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The staff were really nice and the music was great. I was shocked that a music venue of this size has no dance floor. You are essentially stuck in your seat which is not a comfortable chair by any stretch. I was so uncomfortable, I had to leave early. I did not eat the food so cannot review that. Unfortunately, I am not likely to come back to this venue.
I love the performers that they have here. I just wish they had assigned seating. Getting tickets doesn't necessarily mean you will sit wherever you like. You need to arrive at least two hours before show time to select a good seat. Parking is free and it's plenty of it available. When you arrive early you get a ticket and they call it out so you can enter the hall. Otherwise they do have a waiting area where you can order drinks if you like and wait for your ticket to be called. Who's Bad Band (Tribute to Michael Jackson) is the ony band we travel this far to see. We live a good distance away. So we make a night of it. Plenty of nearby hotels available. Also while the drinks are nice and strong. I love the chicken wings basket. The wings are fried nicely and it comes with fries and a delicious tangy BBQ sauce. We will return again when our favorite band is performing. Our wait staff was nice and efficient as well. That's always a plus!
I had a lovely time at the Birchmere. It's such a quaint venue. I love that they have a lounge that includes a bar area outside the main theater for those that arrive early. I don't mind the community seating, but I do prefer assigned seats. It would be nice if they sold seats based on the location of the table. A lot of people don't have time to get there 2 hours before a show to get a ticket number. Especially for a show on a weekday. The parking was full when I arrived at 7:15 for a 7:30 show. However, they conveniently provided extra parking across the street at St. Rita's. The sound was great. Jeffrey Osborne sounded amazing. He even walked through the theater a couple of times. It was a good time. I didn't try the food, but people seemed to enjoy it. My table had chicken fingers and the wing baskets. They said it was good. Overall, I would recommend this venue for an intimate experience. It's a bit dated but that adds to the charm.
I came here for After Datk with Angie Potani and The Brian Newman band. It was such a great show! The audience was engaged, there was plenty of room to sit and enjoy. Advise getting here early as parking around the building is a bit tricky. Also seating is tables (because this place has a full menu!) and if you want a great spot, they fill up quickly. Definitely would come here for a show again
The Birchmere: Great music. Intimate setting. Comfortable room. Gross overcooked uninspired food.
Awesome is the only words that can describe the venue, the music, the food and the staff. If planning to attend an event here, I would encourage an early arrival. The parking is a challenge, and when leaving pack your patience. Seating is intimate and community seating. Meaning if at tablenof four you may be seated with persons you do not know...we have made many friends outnof strangers
The Birchmere is a fun historic music hall with a lot of character. You definitely feel like you are stepping back in time when you first walk in. The history on the walls is just so cool. Visited to attend a holiday comedy show. John Waters is such a multidimensional talent and has been around Hollywood for decades. I did not realize he is actually from the DMV...Baltimore to be specific. Anyway, my husband and I had a great time. We didn't try any of the food, but they do have a full menu. We did enjoy some Port City Porter during the show. Parking is available on site and we did not have any issues getting in or out of the parking lot. There are security personnel as well, which adds to the safety of your vehicle and helps with traffic flow. The staff were all friendly and helpful. We will definitely be back. Thank you for a great experience.
This is a great venue. We saw Pink Martini here and I don't think there's a bad seat in the place but you should arrive early to be sure your whole party gets seats together. We arrived :45 before the show, parked in the lot and sat to the left of the stage near the front. It was busy and filled up quick. The show was really good, sound, lights and pretty intimate space wise. Our server was very honest and we were glad about that. Food is marginal, prices reasonable. Definitely will return for other shows.
A local staple that should not be missed. We've been here twice in a year and will miss it sooo much when we move out of town. This is place is like none other. Come early to get a good seat. Socialize at shared tables or find one of the tables for two. All of our food was superior to any bar food and fresh... steak sandwich, fish and chips, homemade desserts. First we heard country then jazz. Both acts were national acts. To be that close, with no video screens was amazing. Since 1966. Rock on
Bought tickets to see Pete Yorn play for his album's 25th anniversary! Doors open at 5, but you can show up and wait outside earlier, you get a ticket handed to you and they call your number at 6pm so that you can pick your seat for inside the actual stage area. Only drinks and light snacks are served when you are waiting for your ticket to be called, but bartenders are kind and drinks are strong :) The interior is very eclectic: there is a mural outside, almost a rodeo bluegrass hall vibe on the inside of the building with a stuffed bear, and a mannequin of a guy playing harmonica! Once your ticket is called, you pick your seat in front of the stage. There are levels to the seating area so anywhere you sit, you will get a decent view! No phone use and limited camera use with no flash photography, and the stage is extremely close, which makes the setting extremely intimate and memorable. There is a large menu with lots to choose from, waiters are very kind and food came out surprisingly fast considering most of the orders went to the kitchen at the same time. The sound is amazing, we got very good seats. Highly recommend!
