"Hey lady friends, let's go to a bar where there are single, attractive men! Maybe there will even be good drinks and an atmosphere where we can hear each other speak." - Famous last words of every girl in DC. After countless nights out, I truly believed this type of place didn't exist outside of movies or TV shows. But you know what, it DOES. And it's Blackjack in Logan Circle. I came here for the first time on a Sunday evening, not sure what to expect. It was poppin', and I was pleased! Apparently the half off food/drinks special draws quite the crowd. So throw the "no drinking on Sundays" rule out the window and clear your schedule for a night of drinking like a college kid again (hoorah)! As a heads up, Blackjack is right above Pearl Dive, so ascend those stairs with confidence, ladies! The space is one long bar, with a lounge area on the far right, and a bocce ball court on the far left (!!!) The bartenders are super busy, but they don't make you wait long for drinks. Plus, you can use your idle time to "network." There is definitely some talent to be discovered by ladies and gents alike. Sadly I can't comment on the food as I was only imbibing during my visit. As for the drinks, they have an array of choices for your the craft beer aficionados, your light beer lovers, and your cocktail crazies. tl;dr - attractive people, good vibes, good drinks. expectations will not be let down. read more

Blackjack is an awesome bar! I have been so many times and every time it really is just very fun. The space is nice, you can hang at the bar, in the loungey part or in the back by the bocce court! (they used to have stadium style seating to watch the bocce but they took that out a bit ago and now they just have high top big tables, much better use of that space back there!). Their food is excellent, of course, as they are a part of Pearl Dive, so they have some of their delicious stuff. And on Sundays they have all day happy hour! What could be better? Love this place! read more

Best bar in DC when you consider all the criteria of a good bar: 1. Bartenders. 2. Location. 3. Price. 4. Happy Hour. 5. Bar food (the duck confit nachos are ace; fried chicken is double ace) 6. Layout and seating. I give Blackjack an A in pretty much every category. Not much more needs to be said, but my protip is to come on football Sunday's for a truly, nearly outrageously good all day happy hour. Super deluxe VIP protip: if you're here after 10 PM and the place is slammed, pop downstairs to Pearl Dive to use the rest room free of the line. read more

I had a Gilt City coupon for two pizzas, two cocktails, and six oysters at Black Jack, so I invited Carol W out on a Tuesday night date for dinner. We'd only been to Black Jack for drinks, which we both enjoyed, so we were looking forward to the full Black Jack experience. We weren't disappointed. We got to Black Jack a little after 5 pm so the place was largely empty. Rather than sit at a table, we opted for the bar. While looking over the food menu, we opened up with cocktails. I had the Sassafras made with Bowmore Single Malt Scotch, Clear Creek Kirschwasser, Black Burch Gomme, and smoked cherry ice. It was complex, boozy, sweet, but not overdone, and smoky aided by the essence of smoke slowly released by the ice melting in the drink. It was an exquisite drink and reminded me of the "Smokin' Cherry" I had at RN74 in Seattle. http://www.yelp.com/biz/rn74-seattle#hrid:GU-TeXVsyWDh_dWRwnPFmg/src:self For our six oysters, we chose to have three Pacific Orchards from British Columbia, and three Naked Roys from Washington State. Since it was happy hour, we decided to also get the happy hour priced Chesapeake raised Barcats. All of the oysters were fresh, clean, and juicy! A quartet of sauces, a cocktail sauce, mignonette, yuzu-mirin, and their signature "Dive Juice" accompanied the oysters. I love Pacific oysters as I love their briny but clean, sharp flavor. That said, the local Barcats were nicely creamy and delicious, too! While the oysters went great with the sauces, they were perfect au naturale. For our pizzas, we had the Kennett Square Mushroom topped with mushrooms, mozzarella, truffle essence, and rosemary; and the Pie of the Day, which was all-meat pie with prosciutto, soppressata, and a couple of other cured Italian meats. While definitely possessing contrasting flavor profiles, both pies were satisfying, although I wish the thin crust would've been a bit crispier and perhaps charred ever so slightly. On this day, the Kennett Square was our favorite pizza. I closed out the meal with their Sazerac made with Rittenhouse Rye, Kubler Absinthe, Peychaud's Bitters, Lemon Gomme. It made for a happy ending! Black Jack does fresh oysters and elevated bar food extremely well. Black Jack does cocktails extremely well. Black Jack is a very cool space. While it may not be the best place in each category (well, perhaps the Pearl Dive/Black Jack combo is the best place for oysters in town), Black Jack is a triple threat and certainly has to be in the discussion as the best overall bar/restaurant in DC. read more

