Cinder is the neighborhood hipster barbecue spot that you didn't know you needed. We were killin' some time before a comedy show, only had like 30 minutes, and wandered in. Great vibe, cool people, daily specials, and (you guessed it) tender, tasty barbecue. We ordered both the brisket and pulled pork and loved them both. Onion rings and *mild pickles (YES) are a great barbecue compliment and we're SO glad we saw another table eating/enjoying them. Next to us, the gents were enjoying their wings and other (unidentified) barbecue selections. Servers were busy, but made the rounds and caught up quickly. Compliments to Cinder for getting us in/out in 30 minutes, tender barbecue, and holding down a reasonable price point for "what you get." We'll be back, Cinder. read more

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Great BBQ and wonderful drink selection. My wife and I went here a few years ago and would love to return. The servers were all very friendly as well. read more

Fabulous service for humans, small humans, and dogs! I arrived about 15 minutes before they opened with my pup and the bartender greeted us (me with water and my dog with a treat) before they officially opened. Our server brought my dog a bowl of water and took my order as soon as they officially opened. She made great sauce recommendations and even brought me an extra sauce - they make all their delicious sauces in house! My wings and drink were perfectly cooked and crafted. And they were welcoming to dogs and kids. Patio was beautiful for a sunny day. Food was excellent! read more

Cinder BBQ - Wings 1/2 & 1/2 Brussel Sprouts Old Fashioned - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I've been here twice with friends who live in the neighborhood. Overall the food is decent, but their chicken wings are standout. It's hard for me to think of better chicken wings I've had in DC, certainly. They're a must have. The space is also very cute and chill. Worth a visit! read more

So delicious ! Great food, service and ambiance . Highly recommended . Amazing drinks too

Amazing food and customer service! Will be coming back again. Restaurant is very clean and welcoming to all. read more

Cinder BBQ - Sliced Brisket Platter - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Didn't try much but based on what I did, would not return. Very average bbq. The brisket was flavorless and chopped up, no bark, no smoke ring, no fat. The mac also had no flavor. The corn bread was dry and got tossed out. Only tried one of the sauces (mustard) which was not balanced and didn't help with anything. On a positive note the order was ready within 10 minutes read more

When walking into Cinder, I feel at home. The staff is super friendly and it brings me joy. My friend and I came in for the mexican breakfast (desayuno) and it was amazing. We ordered the chorizo sopes, chilaquiles rojos, and the mushroom quesadilla. I think this may be my new favorite breakfast/brunch place and it was AMAZING! Every bite was a flavor bomb and each dish was neck and neck for my favorite. We wrapped everything up with churros which came with a chocolate and strawberry puree sauce which made the churros not too heavy. I think I am in love and I'll definitely be back. I want to try the BBQ too read more

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Aite so I rated this spots smoked, flash fried, then dry rubbed, chicken wings the BEST in DC in 2021. I'm BACK...why? They have a cheesesteak they only serve up on Sunday's!! I had to have it!! Let's see what it's hittin on!! . Where I am: @cinderbbqdc . Location Reviewed: 800 Upshur St., N.W. Washington D.C. . Menu Includes: Hot Wings, Brisket, BBQ Shrimp, Andouille Sausage, chopped Chicken, Brisket, & Pulled Pork Sandwiches, Ribs, Cauliflower, Potato Salad, Baked Beans, Apple & Pecan Pies, Cookies, Mac n Cheese, Whiskey's, Wine, & Beers. . Items Reviewed: Their Smoked & Fried Wings (smoked, flash fried, then dry rubbed wings with Alabama white sauce-DELICIOUS $13). STAMP!! Less cartilage, more meat!! You don't really need a sauce with these. Their Chopped Chicken Sandwich (with pickles, slaw, & Texas Red BBQ sauce $11.50). Absolutely DELICIOUS!! Tender, savory, and they give you enough of it!! Their Brisket Chili Bowl (small with brisket chunks & chili sauce $6). STAMP!! It's got kick (spice) to it!! Their Cheesesteak (with sautéed sirloin, onions, provolone, & a side of fries on artisan bread $16.99). STAMP!! Everything blended perfectly with this sub!! The fries were Absolutely DELICIOUS!! Their Salted Caramel Apple Crumble Pie $5). STAMP!! You tasted EVERY flavor in this pie!! Smack...Smack!! . Customer Service: Welcoming & Attentive, Clean Environment. . Online Navigation: Easy!! . Parking: Street/Metered . Recommendations: Get that Cheesesteak!! They sell out fast! Get the wings, chili, and pie...TRUST!! . =STAMP =A.DELICIOUS =DELICIOUS =DECENT =PASS =NAH #Bigschlimsreviews read more

