Barley Mac

Service was great, food was absolutely delicious. My overall dining experience was excellent.read more

We had a great experience at St. Anselm in DC! Overall, the food was very good, and everything we…read moreordered was delicious. The branzino was absolutely amazing, and the steak was cooked to perfection. We also ordered the oysters, which were delicious, but my personal favorite of the entire meal had to be the **deviled eggs!** They were definitely a standout and a must-try. The service was pretty good as well. We did have a small issue with our first drink, but the staff took it back and corrected it in no time, which we really appreciated. It was nice to see the issue handled quickly and professionally without taking away from our overall experience. Ambiance was great. Overall, St. Anselm delivered a delicious meal with great service and quality dishes. Between the perfectly cooked steak, flavorful branzino, fresh oysters, and those amazing deviled eggs, there was plenty to love. I would definitely recommend giving this spot a try if you're in DC!

Bar area

Grilled Oysters

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Carrot Cake

Chloe

4.5(771 reviews)

4.3 mi•Navy Yard

The food at Chloe was absolutely delicious. So good in fact that I stopped in twice during my time…read morein DC. Both times I ordered the Crudo which was absolutely amazing. Additionally, I tried The Who fish and the gem salad which both are spectacular. Cocktails are made to perfection and the service and ambiance are great.

Food 8/10 Atmosphere 9/10…read moreService 3/10 Came here for DC Summer Restaurant Week and unfortunately left pretty disappointed, especially for the price point. First off, there seemed to be only one waiter handling around 7-8 tables. Tables on both sides of us were visibly getting frustrated with how slow the service was. We came to enjoy ourselves and weren't in a rush, so we didn't mind waiting as much, but the service was noticeably slow. Interestingly, the actual dishes came out fairly quickly, but everything else--ordering, drinks, checking in, and getting things we needed--took a long time. For a restaurant at this price point, I was also expecting the overall experience and atmosphere to feel a little more elevated. It didn't really feel particularly upscale or special, and the bathrooms were noticeably dirty, which was surprising and definitely took away from the experience. Overall, the food was decent, but between the understaffed service, cleanliness, and atmosphere, I didn't feel the experience matched the price. Restaurant Week is usually a great opportunity to try a higher-end restaurant and want to come back, but unfortunately I don't think I'd return at the regular menu prices.

Restaurant area

Hangar Steak

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Manchego cheesecake

Unconventional Diner

4.4(3.5k reviews)

3.0 mi•Shaw, Downtown

The food, service, and ambiance were amazing! Our waiter was exceptional, and the food was out of…read morethis world. There were nine of us, and everyone loved their meal! We arrived without a reservation, so we split our group between a table and the bar. We'll definitely make a reservation next time--there was a line waiting outside when we left! If you're in DC, this spot is well worth a visit. We would absolutely return!

I visited for Sunday brunch, and the place was buzzing. The food was outstanding! I ordered the egg…read moresandwich without bacon, with avocado instead, and I can't recommend it highly enough. My friend had the biscuits and gravy and said they were amazing. Another person in our group ordered the crème brûlée French toast, and after one bite, I could see why, it was delicious. We also tried the shakshuka, which was another standout, a bit of a spicy kick made it for me. Everything was phenomenal. I'd absolutely come back and highly recommend this place!

Bar area

Caribbean Shrimp & Grits

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Tip-Top Chop

Sixty Vines

4.4(243 reviews)

1.6 mi•Foggy Bottom

High energy- bright vibe with modern ambience. Exceptional service everywhere you turn. Good food,…read morefun atmosphere for some good time with friends and family. Venue: Ginormous - and yet it was packed. Huge bar downstairs and there's one in the rooftop as well. Modern- I just loved all the furniture there and lounge area by the waiting area is so chic and very smart idea. Food: we just ordered pizza and large charcuterie board. Margarita Pizza was good- simple yet full of flavor with almost perfect dough (and good priced.) Charcuterie board was simple yet well prepared. Loved the honey comb that complimented the soft cheese we ordered. Had some wine flights and went very well with what we ordered. Service: the manager helped us in the beginning - and came back to check up on us -just said everything how this place is under a great management. The servers from the lounge to the table were all exceptional and very helpful. You guys rock! Price: very fair price for what it delivers Yes- I'm coming back again for more but with more people now!

