Mission Navy Yard

★★★★☆ 4.2 (769) • $$

"Mission at the Navy Yard stands within steps away from Washington Nationals Park. Prior to my visit, I do recognize other options were favored based on recent reviews, but I took the chance, and I do regret it. Be it an off day or the standard of service in this restaurant, Mission was not it for me. Disappointing.On the day of my visit, IDs were being checked at the door. And it went downhill from there. Arrived on the 2nd floor and was told service would be quicker sitting at the bar versus at the bartops. The bartenders on the day of our visit seemed really spaced out. It may be the combination of bombardment of crowds from the game and heat, it has been a while since I received service with very poor interaction. Cold, hesitant, and impatient. Orders were simple, as offerings of the day are simple. Nothing complicated, but chips, salsa, and tacos... the meal was bland and passable.Goodness gracious, no thank you. Maybe another day."

Teddy & The Bully Bar

★★★★☆ 3.7 (788) • $$$

"As soon as I walked in the first thing i noticed was how nice the place was. The hostess was really nice and very accommodating as I was the first person in my party to arrive. I was able to sit at the bar and have a couple of mimosas while I waited. The guava mimosa was just ok and the mango was pretty decent. The brunch is $60 to include unlimited mimosas, unlimited mains and starters on the menu, and the omelet and waffle station. That's a pretty great deal. I tried the fish taco(salmon). Nothing special but others loved it. The Brussel sprouts were good, the Mac n cheese was blah. My omelet was really good and I topped It with the lamb that came with the benedict. The DJ was definitely cranking out some bangers which made the brunch even more appealing. Outside of the waiter overcharging us when we split the bill, everything went well and I will be back."

Tonic

★★★☆☆ 3.1 (959) • $$

"This college bar is on the George Washington University campus. There are two floors of diners and lots of tables inside and out. This is an old historic pharmacy that's turned into a casual restaurant bar. Happy to walk in from the National Mall and be able to get a table for lunch A Very nice casual lunch menu with a big bar. They are known for their tater tot and they have a whole top menu, including tater tot covered in nachos.My husband ordered salad and I ordered a California veggie burger with tots of course. Ainsley, our server took good care of us. My burger was very good. I enjoyed the tater tots with the three different dipping sauces. My husband wasn't impressed with his nacho salad.Lunch was generous and reasonable, but we were surprised at 3% surcharge was added to our bill ."

The Auld Shebeen

★★★★☆ 4.1 (506) • $$

"Came here for St. Patties day and didn't realize how LOVED this place is hahaha. They had a lot going on. They charged a $10 cover to enter, even if you're there to order a meal. I thought that was kinda lame. The vibes here were EVERYTHING, they had Irish dancers and live music. We did not reserve in advance so we had to do bar seating which was first come first serve. Theres an upstairs and a downstairs area. There's a parking garage across the street it's a small lot, but I believe it was free. The drinks in tap were really good! We ordered Guinness which was delicious. We ordered: Sticky Toffee pudding 7/10Shepards Pie 8/10St. James Gate Guinness Beef Stew 100/10Fish & Chips 8/10We literally loved everything we ordered!!! The food here is SOOOO GOOOD and I highly recommend it. Definitely get their beef stew while it's cold and gross out. I've been thinking about that stew for two weeks now lol."

Truluck's Ocean's Finest Seafood & Crab

★★★★☆ 4 (437) • $$$$

"We had the pleasure of Veronica serving us this afternoon. Like Really...where did you find Veronica, the epitome of perfect dining service. We were greeted by the manager who was very professional. Veronica was knowledgeable about the menu, wine pairings and just on top of everything. Veronica brought back high level service. The atmosphere is lovely with beautiful chandeliers, dim lighting and large potted dracaena's. I ordered the stone crab which came with 7 medium and a side for around $65. The stone crab was sweet and rich. My partner got the lunch special with wedge salad and chicken stroganoff. He enjoyed it a lot. The Caesar salad is the best you can get. Definitely dont miss this place when you are in Downtown DC and ask for Veronica... you wont be disappointed."

