Greg Cox says the Busy Bee is emphatically not your grandfather's -- or even your father's -- café. It's a multilevel, multifunction gathering place that caters to the wants and needs of the modern urban professional crowd from sun up to long past sundown.
When The Bee first opened, the food was good and it was "the" place to go for awhile. But I would say the last 4 lunches I have had there were awful.
The *very last* lunch (ever) that I had there (a few months ago) was inedible. Had the fish tacos and there was something absolutely rotten in there. I took one bite and could not eat more. I was on a business lunch and didn't want to look like a jerk, so I didn't send it back. I just picked around them and ate some tater tots, and then paid $14 for a lunch I could not eat. Even when the food has been "okay" the fries are always greasy and soggy, so don't order those (their chef needs to go to Capital Club 16 to learn how to cook a crispy fry). And I've actually had the tots a couple of times when they've been frozen in the center and had to send them back.
I think people must go for the atmosphere or bartenders or bands or something. It does *look* cool, and maybe the food is decent at night. But this is increasingly one of those places that I mention to other people and hear "Ugh" as a response. Or when discussing lunch options I get "Anywhere but the Bee." So it's not just me.
Too many *really* good options downtown now to go somewhere with bad food.
This place is fresh and old school at the same time. Go at any time during the day and you will enjoy it.
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Busy Bee Cafe has two entrances, side-by-side doors facing Wilmington Street. The one on the left opens to the ground floor cafe, a high-ceilinged space with a chic urban renovation vibe and a long counter behind which, depending on the time of day, a barista pulls espresso drinks or a bartender pulls pints. The door on the right leads upstairs to a compact bar and rooftop patio, where the draft beer selection is smaller but more rarefied, and live music or a DJ keeps the place buzzing into the wee hours several nights a week. (Full review)