Like other locations, the open vignoble aesthetic is breezy and inviting. My favorite place is…read moreprobably the well appointed restroom with resinous scented candles! The service was good. Trained but not very experienced. So the setting was good for an enjoyable meal. The gluten-free fried zucchini appetizer was delicious as usual. I prefer fried foods to stay crispy; the added sweet peppers affected it, no biggie. The charred golden beets were also tasty. The gluten-free (Vegan without modification) mushroom pizza was full of flavor. Many varieties of mushrooms and vegetables. Didn't get the combination of cheeses requested so some toppings fell off. Some also fell in my mouth, haha. The pork chop was brined and grilled. Very flavorful down to the bone. Also enjoyed especially the Rosé Grenache and beverages. No photographic evidence of this meal, alas, but I recommend this restaurant and location for gluten-free dining.

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Le Diplomate

4.3(5.8k reviews)

2.7 mi•Logan Circle

What a special place in Washington, DC we have here…read more It is said a lot of members of congress dine here and I can understand why. Everything is delicious here!!! I started here for my birthday with some escargots, fantastic. Pro-Tip: Don't forget you can dip that terrific breadbasket they give you with some of the leftover garlic sauce from your escargots. We both decided to split the Beef Bourguignon. The most tender beef you can imagine, you do not need a knife to eat, and it was accompanied with buttery goodness in the creamy potatoes and some carrots for good measure. For dessert we ordered the vanilla bean crème brûlée. French dessert at a French restaurant was a no brainer. The top of the dessert packed a crispy, sugary, slightly burnt tasting palate cleanser that definitely will keep you a pick me up, who needs an ECT shock to get the heart going when you can take a scoop of pure sugary bliss! This is a must go to if you are in the DC area, but be sure to make reservations it fills up quickly. As always people SYOY!!!

Le Diplomate is a little slice of Paris in downtown DC. Gorgeous decor and amazing chill vibe…read more Went with a group to celebrate a major win at work. The cocktails were spot on, especially the Fro-sze! We had a good selection of small plates and absolutely devoured the bread basket! Everything was delicious and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Only minor nit to pick was some of the wait staff were a little pretentious, but hey when in Paris....!

Dining area

Escargot

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Bar and breads

The Hamilton

3.9(4.1k reviews)

2.4 mi

It's been YEARS since I've been to The Hamilton. A recent trip to DC and a free gift card is what…read morebrought me here. I went for brunch, but was in more of a lunch mood. I sat outside on the patio. To start, I got the calamari appetizer. Yall! Their calamari is so freakin good! The remoulade sauce that comes with it just takes it to the next level. I got the crab cake entree and it was just what I needed. I recommend replacing the tartar sauce with their remoulade sauce. The Tea Time mocktail was very refreshing. The service was good. The only downside is that there was an issue with the gift card that I won from their social media page. After some back and forth, they eventually honored it and all was well. But this experience was definitely better than my past experience, so I'm adding a star.

For starters! I needed to move my reservation and called- spoke to Nicole. She was SO sweet. I…read morecould literally hear her smiling through the phone while assisting me. She changed the reservation, added a birthday note, and wished my boyfriend a Happy Birthday. I later had the pleasure of meeting Raven Jones! The "hostest with the mostest". Raven was funny, kind, helpful, and friendly! Gave us a great seat and wished us a good evening and him a happy birthday. Our server was Aaron. Aaron did his job- nothing beyond that and nothing memorable- just his job and that's fine. My only issue with the evening is Aaron did nothing to acknowledge the reason we came to The Hamilton. I thought- well we changed the time of our reservation so he didn't know? I shared the information with another server privately to inform Aaron and watched the server tell Aaron the news and surprisingly- Aaron still did nothing.. not even say "Happy Birthday". I was a bit disappointed by this. We closed up and carried on with our evening. The food was exceptional and the service was FAST! We enjoyed the evening overall and I'm happy I chose this location.

The bar and partial dining area.

