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Above Ground

4.5 (86 reviews)
Closed 9:00 am - 9:00 pm
Updated 3 months ago

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ABOVE GROUND ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - Above Ground

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Fish Sandwich with Fries
Angela O.

Tucked inside Union Market and it did not disappoint. The fish sandwich is HUGE, honestly big enough to feed two maybe three people. If you have not tried it yet you need to. You MIGHT be able to finish it solo if you are really hungry but I suggest bringing someone to help you out. Good vibes, friendly staff and the fries were solid too. Go check them out.

THE GOVERNORS Fish & Chips
Wilton P.

I've walked around Union Market countless times and for some reason had overlooked AboveGround stall every time. I guess I was always lured to the more complex and intense flavors of the stalls that surround it. But I was in the area recently and read all the glowing reviews on Yelp about their fish and chips and decided that I had to try it for myself. I was blown away by how good it was. They serve you a huge piece of freshly fried perfectly crispy cod on a bed of thick cut chips along with a cup of traditional mushy peas. The fish was perfectly seasoned and moist and served with tartar sauce and malt vinegar. The tartar sauce was nicely balanced between tangy, creamy, and acidic. This was probably the best fish and chips I've had in this area and is worth traveling to Union Market for. Additional, and perhaps most importantly, it was an excellent value at just $19 (not including tax or tip). The service was quick and friendly. I look forward to coming back soon and trying other items on their menu.

Paul J.

There are so many options at Union Market, but one place that I come back to is AboveGround, Washington DC's very own chipper. When I get the craving for a pubfood experience, I get myself one of their HUGE Fish & Chips and hope that I can finish it. The fish is a gigantic filet of whitefish (cod, I think) that's the size of my forearm, well breaded and crispy but not too greasy. Add some vinegar and it's ready to go. The fries are a little thicker than expected, but they fit the bill with their smooth, starchy chew. You may be stuffed afterwards, but don't forget to get a few bars of British candy bars to enjoy after you get home. Eat here enough, and you'll be tipping your bowler on the way out! Give AboveGround a try - it's definitely worth it!

THE GOVERNORS Fish & Chips
Elaine G.

I love this little spot. No frills fish and chips. When I order my meal, I pretend I'm in the London Underground. Service is straightforward and I can tell the chef takes pride in his work. I would say this spot and Vic are my go to for f&c.

Steak & Ale Pie
Katie V.

Friendly service, the food tasted fresh. I ordered a Steak & Ale pie - I was slightly disappointed that it wasn't very full and not a lot of meat but the flavor was ok, I liked the texture of the pie crust top (note: tbe crust is not on the bottom of the pie). I did enjoy trying something new.

Inside
Farhat K.

Damn good fish and chips. Hot, crunchy, and fresh, each bite was golden. My only gripe is I wanted more tartar sauce (which was amazing, if it's from a brand, please let me know) and I wish there was a bit more fish in it (way more fries than fish). The mashed peas were interesting. The sausage roll I got on the side was good too, perfectly flaky, and went well with the curry sauce. Service was pretty fast.

Aboveground
Brittany E.

One bite of their fish and chips and I was instantly transported back to childhood family dinners--only this version is grown up and way more delicious. The fish was clearly fresh, not frozen, perfectly crispy, and full of flavor. And as a proud dipper, the sauces were the real MVPs: curry ketchup, curry mayo, and a tartar sauce I'd put on everything. I'm not usually into thick-cut fries, but these were golden, crispy, and seasoned to perfection--made for dunking. The chef? Super personable and passionate--he came out to chat and shared a bit about his background, which made the whole experience feel even more special. You can tell there's heart in the food. The rest of the staff were super friendly too! Union Market can get pretty crowded, especially on the weekends, so if you're wanting a place to sit after grabbing your food, I'd recomendable scoping out a table inside, a picnic table outside, or a spot on the roof so you'll have a place to enjoy your bites. Bottomline -- Aboveground is comfort food with a glow-up, and don't forget the sauces.

