Great local bar with large rotating craft beer selection. Highly recommend for any beer enthusiast. They have wine and cocktails as well. They are happy to recommend beer for your taste, and let you sample. It can be very busy and difficult to get a seat at the bar or get a table on a Friday or Saturday evening. We ordered food, and were expecting elevated bar food. The tater tots were a huge disappointment- they were very large squares , bland, and not crispy. The wings were okay. The cheeseburgers were the best- from the restaurant downstairs- mallard. Huge burger, done perfectly medium. read more

ChurchKey - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Here's a review written as part of a visit to both Churchkey and Birch & Barley (the downstairs restaurant -- together they form the "2 Enjoy Everything" concept by Neighborhood Restaurant Group): A DC Gem That Delivers on Every Level If you haven't made it to Churchkey on 14th Street yet, move it to the top of your list. I visited as part of the full experience -- dinner downstairs at Birch & Barley, then up to Churchkey for drinks -- and honestly, it's one of the best evenings I've had in DC. Churchkey itself is everything a great bar should be. The beer selection is absolutely unreal -- hundreds of carefully curated labels spanning every style, region, and flavor profile you can imagine. What sets it apart is that the staff actually knows the menu. Our server walked us through a few options based on what we liked and landed us on perfect picks both times. That kind of genuine expertise is rare. The tavern pizzas from the wood-fired oven were a wonderful surprise -- thin, crispy, and the perfect companion to a cold draft. The smash burger also deserves a mention: simple, well-executed, and hits the spot. The vibe is warm and lively without being overwhelming. Great for a date, a group, or even just sitting at the bar solo with a good beer and good conversation with the bartender. This place has earned its reputation as one of the best beer bars on the East Coast -- and then some. Highly recommend making a full night of it with both floors. You won't regret it. Feel free to adjust the tone or add any personal details from your actual visit!​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ read more

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Nice little spot to enjoy a cocktail and be social. The bartenders were very professional. I didn't order any food - but it did smell good. It's upstairs, the downstairs is a different establishment. read more

Buckle up! Because this journey is worth the read!!! Staff that I had the pleaser to talk with or interact with! All staff here are amazing! Tim - my man! Wow you are doing amazing work on your selection and curation of beers! At this and many other locations!! Tierney- You always came by when I needed you and had a smile on your face! Was happy you took care of us during this event! We got everything we needed. Thank you seriously you did amazing with all the recommendations and offerings! Adrian - dude thanks for the help! You started us off and got us to the right people! Sorry we moved out of your area!! We will be back! Nyah's - you're a rock star thank for checking in and chatting with us! Greg! You rock man! You are doing some of the most amazing work! If you ever wanted to open an Anchorage Alaska location I would apply and work for you! You treated all of the staff with such respect and I loved to see it. The food! I am from California then translated to Alaska that being said I know very good food and good for where you live food. Are you hiding a famous chef in the back! I was lucky enough to have the food twice two days in a row It was that good I had to come back. I had over the time spend Cheese pizza yes basic I know but so good and was worth stealing a slice from my friend. I got the chicken sandwich and was surprised it didn't have a sauce on it, but didn't want to alter it. Somehow, you put the perfect amount of pickles on there to where it didn't even need a sauce. It was one of the best chicken sandwiches I've had! I came back for the Allagash special event I got the lobster hotdog which was fan freaking fantastic. I honestly will dream about that for the next few weeks! Tierney recommended the tots or potato squares to go with that! Wow yes was just what I needed. Also shared some of the buffalos wings!! Those tasted great. I only wish you had more options so I could try more. - you're not a wing place so that's fine! Drinks. If they dont have it I would be surprised. Ok ok they might not have spotted cow but come on they have some of the most rare and delicious beer on the planet. They know what will see and they know what's good. I could spend the next moth going here trying new things and not even scratch the surface of the bottle menu. They have such a great selection and supply. The place is clean and so well kept. Clean and working bathrooms! The place looked like it was brand new! I was very impressed because they got busy but still kept it clean! This is now at the Top of my DC List beating out Founding Farmers and so many others! If I am traveling to DC you will find me at Church key! Or The Sovereign! Thank you for an amazing night that you provide me and so many others with ease! Honestly you made it look easy taking care of a full place. And everyone was smiling! I thought I was aggressively friendly but you all might have me beat! read more