Gadsby's Tavern Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.6 (460) • $$

"Ahh, the great Gadsby's...Well, maybe not so great but kinda fun.While headed to Mount Vernon from DC, I happened to stop in at Gadsby's because I had heard George Washington and friends frequented the establishment for happy hour back in the day.The place has a historic vibe to it, that's fun.I think I would have been disappointed had I invested a dinner at Gad's, but lunch was serviceable.I shared some dishes with my wife (spellings are off the menu, not typos):We had a cup of Surrey Co. Peanut Soop cup $4/bowl $6roasted peanuts simmered in fresh chicken stock with garlic and gingerA Walnut Gorgonzola Sallad $9field greens topped with walnuts, gorgonzola, red onionand tomato with balsamic vinaigretteShared a Grilled Chicken Sandwich $12topped swiss cheese, baby spinach and baconon a brioche roll with chutney mayonnaise and it came with a huge pile of fries!I LOVED the peanut "soop" but I LOVE peanut butter, you've been warned.The salad and sandwich were both good. Was it amazing? Not really, but it was good (and I was hungry!)Service was fine (the woman who waited on our table did an okay job, however she seemed awkward/nervous - maybe she was new?)In all, Gadsby's was a fun stop during a day of history-themed activities. I'd recommend it to anyone having a touristy day in the area or someone wanting to try peanut "soop" - it was otherworldly, lol!3.5 starsP.S. If you head downstairs to use the washroom, the photo of George in the stairwell is a classic! Hahaha..."

Old Anglers Inn

★★★☆☆ 2.9 (601) • $$$

"We had a very nice time. We ate inside and Gregg was our server. He was top-notch very professional and provided a lot of suggestions. I ordered the hamburger and onion soup and my friend ordered the arugula salad and onion soup. The hamburger is very flavorful. It's made with brisket and short rib, the onion soup was very good as well with a rich broth and lots of melted cheese on top. My friends salad had limited cheese so we asked for more. It much flavor with the salad dressing. I would not get it next time. we had the crème brûlée and the chocolate cake for dessert were excellent. There were a lot of people sitting outside a little cold. They were willing to wait 45 minutes. We had a reservation and we're seated right away. Old Anglers is definitely a place to go to with old world charm. We had a Groupon that you could purchase for $50 and get $70 worth of food. We still ended up spending another $100 and that's not drinking for lunch. so $150 all in but it's a beautiful place and we had fun."

STK Steakhouse

★★★★☆ 3.8 (333)

"I get that everyone's experience is different, so I can only speak for myself. I enjoyed it! Will I spend that much money on one meal for myself often? Nahhh lol I thought the server was fantastic. Wish I could remember her name. We celebrated my good brothers birthday and we all enjoyed our food. Drinks were good as well and the DJ had set a nice vibe for the evening. He only gets to play at a bedding music level, so props for still setting the tone. Let me conclude by saying I think the best value at STK comes during happy hour. You get good bites & good drinks at reasonable prices."

Giovanni's Trattu

★★★★☆ 4 (296) • $$

"Five of us dined at Giovanni's Trattu, and we had an incredible experience from start to finish. The restaurant had a warm, cozy vibe that made us feel right at home. It definitely had an authentic Italian feel--everything from the decor to the delicious food.Our server was friendly, attentive, and really helpful in guiding us through the menu. The best part? The food came out super fast and, most importantly, HOT--nothing beats that fresh, flavorful Italian meal when it's served piping hot!All of the dishes we ordered were absolutely fantastic. The pasta was cooked to perfection. Everything was perfectly seasoned and felt like it came straight from a small trattoria in Italy.The whole experience was smooth, delicious, and really satisfying. Whether you're dining in or grabbing carryout, Giovanni's Trattu is a gem in DC. Can't wait to go back!"

Busboys and Poets - Anacostia

★★★★☆ 4 (296) • $$

"It's been a dreary sleepy week. I even missed a mental day of observation. So, after wk me and shared car pooler stopped by Busboys and Poets. Our server Ms. Sequoia was such a humbled, pleasant soft spoken young lady. Ms.Sequoia helped with suggestions of the happy hour menu that we didn't know existed. We eat there all the time ordering the same favorite.... Catfish, greens and what are now mashed potatoes potato that used to be grits. The experience was pleasant to have someone take their time, listen and deliver with grace. Thank you Ms. Sequoia for a wonderful evening. Also, does anyone know how often the art is changed on the wall? I would love to see a menu of ART presented to guests as we sit and wait. No one can see it all. Just a thought."