What a delightful venue! Stopped in last night for the first time- absolute gem of a venue. Very friendly and helpful staff. We were there for a 7:30 start (to see legend Marty Stuart). We got there around 6:45 so I can't comment on arrival/issuing if number process but we had no issue getting 2 good seats together (usher/staff helped us). Crowd was very friendly and we made new table friends. Took time to look around to see the posters of previous performers. Huge parking lot, we used Uber but good to know for future shows. Support Live Music! Birchmere makes that easy to do.
Classy, upscale venue featuring dim lighting in the dining room facing the stage. Servers come to your table and bring you food and drinks as you take in a show. This is elegant and historic setting, you can feel reverence for the place by everyone under the roof. Tables are long and are the only seating for the concert so unless you come with a very large party yourself, you will likely be seated with other appreciators of the artist you've come to see and hear. It's a good way to break bread with new people over a shared experience. I loved having a nice date night here and look forward to returning.
We went to the Birchmere to see the Laurel Canyon show in February 2025. We enjoyed the evening very much & we're glad that such a venue for musicians exists. That being said, we had quite a bit of anxiety before going because of what I'll call the protocols the Birchmere has in place. To get the best seats in the house, people need to go at 5 & get a number. Then they need to go back at 6 when the doors open & show their ticket. People are then allowed to enter in order--the first person in line at 5 gets to enter first, the second person, etc. We live in DC & weren't keen on driving back & forth, thereby turning the evening into a 5-hour event. So we got to the Birchmere at 6. Our seats weren't the best in the house, but we could hear the music very well & see the stage. We weren't able to find a space in the main parking lot when we first arrived. But shortly after we arrived, they opened an auxiliary parking lot very close to Mount Vernon Avenue. We backed into a space in that lot & walked to the theater. It was a fairly short walk & it meant that after the show we were among the first cars to be on our way home. The food is a solid mediocre. We had fried catfish & ate every morsel. I left most of my fries.
2 years ago
The seating method is unconventional. Get there at 5 to get a good number. We got seats 3 feet from the stage and had a good dinner off of a very long menu. You sit at long community tables either your new best friends. The bacon grilled cheese and the chicken thighs were the stars. Excellent service from a well practiced staff. Dinner for 2 and 4 drinks was about $80 plus tip The show was Ricky Skaggs doing blue grass and the sound and lights were very good. Very well behaved crowd stayed seated for the entire show. Shockingly clean bathrooms. I ubered because getting out of the lot can be a challenge. read more
2 years ago
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11 months ago
The great thing about the Birchmere is it's a venue that books a wide variety of great artists or comedians. Singers and bands from many genres. And it's a pretty large hall in a "dinner theater" style. I've come here twice in 5 years to see my man, the talented Eric Benét. He never disappoints. I'd go anywhere to hear/see him entertain. Location is decent. The building itself is old and campy/kitschy. Outdoor reminds me of an old skating rink or amusement park theater that was never updated or refreshed. You have to get there hours early, go in and grab a ticket which gives you your place in line come 6 pm. Then you go back out to the car and w-a-I-t. At 6 they open the doors and either sit inside or stand waiting for them to call ticket numbers. The waiting /holding area also looks like an old amusement park theater waiting area with a snack bar. It's dark and kinda scary--it could be a great haunted house. Once your number is called, you can go in and pick your spot/table. The higher your ticket number, the worse your chances are to get a prime seat. Really latecomers will be disappointed. Most tables are rectangles and you probably will have to sit with others. No big deal, lots of folks are friendly and in a good mood. The food is overpriced and not memorable. The "bar" food is standard and the entrees are just okay. Desserts are small and average tasting. Full bar. Our waitress was kinda ditzy and left dirty plates as well as forgot things. And as others have commented-there is NO free ice water, even to take a pill. They plunk down a bottle when you request water. So yea, I will come here if it gives me a chance to see my favorite artists. But if you're coming for the ultimate in ambiance or for the food...reconsider seeing them elsewhere. read more
11 months ago
This was a great venue!! Very friendly employees and quick service right to your table without having to get up and go to the bar. The bathrooms are large, so no waiting in lines for long and there is plenty of parking outside. Tickets were sold as general admission so it pays to arrive early and have dinner before the show. read more
2 years ago
Lovely intimate show venue it's spacious with enough parking to not be annoying to leave. And for the really important thing: the bathrooms were clean, had enough soap, and the hand towel dispenser gives out an ENTIRE sheet of paper towel to dry your hands! Top tier behavior read more