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I've been to DC several times since my initial review, and have back here ever. Single. Time. Beer list is amazing, and the staff are nice. Food options are limited but I have enjoyed everything every time. This place is amazing. Highly recommend. read more

ChurchKey - Menu in April 2024 - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Service was a bit slow but very polite. Food was mediocre, the pimento cheese was tasteful but nothing special flavor wise and a bit small for 13 bucks. The chicken sandwich was underwhelming and needed more ingredients. read more

ChurchKey - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I come to DC a fair bit, and I wrote a pretty strong review for this place the last time I was here. The review was based largely on the excellent craft beer selection, the great atmosphere, and the quality of the beer on tap. Today, I stopped in for a few beers ahead of a dinner down the street. I was disappointed at the pours. None of the three pours were full pours. The Sierra Nevada pale ale cask ale had a funky taste to it. Disappointed such an oasis of craft beer in DC has fallen. read more

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Terrific service and beer menu. Lots of choices and they do small pours so you can try many options. The 2nd floor ambiance is awesome, too. The menu changes frequently (my son tells me), which is great for variety. I missed the option of a blt. On this visit, there wasn't any main course that grabbed me. I stuck with the Brussels - huge and well prepared and the few fries I stole from my son and husband. My son though the catfish sandwich was great. My husband reports that the smashburger he ordered was "simple and good". Overall, it's a really fun atmosphere and great place to grab a bite and some beers. read more

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I'd give the food 3 stars and the beer 5 stars so we'll split the difference with a solid 4! Food: no fuss chicken sando with a heavy handed aioli, perfectly fluffy and crisped fries, unconventional 'tots' with cheese, and a fungus among us shroomy flatbread. The major bummer was the flatbread - would avoid - lacking in complex flavors, lots of thick shrooms with limited sauce. The tots are like mashed potato cubes (maybe?) and while the cheese was a pathetic add, the flavor and portions were solid. The fries are the *star* and the only thing I'd order again. Beers: goodness me - we didn't even review the "extended" menu and were pleasantly stuck in analysis paralysis for a bit. The menu is easy to read for those who fear beer. It's detailed for those who are snobs. The variety is perfect for all. They also have options for non beer drinkers, FYI! The staff was kind and had equal moments of being quick and MIA. Prices are bang average (receipt included). Visited on a Tuesday evening and looks like a popular date spot. It's gorgeous inside and I can't wait to visit again! read more

ChurchKey - Tots, fries, mushroom flatbread and a glimpse of chicken sando - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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My first time here I found this spot to be just what I needed to share beers and appetizers with friends staying close by. The staff is knowledgeable about the extensive tap list and the beer list changes frequently to follow the seasons of brewing, festivals, and availability. As a frequent visitor to DC, I often make an excuse to stop here for a drink or two to start or conclude the night. read more

Cutest ambiance and solid food! Found this spot next to our hotel and we sat at the bar and the bar tender was lovely. They ran out of the best and wurst pizza, but the buffalo chicken one was good: 7.8/10. 10/10 tots and 8/10 wings. read more

If you're a beer drinker, this spot has got to be offering the best craft beer selection on the East Coast. You got some of the best of the best on the menu with highlights from Sante Adarius and other leading breweries. You also can't go wrong with any of the food. Ever since the restaurant downstairs Mallard opened up, the food quality here has increased a lot. My go to beers on the current menu are: - Sante Adarius Eternal Truth - Sacred Profane Pale Lager - Port City Downright Pilsner Definitely check out this place if you enjoy some great quality beer! read more