Ragu Americana & Rigatoni - delicious, fresh pasta

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RAGU AMERICANA & RIGATONI

The Pembroke

4.1(426 reviews)

2.2 mi•Dupont Circle

I recently had brunch at The Pembroke, located inside the Dupont Circle Hotel, and it was such a…read morelovely experience. Beautiful atmosphere, wonderful staff, and delicious food -- definitely a spot worth putting on your brunch list. My date made the reservation for us, which turned out to be a very good idea because the restaurant was hopping! Definitely recommend making one ahead of time. We were both in the mood for a cocktail, but decided to explore the mocktail drink menu. He initially considered going with another coffee since it was still early, but ultimately went with an espresso martini. I tried the French 86, and both were great choices. The espresso martini was smooth and well made, while the French 86 was beautifully fruit-forward. And I have to give my date credit -- a man who isn't afraid to try my fruity cocktail! For food, we decided to share the avocado toast to start and added an egg, asking for it to be cooked a little more rather than very runny. We were glad we did because the toast was loaded with greens! It was definitely a little messy to eat, but in the fun, "this is actually delicious" kind of way. Nothing embarrassing... thankfully. He ordered the chicken and waffles, which he completely demolished. The sweet-and-savory combination was a big hit. I went with the French omelette, and it was delicious -- rich, flavorful, and surprisingly filling. I could only manage about half of it along with the salad! Overall, a wonderful brunch experience. The atmosphere is beautiful, the service was attentive, and there were so many tempting dishes coming out of the kitchen that we kept noticing things we wanted to try. I'd definitely come back to explore more of the menu.

I think I found my new favorite DC brunch spot (that doesn't feature a DJ). The Pembroke has been…read moreon my list of places to try for awhileee and I was finally able to stop in with friends (8 of us) for a Saturday brunch after one of my yogalates classes. We sat towards the back of the restaurant in one of the circular booths. Love this setup so much because it's perfect for people watching. The interior of the space is really vibrant with a lot of natural lighting coming in and the cute furniture. You almost feel like you've been transported to France or something. While dining here I was able to try their, +cinnamon roll (it's HUGEEEE, def a shareable- 8/10) + passion fruit cocktail (7.5/10) + breakfast sandwich (10/10 - I was surprised by how much I loved it) + pancakes (8/10) + kale salad (7.5/10) I didn't get to try the salmon benedict but it looks delicious. The service was spectacular. Our waiter was extremely attentive and even the manager popped over to introduce himself and make sure that we had everything we needed. I loveeeeeed my time here and will definitely be back to try more items on the menu. Thanks so much Pembroke team :)

The Pembroke: they have a coffee shop too!

Short rib entree special. This thing was massive!

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Nice ambiance but disappointingly fake plants

Off The Record

4.1(457 reviews)

2.2 mi•Downtown

Great service. Great location. Iconic bar…read more The drinks are made right. Coasters are caricatures of the well-known political figures The ambiance is the best

This is a really fun, iconic basement speakeasy spot located right underneath a hotel, just steps…read moreaway from the White House. The food and drink here are both excellent and absolutely worth coming for. They serve up great, high-quality cocktails, and I also ordered the cheeseburger, which was really juicy and beautifully cooked. The space itself is famous for having political caricature artwork all over the restaurant, and they even give you fun caricature coasters that you can take home with you as a souvenir. Because it's a popular underground spot, it can definitely get incredibly busy and cramped in there. I've been multiple times, and almost every single time it is tough to find a spot to sit. However, I did come once during an off-peak time, right in the middle of the week around 1:00 PM for lunch--and it wasn't to busy, so we were easily able to just sit right at the bar. I would definitely recommend checking this place out! While the tight crowds can make it a bit tough on a busy week day or weekend night, it is completely worth experiencing at least once for the great drinks, good food, and unique atmosphere.

Making of Smoking Mirrors cocktail

Onion rings. Huge and delicious

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Air Force Two

Yardbird

Great food and service . The manager is awesome she always takes time to stop by. I am visiting…read morefrom out of town and each time she has stopped by.

I was satisfied and totally sated! The server displayed impeccable customer service skills. The…read morefried chicken alone deserves a worthy mention to all of my acquainted foodies!

32oz Porterhouse

Lobster Mac & Cheese

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Y.B.G.M.

Proper Bar

4.2(55 reviews)

3.4 mi

I had such a great time at Proper Bar celebrating my graduation with friends! The staff were sweet…read moreand although the food had a slight delay, they were apologetic. Bridget was a great server! I could've devoured the smoked cheddar biscuits all by myself, I do wish more than 2/3 came as a "shareable!" Nonetheless, the truffle fries are a great choice as well. The star of the show for me was the prawn tagliatelle. What a delicious red sauce with juicy prawn on the side. I will most definitely be coming back and brining more friends! Don't forget the refreshing limoncello spritz!!

