Duke's Counter

If you're in DC, you have to make time for Duke's. As a visiting Texan, I was worried about getting the brisket sandwich. It was beyond amazing. The bread, the sauce, the meat... *chef's kiss* Not only that, but it's pretty disappointing when fries aren't good. Duke's might have the best fries. The aesthetic is all on brand and adds to the ambiance. The server didn't even ask... he just brought water cups with lids for our kids. That was a pro move. 10/10 would recommend.

I came for happy hour and left... not as happy. We sat outside, there were so many mosquitoes and unfortunately they didn't have spray...not their issue at all .. just didn'texpect to get eaten up lololol whilst trying to enjoy my meal....my fault anyway as i left my off in the car ...lol le sigh.Food was really good and I came back a week later, to go...stilll yummy when I got home! Highly.recommmend even for us O positive mosquito loved folks !

I was in the neighborhood of the zoo picking up a bottle of cheer for a friend's birthday. This place is a little difficult to find, I think i walked past 3 times before I saw the sign. Then it was like right there. I was cold too so finding it was a blessing. I went inside and asked about a table for one. I get seated toward the back of the restaurant near what I'm thinking is the entrance to the kitchen. The place is like one long closet, not a cut just an observation. I could smell food being cooked the entire time I was at my table. The lighting is interesting to say the least. I was glad to be out of the wind. The menu has a variety, something for everyone. I cheated and looked ahead of time plus I have been to Duke's Grocery near GW hospital. The proper burger with fries (they're extra with the burger) and a Yuengling to wash it all down. The restaurant is as busy as I would expect for a Saturday night. I finish off my first beer and the waitress is bringing me food so I order another. Decent size burger, and a generous portion of the fries. The first bite and you know you found one of the best burgers in the city. Definitely a place to try if you have never been. The fries are pretty good, still hot from the fryer. Definitely a repeat for me now that I know where it is. Convenient to the zoo and a neighborhood with other restaurants and things to see and do. The kicker is I left my phone in the car. Doh! I will have to visit again for pictures.

This is a really convenient stop before or after a trip to the Zoo as it sits just across the street from the main entrance. Friends who live in DC recommended Duke's as they enjoy the Dupont location.We stopped in right around 11:30 on a Saturday. The outdoor seating was full, but there seemed to be plenty of open tables inside. We sat inside the front window, close to the bar. The service throughout our visit was unpleasant. Even though we were promptly sat, we didn't receive menus. When we were finally greeted by the gentleman who served us 15 mins later, we had to ask for menus. He seemed like he'd rather be anywhere else and treated us as if our presence was an annoyance. Questions were met with a huff and quick response. We ordered a good variety of items. I had the quinoa bowl, which was ok. It had barely any squash and too much goat cheese. The dressing was tasty. Little one had mac and cheese, which she didn't like. It was very heavy on the cheese and very light on the seasoning. Hubby had the Proper Burger, which he liked but was slightly overdone for his taste. It was disappointing to be told that they only offer medium rare and well done as options for cooking temps. Our friends had a Proper Burger + egg, Avocado Toast and fries. Burgers also don't come with fries. I would say that it you're charging upwards of $17 for a burger, fries should be included. But no.. it'll cost you $4 for fries. Other add-on prices are also insane - $3 for an egg, $4 for avocado. Between the poor service and the ridiculous prices, it is very unlikely, with all of the great options in this area of DC, that I will return.

Make a reservation! Limited indoor and bar seating but the bar is first come first serve. The burgers are cooked well and have good flavor- although could be smashed more. The panda cocktails are very sweet and not very boozy, so I'd order a floater to balance out the drink

Went for the Bamboo Bar pop-up! The bar was decorated in a cute panda theme and they had a special menu of 5 drinks. The "Bao-zy Hot Chocolate" was v good and came in a cup that revealed a panda face as it was exposed to the hot drink! I was pleasantly surprised by the "Don't Forget the Red Panda" drink as I'm not a Red Bull fan by the lychee & raspberry liquor made the drink super fruity but not in a sweet way! I also thought the cup was cute as well! The truffle mac & cheese was good (as always) & loved the crunchy cheese topping. The proper burger & fired up chicken sandwich were both very good and loved the cute panda brand on the bun! Service was fast and the staff checked up on us often.

I went during the ZooLights themed cocktails and the Bamboo Bar, and I have to say the cocktails are always very creative and well thought out. Duke's Counter is great at incorporating a theme and there's always a good amount of people here from the zoo! The cocktails usually have a heavy pour and are very instagram-able, the service is fast, and the food comes out hot. The Proper Burger and Fired Up Chicken Sandwich are very good and our favorite Duke's menu item has to be the truffle mac and cheese! Definitely recommend stopping here for a great cocktail and sandwich!

From Duke's Grocery is a small restaurant/bar across from the Smithsonian Zoo. There's a bar and several tables for locals and tourists alike. They are famous for their burger, but don't sleep on the cocktails. They sometimes do fun pop ups with very creative cocktails. For example, they have a panda-themed popup indefinitely in honor of the Zoo's Great Panda exhibit opening.

Burger was bomb. Service was really welcoming. Happy hour is fantastic! Proximity to my fave DC institution (zoo/preserve that doesn't feel like a circus) is a great plus. Ready for them to come to Maryland soon, hopefully with the same warm vibes as the Woodley Park location

If you're going to the zoo, you NEED to come here for lunch. It vibes like a mom and pop joint but with bigger flavors and great deals. The owners/servers are so kind and have great suggestions for whatever you need. Our table shared a pitcher of beer (deal 1), had many burgers of the day with fries (deal 2), and had a constant flow of water. I would argue the only downfall were the bathrooms because they weren't the nicest.Back to the food... the burgers are smash burgers which normally my kid complains pushes all the "good stuff" out but not here. According to my family the burgers were moist and perfectly seasoned. The buns held up to the burgers for everyone except the kiddo. The avocado BLT with cucumber was so fresh and so good I had no regrets not getting a burger. This place is worth the hype and I'm glad it wasn't busy while we were there because I could see how it could get full quite fast any other time!