V: "I feel really old in here." R: "All of these people are older than us." Awkward. The scent of fried food grabbed me by the throat and refused to let me go. Don't think I'll be back soon. read more

Black Jack is the lounge above Pearl Dive Oyster Bar on 14th street, DC. We held our Holiday Party there in the "VIP" section and it was absolutely perfect. It was a great venue for about 20-25 people. The thing that stood out the most was the exceptional service. Our server was "Eva" - my entire party was beyond impressed at how well she did for such a large and boisterous group! She was on-top of everything. If the occasion ever calls for good cocktails and good vibes, Black Jack is a new "go-to". read more

This place feels like a well-kept secret, but it clearly isn't because it is always crowded. I still feel slightly cooler every time I'm there though. In terms of bars, this is a fun one. There is a bocce ball court, a movie projecting on the wall, and fun lights strung everywhere. It gets crowded but not suffocating, and the crowd feels slightly older than at other U Street bars. They have several beers as well as specialty cocktails for $12. Kind of expensive for a casual place, and the regular mixed drinks aren't cheap ($8.80 for a bourbon ginger). However, the drinks are very strong, so I forgave them. Black Jack does happy hour all day on Sunday, which includes food. It's half priced draft beer, $5 wine, half priced burger, cheaper pizza, and $10 for these two specialty hot dogs. They also broadcast Redskins games. Since the Redskins were playing on Sunday, I figured that would be a good excuse to try Black Jack. Football is a wonderful way to try new bars, I have discovered. The tables are very small and difficult to acquire. The Dive Burger was not memorable and not really spicy considering all of the spicy ingredients. Lots of meat though--two patties! The pizza, at least the D.O.C.B.S. pizza, is sauceless and tastes more like cheese and crackers. Good cheese and crackers, but we wanted pizza. I felt underwhelmed by the food, but ordering off the full menu during non-happy hour time might be better. Still a really fun bar though. read more

Avid readers may recognize the interior of Black Jack as something of a cross between the covers of Sara Gruen's "Water for Elephants," and Erin Morgenstern's "The Night Circus." Those who do not troll the aisles of bookstores for fancy paperback covers may liken the ambiance to a watered-down Moulin Rouge. For anyone tired of my dumb attempts to sound cultured, this place feels a bit like a seedy carnival, but in a high-class way, like a burlesque dancer who's too modest to show you her pasties. Still with me? Black Jack is a neat space. It has a very warm feeling to it, tons of red and black, lights strung across the ceilings evoking a garden party. The back of the bar is exposed brick, upon which they project movies on mute. The wallpaper in the bathrooms is hilarious, if only for the graffiti all over the images of old-timey sideshow performers ("SLUG LIFE"). Drinks are good. Fairly lengthy beer list and creative cocktail menu, although most concoctions are very, very sweet. Food is standard "upscale bar" fare, wood oven pizzas, mussels, artisanal sandwiches and such. Nothing crazy. Nothing terrible. For dinner, Black Jack is kind of meh. It's much better suited for drinking and socializing/drowning sorrows. My best experience here was early in the week right at 6:00, and I met a friend right after his break-up. The bartender brought consolation in the form of wise words and whiskey shots. We were in much better spirits going out than coming in. read more