Curry Ketchup Curry Mayo Malt Vinegar Tartar Sauce
Larry M.

Have you ever had fish & chips from England? If no, there is a spot inside of Union Market D.C., that's got that!! This eatery has imported candy too!! Who said English food was bad? Let's GO!! . Where I am: @aboveground_dc . Location Reviewed: 1309 5th St., N.E. Washington D.C. inside of @unionmarketdc . Menu Includes: *See Website* www.abovegrounddc.com/ . Items Reviewed: Their Curry Fish Puff (with Madras curry, English peas, puff pastry, & curry mayo $6). LIKE THAT!! A well blend of curry spices, not fishy!! STAMP that mayo too!! Their Sausage Roll (English spiced pork, puff pastry, & curry ketchup $7). STAMP!! A meaty, mild sausage, flaky, & STAMP that ketchup too!! Their Governor's Fish & Chips (Atlantic Cod, triple cooked chips, tartar sauce, & malt vinegar $18). STAMP!! Best fries I've EVER HAD!! The beer battered fish...GET THIS!! Their Shepherds Pie (with minced lamb, carrot, & mashed potatoes $15). STAMP!! Well seasoned lamb, creamy potatoes, DELECTABLE!! Their Chicken & Leek pie (with free range chicken, Dijon cream, & puff pastry $14). LIKE THAT!! It's like a chicken pot pie!! Their Irn Bru Soda (an orange cream soda $3). STAMP!! Not overly sweet, with a bubble gum aftertaste!! Their Ribena Crush (a black current drink with vodka, lime, & mint $10). DELICIOUS. It was proper bitter ole chap!! Good. The Imported Candy ($3 each). STAMP the Crunchie!! A chocolate coated crunchy butterscotch. STAMP the Lion!! A caramel, Nestle crunch KitKat!! YES!! The Starbar DELICIOUS. It's chocolate covered roasted peanuts with caramel. Personal preference...I just didn't like it. The Fruit & Nut Chocolate Bar...PASS. Chocolaty, but this was like the fruitcake of chocolate!! The Fruit Pastilles...STAMP!! A gummy fruit candy!! . Online Navigation: Easy . Customer Service: On Point . Parking: ROUGH in the lot. . Recommendations: Get the Fish n Fries, that shepherds pie, them candies... . Music:YouTube-The What Band Let the Beat Ride 5 Stars=STAMP 4 1/2 Stars=LIKE THAT 4 Stars=DELICIOUS 3 Stars=DECENT 2 Stars=PASS 1 Star=NAH #Bigschlimsreviews

Linda O.

Cute spot with efficient service and quality eats. Doesn't try to do too much. Had a delicious shepherd's pie that's truly memorable. This classic English dish comes topped with piped mashed potatoes that are broiled to a wonderful, golden crisp. It's really a hearty, savory meal--not just a snack--and satisfying. Jolly good, AboveGround. I'll be back.

THE GOVERNORS Fish & Chips
Kim H.

Above Ground in DC? Fire. The vibes are right from the moment you walk in, cool but not trying too hard, just real solid energy. The food? Next level! . You can tell they're serious about quality without being fussy. Service is on point too, chill, friendly...10/10!!!!

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The Pure Pasty

The Pure Pasty

4.5(554 reviews)
14.5 mi
$

I've heard of this place and when in the area recently, I bought many Pastys to bring home and…read moreenjoy later on. The place is really just carry-out, they have fresh made, hot pastys to go, which they can sell, as well as frozen pastys to bring home. They also have a large selection of snacks directly from England. Service was helpful, the guy working the counter was descriptive and helped me with how the various pastys were made. Also, when walking in the amazing smells of all the workers in the back making food smelled incredible! I opted for some of nearly all their offerings of pastys. A couple of days later I made the chicken masala for lunch. I used their directions for baking, not the microwaving to get it ready to eat. They were spot on and the pasty came our perfectly warmed up and ready to eat. The crust was outstanding! None of it was dry or tastless, the whole thing was flaky, perfect, buttery, and tasty! The filling was very nice, though it had no flavors that resembled Indian or "masala" to me, so I'm not sure what they consider masala, but that's not a bad thing as the filling tasted great! I'm looking forward to making and eating all the rest, I'm sure they'll be great too!