ChurchKey - Truffle fries and fried oysters - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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A real beer nerds bar with food to match the neighborhood. They've got a solid tap list but the real gem here is the bottle list. The place itself is tucked in upstairs in a row house and has fantastic cocktail bar vibes. The staff could be taken as aloof but they just don't want to deal with a ton of questions from someone who doesn't know what they want. If you're here it's assumed you do. The food is pretty pricey so I haven't gotten anything but this is definitely a destination for anyone with a "beer bar bucket list". I'll make sure to come back when I'm in the area read more

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I placed a to go order for the catfish sandwich and wings. The sandwich was extremely messy, so I'm happy that I placed an order to go because it was also really good. The wings were ok nothing crazy. Definitely will go back for some drinks the waiters seem nice. read more

Stopped by ChurchKey for a bite to eat while in DC. I had been here once before, just for a drink, so I was excited to try the food. This place definitely specializes in beer so the selection is huge and includes some interesting brews you might not be able to find elsewhere - and for relatively reasonable prices. Being gluten free, I was glad to see some ciders and cocktail options. My friend and I both got dirty martinis but were disappointed in how not dirty they were. We ended up asking for a sidecar of olive juice to dirty it up ourselves. This wasn't a huge surprise since a cocktail at a beer bar is usually hit or miss. We got the endive salad to share which was delicious. I got the tots and the wings for my entree and my friend got a burger. Serving sizes were generous! The wings had a lot of flavor and were the right amount of spicy however, I found that the sauce became overwhelming after a bit and it felt like it was scraping off the first layer of my tongue. It was pretty acidic. The tots, on the other hand, were delicious! I would've chosen the steak frites but was disappointed to find that the sauce wasn't gluten free. Sort of odd since most steak frites are usually gluten free and a safe option. I would appreciate seeing more indications on the menu about allergens, etc. The staff seemed pretty checked out overall. We had a couple different people helping us at our seats at the large bar but our main server was on her phone and zoning out most of the time. It seemed to be the end of her shift and she was definitely ready to be outta there. Besides the small qualms I have about this place, it is a really beautiful space and a solid option if you're looking for beer and bar bites in upscale and spacious digs. read more

ChurchKey - Endive salad - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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ChuchKey sets the standard for beer bars in DC and in most of the country. I've visited many times over the years. I stopped by recently on Labor Day afternoon because they were running a special: lagers for $5. They didn't post a specific beer list in advance, so I wasn't sure what beers to expect. They had four lagers on the menu, all included in the promotion. We had a glass of all four. They are normally $9/$10 a glass so $5 was a great deal. We enjoyed all of them. My favorite was the Eredita helles lager, but that depends on your taste. The bar was pretty empty when we stopped by at around 1:30 PM with only about 6 other people at maximum. Service was good. The ambiance was dark and woody, with a few TVs playing sports. Since it was the middle of the day, I couldn't help but wish they turned the lights up a little bit. It's a tall, airy space and I would have liked it to feel a bit brighter. read more

ChurchKey - Menu (partial), Sept 2024 - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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This is a great spot to get some hard to find beers. They also serve cocktails and food. We ordered a pizza and their homemade tater tots. Everything we ate tasted very good. If I lived in the area, I would come here all the time. read more

ChurchKey - Homemade tator tots & mushroom pizza - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

It had been a few years since I had ordered from ChurchKey, so it was nice to have their food. My friend and I ordered a cheese pizza and mushroom pizza in tavern pizza style for delivery, and we received our order on-time. We enjoyed both our pizzas, with the cheese blend on the mushroom pizza being particularly good. The crusts were crispy and there were perfect ratios of crust-to-toppings. The mushrooms were a bit rubbery and this pizza would have worked better as a quattro formaggi. At $14, the pizzas are on the pricier side for their size, and my friend and I felt we needed to share at least three pizzas to feel full. Nonetheless, I would recommend and order these pizzas again. read more

ChurchKey - Mushroom Pizza - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Stopped by for a light bite and beer mid week. We totally scored an open booth - we were not interested in sitting at the bar. So many beers on tap! 50 or maybe even 60?? Pizza was yummy! Highly recommend this spot! read more