Visited Proper Bar for a girls' dinner, and it was a nice experience overall. We were able to find…read moreparking easily, which was a great start to the evening. I didn't order any drinks, but we shared the Caesar salad and Brussels sprouts, and I had the Tiger Prawn Pasta for my entrée. The pasta was flavorful and topped with a crunchy nut garnish that added a nice texture and made the dish a little more unique. The ambiance was dark, cozy, and relaxing, making it a great spot to catch up with friends without feeling rushed. Overall, I enjoyed my meal and the atmosphere. I'd definitely come back to try some of the other menu items.

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Cookie sandwich

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DC's best happy hour

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42 reviews that are not currently recommended

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Lani R.

10 years ago

I rarely go on YELP to write or read reviews because every person will have a different opinion about their visit, but my visit at Barley Mac was that great! Came here last Thursday night with my wife for happy hour and a late night dinner and my oh my was it BUSY!!!! People all over the bar and cocktail tables, but what impressed me most is how the servers in that area were able to handle the high volume and demand of each individual. As we were waiting for our table to be cleaned in the bar area, I notice people grabbing the servers for orders. As for me, I am not a big fan of that, but the professionalism of these servers to accept that type of behavior to earn an extra dollar I highly respect. We were greeted by Hector, he was AMAZING!!!! He was fast, on top of everything, attentive, and funny. Everything he recommended from drinks to dessert were on point! For drinks he recommended an Old Fashion and for my wife a Brown Derby. Both were exactly as he described, I was very surprised that my wife enjoyed it being her first ever Bourbon Drink. Appetizers he recommended were the Coccoli and Grilled Octopus, never had both, but we will be coming back for more, DELICIOUS! Entrees he recommended his favorite dish, the Squid Ink Linquine, it was so good I took one to go and for my wife the Porkchop, the bone sticking out def is an eye opener but so good and tender. I let Hector pick out our desserts which he brought out the Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Sandwich Sundae and Three Leches, it doesn't get better than ending a great meal with incredible desserts. I would also like to give thanks to Kylie, she was extraordinaire, I did notice that Hector was handling a very large group at the same time, but she checked on us periodically through out the night to make sure we were good. The only downfall I have about the bar is that there aren't enough TVs, I understand this isn't a sports bar, but one or two more doesn't hurt. Great job to Management on hiring a tremendous team and an incredible menu, both will go a long way in Rosslyn. See you guys soon!!!! read more

Katelyn H.

9 years ago

Odd, i don't see my first YELP review and it is unfortunate that the owner could not respond back my to review, I see in the past he has to others that gave this establishment a lower star rating than myself, but that is irrelevant. I came into town this week and decided to give this restaurant one more chance due to my colleagues wanting to go here for happy hour last night. Once again, they talked so much how they loved Barley Mac so hopefully this time around its for the better. I must admit that I was pushing everyone towards the dining room due to my last visit at the bar, but everyone migrated to the bar. I did notice new staff behind the bar and servers at the tables. I must say, THANK GOD for this change. These servers were AMAZING!!!! The tall handsome gentleman took great care of about 30 people in our group. He was very quick, took him seconds to get us our drinks, as soon as another member of our party walked through that door, he was so welcoming, explain the happy hour specials in full detail, what the rotating beers were, and wine selection. One thing I admired about this server is that he would take his time in explaining this to each person in our party, mind you he had a full section. There was also another server, a woman, very short, but so sweet. She was amazing as well, when the other server was busy with other tables she would come in and assist us if we needed anything. Both were very quick on refills on our drinks and water. I admired how both these two worked so well together, the bar was packed busy and still provided great services as to last time where the bar was only half filled and we had to wait 10 minutes for only water. In all honesty, it is mind blowing how two servers can make such a different experience at this restaurant. You would think these servers would give great service to each guest, but this might not be the case. Hopefully on my next visit to the DC area, the service is just as high, great hire on these two individuals, they make Barley Mac an enjoyable stay and experience. read more

Susan R.

