b]
