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    Awakening

    4.6 (35 reviews)
    Open 12:00 pm - 12:00 am (Next day)
    Updated 3 months ago

    Order Awakening Takeout or Delivery

    Awakening Photos

    AWAKENING ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Trendy
    Outdoor seating
    Happy hour specials

    Recommended Reviews - Awakening

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    Reviews With Photos

    Loaded BLT wow
    A'Yanna E.

    Service was good. The BLT was the most loaded I've ever seen but the bread wasn't as listed on the menu so I was annoyed by that. A sloppy plain burger bun for a BLT is not a win. The use of candied bacon is what caught my attention as I love sweet & savory. Smart idea! I think my meal was too pricey though. And I would've preferred a substitute instead of potatoes as a side. They were out of the dessert I came excited to try as well. Such a bummer on 2 accounts. Go, but they've got work to do.

    Shrimp Linguine
    Kent D.

    The Awakening needed to "wake up." First and foremost, the food here is really good. The crab cake sandwich, the crab egg rolls, and the shrimp linguine was really well executed. Also, the drinks were excellent and love the nod to DC culture with the drink names. Unfortunately, that is where my praise ends :( The service was really slow and bad. Now this was the day before Valentine's Day, so I'll give them a slight past, but the restaurant was ill-prepared for the volume of people. There was no host, and not enough servers working. I'm not going to kill this place, but I want to come back on a regular day and see if they improved on the basics.

    Strawberry field salad
    Melissa G.

    I had the opportunity to check out this new black owned spot twice this week in Barracks Row. The first time was Tuesday after the storm and it was slow as expected. I ordered off their restaurant week menu and everything was fresh and amazing! I got the spicy shrimp dip, strawberry field salad and a seafood dish and some drinks. They have happy hour with food and bar bites from 3-7. Last night I ordered food and drink from their regular menu. I opted for the crab soup and beef sliders. The place was packed so I'm glad I had reserved a table in advance. Due to the volume of customers, the food and drinks were delayed quite a while but the staff and customer service is amazing! They greet everyone at the door and the staff and owner made up for the delayed service. The music selection is on point and the sound system in the bathroom feels like a club lol! I have to come back for brunch and to hear the live saxophonist. This is a promising new black owned businesses that I'm excited about. So be patient as they work through the kinks.

    Kim J.

    This spot is a vibe. Like a neighborhood bar where they recognize you and treat everyone like family vibe. Have I been here 3 times in the past week? Possibly. But it's so worth it. The food is good and the service is friendly. I first came here on a Saturday. They were packed. There was a saxophone player and everyone was chill. I had a reservation but it took a minute to get a table. While they were busy, we still received very personable service. Sean provides great service and is hilarious. The food is amazing here. I haven't had a bad dish. And the driiiinks. OMG! Herb is an amazing bartender. I'm addicted to the Botanical Garden drink. He mixes his own syrups and this drink is amazing. On my last visit I got to meet Chef P. She's a beast in the kitchen. I tried a cream of celery buffalo chicken soup that was amazing. I don't know how she thought to put all that together but it works. And I love that everything is made from scratch.

    Ribeye and Eggs!
    Gregory J.

    Amazing food, good service with a quaint neighborhood bar feel...happy hour all day Sunday is clutch too

    Lemon drop & Botanical Garden
    Kriss D.

    LOVE. The vibes. The food. The service. All top tier, almost don't want to post to leave it all for me! The food is great. Atmosphere is nice and it's always busy but worth it! Be nice to the servers/barstaff!!!!

    Chicken and waffles, blackened salmon, rasta pasta, and lamb chops.
    Aleena M.

    I dined here for a good friend of mine's birthday celebration earlier in the week. To say I had a great time is a major understatement. First off, the food was torch! We decided to order main dishes and split them. Best decision ever. Everything was so good, I honestly don't know which dish was my favorite. For drinks, we ordered mojitos (I can't recall the name of it and I can't find it on their drink menu) No complaints, though. I ordered two LOL. They also organized bringing out a brownie with torched marshmallow fluff out for my friend, which I'm sure she thoroughly enjoyed. It added a nice touch to the evening. I also can't leave a review without mentioning the bartender. I wish I would've gotten his name but he was such as a breath of fresh air. Super sweet and even threw in a round of shots for the bar and called them "Dèsha shots" for a my friend. Great way to end the night off. Long story short: GO! I don't think you'll be disappointed.

