21st In Germantown

Preface:If it wasn't so quiet I would score much higher!What did I take away from this experience? Let's start with the positives: the burger and loaded fries were really good. However, there are a few negatives worth mentioning.First, we parked in the back but were greeted with a sign warning of a $168 towing fee. There was no clear indication that this was the bar's parking lot (I later confirmed it is), so we ended up parking on the street.Upon entering, we walked through a metal detector -- a first for me at a dining spot -- into a beautiful old building that was eerily silent. The place was completely empty except for the bartender. No customers, no music, no background noise whatsoever.Initially, we were told we couldn't order burgers because they didn't have a cook. However, after seeing our disappointment, Amber kindly offered to make them herself if we agreed to let her know if anyone else showed up. This was a nice gesture and made for an easy conversation in the quiet space.There was an open mic comedy night about to start, which we didn't stay for, but it looked promising and could be a lot of fun. I really hope it's not this empty on a typical night -- we visited on a Tuesday. The staff was warm and accommodating, which was a definite plus.

After reading the reviews, we expected much better atmosphere and food quality. It was dead empty on a Friday at 6:30 pm. Food was fair, service was acceptable. We wouldn't come back if we lived in the area.

I had a late into the evening gig and was looking for a place with a late night menu amd some good beverages. This is clearly a local place and I loved that about it. I'd much rather go to where the locals go than to the tourist traps downtown.Had a couple Manhattans and the pulled pork sammich with grilled green beans. IThe pork was tender with a local style thin BBQ sauce and the grilled green beams were tasty and well seasoned. Highly recommend!

This was the 4th attempt at visiting 21st. We successfully visited after they first opened but it had been too busy since then. We lucked into trying again before our event at Art Sanctuary which is just down the street. I had a Moscow Mule, the OG. Melt and loaded fries. The mule was incredibly sour. They definitely need to back off the line juice because it overwhelmed the drink. The melt was delicious. The cheese and bacon did not help the rather bland fries and the extra toppings were not enough to warrant a $3 up charge. My husband had a beer, the regular fries and the blt. He seemed happy with all of it. Unfortunately, we ran out of time to finish and none of it did well as leftovers. Overall, we were satisfied and would return.

Wow! So never in my life had I eaten a burger without condiments like ketchup or Mayo or mustard. That is how flavorful and perfect the gouda burger was. I did not need anything else, that sunny side up egg was runny and pure perfection. The place is very relaxed, you come in and find a place to seat. Make sure the server knows you arrived as there are areas not fully visible to her. The sides, I really enjoyed the fried Cauliflower side. The Cole slaw was my first time trying a vinegar based one and it was great bc I enjoyed how healthy it is. There are many other choices to try, the 2x1 promotion is only on burgers and it is daily 5pm to 7pm and ABSOLUTELY worth it! Big meat patty and plenty of bacon on them! Great parking space, good location and to top it all off, Tuesdays is free open mic comedy club in the back which is great for a laugh post dinner. Or you can take your dinner and eat it there. Absolutely great place! I'll be back!

Imagine a comfy local dive serving artisan cocktails and top-notch food and that's 21st in Germantown to a "T." My dinner buddy and I wandered in on a late Sunday afternoon and, based on the online menu, weren't at all sure we were in the right place. I was expecting a restaurant with a bar and was standing, somewhat befuddled in a bar that I wasn't even sure was open. Finally, I sheepishly asked the bartender if they were open and serving food, to which he responded by handing us two menus with a resounding "Yes!" And we were off and running!The menu was definitely abbreviated compared to what we viewed online, but it did not disappoint. My friend had the ribs, fries, and smoked Gouda mac 'n' cheese while I enjoyed a BLT and onion rings. The ribs, dry rubbed and smoked to perfection, were absolutely on point while my sandwich, a simple standard, was anything but plain - stacked high with bacon, fresh tomatoes, and wonderfully thick-sliced bread. But the star of the show was by far the mac 'n' cheese. I love smoked Gouda but nearly every time I've tried it in mac 'n' cheese, the delicate flavor is lost and the result has been nothing but a sad, sad bowl of beige, sticky noodles. Offering a generous portion, they definitely upped the game here by throwing in a bit of spice, the heat from which really accentuated the smoke and flavor of the cheese and my friend and I were nearly fighting over the last bites. At the end, my sandwich, onion rings, and three ciders put me just over $20 and my friend's bill (which included a coke instead) was around the same, leaving us both food happy and overwhelmingly money happy.So, overall, be prepared for a changing but solid-quality menu. The atmosphere is very casual, so it might not be the prime choice for an important occasion. But even if the ambience is a little less swank, you can still very much enjoy quality food and bev at very reasonable prices. And bonus: they offer off-street parking and various events throughout the week! We will be returning very soon! Enjoy!

Walked here from my Air B&B across the street. Gray beers, yard for dogs, and friendly staff. Will be going throughout the week.

We wanted to try a local Germantown restaurant.Arrived 6:30 Thursday pm, we were the only guests to dine. One person at the bar having drinks.Greeted and seated and first round of drinks promptly ordered. From here on we had to flag down server for appetizer order, another drink, entree order and bill. The food was good! The cook delivered food and checked back on us twice. Everyone was friendly just a strange service experience. They have a nice area for a band and drinks in the back.They offer karaoke also.

Visiting from out of town and saw this place was highly rated and food looked great. I got Yelp Catfished! I'm not sure if this is a struggling restaurant but the food looks nothing like the pictures. I ordered a med/rare morning burger with fries. Burger came out well done and 1/4 of the size shown in images. No Aoili sauce, and the bun was the saddest thing I've seen. Picture a bacon burger cooked in a dorm room by college kids with little to no money. The only reason I ate it was because I was starving. The food was also served on a paper plate vs the tin displayed. The manager was discussing partying after work and smoking weed and claimed she ran the place but didn't know how to work the iPad without help. I should have made another choice after walking in and discovering I was the only customer in the entire place. The manager was personable which is why I give this 2 stars. I could go on with the negatives but seems like the only thing going for this place is their karaoke and mic nights for young college kids. They seriously need to reinvest in the kitchen/food. I will not be back or recommend to others while visiting.

Good bar, nice ambiance, open mike and scheduled entertainment several times a week. No negatives