The Hall CP

★★★★☆ 3.8 (310) • $$

"Hey friends! I found the perfect summer spot with strong drinks, a beautiful outdoor seating and music. I've been eyeing this place for a while but I was skeptical because it's in a college town & I didn't want to be around annoying college kids lol. But I was pleasantly surprised to see a diverse crowd of all ages. There's plenty paid parking at $3/hour. There's no free parking at all, so make sure to budget for that. I recommend sitting outdoors, the patio is really nice with a tennis court, the perfect lighting, a swing and wall art.Service was amazing. The hostess was super sweet, we had a nice convo while I waited for my table. Our server was amazing, I'm sad that I didn't get his name, I would definitely request him again. He was attentive, friendly and made some great suggestions. He was also patient with us after we had a couple drinks lol!The food was good, nothing exceptional. I had the mushroom ravioli. As a vegetarian, I was super excited for this dish but not very impressed. It was flavorful and the texture was nice, but unfortunately it is dry. A sauce such as Alfredo would compliment this dish well. My buddies enjoyed their Bulgogi bowl and Margherita pizza. The drinks were amazing! I ordered a Long Island but received a Strong Island lol! I definitely recommend The Hall CP for your summertime hang out! Make sure to check out their happy hour from 4pm-7pm on Wednesdays- Fridays. Have fun and be safe!"

Sudhouse

★★★★☆ 4.4 (231) • $$

"Sudhouse has a awesome bar like atmosphere with great happy hour prices! Most dishes are between $4-9 and drinks between $4-6!! They also have a few tv's that show mostly sports games... we watched a tennis match! They have jamming modern music and bar type food and drinks! *The drinks we got weren't on the happy hour menu because we like to be extra !* Laura and Bridget were awesome! They were very attentive, made great dish suggestions and kept us and the other customers laughing the entire time. We'll definitely return!!Follow me on doseofdev.com for more food, travel, and adventures!"

Royal Sands Social Club

★★★★☆ 4.3 (188) • $$

"Cute concept but not in a hurry to return!!Visited for an alumni mixer last week. Parking in this area is tricky but I found a nearby lot and paid $10 for two hours.It was a very hot day out and inside wasn't any cooler. It just didn't seem like they had the air on. I didn't even see a fan in sight. The drinks were not that great - very tart. I tried the specials from the happy hour menu, and nothing really stood out. Again, I like the theme but not enough to come back."

The Irish Inn

★★★★☆ 3.5 (282) • $$

"Cozy, tucked away in the parking lot near the Glenn Echo Park. I decided to stop in and have a drink. It was a nice autumn night and it begged for a toddy. I walked past the picnic benches and festive party bulbs into the pub side and it has the nice dark wood surrounding the bar. It was smaller than I expected, but there were about 10 seats at the bar, a good half a dozen high tops to sit at. I ordered a Bailey's coffee and it was okay. I enjoyed the 80's music and just chilled. The staff was nice, I don't think I'll pay $12 for coffee and Bailey's again, but I would definitely go back to try the food since I arrived after the kitchen closed ( but got to watch the staff chow down on some food behind the bar)."

VUE Rooftop

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (230)

"Great view of Washington monument and the White House! I'd recommend making a reservation, we went on a Monday and made one day of, but can imagine it's busier on weekends and in spring/summer.We got mixed drinks and the ceviche. The ceviche was incredible, would definitely order again!"

SPIN Washington DC

★★★★☆ 4 (154) • $$

"I came here on a freezing winter night for a holiday party and had an absolute BLAST! The bouncers were kind and so was the nice lady working the coat check. The space is MUCH bigger than I thought so there is plenty of space for several private parties to occur at once. And it is beautiful so make sure you look cute. They also have a nice photo booth that costs about $6. The star of the night was Jazz for her amazing service. She made sure that no one had an empty drink. Jazz even remember my non-alcoholic drink and kept them flowing. Spin was a great host and I have already recommended it to several couples for date night."