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Decent bbq but horrible service. I ordered takeaway: some meats, cornbread, brussel sprouts and came home to find the sprouts weren't in the bag. When I called, the guy who picked up wasn't sure what to do so he asked a woman nearby (which I was able to hear the whole conversation) who responded to him to give me the option of coming back to pick it up or cancel the order and be reimbursed. Since I'd already come home by then, when he asked, I asked to be reimbursed. He then asks the woman how to do that and she was clearly annoyed by him asking these questions and snapped at him saying just leave it, I'll do it and so he kindly relayed back to me saying it'll be reimbursed. Alas, I didn't get reimbursed. Whoever this woman was, if that's how you are treating newish employees and your customers, you aren't getting another dime from me. read more

We FINALLY made it after seeing the rave review from @big_schlims_tastetest Here's what we had: BOOZE -A little of this, a little (more) of that... -Lord's Work -Why I Otter -Cinder Spritz BBQ -pork ribs -slaw (x2) -collard greens -macaroni & cheese -pulled chicken platter -fried chicken skins (it's a thing!) DESSERTS (to go) -apple pie -cheesecake w/fresh raspberries + raspberry sauce In all of my excitement, I forgot to order the baked beans with peaches *kicks rock* so now I have an excuse to return. __ IG: @f.hux I #yelp and I know things. Keep reading... https://linktr.ee/f.hux #foodieHUX #yelpelite #yelpeatsdc #yelpdc read more

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The Bottom Line: Cinder BBQ is probably the most local, neighborhood-oriented experience I ever had in DC. The combination of good food, great drinks, and great people already has me planning for the next time I can spend an entire night there. A friend and I had plans to start our night out there. I heard that they had good BBQ and a great whiskey selection. It's great to see they were open during these pandemic times, right now they only served people outside within their table-lined sidewalks. We had to wait for a table to open up but honestly, we were glad we did. We didn't end up really leaving the place and literally closed it down on a Saturday night. The whiskey selection is out of this world. The server was so accommodating and guided us through tasting various selections and even was kind enough to bring out the bottle with each pour for us to look at. Around 8:30 they technically closed but we were allowed to stick around and the staff joined us for drinks and chatter. Some regulars stopped by and it just became a really great hang. Neighbors out walking their pets stopped by to say hi to everyone- it felt like a really local experience. The staff there really knows their brown water, and with a really extensive selection, I know I'll be back to try more whiskey and enjoy another chill night in Petworth. read more

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Blessed with a warm winter evening and picked up an order from Cinder. Beautiful looking neighborhood place and I hope patrons can enjoy the inside sometime soon. Food served quick. Most importantly, the BBQ was really good. Brisket sandwich with ample meat. Most excited to try the collard greens and sprouts, something not often found on a bbq menu, cause they ain't easy to do well. Collard greens were excellent. Little spicy kick to them to dance with the brisket. Sprouts were very impressive. Crispy, firm, plenty, and flavorful. Only issue is waaaaaay too sweet. Pull back the honey and we got a big winner. Back to the bbq. Very good. However, it was chopped into large, irregular chunks which just fell out of the sandwich and made it difficult to eat. Longer, thinner slices would have been more appropriate for sandwich service. Finally, the bark was so thick, it really wasn't edible. Should have been trimmed for a sandwich. Only real concern was the bbq sauce. I don't know which one I ordered, I asked the server to pick one for me. I understand sauce is regional, and I think this was a Carolina-style. It looked and tasted like thousand island dressing. Not what I would really prefer in a bbq sauce. Runny, watery, with a vinegar twang to it. I should have been more specific about a bbq sauce. Well, I make it sound like I had a lousy meal, but nothing could be further from the truth. The important stuff, the HARD stuff, Cinder got right and did really well. A few tweaks and I think Cinder will be tops. read more