10 years ago

Came to Barley Mac Saturday night and all I have to say is GREAT FOOD, YUMMY DRINKS, and AWESOME SERVICE!!! I go out to eat a lot during the weekends and to have all of this in one restaurant is pretty amazing!!! Our server Hector, one of the most personable servers I have ever had, so easy to talk to, funny, charming, and was on top of everything. You honeslty cannot beat that as a server, but not only was he great, the other two servers in the cocktail area would swing by to see if we are doing well. That shows the commitment of these servers to each other and the restaurant. They all worked very well as a team and I applaud the managers that hired these individuals. We started of with recommendations drinks, we ordered the Moment of Grace, Old Fashion and Berry 75, they were to die for!!! I would also like to applaud the bartenders, looking over at their stations I notice the time and patience it takes to make one of these drinks and they nailed it! We ordered the Coccoli and Grilled Octopus, my oh my, it was mouth watering, all we wanted was more of it!!! For Entrees we order the Porkchop, Italian Meat Pizza, and Squid Ink Linguine. All items were 10!!! Sooooo good!!!! Kuddos to the head chef on nailing amazing dishes, the taste of each item was amazing. We were full up to our heads, but Hector recommended Dessert, he advised us to try the Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Sandwich Sundae and that we won't be dissapointed. So we ordered it and it was gone within 2 secs, it was PHENOMENAL!!!! Hector also told us about the sister restaurants Barley Mac has such as Don Tito, Don Taco, and Atown. We tried Don Tito last night for dinner, the food was great, but the service not so much! BUT in all ends we had a great Saturday night at Barley Mac, we will be coming back next weekend for the Grand Opening. I look forward to another great night with you all and to try many other items on your menu! You guys are rocking it and this is what Rosslyn needs!!! read more

Mary C.

8 years ago

Barley Mac is hands down the best restaurant in the Rosslyn area. I have been here a few times for dinner, but my last visit was my most memorable. First time doing Happy Hour, it was about 30 people coming to celebrate a birthday, mind you, we did not make a reservation nor did we know the exact number of people coming, but we knew at least 30 confirmed. We were greeted by the guy with the cross earring, he was able to connect a few more tables so that we were comfortable and reserved the corner back area for us. Hands down by far the best service I have ever had, he was fast, efficient, observant and would constantly check on us if we needed refills on waters or soda products. He kept bringing us drinks after drinks and made sure that we were enjoying ourselves. Mind you, not only did he serve us well, but he had another party right next to us of around 10-15 people. He handled it the same way as us. AMAZING SERVICE here and it goes a long way! Food here is consistently getting better and better, Coccoli is a must, Octopus Paella to die for. The only downfall was the Calamari, the male server did advise us that it wasn't your normal Calamri, it was more of a hush puppy, but we went for it and it wasn't that great. The server notice we weren't a fan and told us that he would take it off the bill. I loved the thought of him doing what was best for the guests. Drinks are always delicious, def try the cocktail of the month, SMOKED MANHATTAN for $7 bucks! I will def be coming back to enjoy more great experiences here at Barley Mac! read more

Wendy W.

7 years ago

Walked in after 8 o'clock on a Saturday night - 10/5/19. Bar and restaurant was 1/4 full. No one was there to greet us. We thought ...No worries. Someone did finally appear but never said hello -never looked at us. It was so awkward that we felt uncomfortable being there. Finally she looked at me and i said -two please. Without a word she lead us to our table and handed us our menus. Never said enjoy your dinner or told us who our waitress would be... just ice cold silence. I said to my friend (that lives 4-5 blocks away) I feel so unwelcome and she agreed. We looked over the menu (we were willing to make it work). Then we saw and heard the hostess say to a waitress that she was sorry she put us in her station. The waitresses replied: its fine. (Clearly she wanted the business) We continued to wait to be acknowledged at the table and were not. Didn't understand why the hostess and the waitress could have a quick conversation but the waitress couldn't acknowledge us by saying i will be with you in a moment. We sat too long feeling unwelcome so we walked out.....And walked half a block up the street to Mele Bistro. There we found a crowded restaurant. Once inside we were greeted with a welcoming smile and kindness. Our meal and experience was phenomenal!! Our bill was $188 and one of the best meals I've eaten. In hindsight the horribly rude hostess at Barley Mac did us a favor. Her extreme rudeness and unprofessionalism caused us to walk out of a mediocre restaurant and into a phenomenal one. read more

Darnell V.