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Fantastic spot. Place was clean, atmosphere was on point and the service was incredible. Rachel was fantastic behind the bar, the whole experience was stand-out. read more

It has a nice atmosphere, we got seated and it took a few to get service but we waited. Once served the server wasn't too friendly, but got our order and beers. Beers were empty for a bit as we waited for him to come back. I finally got up and went to the bar where I was greeted very nicely and she was happy to help us. The server then noticed and came to get our order. He just seemed very uninterested in waiting on us. There was hardly anyone there. read more

ChurchKey - Upstairs - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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We got two burgers and an order of the chicken wings- both were so good! Especially the burger, yum!! Our waiter was quick and very sweet. Drinks were good, nothing special, but good! read more

ChurchKey - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Churchkey has a wide selection of beers and a growing NA portion of the menu. I've never had food here so prefacing that I come for a drink and it is a reliable place to go on 14th. The staff is always friendly and helpful if you are torn on what you should get and the fact they have a NA sour on the menu really gets me when I do not feel like going to Aslin for a drink. It's a large place with booths on one side and large tables if you have a group. Plenty of TVs playing whatever sports game is on and can get busy during peak times. read more

Great atmosphere with extensive beer and cocktail list. Burger was elite. I wanted a lobster roll but the burger didn't disappoint with the pepperoncini mayo and juicy double patties. Would eat again. The fired oysters were mostly breading, not my favorite. read more

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nice space, tons of seating and some tv's, lots of beers, and a solid burger. the burger has a charbroiled flavor, was a bit salty, but other than that very tasty - the pepperoncini mayo is a nice touch and the fries are super starchy and crispy. read more

I came by for an hour right at opening to try some of their sours. The space is really amazing and I love how they've made a cool yet comfortable atmosphere. The bartenders were kind and the beers were great! read more

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I did not enjoy this food at all! The fries were a hot mess, the cheese was congealed and oily. The chicken was large, very tough and so nasty! The chicken tasted as if it were old and stale. I honestly should have returned the food because it was inedible. The service was lovely! And the space was nice- a place to get drinks for friends before a show at Studio theater. But the food was a big miss for me! read more

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My team hosted an event here, and the staff was super accommodating and reasonable about everything. We had a great time. The space is super cute and everyone was quite happy. The cost of the room was only $150 with no additional food and beverage minimum. read more

I have a few friends who love it here and perhaps our group came on an off night, but it wasn't my favorite bar. My drink was decently strong, albeit overly lemony for my personal taste. Service was neutral - no one was mean but no one was friendly. I'd check it out again to see if it was just an off night. read more

ChurchKey - Cocktail: Is This Seat Taken? - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I've never had a good experience at this spot. Always experienced service with a major side of attitude here. It's like a cross between snobby pretentiousness and you're just lucky to be a customer there. Not sure how they justify that but anyway. The latest incident was last night when a well known brand decided to rent out the second floor for a private party. Apparently the venue was paid for 2 hours and then once the event was over we were all abruptly kicked out. We were the only business there on a Thursday night and you would think with the news of all these local spots closing down they would want to keep as much business around as possible also keep in mind it says on their site as well as here on Yelp that they close at 1am even on weekdays. Again we were just lucky to be there. When this place finally closes down which I suspect will be soon, not a tear will be shed and not an F will be given. read more

The most delicious fried chicken sandwich in DC! My brother hyped it up and this place did not disappoint! It is a gorgeous, moody yet romantic space. Only downside is that it is not accessible for strollers or wheelchairs as there isn't a way to get upstairs. We were greeted to sit anywhere and the service was prompt and friendly. I loved the crispy fries that somehow were still good the next day despite the soggyness. The chicken was tender and juicy and the breading outside was crispy but not overly greasy. You know it is good when the draught list is longer than the food menu! read more

ChurchKey - Celebrating a birthday with the best Fried Chicken Sandwich! - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Service was good and the Sunday night specials were a good value. Unfortunately the food was not good. I had truffle fries and wings. Fries were ok, but I didn't enjoy the wings. read more