I love British food. With that said, I was super underwhelmed by their pasties. I ordered the beef,…read morechicken masala, lamb, chicken cordon bleu and sausage rolls. Beef: normally this would be my favorite back in the day but here... Absolutely no flavor. Quite surprised but I would not order again. Chicken Masala: decent flavor, probably my favorite out of all the oasties I got here. Moroccan lamb: decent flavor also. Chicken cordon bleu: not sure If I got a bad one but yea, hard pass. Sausage rolls: decent flavor. Price point is ok as the oasties were quite filled. It's just that a lot of them just didn't have that taste that I gotta come back for more taste. It was just.... Eh.

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The Pure Pasty - Traditional Organic Beef

Traditional Organic Beef

The Pure Pasty - The front counter aka Altar of Yumminess

The front counter aka Altar of Yumminess

The Pure Pasty - Storefront

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Storefront

Hawk & Griffin - Best Fish & Chips this side of the pond

Hawk & Griffin

4.1(241 reviews)
14.9 mi
$$

The food was great! So was their service. Felt amazing after…read moreeating here. Not too heavy, well balanced. Ambiance is a little hole in the wall pub where you can watch sports or grab a yummy English meal with friends and family. They also sell girls scout cookies out in the front at times.

I don't know why it took our family so long to visit Hawk & Griffin, but now that we have…read moreexperienced the jovial atmosphere and great food, I know that we will be back soon! My husband is a die-had Arsenal fan and was overjoyed by the chaotic bar scene he encountered as soon as he entered. The City + Arsenal game had the entire bar packed with fans from both sides pulling up random seats wherever there was a free space. We came a bit late into the game but found a seat in a quieter area of the restaurant that still had good television access. With the dreary rain outside, it felt like we had settled right in a proper British pub! Food wise: - For my husband: Wings were generous, grilled, and delicious with interesting flavors - For me: Fish and chips were light, flakey, and came with some of the best house cut fries I've ever had. - For the kiddos: Although they had a kids menu, my daughters decided to split some pancakes (basically crepes with raspberries and cream sauce, scrambled eggs, bacon, and potatoes. Portions are more than generous and the managers were bustling around, talking shop, and thanking everyone who walked through their door. We will definitely be back!

Photos
Hawk & Griffin - Proper lush Bangers & Mash and a proper pint too.

Proper lush Bangers & Mash and a proper pint too.

Hawk & Griffin
Hawk & Griffin - One of the smaller rooms

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One of the smaller rooms

Elephant & Castle - Buffalo wings

Elephant & Castle

3.4(1.2k reviews)
1.9 mi
$$

Elephant & Castle was absolutely packed yesterday. I'm grateful we had a reservation but it looked…read morelike they somehow still had space despite a group of 54+ come on right before us. I was sure service would be slow and the food would take forever to get to our group of six, but I was wrong. My cousin's young daughter was getting cranky so our server made sure to bring her food out first. MVP status! I got the shepherds pie, my aunt got the fish and chips, and the others got different dishes. Everyone seemed happy with their food. I liked my pie. It was solid and I'd get it again. I docked one star only because I have a thing about crumbs in booth cracks and under tables. Let me emphasize how busy they were, and that this is something that has always bugged me at many restaurants. I understand if cleaning under tables wasn't a priority yesterday. With that being said, the floor under our table was filthy. I was seated in our booth closest to the wall and there were large crumbs between the wall and the booth. I kept a solid six inches between myself, my purse and jacket, and the crack. I didn't want anything of mine touching that area. My cousin's kid kept slipping under the table because that's what little kids do, and it took everything in me not to say "nooo it's so gross under there." Hopefully they're able to maintain a cleaner state on less hectic days!