7 years ago

Good Afternoon Management, I come to Rosslyn about 3-4 times a week for either work or catching up with my clients. I've heard mixed reviews about Barley Mac, so I decided to try it out last night. Came to the bar section, it was pretty busy, sat at a table in cocktail area, no one attending me for about 5 mins. Went to the bar and the Bartender told me that I have a waiter coming, I asked if I could get a drink and she once again told me that I have a server going to the table. She seemed annoyed and frustrated. Waited at my table for another 5 minutes and no one came, this was very disappointing and not a great start. So I decided to try my luck in the dining room, I was waiting for a friend. The hostess was very busy, but doing her best which I could see. A tall gentleman with blonde hair asked if I had been helped, I told him I needed a table for 2, he took me to a booth and advised me that Samantha would be our server. All I am going to say is that Samantha made this 1 yelp star review go to a 5 star review. AMAZING SERVICE! She was very genuine and caring to our table. Food was excellent, it came out fast too. I will def be back and it was all because of our server! Hope this feedback helps you guys for the future, I would hate this see this location closed down. Happy 4th! read more

Karen W.

562

10 years ago

Incredible evening at Barley Mac; I could not have been more impressed with a restaurant on their second night open! Came by for happy hour and was wowed by the attention the bartenders were putting in to each cocktail. Each hand stirred libation was flavored exquisitely with fresh herbs or appropriately adorned with large ice whiskey rocks. I had THE Old Fashioned, which far exceeded my expectations and is deemed, in my opinion, the best in the DMV. The entire cocktail list is an impressive fete of unique twists on old classics and they carry an astonishingly large list of whiskeys and bourbons. I ordered the Coccoli and again was wowed by the careful thought that was put in to this dish. Small puffs of sweet doughy goodness, drizzled in truffle honey, and accompanied by prosciutto and cheese. Simple, yet exquisitely refined by the culinary regard of Chef and owner Mike Cordero. A big thank you to owner Nick Cordero for checking in on us and ensuring our experience was top notch. All of the staff and team were highly accomplished in their understanding of the entire menu and eager to share the hard work that has gone in to this wonderful Rosslyn gem. Highly recommended!!j read more

Tj C.

7 years ago

Good Afternoon Barley Mac Team, I was in town visiting a few friends and we all decided to do happy hour last Wednesday. Busy is an understatement of what we experienced that night haha! But fortunately, we were able to get a patio table close to the bar section and greeted immediately by Hector. I would love to inform all managers that Hector is by far one of the best servers I have ever had. He was personable, charming, funny, very easy to look at and works his a&@ off! He gave us unbelievable service! His presence right from the start showed us how engage he was with us. He informed us that Barley Mac had a lot of parties in the restaurant at the moment, so drinks and food will take a little bit longer. In all honesty, those few words go a long way. Yes, the drinks took about 10 mins, food about 40 mins, but yet we expected that and we were completely fine with it. Hector continously apologized about the wait time and hope to get everything to us as soon as possible. Drinks were great, food was delicious, service was perfect. Those reading this post, try the Oysters and Pork Belly Croquttes. I hope to be back soon when I am in town! TJ! read more

Beverly C.

8 years ago

I came into town from Oklahoma and search for great places for brunch at the hotel I was staying and Barley Mac came up. I was in town celebrating a good friend's birthday. We went to the bar and sat at one of the high top tables, we were greeted by Hector, what a skilled server, so funny, he had us laughing the entire time, he was fast, and prodigious. He even surprised us all by giving us a free desert without anyone telling him it was someone's birthday. He must have overheard our prior nights of partying. Overall, he suggested what he so called, "Barley Mac Favorites", so we went with his suggestions. Nutella Pancakes, Lobster Benedict, Coccoli, Jersey Bagel, and Breakfast Gnocchi. All were outstanding dishes, full of flavor and filling. The Lobster Benedict did come out with cold hashbrowns, but Hector was able to get us another order within seconds. Overall, great experience at this restaurant, unfortunately we aren't drinkers so we were not able to judge the drinks, but reading the specials for brunch looked intriguing. Thank you for taking care of us and we will be back if we ever decide to come back to Washington DC! read more

Jennifer T.