This is my favorite happy hour in DC. 5-7 PM weekdays and all day Sunday. Talk about Sunday Fun day. 2 for 1 raw oysters of whatever oyster is on special. I always eat 12 by myself when I am here and I have never been disappointed by the oyster on special. 1/2 off beer. Good beer selection. They have a variety of delicious craft beers from all over the country to choose from. 1/2 off delicious pizzas and mussels to complement you beer. The mussels are decent. I was not impressed. The pizzas are thin crust and pretty delicious. I highly recommend the shrimp one. $5 pretty decent wine. I always end up drinking beer here so the wine review is purely word of mouth from my friends. Bocce ball court in the back. Lots of space for your friends to lounge around. Fairly dark ambience. Friendly attentive staff. They have a large screen that always seems to be playing chick flicks when I'm there. One time it was Clueless and another time it was She's All That. So some people might find that as a minus or as a plus (like I do). read more

Came here at 7:30 PM on a Thursday for a post-HH dinner with friends. Pros - - Good location on 14th street. Too bad there isn't a patio (Pearl Dive has a rowdy patio out front) - No wait for a table without a reservation w/ party of 4 - Friendly & quick service - Good drink selection - Delicious food! We started with the duck fat nachos & they were to die for. They came with 8 chips with perfect topping ratios. We also had the burger, fried chicken bucket (split 2 ways), and a pizza. All entrees were happily devoured. I had the burger which could've easily been split between 2 people. The fries were some of the best I've ever had! I'd love to come back for the HH specials and to watch a movie sometime. read more

Visited Black Jack on a weekday night this week, and this is clearly DC's best kept secret, for now. The ambience of this place is remarkable, as it almost feels like vaudeville, and a bit like you've stepped into Moulin Rouge that's also a sports bar! Great big TV in the main bar area, comfortable couches on the side by the window, for having an intimate conversation, and a bocce court with TVs and old style football stadium seats in the back. The music was also very nice. I can't report on the food, but the Velvet Hour frozen cocktail is the best cocktail I've had anywhere except The Gibson in DC: rum, mango, ginger, and a bunch of other delicious flavors. At $12 it wasn't cheap, but it was worth every penny. Great location, a great addition to the Logan Circle neighborhood. A good place to come on a date, and also a good place to come by yourself if you want to cozy up to the bar and watch their massive TV. This is a new favorite! read more

I turned 25 and wanted to celebrate with a few friends in a hip place in DC. Black Jack did not disappoint. In fact, it was pretty darn amazing. Although a bit challenging to find the right door (or maybe it was just me that got confused with all of the bars), the atmosphere is dark but fun! You go up some stairs (not sure if there is any elevator) and there is a full bar with a good amount of seating. I was lucky to find a table because although it was 8pm, it was pretty busy already! The bar service was quick and all of the drinks were good. Try the Young and Wreckless, but be careful... I can't comment on the food but it seemed to be good -- a lot of folks around me ordered. The ambience was great, good bar service, prices were what you'd expect for a Saturday night in DC, and the music was really good. I'll be back, Black Jack! read more

There are tons of restaurant/bars along the 14th St. corridor, which makes me wonder why Black Jack always so crowded. Not that it isn't a cool place...it does have an indoor bocce ball court...but every time I go, I feel like I'm crammed into a sardine can of people. It works on occasion, but other times I just don't want to have to wait 10 minutes just go wrestle my way to the bar to order a drink. However, beyond the sea of people, I actually like the feel of Black Jack quite a bit. When you are able to grab a table or a spot by the bar, the bar food is decent and there's plenty of alcoholic libations to choose from. So I guess for those still unsure, either pick an off day and give it a go or just be prepared to be jostled around by patrons trying to make their way from the bar to the bocce courts. read more

Probably the best place in Washington DC! Everything that we tried were so tasty! Cocktails are so good too! Try Addie's mussels! they even can beat the one that you can eat Brussels or Paris! The pizzas are quite tasty too. Also they have a nice decoration! read more