Cinder BBQ - Exterior - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

We came on a busy day where pretty much everything was sold out. I ordered the Cajun shrimp which I was surprised how flavorful and fresh it was it had a tangy bbq flavored sauce. It came with bread, fresh pickles cole slaw and a side of your choice I picked the onion rings. Will definitely come again when visiting DC. read more

Cinder BBQ - Cajun BBQ Shrimp Onion Rings - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I also visited on the strength of Larry M's (@big_schlims_tastetest) review! I'd give it a solid 3.75. The smoked fried wings are DELICIOUS and their version of Alabama white BBQ sauce is the best I've ever tasted! The brisket is good---the bark is super flavorful with a touch of sweetness. I just wish there'd been more marbling on the meat. It wasnt dry, but it wasn't melt in your mouth tender either. I was just hoping for more. And three slices for $22 is a bit much. Everything we had was flavorful but a touch TOO spicy. The greens were super spicy and needed to be cooked down a bit more (there was too much chew). The Petworth Hot Wings were JUST hot---not a lot of nuance. The potato salad was meh and I prefer a mayo based coleslaw but that's just me. We'll definitely go again for the wings! And maybe even the brisket....but the rest, not so much. read more

I don't know what we did wrong, but a mother and two children are apparently not the clientele Cinder's servers want to serve. We've been eating at Cinder for years, supported the restaurant with excessive takeout orders and very generous gratuity during the pandemic, and tried to return in person today. We waited for 10 minutes and were told they needed to check if they'd have a table for a walk in. No problem. We stepped outside to wait and came back in because of rain. No one talked to us, clarified that they had no available tables, or asked if we'd like to place a takeout order. Two men walk in 15 minutes later, are immediately greeted, seated, and offered menus. Guess Cinder isn't the family friendly, neighborhood restaurant it used to be. read more

What an unexpected pleasure it was to stop in and have a bite! We originally ordered our food for takeout but when we arrived we walked into a welcoming comfortable restaurant with an excellent bar and inside seating! They also have outdoor seating! We stayed and enjoyed the relaxed vibe! My tender pork platter with homemade everything was plentiful and delicious! The wonderful pickles and slaw were made with care & nice flavors! The spicy bbq sauce was my favorite! The bbq beans were packed with peach and bourbon flavor! The brisket sandwich had deep tender smoky flavor. Cinder bbq knows how to prepare excellent onion rings!!! I could eat a plateful. They were made with a crunchy batter and seasoned well! They have an outstanding selection of beer and liquor!!! Off season the Kitchen closes around 8pm and W,Th, Fri around 8:30 pm. But you can still drop by and have a drink or nightcap after the kitchen is done! Don't leave without trying the Apple pie with salted caramel sauce! It's just as amazing as everything else and it's also prepared in house!!! I'm not sharing my leftovers and I can't wait to dig in. Soooo goood!!! read more

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Absolutely delicious BBQ and excellent service. We shared the hot wings and smoked wings as an app (you can do half and half). Both types of wings were incredible and came with blue cheese and also a different, uniquely tasty white sauce. We shared the brisket platter, which came with Texas toast, slaw, pickles, and a choice of bbq sauce, and one side (we got mac n cheese). The brisket was savory and tender, really good. I also loved the mac n cheese. Very friendly and attentive staff, I just didn't love that they weren't wearing masks. read more

Cinder BBQ - Brisket entree with Mac n cheese side - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Amazing BBQ. Great bourbon selection. Even better pricing. Sarah was such a great bartender. So hospitable and kind. We had the pulled pork and brisket sandwiches. Max and cheese. Brussels sprouts. No complaints here! Easy parking and definitely a fun place to come for a bite and chat. read more

Cinder BBQ - One side of the Bourbon Shelves. - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Pretty decent BBQ for DC. In an eclectic part of DC, a real attempt to BBQ. A lot better than some of the other BBQ joints in the district. Cool bar type vibe inside with a wicked awesome stocked high end bourbon and whiskey selection. Waitress was just as eclectic as the neighborhood was excellent. First time drinking Weller barrel proof. NICE! read more

Cinder BBQ - Ribs Mac slaw - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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While in DC , I was in the mood for a Lil Texas Style Brisket. The smoke on the brisket did not disappoint. The food was delicious but the Bourbon menu took it to the next level. read more