7 years ago

Staying a few blocks away for a business trip and decided to dine solo at Barley Mac last night. I was able to sit on the patio, which was busy and a bit noisy from whatever construction is going on across the street. I was greeted quickly despite the crowd of people in the restaurant itself and on the patio. Chloe was very friendly and helped me choose a beer, as there were several I was interested in that they were out of which was a bit frustrating. She helped pick some starters for me to try, was attentive throughout my meal, and prompt with the check when I was ready to go. She even had a few minutes to chat with me about the book I was reading. As far as food goes, the truffle mac and cheese seemed to be lacking seasoning, but the coccoli was incredible. A bit of salt and pepper perked up the flavor of the mac and cheese, but I probably wouldn't order it again. They have a great selection of beer and the cocktails were intriguing as well. If I have a chance to come back again before leaving, I'd love to come back and try a few more dishes. read more

Richard T.

8 years ago

Came in for dinner with a friend last night and was surprised how busy the restaurant was for a Tuesday evening. Although it was quite busy, there wasn't a wait for a table. Our server, Chloe, recommended the coccoli to start and it was just as delicious as she said it would be. I don't usually like truffle flavored things but was pleasantly surprised. We asked for her recommendation for our dinner entrees as well and both went with the salmon. The skin was slightly crunchy and very flavorful with a generous portion of rice and vegetables to accompany the salmon. Great recommendations, and great service as well! Despite how busy the restaurant and bar areas were, our drinks, appetizer and entrees came out quickly. We checked out the dessert menu but were too full to order anything. I'll definitely be back to try some of the options, as everything sounded delicious. We are definitely going to make Barley Mac our go-to spot for dinner! read more

Kaitlyn M.

8 years ago

Just moved to the Rosslyn area this week and wanted to find somewhere nice for a quick dinner after sightseeing with my mom all day. We were both thoroughly impressed with Barley Mac! The menu had a wide range of items from large salads, to pizzas, seafood, steaks and pasta. Our server Chloe was super sweet and gave me some recommendations of things to do in Arlington and DC while I have family visiting. She also recommended the dinner special (a seafood pasta) and the duck confit and both my mom and I ordered the duck. The duck was cooked perfectly and the pasta and veggies were so flavorful! We both can't wait to come back and try more of their food and drinks. I checked out the happy hour menu on the way out (monday-friday, 3-8) and was surprised at how much is offered on the menu. Can't wait to come back! read more

JR Fresh T.

328

9 years ago

Great staff, ambiance and even better food. Went here this past weekend and they featured some cool Cherry Blossom specials. The server said they were running the Cherry Blossom specials til mid April. The cocktail sounded great but went with the fried Brie app with mixed greens and a sweet cherry jam. My wife got the duck ragu over Pappardelle which was equally amazing. We passed on dessert because your boy has to get that summer body ready! The service is always on point! We even had a manager stop by the table and see how things were which is rare to see around Arlington. Would highly recommend and can't wait to go back. read more

Tony A.

5 years ago

I just experienced one of the worst dining experiences. I'll confess that I don't have the most sophisticated palate, but the food was far from satisfying and the service was very poor. We ordered a soup and salad, with the intention of ordering a pizza for our main course. By the time we asked for the pizza, they were out. I asked for 2 different types of wines (not brand) that they didn't have. When we finally finished our meal, I had to seek out a staff member to ask the waiter to bring the check. I am absolutely sure that I will never return to this restaurant. read more

Sofia T.

8 years ago

My husband and my in laws decided to have dinner and drinks at Barley Mac. We ordered a first round of bourbon cocktails. We then had an exceptional dinner. Steak, salmon and chicken. We were all very pleased with food. But what really made the night great was the bourbon selection. The server and bartender provided excellent follow up suggestions to each round and even graced us with a special tasting of bourbons we had yet to have. Excellent customer service, excellent bourbon and excellent food. Highly recommend this place! read more

Jen S.

8 years ago

I was looking for a nice place to eat while visiting a friend in VA and I choose Barley Mac because I enjoyed the overall appearance of the place. I was greeted kindly by the hostess and got a pretty good table in great time. Our waitress, Olivia, was absolutely fantastic. She checked on us several times and was SO pleasant. I will be returning to Barley Mac and will definitely will be requesting to sit in Olivia's section! The food was super yummy and was quick to be brought to us. All and all I had a fantastic experience! read more

Christine B.