Black Jack is one of those places I really want to like, and in my mind I remember liking it so much more than I actually do. The space itself is pretty awesome. The decor is "hip" and the bartenders are hot with their quirky hats and handlebar mustaches. There is a bocce bar court in the back as well, which again reads as "hip." The people that come here do seem to be a teensie bit older than the typical 14th/U crowd, and for the most part are very attractive. However, it gets extremely crowded, and the drinks are insanely overprices. Like $10 for a vodka soda? Last time I was here, the bartender told me he had to run my credit card again because it didn't swipe the first time. Yet I still ended up having 2 charges on my credit card. Hmmm. Does he get paid extra by the owners for scamming customers? Another word about the crowd. People seem to come here a lot for parties and such. And are generally pretty antisocial. I know it is DC, but it still irks me when I go out to bars and people generally just stand around talking to the people they came with. Like come on, you could do that at home for a lot cheaper! I'm sure I will continue thinking I had "so much fun!" the last time I came here, and will therefore continue coming, but you should perhaps taper your expectations a wee bit. read more

I finally was able to visit Black Jack on my 3rd try. The first time it was closed due to snow (and we were forces to drink at the bar downstairs, oh no!). The second time it was just closed for no apparent reason. Finally, we got invited to a birthday celebration there, so I knew it was actually opened. Is it a cool bar? Yes. Does it have bocci? Yes. Will you ever get to play bocci on a busy Friday night? Maybe if you fight someone to the death for it. Black Jack is a cool bar, it's trendy, yadi yadi yada. If you ask me I'd prefer to head down the street and drink at Churchkey and drink some damn good beers. read more

Atmosphere: great, sufficiently lit, there are games, and TVs playing sports. Drinks: no. Stop putting cherry juice in everything. Yes on the mason jars though because I'm basic or hipster, not sure which one. read more

Went to Black Jack as a second stop after a wedding and loved my experience. I was quite shocked as it was a Saturday night and the bar was fairly empty, but I am not complaining. They had an extensive range of drinks and a friendly bartender who was more than willing to explain things to us. I am a huge cider fan so I was thrilled to find a bar that had more than one cider on their menu-especially considering that none of the ciders were the typical ones that you find at every other bar or restaurant. I also loved that they had cans available as I prefer cans to glasses but don't often get a chance to get a can out. It also gave me the opportunity to snap a picture of my drink so I could remember it for later! read more

Please stop playing sports; ruins the whole vibe. I absolutely love the drinks at Black Jack especially the Velvet Hour and the Blue Vein but it pisses me off when I go in there with my boyfriend and we can't watch something a bit more picturesque. Aside from that, this is a great eclectic bar to visit at any time for any occasion! read more

Security kicked everybody out and was being extremely rude 10 minutes before closing time

Black Jack is one of my favorite bars in DC, especially due to the fact that it's great for a variety of occasions. I came here on an early date with The Boyfriend after dinner downstairs at Pearl Dive, and it was a great cozy spot to have a beer and flirt. I've been here many times with one of my best girlfriends for after-work drinks, and I've also filled booths with much larger, more boisterous groups of friends, and it's been perfect for all these situations. Not to mention, it has to be one of THE best happy hour places in DC, even though it truly is only an hour long (6-7pm). And most importantly, the deals are incredible! Not only is there an extensive half-off beer list for HH, there's great food options too. 1lb of mussels for the price of 1/2lb, half off thin crispy crust pizzas (we have tried them all and they are all delicious), oyster specials, and other appetizer offerings. It always blows us away when we get the bill after having a totally satisfying dinner and one too many beers and it's still only $25-$35 a person. Service is always friendly and attentive, without being overbearing, and food and drinks arrive quickly. read more

One of those DC places you have to know about! There is no sign out in the street or anything, just a staircase that lead you above the Pearl Dive (or something like that). Great ambiance in this hipster bar. Lots of games in the the backroom - including one I still haven't identified. The crowd there seems fun, like the kind of people I would like to hang out with. We went there to celebrate the new job of a colleague of mine, and even though the place was rather full, we could all hang out around the bar without being too much in the way. The happy hour prices are quite good for DC - 2 champagne glasses for the price of one made my night! Also we tried one of their vegetarian pizza. Maybe just because I was craving food or I needed something to accompany my wine, but I thought it was amazing! I'd love to go back. read more

