TONIC restaurant opened May 29 after several months of delays but has recorded heavier initial customer traffic than expected, Manager Kenny Bush said.

“It’s been surprisingly busy. We got off to a much better start than expected,” he said of the 21st Street restaurant. “Of course, come August, it’s going to be crazy.”

A restaurant that features both bar and table service, TONIC offers comfort foods such as hamburgers, sandwiches and chicken pot pie, all of which can be paid for on GWorld.

In addition to its traditional sit-down service, TONIC offers an upstairs lounge with several couches and chairs. It also plans to open a take-out window this fall. Bush said that the eatery’s operating hours during the school year are tentatively set for 7 a.m. to 2 a.m., seven days a week.

“We want to give both students and Foggy Bottom residents a relaxing atmosphere at a place where you know you can get some good food,” Bush said.

While TONIC has not yet been granted a liquor license by the Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration, Bush said he remains optimistic that TONIC will receive a liquor license.

“We’ve been getting a lot of support from people in the neighborhood,” he said, adding that there is a “good chance” TONIC will have a license by September.