7 years ago

Stopped by before seeing the fireworks on Thursday evening with my family. It was busy but not busy enough that we couldn't hear each other. We tried the calamari and tuna bruschetta and both were phenomenal! Our server Chloe was great, very sweet and helped us decide on entrees and we were not disappointed- shrimp and grits, fried chicken sandwich, coastal pizza and mac and cheese were all excellent! Overall, great ambiance, impressive food and excellent service! Thank you Barley Mac! We'll be back soon! read more

Douglas F.

265

8 years ago

Barley Mac is one of my favorite restaurants in the area. Their dinner and brunch menus are solid; I've tried 6-7 different items on the menu and have not been disappointed. Their Mac, btw, is a must have. My only complaint would be that they don't have the Chicken Parm dish on the menu anymore, which was originally my go-to meal here. Great service in my experiences, and a great atmosphere, especially the outdoor/indoor bar area. Would highly recommend read more

Michelle T.

7 years ago

Wonderful time Friday evening for my son's graduation dinner! We were able to sit on the patio with the whole family, and our waitress took excellent care of all of us, particularly my elderly father-in-law. Thank you Chloe for being so patient with all of us! Great drink and food recommendations, an excellent meal all around and great atmosphere. We'll be back again soon. read more

Kyle B.

10 years ago

We had a fantastic experience at Barley Mac on their second night. Danny, our waiter, was a great host and recommended some great appetizers like the Coccoli and the Wagyu meatballs. We also had too notch drinks and the pizza was phenomenal. Highly recommend Coccoli and pizza, definitely 10/10s. Food is fairly priced and the environment is very comfortable and fun! read more

Barley Mac - bars - Updated October 2026

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Front Porch

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(79 reviews)

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Reynolds Street Bar and Grill

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Fish Market Restaurant

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Friends Kitchen & Cocktails

3.8

(24 reviews)

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Skydome Restaurant

3.2

(491 reviews)

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3.0

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At one point the food was good here but overpriced. Then it was terrible and overpriced. And these…read moredays, it's very mehhh but... STILL OVERPRICED. It doesn't make sense to get food here unless you're already there and just looking for convenience. The staff are usually nice but often young and a bit lost. The food isn't good. They used to have a very bomb Asian chicken salad. They don't have it anymore, and while they've expanded their options, it's just not what it should be. Pizza is basic and expensive. Fries are often either over or undercooked. The pricing is inconsistent. Never get the member discount even after saying I'm a member. Wings... so not worth it. Their ranch also isn't the good kind.

Kiln

3.4

(45 reviews)

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Havana 151

3.7

(22 reviews)

Beautiful interior! Feel like I stepped into the real Havana. I was here for my friends birthday…read moreand we took a lots of photo. Food was pretty good and they also refrigerate your cake for the party if you asked beforehand. Food was decent, and a bit pricey but it's a good location to try out at least one. Server was pretty helpful.

I made reservations on OpenTable to have dinner at Havana 151 for my birthday. The restaurant is…read moreshared with Lena Wood Fire Pizza. So when you get there you'll see signs pointing you towards Havana 151. You have to walk around the building and take an elevator to the upstairs portion. When we walked off the elevator the hostess asked how can she help us. I told her I had reservations, gave her my name and she grabbed menus and told us to follow her. One of the reasons I chose to dine there is because they were going to have live music. So you could imagine my disappointment when they put me in the back away from all the music. I said something and she walked us to the other side closer to the bar behind some curtains. So still far from the music but closer I guess. I also noticed that my birthday was never acknowledged. I'm thinking I made reservations the seating should have been better and a little happy bday would have been nice but whatever. After some time looking at the menu I ordered the mojo roasted chicken with the sauce on the side. But somehow still had my food sitting in sauce. They paired it with rice and beans and sweet plantains and I ordered a martini . My food was tasty just wished they didn't sprinkle cilantro on every part of it and actually put all that sauce on the side. I was so over the server I didn't even order dessert. She just wasn't hospitable. Very short with us but chatty with the table next to us. Spilled my drink as she was delivering it and then blamed it on the cup being light and never cleaned the spill. The bartender kept coming over to check on us. You would have thought he was our sever. The live band was good but I could barely see them to really immerse myself. If I do return I would probably just sit at the bar. Other than the poor customer service, the food was tasty and the ambiance was very cute. It definitely gave Havana vibes.

Vermilion

4.0

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