We experienced a fantastic group tour dinner on Monday, March 9th. Our group of 57 was in-and-out…read morein one hour, as we then rushed to the Capitals game immediately after. Special thanks to servers Nico, Fausto, and Girmo, as well as manager Joshua for the efficient and friendly service! Much appreciated! - Nations Classroom

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Elephant & Castle - Inside

Inside

Elephant & Castle - Chicken Wings

Chicken Wings

Elephant & Castle - Lose Cannon

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Lose Cannon

London Chippy

London Chippy

1.6(5 reviews)
24.7 mi

I dream of proper fish & chips ever since living in London where it was staple lunch fare for me…read more London Chippy, located in the epiQ fool hall, definitely satisfies the craving for properly fried fish. My piece of cod was magnificent and absolutely perfectly fried, crispy and not greasy. For $14 I got a huge piece of fish and 2 sides. Way more food than I could eat so it's a great deal. While the fish is dead in perfect, the sides could use some attention. My chips were just ok. At least they were the proper cut of fries and soft on the inside with that signature chip droop, but they needed to be a bit crisper on the exterior to stand up to and complimentmy use of malt vinegar. The hush puppies were another matter. Almost all of mine were very under cooked which was ashame since the exterior hinted at a very tasty little ball. I will say the portions for both sides were very generous. Drink options are fountain soda (self yourself in the center of the food hall) or lemonade from the Chippy. Or get something from one of the other businesses. Plenty of seating as it's inside the epiQ food hall and a variety from high top tables, regular tables, and comfy lounge couches.

Order the lobster roll. They served it on a hamburger bun not in the advertised brioche bun. The…read morelobster was not well made and tasted just ok. There was no one at the counter and I had to call out to get someone to come out from the back. She was pleasant and processed the order timely. I wouldn't order the non-lobster roll or anything else from London Chippy.

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London Chippy - Large cod with 2 sides (hush puppies and chips)

Large cod with 2 sides (hush puppies and chips)

London Chippy

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The Whip Tavern - Artichoke crab dip

The Whip Tavern

4.2(402 reviews)
92.9 mi
$$

We have been going to The Whip for over 10 years now…read more THE #1 reason we keep going back is the staff. All of the staff make every meal a dining experience. The ambiance is great, especially in the warm weather, outside. The food is ALWAYS delicious, thanks to Dillon. Sarah and Tania are on top of their game behind the bar. Always scanning the bar while waiting for a pint to fill. Sheryl, Sam, Heather B and Lauren not only remember you name, but frequently what you ordered last visit. We tell all of our friends to go there. Frequently taking some with us. I think one word describes The Whip perfectly, FUN!!!

My daughter and son-in-law wanted to take the Moms to the Whip Tavern for Mother's Day. They made…read morereservations for 5, and the options were 4:30 or 8:30 on Saturday, so we went with 4:30. It is a tiny building but they are doing it right! There is complimentary valet parking which was great because I have no idea where we would have parked. We were seated at exactly 4:30, and our server was friendly and fast. RJ and I ordered Downeast Peach Mango Cider which was refreshing and delicious. We started with crab and artichoke dip and beef and weck eggrolls, and our table ordered 2 fish and chips, the "Luxury" seafood pie, shepherd's pie, and the beef on weck sandwich. My weck included onions, mushrooms, swiss, and bacon with a side of au jus and horseradish. Yum, what a salty, savory, spicy combo. The roast beef was very tender and juicy. The fish and chips were all enjoyed, as were both pies. We did not make it to dessert but will try that again another time. We were in and out in about 1 hour without being rushed at all. We will definitely return to the Whip!

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The Whip Tavern - Inside, cozy space

Inside, cozy space

The Whip Tavern - Falafel plate

Falafel plate

The Whip Tavern - True English sauces: Coleman's & HP sauce

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True English sauces: Coleman's & HP sauce

Above Ground - fishnchips - Updated May 2026

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