Black's Bar & Kitchen

My first time here with two friends who are semi regular. We came for primarily oyster happy hour and it did not disappoint. The three of us sat at a round high top. The entire place is a lot smaller than I expected. Actually kind of nice and cozy but maybe fills up at times.We got 3 dozen oysters, duck nachos, and drinks. Oysters were superb. Got to try different varieties which is nice to compare side by side and also sprung for premium on the last dozen. The duck nachos were also good but I would say small portion for the cost. My lemon drop cocktail was as expected. Would definitely come back for HH oysters.My biggest concern was going to be parking at this location, but I was able to avoid since my friend lived within walking distance. There is a parking garage next door but unclear of the cost and if there is any possible validation.

I came here for lunch on a Wednesday afternoon around 1 pm with a couple of my friends because we were really craving some good quality oysters. The restaurant was immediately pretty empty so it was fairly easy to get seated right away. It seemed as if we were one of the 2 tables on the restaurant side which made it super cozy and quiet for us to enjoy our meal. We ended up getting a dozen mixed of the oysters from out of state and a dozen of those locally, the Allen's brother's prime ribeye with a side of sautéed asparagus, calamari and an order of cocktail shrimp. Right off the bat when we ordered the server was asking us if we wanted everything to come out together or would we like to space things out according to what dish and we said all together. However we didn't realize he actually meant all the dishes we ordered would literally all come out all at once which was an error on our part since he tried to explain but we didn't realize. As for the food, this is where I took off a star because although the food was pretty good, there was some minor things we didn't like and for the price of the food and what we ended up getting didn't seem to justify for it. The cocktail shrimp was definitely not what I was expecting, they were crispy pan fried shrimp with old bay seasoning on it which wasn't terrible but also looking back wasn't worth getting and wasn't what I was expecting. We did however really like the calamari as it was super crunchy and the batter wasn't overly thick and chewy so we could still taste the squid and had a nice touch of small crunchy pieces on it almost like breadcrumbs, both dishes the sauces paired with them went really nice with it. The ribeye we got medium (since one of friends wanted it cooked a bit more) but came out to more of a medium rare which was fine by me, and my friend who usually doesn't eat rare ended up liking it more this way. It was nicely seasoned and it wasn't overly tough or chewy which we enjoyed but there wasn't anything special about it in my opinion to justify it being $50. Now for the oysters, we all really liked the out of state ones the best even though they were a lot smaller looking than the in state ones. This was cause they tasted a lot cleaner and less creamy/rich than then the in state oysters. Now for the second reason why I took off a star was the service. Although our server seemed like a nice guy and he was pretty attentive during the beginning of our meal (taking our order and checking in on us when the food first came out) he totally disappeared after which was very frustrating on our part. We initially came to eat oysters as me and my friends were craving them so we only ordered a dozen of each to see which one we liked more. When we finished and tried to ordered more our server or any worker was NO WHERE TO BE FOUND. So instead of trying to flag someone down or get up to find them we just ended up not ordering more food which left us kind of disappointed. There was also times when we needed more sauces, or utensils or had questions about our food and we ended up having to ask the food runner since our server was again NO WHERE TO BE FOUND during this time. This really sucks because like I mentioned earlier we were one of the 2 tables he had, but you know what they say when the restaurant is slow is typically when you get the worst service so this could just be one of the off days. It just kind of sucks because I do really like the oysters from here and I would love to come back but for the price we ended up paying and how things turned out I wouldn't say it was entirely worth it in my opinion.

We have been here before so we know the type of service they provided and compared to the service we received recently. Let's just say that the service, or lack there of + the waiter NOT informing us of the credit card surcharge (I think it was 9%) ADDED to the bill is enough to NOT COME BACK.1. There were a whole lot of options for people who have Gluten or Soy issues so we opted for the salmon dish. Way overpriced for sub par food2. I ordered the Duck nachos which were ok. They were lukewarm3. We ordered the Panko Cauliflower - that might have been the best thing and I think fried oysters or something like that (it was clearly forgettable)The restaurant had just opened - in our section, by the time we finished, there were only three other couples/families seated- so total (w/out us) 7 people. The restaurant was NOT busy. We were given a round of waters when we sat down. Our water glasses were empty. The waiter walked by SEVERAL times - not once did our water glasses get replenished Our bill came to close to 100.00 for the three of us- and NO we don't mind paying that for lunch if the food - service are good It was a rip off - esp with the surcharge if using your CC. You don't get that surcharge added to your bill if using CASH- and we didn't notice it until the final check was given. In either case the waiter or even the restaurant should do a better job in informing the customer. Never going back there or to ANY other Blacks establishment

One of the longest tenured restaurants in Bethesda continues to provide solid food and drink as well as a comfortable atmosphere. Service can be on the slower side (20-30 min for entree) compared to Woodmont and Seventh State down the street , but otherwise awesome. Had the rockfish special on a recent visit - it was crispy , fresh and didn't require a separate side - and the Oysters Rockefeller are my go to appetizer. Good cocktails also.

I'm biased I've come to this area a whole lot, and not once have I ever ventured to any other restaurant on the street. I mean they named the street after my favorite place. On this particular day I was invited to go to Black's. I agreed. I was so upset when I put the address in Uber and found out it was across from my playground. I already had agreed to come so this girl turned her frown upside down. Glad I did! Staff is GREAT! Food was good! Loved my salmon. Tried a taste of the burger which was actually super decent. I must admit, there are now three places on this street I'd frequent. Will be back to try more items on the menu.

I recently visited Black's Kitchen and Bar during their happy hour, and it was a great experience! The atmosphere was vibrant and welcoming, perfect for unwinding after a long day. The staff were friendly, attentive, and ensured that my needs were met promptly.The happy hour specials were fantastic, offering a great variety of drinks and appetizers at reasonable prices. The cocktails were expertly crafted and delicious, with my personal favorite being the strawberry basil martini. The food was equally impressive; the tacos were juicy and flavorful, and the mussels were also a hit.And you can't go to a raw bar and not indulge in some fresh oysters *chefs kiss*Overall, Black's Kitchen and Bar exceeded my expectations. It's the perfect spot for a relaxed and enjoyable happy hour with friends. I'll definitely be returning soon!

Came here for a large gathering. Blacks bar was able to workout a special menu and the service was spot on. I ordered a few drinks and some Oysters Rockefeller. The drinks were really good and they oysters were basics. 9$ special for 3 oysters isn't bad. The bar area was spacious and the restaurant looked busy.

Great happy hour and a short walk from the Marriott ! Where do I begin? Oysters Rockefeller- amazing. Even my mom who doesn't like oyster enjoyed these. Shrimp tacos- went back for seconds. Mussels- plenty of bread provided to sop up the sauce! Entree sizes were perfect for this heavy seafood focused restaurant.

I think this restaurant was good, but not a place that I would rave about. I ordered the calamari for an appetizer which was ok. There wasn't much flavor in the breading of the calamari, but it wasn't awful. For my entree, I had the mussels and had a side of macaroni. Both were good, but again not something I'd rave about. The chocolate cake tasted pretty standard. We came in on a rainy evening and before the big dinner rush. It was practically empty when we got there. I will say that since we were one of the only ones there, I wasn't a fan of having them seat another group of guests directly next to us of all of the open tables. The vibe was nice though. I liked the upscale and sleek design of the restaurant.

The food is always great!! The menu has terrific standards and creative specials. One of our favorites.