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Fantastic experience, as always! Excellent comedy performance , comfortable for the comedians and musicians and the audience alike. Good menu, very good service. The vibe is down-to-earth and inviting -- come together to enjoy comedy and music together! Easy, free parking right there at the venue. The Birchmere is a special, locally grown place for live music and shows for everyone to enjoy. read more
Great venue to see entertainment of any kind. Dinner was good, I highly recommend the chicken tenders or the King Kobb salad or BBQ Pork sandwich as those items I have personally tried. The process of admission is fair with a general audience admission; however it can be long if your goal is to get a particular seat since it's important to arrive as soon as the box office opens at 5 to get your # in line for the main hall admission at 6p. Other than that, the process works well and smoothly. Restrooms are clean, staff is helpful and hard working. read more
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Went to see Maysa Leak perform yesterday evening with a friend. The place was packed and servers were everywhere. We were served shortly after seating and our server Rain was excellent and friendly. Our food was delicious, came out in reasonable time and we were consistently checked on. The excellent service paired with an incomparable performance by Maysa and her band made this was a wonderful experience. read more
Such a jiving place and so much nostalgia! Just being under the same roof as all those famous folks was a incredible. Being so close to the stage, while eating dinner and sipping your drink, makes it feel more like a family celebration. Like no other venue I've been in--It's one of a kind! Great food is served up in expedient fashion too. You must go experience it for yourself -please! read more
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We've been coming to the Birchmere since we moved to Alexandria over 9 years ago. It's our favorite entertainment venue. In fact, the Mary Chapin Carpenter concert we saw several years ago was probably the best live show I've ever seen and I've been to a lot. That said, last night I had a service experience that really upset me. We were there for the Burt Bacharach/Hal David tribute. The show was great and the performers were fun, talented and energetic. We also ate dinner there which was fine. In the middle of the show, I had to slip over to the bar to get a small drink of water. I use a cane due to mobility issues from metastatic breast cancer that is also in my bones. I need to take a chemo pill at the same time every day. I asked for a small sip of water to take my pill - they don't 'give out' water - you have to buy a bottle. I told the very uninterested bartender that I just needed a sip for medication. He poured me a small glass. I also grabbed a glass of wine for my husband and quickly paid to get back to the show. It was then I realized he charged me $1 for literally 3 sips of water. It just took the wind out of my sails that a venue couldn't offer me a small sip of water for medication for free, after we'd already spent almost $175 on tickets and food. (I walked up myself because I also need to stretch my hips occasionally to avoid keep them from locking). Overall, I'm doing great on treatment and I'm not looking for pity. I was just really disappointed that I was charged for a small glass of water that clearly was for medication. Not me trying to 'game the system' for some free water. I was going to write this but I woke up still thinking about it. I should have said something to management and would have said something to the bartender if I'd noticed but like I said I was in a hurry to get back to the show. Maybe it's a management issue or maybe a training issue for the bar but it just left a bad taste in my mouth. read more
2 years ago
4.5 stars for sure!!!! Baybeeeehhh! Let me tell you, get here early cause you will find yourself scouring the hills and valleys for a sold table/seat, especially if it's more than one party needing a seat!! The parking lot is vast but I'd say get there early; I uber'd over just to avoid waiting to leave the parking lot after and they dropped me at the main street wherein the building is a good walk from the main street, it's down and around the corner. I ventured into the unknown solo and I found a seat relatively quickly and as time lingered on, the table I was sitting at filled quickly. Shout out to the couple that allowed me to join their table lol and didn't make me feel like a weirdo cause I was solo. Musiq is one of them ones that will get me out the door plus I hadn't seen him in concert soooo it was the vocalzzz for me!!! He hit most of his hits and to be honest, I jammed out the whole night! The tables are close and you have some chairs facing the stage and others facing away from the stage as there is an option to order drinks and food. So the people that had chairs facing away from the stage simply turned their chair towards the stage and all was well. The food looked good too! I ordered a drink and that satisfied me + the prices weren't super expensive either. Overall, this is an intimate venue and I thought I'd be bothered by people eating and clinking dishes or whatever but that wasn't the case! The range of talent is also wonderful and I will most certainly be back!!! read more