Fried chicken and oysters were absolutely delicious. Really cool atmosphere. Great mood lighting. Exposed brick and to top it off they play movies on the brick wall behind the bar. Great crowd. Check out Tilt, the bar in the back. The smoked oysters were the best thing i've ever eaten. read more

I went to Black Jack last Saturday. I was originally going to Pearl Dive, but the wait was over an hour and I was hungry. The atmosphere of Black Jack was pleasant enough in the early evening hours, they have two indoor bocce courts in the back room and unique stadium style chairs that give the area a unique feel. That being said, the decor is just about the only positive thing about the place. I ordered an oyster po' boy sandwich which was tasty but was about half the size of what you would find anywhere else. Seriously there were about 3 oysters on the sandwich! Accompanying the sandwich was a pile of "homemade potato chips" that had a nice consistency and probably would have been tasty too if they weren't doused in salt. They were disgusting and I couldn't even finish them even though I'll eat almost anything! Black Jack has a nice cocktail menu with some pretty cool concoctions but frankly $12 for the smallest margarita I have ever had wasn't worth it. Speaking of prices, the place is horribly overpriced in general. $5 for a can of Blue Moon??? Seriously???? Also, don't bother ordering any special shots or anything at the bar it appears that some of the staff simply don't know their craft. For example, I had to tell the bartender how to make a "Red Headed Slut" shot when I ordered a round for my party. Lastly I have to mention that this place gets PACKED. For example it takes about 10 minutes to get from the back room to the bar and 30 minutes to get to the front of the restroom line once you realize you need to go. There are better options in the Logan Circle area and I will not be back. read more

Sneaky, sneaky spot right above the Oyster Bar. This bar has a chill vibe and a great all day HH specials on Sunday. There are a few comfortable looking booths as well if you've got a group. I watched game 7 of the NBA finals here and really enjoyed myself. I had a couple of draft beers and a pizza, the DOCBS. They are thin crust personal pizzas for a great price. The pizza is actually really good. The service was really good as well, very attentive. The perfect lazy drinking hole for Sunday funday with good food. Definitely worth a visit read more

Black jack is a great option for groups and is not overly crowded with excellent HH specials. Note: this is above the Pearl Dive Oyster bar. Pretty hidden door Atmosphere: Attractive decor, large booths for groups, plenty of room at the bar with comfortable chairs, and projection TV. Never over crowded, but busy enough to be hopping, HH Special - 1/2 price pizzas which are thin and have tasty options. I personally tried the mushroom pizza and it didn't disappoint. 1/2 off drafts and they make a very good moscow mule! read more

Pretty good happy hour at Black Jack, though for drinks (particularly wine) and oysters, I prefer Hank's as a similar destination better suited to my taste. We ordered a dozen oysters for the table, priced at half off for HH, though we were limited to one type of oyster, which makes this place slightly less exciting than Hank's. They were delicious, but all of the brine had been drained out of them, making them less slurpy and less flavorful. The mushroom pizza with truffles was quite good, the margherita was far less satisfying. At $5 a pop, though, nobody was complaining. Wine was also priced at $5, but you are again limited to one choice each for red and white. From what I've experienced so far, Black Jack and Pearl Dive are a fun place for drinks, but not an exciting culinary destination. I haven't yet checked out the bocce ball court, however, and I will certainly come back if only to give it a whirl. read more

Currently one of my favorite places to spend that glorious time between 6 and 7pm when bars lower their prices and I can partake in frosty, delicious beverages and ooey, gooey food at a fraction of the cost. The ambiance and swanky red velvet belies the awesomeness of this happy hour (literally an hour), but do not be deceived! Good things await you! I'm sad it's only an hour, but the beer selection is great and the pizzas (which are huge and half price) are delicious. It gets crazy busy at the end of happy hour, so that's when I usually make my exit. I can't handle the sardine feeling that goes along with that many people in a fairly small space--I've usually had my fill of $3 beers by then and am ready to go home and relax on the couch. I've tried most of the pizzas and you'll have good luck with all of them. We also tried their french fries which, as other reviews will attest, are great. They used to serve pork belly nachos which were definitely worth the fat-kid feeling, but I think they're not on the menu anymore (bring them back!)--but I saw duck confit nachos when I checked the menu last time; those are probably equally as awesome. I've also had brunch here, and besides some kitchen timing issues was really pleased. Definitely on my list of repeat-visits. read more