Apéro

★★★★☆ 4.3 (121)

"My girlfriend and I go out 1x a year to celebrate the holidays and keep up our gift exchange "tradition" by taking ourselves out to a bougie/fancy meal, and this year it was my turn to pick the location. I stumbled upon Apero while reviewing Yelp recommendations and was instantly impressed! my gf had never had caviar service before, so I knew this had to be the experience for this year. I was drawn in by the Michelin stars too.Upon walking in, it's instantly clear this is a hole in the wall/hidden gem like spot. The interior was nicely decorated, modern and complementary to the vibe they cultivate here. Upon walking in I was seated, as I made a reservation and found parking right out front. I was asked whether I wanted sparking or still and I opted for the bottle of still. The server was busy tending to many tables and once my guest arrived he came around to ask if this was a "birthday". I explained to him that upon making the reservation I labeled it a special event and he corrected me by saying "so....not a birthday". From there it seemed the attention waned. I understand this is a cozy spot but it felt as if they were rushing us quite often, even when tables were vacant. This restaurant automatically charges patrons 22.5% tip so I would expect stellar service. The food was honestly, remarkable. The deviled eggs with the house caviar was delectable and decadent. The house caviar was on the briny salty side so it worked with the appetizer. We also got the oysters with the pear mignonette. It all came ready to eat with the vinegar already perfectly portioned per shell. I booked for brunch, kind of expecting the lunch menu to be available to order the caviar tagatelli, but only brunch was offered. We split the pear salad and that was scrumptious too! We topped it off with a caviar selection that was more on the creamy and less briny scale and the chips and accoutrements were awesome. I didn't quite understand the waffles. We didn't quite love them. When we wanted more chips he insisted he would run it as an extra charge so we decided not to.We got 2 beverages each- one glass of champagne and one espresso martini. They are well known for their caviar and champagne so we just had to indulge in some bubbly. I asked for a sweeter option but ultimately settled for a brut champagne which was very nice. The espresso tini was very strong! Loved it! We ended the evening with the baba (cake soaked in rum) and braised apples. The apples retained their tartness and it was so yummy. We ordered tea as well. I had to ask for cream and honey. Overall, this place is worth a visit. Food gets 5 stars for sure, service is really the only reason this review isn't 5 stars. Keep in mind the preferred 2 hour block of seating time if you want to keep prompt and friendly service. The items we ordered were absolutely lovely. My special event was a hit!"

Harlot DC

★★★☆☆ 2.7 (216) • $$

"Me and my friend came here for a drag buffet brunch for her birthday. We loved it the food was delicious and drag Queens were beautiful and funny very entertained the whole time! We had free shots because the event was sponsored by Tito's and also had breast cancer awareness it was a great experience. The waitress constantly checked in with us making sure we had everything we wanted very attentive. Also the place is very ascetically pleasing perfect Background for pictures."

Chupacabra Latin Kitchen & Taqueria

★★★★☆ 3.9 (83) • $$

"Valor is a welcome gem to the Barracks Row neighborhood! Stopped in here for a late lunch one Sunday afternoon and was thoroughly impressed. Bartender Jamie was amazingly hospitable and made sure our afternoon was a fun one! We had a blast chatting with him the whole time!Valor has a handful of beers that they brew in house and also a lovely craft cocktail menu! I started with the Plum Basil Gin Fizz which came in a French press! They were actually out of plums that day so we improvised and made a lime version and boy was that delightful! I also had the Valor 75 because I can never deny anything with Elderflower and that was equally as delicious. Jamie even kept adding some more Prosecco to my drink when I was low. My dining partner had a few of the beers and enjoyed them all! Jamie also went an extra mile and gave everyone at the bar a drink on the house which had pineapple and cinnamon in it... sounds like an odd combination but it was SO GOOD!Their food menu isn't huge but the food we had surely packed an amazing punch! We had the DC Half Smoke Fried Rice, The Tropic Thunder chicken, and the Duck Fat Roasted Baby Carrots. OMG it was all SO GOOD!! I actually think my favorite was the fried rice and we commented how it would make the freaking BEST hangover food, especially if you added a fried egg on top. The Tropic Thunder and carrots were delicious as well!I definitely plan on stopping in here again in the future. So glad to have this new addition to the hood! And if you'd like to experience the world's best bartender, Jamie typically works on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Friday evenings!"

Banditos Tacos & Tequila Fairfax

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (96) • $$

"We like to come here every once in a while as a fun not too casual not too fancy place to get a sit down meal. Given it's next to another taco establishment the tacos are a cut below but sometimes you want to eat out and sit comfortably. The service has been fine and plenty of space. There are kids meals. The last time we went on a Wednesday (with free kids meal!) there was musical bingo and it was pretty entertaining.My favorite thing was the jalapeños popper empanadas. Not a fan of the K-pop taco. Nothing else was super memorable. Churros ok and available with chocolate sauce. Perfectly fine place to eat with family and friends."