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We will definitely be coming back here because some of the choices are absolutely amazing. I love the brisket - it was lean yet tender, and the apple cider sauce was flavorful and delicious. The brussel sprouts with honey sambal sauce were a delightful sweet-spicy-crunchy side. My boyfriend also really enjoyed the chicken wings, which are done in a distinctive dry rub-style that meant they stayed crunchy while we snacked. The night's special were chorizo tacos and I thought they were better than many DC tacos, although I thought the sauce could have used more flavor notes. The Mac and cheese didn't quite come together - the sauce was really runny and didn't have much cheesy flavor or texture. They also have a pretty limited cocktail selection - they have LOTS of whiskeys but not a lot of mixers or cocktail-specific alcohols. Overall, there are a few kinks to work out on the menu but the core of it - the meat and veggies - are fantastic. I could easily see us catering from here in addition to dining in again. read more

Cinder BBQ - Brisket sandwich, chorizo tacos, and more! - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Cute neighborhood bbq place. Love the vibes, food and drinks. Small space though, so long wait/hard to get a spot.

As a Texan who didn't know the place's background, I was skeptical about any barbecue spot in DC, so when we finally decided to try it, I had zero expectations. I was floored by how good the barbecue was -- specifically the brisket and pulled pork. The meat was delectable, the sauce to my preference, and the sides were so good (honeyed and roasted Brussel sprouts, cornbread, and Mac'n'cheese). Only after, when talking to the owner, did I realize it was Texan-founded and run. Love it. My friend said her cocktail was great. They were warm and really helpful. We'd called ahead and they let us know that the barbecue was running out and they offered to put an order for us in now ahead of our arrival. Aces all around. Now I have to try their brunch, which I had no idea they did -- and which apparently includes one of my favorite, chilaquiles. read more

Went here with my girlfriend a couple of weeks ago. The service was great and very attentive. The food was decent overall, but nothing to write home about. We had the wings and pork rinds as an appetizer. The wings were mediocre - the flavor of the dry ones were okay and the wet ones were lukewarm and tasted of franks red hot sauce. The pork rinds were hot and were nicely seasoned. My girl ordered the ribs plate with fried Brussels sprouts. The Brussels sprouts were delicious, but the ribs were fine in doneness but lacked seasoning. I ordered the brisket platter with onions rings. The brisket had good flavor and were pretty tender. You could see that the brisket was probably sitting around or that it wasn't sliced to order from the color and moisture of the meat. The onions rings were great. We ordered the collared greens, which were not good at all. It seemed like they had no seasoning. Their bbq sauces were okay. Lastly, we ordered the churros, which were just okay. read more

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Welcome to the most recent addition of Upshur street mediocrity. Much like it's predecessor in this space, cinder is lacking hard in decor. Plain and boring, much like it's fare. The pulled meat was dry and flavorless. And the less than authentic bbq sauces didn't help. Despite appearing to have a thousand spices, the fries were pretty blasé. Oh and who doesn't use Heinz ketchup?!?!?! Even the kiddos told me the Mac and cheese didn't taste like much of anything. Also: no, I don't want to order up by the register. This isn't Taco Bell. The drink was good. Maybe I'll be back for another at the bar... maybe. read more

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Stumble upon this place while looking for a pizza place in the area. The staff extremely friendly and service was quick. Even though I was in the mood for Pizza the smell of BBQ quickly changed my mind. I went from ordering to go to sitting down and enjoying the atmosphere. Ordered a rum and coke(not a drinker) and some great wings and enjoyed the place. Would definitely recommend them. read more

Got the pulled pork sandwich with coleslaw and mac. Everything was good. The pickles were delicious and the sauces they had were good too. Staff was friendly. read more

Cinder BBQ - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Fantastic restaurant. Food is excellent, atmosphere is great, and is very family friendly. Will be back for more soon!