This place is a must for happy hour! Seriously, their pizzas are amazing and SUCH a steal during happy hour pricing. We had just missed the HH and so this is my first time being here for "normal pricing." The specialty cocktail o had was the Monkey Wrench. Seriously amazing- does not taste like liquid at all. It also comes in a glass that is about 1/2 full... Pick your battles I guess. But at $12 a pop, I want more than 1/2 a tumbler. Also good to note- seating includes bar, bar tables, and comfy couches for larger groups. I think there's a back room but I've not ventured that far. The duck nachos were delicious, but they are not served in the classic style. Instead it is a fancy dab of nacho mix atop a chip. It comes on a plate of about 10 total- fancy dolloped chips for $12. While they were delicious, it's not truly enough to really share and I kind of wanted that messy nacho classic. Also I've had just about every darn pizza on their menu, again for HH- so I had no idea they were normally $14. But they're easily inhaled by one person or split between two. In previous visits I've tried the Spicy Grilled Shrimp (too spicy for me), and the DOCBS (classic Margherita style). This time I ventured to try the meatball - it was glorious. But after 3 beers, 2 specialty cocktails and splitting the nachos and 1 pizza- our tab was a little over $60- not including tip, on a Saturday night. So... Come during happy hour is all I can say. read more

This place is fantastic! I went on a Friday night, and even with a group of 15 people, we were very pleased. One thing to note: this place is adjacent to Pearl Dive - you go through a door on the left and up the stairs. There is no sign saying "Black Jack." Bocce is on the left, all the way in the back. We were able to play bocce (there are two courts) for good deal of time. It was nice that you didn't have to ask the bartender for permission or whatever (like for shuffleboard or other bar games). Our waitress was nice and friendly. She made it back to our group only a handful of times, so sometimes we found it faster to visit the bar itself to order drinks. The bar was mad crowded. The type of people there was chill, cool, and relaxed. This is definitely a place I would hit up all the time if I lived nearby. It isn't too far of a walk from the U Street metro though! I ordered a few specialty cocktails from the menu, and they were really delicious. I also got some rail drinks, and they were made well also. Bottom line: I really enjoyed this place. It's an awesome location to bring a bunch of people or just one or two. Definitely everyone should try it out. read more

I've been to Black Jack several times on different days of the week and have always enjoyed myself. It gets crowded on Friday and Saturday so I recommend getting there early (before 10), grabbing a good spot near the bar or at one of the few tables, and starting your night off with one of the signature cocktails that come with super fresh ingredients that you can see lined up on the bar. If you don't feel like one of the cocktails, which can be pricey, Black Jack has a decent beer selection as well as your typical full bar. I love how this place is decorated, from the flashing red G O L F sign to the classic movies streaming on the exposed brick wall above the bar. The crowd is pretty diverse because of the newness factor of this place - I'm interested to see how it ends up. read more

Love, love, love the decor and the vibe. I never would have found this place if it hadn't been for other Yelpers' instructions. So, thank you all for that. I went on Sunday for the excellent happy hour. The front room was loud and hoppin', but I opted for the back room. No one was playing bocce, which surprised me, but I enjoyed the quieter atmosphere. While we had a few mishaps with our orders, the servers were quick to make any corrections. I do wish we had not been the only ones in the back room, as we may have gotten faster service. I ordered the fries, which were crispier than my preference, but the flavor and size of the order were great. My dining companions had the burger, and they loved it. I was a little shocked because they can be harsh critics, and burgers made with flatter patties are usually worse. These were not impacted by the thinner patties. At happy hour pricing, these are well worth it. We also ordered the Cake Five, which was good but not worth the price. It's also mousse and not cake. I wouldn't come back for it. Overall, a solid meal. read more