National Press Club

★★★★☆ 4.1 (47)

"Inside a 1927 downtown D.C. building surrounded by deep American history is the National Press Club started in 1908 across the street from its current building. Once only open to white male journalists, the club now welcomes all through membership and public events. It's also a popular wedding venue.I went for a free screening of a documentary film by The Washington Post Opinions section and Ray Whitehouse on a Monday evening. Here's my experience:1) Space: With a rich legacy, it screams old-school Washington, D.C. from the dated carpet to the media tokens on the walls from statues honoring journalists to old newspaper clippings. The elevators are regal and the bar wooden. There are several meeting rooms and one larger room for their main speaking and panel events. Off from the bar is a dining room with stunning views of the Willard Hotel and Washington Monument. There are plenty of restrooms throughout the floors (the 13th and 14th floors of the building)2) Parking: For evening events, there's usually street parking for a few dollars along F Street NW. 3) Location: There are plenty of restaurants nearby that stay open through dinner from District Taco to Rice Bar."

Golf Ultra Lounge

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (45) • $$

"To begin, I heard many good things about this place as a lounge and decided to stop in for dinner (we are a family with young children). We went to Golf Ultra Lounge for dinner prior to COVID, so this review is for dine-in service before lounge hours. The only place to sit and eat besides the bar are the booths. We needed to wipe the area prior to settling in. The tables are on the smaller side, so it made eating a little difficult because of how far you needed to reach for your meal and the limited space to spread the dishes (Full disclosure, a child was present). The food was good. We ordered the double portion of Beef Suya, Egusi soup w/ fufu, and Jollof. I usually ask how the dishes are prepared because of the different styles. The waitress had to check in with the chef because apparently the preparation differs depending on who is cooking that day. She also spent most of the time at the bar with the two other customers, so our service wasn't as fast (considering the lounge was near empty). The portions were large and filling. The drinks were canned sodas, rather than drinks on tap. Lowered 2 stars because of cleanliness and customer service."

Sequoia

★★★☆☆ 3.3 • $$$

"I recently came to sequoia over the past few years to celebrate various occasions, And let me cut to the point, Sequoia delivers.The food is consistently good, and the service is attentive and outgoing.The seating is comfortable and spacious, but depending on where you're seated, the trek to the buffet area gets a bit awkward.The restaurant offers plenty of natural light and becomes romantic and dimly lit in the evening. The scenic view is breathtaking taking where you can appreciate the waterfront of DC. Parking is widely available in the nearby garages, but beware, the spaces and turns are tight.Overall, highly recommend, especially for specialoccasions."

Station 4

★★★☆☆ 3.4 • $$

"Station 4 has been on my list for awhile & has garnered a big buzz recently. This restaurant is not new on the DC scene but when influencers start raving about it on TikTok, people come to check out the hype. We had a 1:45 rezzie for Saturday Brunch. It was giving festive vibes. I saw a table of ladies dressed in their holiday one piece pjs having the time of their lives & others folks on dates. We were immediately seated & our server Jeff greeted us. I didn't see kids offerings although my 5 year old nephew was dining with us. I ordered the challah French toast (no powdered sugar), eggs over med with cheddar. Didn't realize my eggs came with home fries & toast. It was a lot of food! I also ordered a mango mojito mocktail. Nephew also wanted French toast, eggs, bacon then poured syrup over everything!!! Sis ordered the breakfast burger with fries & bottomless mimosas. The food was seasoned well and service was on point! I enjoyed my first visit!Come here for the vibes. However, don't expect to have deep conversations during brunch. It's loud!! I couldn't hear the people sitting at my table."

Carmine's - Washington DC

★★★★☆ 3.5 • $$$

"Food: 5/5Service: 3.5/5Ambiance: 4.5/5The food here is simply incredible! We had baked clams, spaghetti w shrimp, spaghetti w meatballs, linguine w clams, salad and porterhouse. I can't break down each dish because each one was so delicious. I can tell you that there is a ton of garlic across board though, bring a mint! My favorite dish of the night was the linguine w clams. The clams were tender, the pasta al dente and it was packed with flavor. I think it's the best I've ever had.... Also, it's not easy to find an Italian restaurant that does a steak justice but the porterhouse here was phenomenal! It was juicy and soft like butter. The service could use some work and our table was pretty much interlocking with another table behind us due to how cramped the area was, but still 1000% recommend eating here!"