    Ireca R.

    Omg the food was amazing! I loved the vibe! First time coming we will definitely be back Arthur and Ireca Brunson.

    Wings with sauce on the side
    Charles S.

    This is the spot! If you want good seasoned food come here! The drinks are on point! We will definitely return! You're missing out if you don't come here to support. The food is made to order! None of that pre-prepared stuff! Your taste buds will sing and thank you for bringing them here! The Ancestors blessed this place! It's a whole vibe!

    Awakening burger and fried; crispy green beans

    Tried this place out a couple nights ago. The vibe was very chill, the service from the staff and owner was amazing, and the food was even better! One person in my party was vegan, so they ordered the impossible burger. The sauce that comes with the burger wasn't vegan, so the head chef offered to make a special sauce for her (pictured). The sauce was so good we ended up putting it on everything we ordered. I will definitely be back!

    The seasonal drinks were great , not too sweet .

    Great all day Sunday Happy Hour,. Good bites and drinks. Live sax player ambiance- but they're usually there just Sat. & Tues. Shrimp and grits was solid. Happy hour wings and 1/2 smoke better than usual. Nice vibe with decent offerings. Accepting inkind $ now.

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    4 months ago

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    4 months ago

    Very nice atmosphere, and excellent food! Service was very polite and welcoming. Would come again when in Capitol Hill area.

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    5 months ago

    Food is excellent. Upscale southern food. Staff and owner incredibly friendly. Great ambiance. Can't go wrong here.

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    Ask the Community - Awakening

    Is there parking or valet available?

    No valet, but tons of street parking. Both paid and unpaid!

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Kaiju Speaks - Great ambiance!

    Kaiju Speaks

    4.2(40 reviews)
    0.0 miCapitol Hill

    What a funky and cool spot! An unassuming ramen restaurant becomes a bass boosted speakeasy down…read morethe stairs. Neon lights and a cool dj keep the place going while anime plays on TVs. The cocktail that loves you is SO GOOD and the bartenders were so nice. I never felt weird or out of place. Definitely will be back!!

    Such a fun spot! I…read morewas in town visiting a friend and we got dinner across the street at the sushi place. I was pulling up Yelp to see what bar we wanted to go after and saw this on the list. We were initially going to go to the karaoke bar next door but when we walked inside, it was wayyyy too loud and obnoxious so we were like perfect let's go across the street! We walk into the ramen spot and ask where the speakeasy is and the guy led us to the back and showed us to some stairs to go down. Seriously, how COOL is this place??? The neon lights were so fun! We walked into the bar and immediately loved it! Good amount of bar seating plus some comfy couches and whatnot. There was music but it wasn't too obnoxious, we were still able to have conversations - it was surprisingly chill and exactly what we were looking for. Chatted to the bartender who made some fancy shots for us, had a few drinks. It was not busy at all on a Sat night which was nice. It is very dark inside even with the neon lights so it does make it hard to read the menus (had to use flashlights on our phone). But super fun spot, fun drinks, not too expensive, and a neat and chill experience! It was an excellent find for us for sure!

    Photos
    Kaiju Speaks - Love the signage

    Love the signage

    Kaiju Speaks - Go down the stairs and look for this door

    Go down the stairs and look for this door

    Kaiju Speaks

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    Trouble Bird

    Trouble Bird

    4.8(42 reviews)
    0.6 miNavy Yard

    One of my favorite cocktail bars of all time! My favorite cocktail they make is a scotch…read morePenicillin garnished with crystallized ginger followed by Espresso Martini, Old Fashioned and Martinis. HAPPY HOUR: Monday All Day and Tuesday-Friday 5PM to 6:30 PM The beverage program is clearly the centerpiece of the concept. The cocktail list is extensive including drinks like Pisco Sour, Old Fashioned, Martinis, Sazerac, Champs-Élysées, and Lion's Tail alongside house originals. All signature cocktails are priced uniformly and the menu also includes beer, cider, wine by the glass, spirit-free cocktails, and boilermakers, while offering accessible options for different preferences. Overall, the menu reads like a neighborhood cocktail bar with chef-driven bar food: playful, nostalgic American comfort dishes paired with a serious and historically influenced cocktail program. The bartenders provide top notch service and offer great recommendations. My water glass is always full and they check in often!