I have been to Tilt/Blackjack many times, and it was enjoyable. It has now changed. As a woman, I do not go to the bathroom at bars alone. I always ask a friend to escort me as I am unsure whom I may encounter in line. This time, I chose a long time friend of 4+ years (who happened to be a gay man) because I was comfortable with him and trusted that he would take care of me if need be. No less than 45 seconds in to us entering the bathroom together did we start to hear a pounding on the door. We did not initially react because there was not security/a bouncer monitoring the bathrooms nor was there signage or guidance restricting the number and gender of guests in a bathroom facility. However, when i opened the door to exit, I was confronted by a female patron I had never seen as well as 'Francisco' who said he was an employee of the bar. 'Francisco' and this female patron began to berate me and my friend and accuse us of being inappropriate in the bathroom. I feel no need to defend our behavior as we were acting as any friends would, however, these two people were clearly uncomfortable by the fact that we were friends of different gender and sexual orientation. Upon exiting the bathroom, 'Francisco' told my friend and I that we had to leave the bar. When I requested a reason or a policy, he was unable to provide me with any explanation further than "you know what you did." Unfortunately for 'Francisco,' my intentions for bringing a platonic, long term, male friend to the restroom with me were for safety reasons. It was made clear after interacting with the Tilt/Black Jack staff that I needed protection not only against patrons, but also against staff. We were forcefully removed from the establishment with no other explanation besides, "you know what you did." Upon asking for a manager, we were only met with more security as if we were criminals and not just two friends trying to enjoy a night with one another. As we were forced out of the bar and begging for a clear explanation as to why, it became clear that the unidentified woman who was standing outside of the bathroom had made it seem as if me and my friend (of different sexual orientation) were being inappropriate in the restroom. Since they had so easily and without proof taken her word as fact, I attempted to explain my side of the story by sharing that this was my long term friend that I trusted to look out for me in situations that could be potentially dangerous for a woman. I am still eternally grateful that he was with me through this experience as the "security" at this establishment were clearly not interested in protecting the patrons and were only interested in upholding "policies" that were listed no where in the entire establishment. They (the 'security') proceeded to accuse me of engaging in inappropriate behavior with my FRIEND in the restroom, and as I was desperately trying to defend myself, I mentioned I had a long term boyfriend to which they replied, "do you think he'd be proud of you now?" These employees clearly felt superior to a woman and a gay man. They had no interest in understanding why a woman would want a man (friend or romantic) to escort her to the bathroom for safety reasons. They did not even provide us with a whole reason as to why they were throwing us out of the establishment, and proceeded to demean me with words such as, "I'm sure your boyfriend would love to catch you with another man." The complete disrespect and disregard for a woman's safety is astounding. If you have strict bathroom policies, they are to be posted on the walls and enforced by staff sitting at the bathroom. It is wholly unacceptable to throw two people out of your bar concerning "rules" that were established nowhere besides the bigoted brains of the people working that evening. I felt unsafe and disrespected by this staff. I have lived in DC for almost a decade and have experienced unacceptable behavior, but never to the point of writing a review and going in the next day (which I will be doing in this case). People should be allowed to take the precautions they need in order to feel safe. And if an establishment has policies, they must be posted and NOTICEABLE to their patrons. This was a shameful experience. If you only want to protect the safety and comfort of cis, white patrons, you should not be in business in 2022. Hire a proper HR and training team to guide you in the right direction before you endanger more lives. read more