I saw Will Downing here this past weekend - this was my first time at this venue. I wasn't sure what to expect given the reviews about getting your line number, etc., but it was a smooth process. I had number 73 and we got really good seats. There really isn't a bad seat in the place...unless you're seated behind a really tall person I guess. It was a great show! My only complaint would be the food. I ordered the fish tacos...I'm pretty sure what I received wasn't fish tacos...it was like a chicken wrap that was folded in half instead of being rolled into a wrap and it was COLD. I sent that back and ordered the salmon, which I would definitely recommend! read more
4 years ago
Cyndy's Bottom Line: Awesome music hall *There is a parking lot with free parking *Seating with a view *Drinks and food served First time experience at Birchmere and did not know what to expect. After reading the Yelp reviews I discovered that the Birchmere is a music hall institution. Labeled "America's Legendary Music Hall", established 1966. The greatest musicians have played here. Check out the walls with all the pictures of whom performed at the Birchmere. There is a system to follow and it goes like this. *Tickets available on Ticketmaster or at the box office the day of the show. *Park the car near the exit for easy exit. *Stand in line a 5pm or have someone for you stand in line for a ticket to enter and select a seat. *Once you have a ticket, have a drink with chips and salsa until your number is called at 6pm *At 6pm when your number is called - enter the music hall/room and select a seat. First come first served seating. Each table provides an unobstructed view of the stage. *Order your food and drinks The catfish and red beans with rice was absolutely delicious with a bottle of champagne! The catfish perfectly fried, so moist and tender inside. Condiments on the table to include hot sauce to sprinkle on the catfish. The rice is so fluffy good. The red beans and rice has a good amount of andouille sausage in a smooth delicious gravy sprinkled with green onions. The cornbread muffin was a scrumptious finish to the meal. ***Enjoy the show!*** ***Enjoy the food too!*** read more
If you are in the mount Vernon area in Virginia, check out this music venue. I never heard of this place prior to going to the Raheem devaughn concert and I had an amazing time. Great parking, friendly staff, and organized. The wall of fame was amazing and there was not one bad seat in the building. The drinks and food was amazing. I did feel a little cramp where I was sitting but I made the best of it. Can't wait to see what other guest and events Birchmere has to offer read more
4 years ago
I've been to the Birchmere a few times but always would just have drinks and appetizers. But last night I had dinner. It was really good. The chicken was so tender, the roasted veggies were flavorful and the baked Mac and cheese was REALLY good. The only reason I didn't give the food five stars would be the dressing was a little sweet, but it appears they make it out of their corn muffins. I went to see DC's own Kevin Ross who did not disappoint. I look forward to going back. read more
7 years ago
I cannot comment on the food but I will say you can't beat the price that includes a wonderful concert, where you can sit down and enjoy a great view from almost any angle within the venue. Parking Free and ample parking. Be mindful as some spaces allow someone to park behind you. Venue The venue is a nice, hidden gem music venue not far from Alexandria. There are a lot of places to eat around the area. We didn't know they served food or were a sit down venue so we at locally. Seating Arrive early as the seating is first come, first serve. We couldn't find a seat for two after arriving just 20 minutes before show time so we asked for some assistance and found an awesome spot to the left of the stage that was perfect. I enjoyed the show. Chrisette is everything amazing. And I totally forgot how awesome and dynamic she was. Hits. A beautiful voice and just down to earth and sweet. The encore was phenomenal. I would definitely visit this venue again if another artist I was interested in performed here. I hope you find this review helpful. read more
3 years ago
Wonderful small local venue that has yet to disappoint. So far I've only been to shows in their sit down room which has a sort of dinner and show atmosphere. There is plenty of parking in their private lot, with even the furthest spots being maybe a 3 minute walk. Inside the wait staff is very attentive and they have seasonal specials which have been good. There aren't many places like this left in the US, so locals are truly lucky and need to continue supporting it. If you haven't been, get tickets to a show in their back room and relax with a drink and food. By the end, you will wonder why all performances aren't enjoyed that way. read more
4 years ago
Came to see The Whispers. As always this Old school group will never let you down. Only 3 of them now, but they still got the moves. The Birchmere is a medium size venue. So it can be a little tight with the seating. The food is good, this is a perfect place for dinner and a show. read more
More info about Birchmere
3701 Mt Vernon Ave
Alexandria, VA 22305
Directions
(703) 549-7500
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http://www.birchmere.com
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Ask the Community - Birchmere
If arriving separately, can one person come at 5:00 for a 7:00 show to get seats for both people? Basically, can I save a seat?
Yes!
How far is it from Tyson's Corner', Legal Seafood?
I'd hit the legal seafood at Crystal City rather than Tysons, for the exact answer, just Google Earth it
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