Of course the food here is amazing! Brisket, ribs are both fabulous. But....the service, OMG! We called ahead and made a reservation and they put aside the brisket and ribs because they were running out. They didn't even know that's what we wanted to order (which we did)! Blown away by this amazing restaurant and how thoughtful they are of their customers. read more

This place has such a great neighborhood vibe. Because we were arriving late on a Sunday, I called ahead to check what they had. I figured out later I spoke to the bartender. She was so helpful and helped me put in an order before the kitchen closed. The brisket platter and brisket sandwiches were fantastic. Ribs were delicious and tender beyond belief. Great coleslaw. Basically, all the food was some of the best BBQ food I've had in a very long time. read more

A very solid place to grab some delicious BBQ. I only wish it was closer to my house. But then again, I guess it's a good thing it's not, otherwise I'd be ordering here way too frequently! My go-to is usually the brisket or the brisket sandwich. Cinder makes it so that it is not dry, begging for sauce, unlike some other BBQ places I've tried. If I don't get the brisket or brisket sandwich, I'll usually go for their weekly specials. Bill's Cajun BBQ shrimp and fries is typically their Friday special, which is really good. The shrimps are flavorful and are not tiny, so it's definitely a filling order. The Saturday special is typically ribs, either bone-in beef or 1/2 rack pork ribs. I've opted for the bone-in beef and it is actually my favorite thing on their menu. If it wasn't a weekly special, I'd probably get that over the brisket every time! The first time I ordered a bone-in beef rib, it was described to me as a "Flintstones" type rib. At first I thought it was a total exaggeration, but it wasn't all too far off. I looked at it and thought it wasn't going to fill me up, considering it was one rib, and I was totally wrong! A tender, juicy beef rib definitely worth the price! For sides I typically go for the brussel sprouts or the fries. Their brussel sprouts are some of the best I've had in the area for sure! The staff is super friendly and patient and very good with their recommendations! Definitely give this place a try if you're in DC! read more

Cinder fizzled out for me. Taste was decent but definitely average. Maybe below average. The wings were more powdery in texture which was kind of wierd. Brisket sandwich was acceptable but left me with a terrible stomach ache after. I would say this place it's more of a BBQ inspired restaurant. Wont say it's terrible, but there are better true BBQ options if you venture out a little further. read more

Cinder BBQ - Wings - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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We were a little disappointed, but I have also lived in Texas so I might have an unfair BBQ standard. I will say we loved the staff and the vibes inside the restaurant, and the Cajun shrimp were really good. But the mac and cheese was super bland and the ribs were just okay. Very vinegar based BBQ sauces which some people really like! (Sauce is on side) read more

Cinder BBQ - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Solid pulled pork and brisket. Horrendously bad mac and cheese though - barely has any flavor and not cheesy at all. Wish they were open for lunch on the weekends. read more

Ordered from their take out menu because we never call early enough to dine on their outside patio, and it was very good! I got the pulled pork sandwich and hubs got the chopped brisket. it was definitely a generous amount of meat in the sandwich and paired well with the apple cider sauce (my new favorite-you MUST pair your sandwich with it). The kids meal was just two strips of breaded chicken and fries, both of which were okay. I will say that the pecan pie was TO DIE FOR. Please also order this and you won't regret it. Also got an order of read more

One of my favorite spots in Petworth. Fantastic BBQ, great whiskey, friendly staff. Would recommend over and over.

We were excited to go to this neighborhood BBQ place not far from our house. The décor is nice, and the staff are pleasant. However, it's hard to find anything else nice to say about this place. We ordered pulled pork and chicken sandwiches, which were served on small white supermarket hamburger buns that got soggy as we ate them. They came with sliced cucumber and chopped cabbage that I think were supposed to be pickles and coleslaw and a small plastic cup of generic barbecue sauce. Sides have to be ordered separately. We ordered French fries that were frozen julienne fries served on paper plates. The food was what you might expect to get from a food stall at Ocean City beach or Nat's Park. We really wanted to like this place, but they're going to have to up their game. read more

The food was good, not outstanding but good. Service was so-so. But it's good bbq for the whole family.

This place is killer. The barbecue and brisket are the real deal. I've eaten barbecue all over the country and this place does it right. A lot of complaints relate to the decor. It's a barbecue place. Other complaints relate to to the fact that you have to order at the bar. Again, it's a barbecue place. If you haven't been to a real barbecue place before I could see why these things might be an issue for you. Food is great. No detail is overlooked from the flagship smoked meats to the chicken wings, to the sides. Bourbon list is stellar, staff and owner are even better. Great addition to the neighborhood and to the city. read more