A little hidden gem of DC that is so awesome! No sign except the word "bar" on the door: make your way up the stairs, and you get transported to this 1920s, Moulin Rouge, vaudeville lounge. Definitely a very vintage feel that still is casual yet classy. My friend and I came here during the week, and it was still hard to find a seat. They have a room to play bocce ball in the back (which was kind of cool), but there is limited seating available. We however, manage to snag a two seater in a great spot and right in front of the bar (where we were able to watch women's volleyball win gold! U-S-A!). It is a little loud, so while I really liked the environment, I found it to be a little difficult at times to have a good conversation with her because I felt like I had to shout at certain times. On the bright side, all that noise allowed us to drown everything out, so it was like our surroundings did not even matter to us. I want to come back here for a Friday night, to just hang out with friends. They also have a downstairs portion, which is much quieter, but I just prefer the upstairs so much more--more lively. Our waitress was outgoing and attentive, and was very honest in her recommendations, which I appreciated. We ordered beers around $3-4 (they are usually around $5-7). While there is a large selection by the can, I wish they had more beers on tap. My friend ordered the fries while I ordered the mushroom american pie. For some reason, I kept thinking that the american pie would be some sort of shepard's pie, but I realized that it was going to be a pizza when it came out. Regardless, the pizza was good--a lot of mushrooms and mozzarella. It was nice because it was so thin, and thus I was able to eat about 4 slices without feeling super full (just perfect). I also had some of the fries that my friend raved about here, and the fries offer 3 sauces. To be honest, not terribly great, and I prefer just regular fries and ketchup. The next time I come back, I do want to order the mussels because they just looked oh-so-good. read more

Came to meet a friend who lives in this area. Might have been a Wednesday or Thursday evening, before 8p. Old school hop hop was playing, the drinks were good. I was not a fan of the pizza my friend ordered, but i LOVED the ambience. Would def. come back again. Not close to a direct metro however read more

Bocce ball in the back? Heck yes! I deducted a star because on the Saturday night I was there, the fire alarm kept going off. It was annoying. But, it also meant that a lot of people left so we had the back room (and the bocce!) all to ourselves. My friend tried chatting up the manager, he was polite :) read more

A few friends and I stopped in here for a couple of drinks on a rainy night in DC. It's a cool space, but kind of awkward in it's set-up. We ordered pretty standard drinks - and they were pretty standard. I feel like it might be trying a little to hard. It almost feels like watching a hipster and a bro be forced to hold hands and skip around. It's good in concept, and entertaining, but it's just a little uncomfortable. read more

Black Jack - Lounges Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Black Jack is always an option I take into consideration while I'm on U street and thinking about grabbing a drink. It's never too busy to the point of being uncomfortable like some places on 14th street can be and they offer some good original choices in terms of cocktails. The vibe is chill and trendy and sometimes they'll even have a sports game up on the projector. I'd recommend Black Jack as a place to visit for a good time and a good cocktail. read more

I finally set foot on this place earlier in the month and I really enjoyed the experience. The decor and vibe of the place it's really dark and sexy, but relaxed enough you can bring friends. It could also work as a great first date, though. The bar offers really nice cocktails. Although a little bit slow, the overall service was good. There was only one server that night and she managed to keep a smile on her face. I value that. After thoroughly enjoying a half dozen oysters, we picked the Kennett Square Mushroom and the Spicy Grilled Shrimp pizzas. The server was good helping us making our oysters selection and we had nothing to complain about. I love how thin and flavorful the pies were. They were filling but not to the point that you have to unbutton your pants. We still had room for another half dozen oysters, which we ordered. The Colonial was my cocktail pick for the night and it was so nice, that even my friend switched from his pick, the Maple Derby. Winna!! :) I definitely need to come back and try some of their other cocktails this fall. read more

Sitting around, sick with a fever, and all I can think about are the DUCK CONFIT NACHOS at Black Jack. These nachos simply redefine comfort food and then take it to the next level... heaven? Last time I was there I had the Green Chile Cheeseburger, medium. One of the best burgers I've had, ever, anywhere. I can't remember if it was the bartender or my boyfriend who called it a sleeper burger, but that's exactly what it is. We hoped for a decent burger before a long night of drinking, but this was absolute perfection. The best part? When I was finished, there was a strip of overboard bacon waiting for me. The cocktails were also amazing. Not the best I ever had, but if Churchkey is packed, I come here. Lovely staff, cozy lighting, great music, lively/friendly crowd. read more