    A great little neighborhood bar with really amazing crack cocktails, and a chill, laidback vibe…read more Navy Yard is a little commercial for my personal taste, but it's close to my office, and convenient when I'm in town for work. Trouble Bird was the answer to my prayers on a recent trip, where I was looking to have high quality drinks and a laid-back NON-commercial vibe with my team. We liked it so much, we came twice in one week, and I was impressed at their ability to handle and be comfortable for a large group in a space that can feel intimate. The lighting is nice and moody, the menu available via QR code, and the WiFi free and listed with password for patrons to use. We had excellent service both times, by the two folks working each night for a groups of 6-8 each time. There was something for everyone from the nondrinkers to the beer enthusiasts, to cocktail aficionados like myself. There's an amazing happy hour deal, with discounts on drinks all Monday and reduced prices for a couple of hours on other weekdays; it almost felt criminal how generous the happy hour was when I've gotten used to paying $20 for a mediocre cocktail at other nearby establishments. And the cocktails here are really very good, probably the best in the area, except for their immediate next door neighbor. The group favorite cocktail was the Midori sour which was incredibly well balanced and refreshing, and the surprising crowd pleaser was the Hamilton Dry Float, which came in a creepy tiki mug presentation that we really loved. We had a couple of the bar bites - the spiced peanuts were well loved across the group but my person favorite food item was the blistered shishitos, which came with a great chipotle aioli. The bathrooms are extremely clean and overall this was a bar favorite for the group for our week of going out and socializing together. Overall this is a gem of a neighborhood hangout with really excellent cocktails and service! Will absolutely come here next time I'm in town!

    Photos
    Trouble Bird - Dry handshake

    Dry handshake

    Trouble Bird - Crunchwrap

    Crunchwrap

    Trouble Bird - Dry handshake

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    Dry handshake

    The Wells - Reverse side of The Wells speakeasy

    The Wells

    4.4(53 reviews)
    0.2 miCapitol Hill

    What a gem! I stopped by The Wells around 7:30 on a Friday night and was pleasantly surprised we…read morewere able to get seated at the bar. Within minutes the place was packed, so although we were able to get a seat I'd still recommend making a reservation since the space fills up quickly. Initially I didn't realize this was a gin-focused bar, but now I'm hooked ( I told the bartenders about my usual preferences and they were able to make great recommendations). The drinks were incredibly well crafted and full of unique flavor. I started with one of their signature drinks but then asked for a bartender's choice based on what I typically enjoy and they absolutely nailed it. The space has a stylish speakeasy vibe that feels both elevated and inviting. You ring a bell to be let in, which makes the whole experience feel a little more special. Inside, it's moody and romantic with plush seating, gorgeous lighting, and a warm ambiance that's perfect for date night or just catching up with friends. Whether you're a gin enthusiast or just looking for a cool spot to grab a drink in DC, this place is absolutely worth checking out. I'm already planning my next visit.

    We dropped in at about 7:30p on a Saturday. I was surprised that we were able to get a table…read more Marcus sat us and explained the menu. He was awesome. He was super attentive and helpful. We didn't know this was a gin bar but the drinks were tasty and great. The caramel popcorn is delicious. We got it without chocolate. This is an awesome space. I'll definitely be back.

    Photos
    The Wells - Mad Hatter - Alice in Wonderland vibes

    Mad Hatter - Alice in Wonderland vibes

    The Wells - What's right behind guests when they sit at the bar - I've seen many group(s) of guests lounging in this area

    What's right behind guests when they sit at the bar - I've seen many group(s) of guests lounging in this area

    The Wells

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    Awakening - cocktailbars - Updated May 2026

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