Talk about speakeasy. You gotta have the CHURCH KEY LOL Well, we found this place because of Yelp...(yay yelpers) and ya....you gotta earn your calories. So choose the door on the left (sssh don't tell anyone the password). As you walk up the stairs, the ambiance is pretty chic/modern and sexy. If it's afternoon it makes for a chill vibe or a nice date. Dinner I can imagine is also great! The food was delicious and the service was fantastic. We aren't from here...but we truly appreciate the hospitality If you're passing through or a local, make sure you check em out. read more

ChurchKey - a plate of chicken wings and a glass of beer - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Everyone mentions the staircase up to the second floor, behind the "unassuming door", so I better do that too. Yes you have to walk up the stairs to get to Churkey, it is not the restaurant on the ground floor. ‍ Ordered the smash burger, it arrived quickly and was tasty. A little on the too well done side for my taste, but not dried out so still tasty. The beer menu is long and with a lot of nice choices. Fewer local brews than I thought there'd be, but on the other hand I got to try a Hong Kong craft beer, which is not that common of a thing on menus where I'm at... Unfortunately all the "hoppy ones" were double or triple IPAs, and that kind of alcohol level is just not my game, so I had to stick to the crisp and the fruity, but the selection there were excellent too so I'm not sad about that - sometimes life wants you to have other styles than IPAs. Service was good. I was there early on a Tuesday, not too many people in but enough to keep the two servers busy most of the time. Enjoyed my visit, definitely recommend it to fellow beer enthusiasts, will come back if when in town again. Cheers! read more

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Beer list is great, but don't even bother with their whiskey list. I went through 4 separate ones only to be told they don't have it. Maybe it's time to reprint? Friends ordered a couple small bites and they were good. Environment is good, great for a group or a date. Actually let me take that back about going with a group. I had to leave earlier than my 5 friends so I asked if I could just pay for my drinks. Waitress made it sound like it would be A huge inconvenience because people sat in different spots and I said I know what i ordered. She was still unsure. Finally she was able to do it but at this point was definitely annoyed at me so I just paid cash with a standard 20 percent tip just to hasten my escape. read more

Always a favorite spot to visit when in DC. Located upstairs it has a cool, kinda speakeasy vibe going on. Really sophisticated yet not pretentious design. Absolutely wonderful service. Extensive and I mean extensive menu of beers, cocktails, bourbon, and whiskey. Great spot for a large group or a date night. read more

While I enjoyed the selection of beer I was a little let down with the service. Having a bar this big you need more than 2 bartenders. I appreciated the availability of small pours of some really good beers however.. I would have purchased some more expensive pours/bottles had it been conveyed to me I could. read more

Just finished a delicious meal at ChurchKey. BTW it's upstairs. We didn't know this and went right into the wrong place. lol We had Angel as our waiter. He was attentive and helpful. We decided on the Smash Burger and the Mushroom Pizza. They both looked great and we weren't disappointed. The ambiance has a cool lounge vibe. The seats up front are by a large window which added great natural light in the early evening of June. The back section is darker with black walls and booths. We initially had a table in the front, left side that was right under the AC which was cranking out super cold air. We usually don't need a jacket in a restaurant, but this was so bad we asked to move to the opposite side, which Angel was more than happy to accommodate. read more

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I recently visited Churchkey where a rather large group of us got together for happy hour. The staff was accommodating. They were good at noticing when a new member joined the group and making sure to get new orders or follow up on with the group. I ate their hot wings and brussel sprouts and enjoyed both. The brussel sprouts stood out because they were flavorful and a little sweet in a good way. They have an expansive alcohol menu with a wide array of beers, and whiskeys. They also have plenty of cocktails and wines. I got their spicy margarita (because I'm not a fan of beer) and the spicy marg tasted good. I would definitely come back here in the future and highly suggest for large group happy hour gatherings. read more

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Certainly not a "craft beer haven". Maybe serve your beers at something cooler than room temperature. Avoid