studying art history, took a trip to d.c. to go sight seeing of some of my studies. decided that we…read morewanted to go out one of our nights here, this is where we landed. cider on tap, means we're going to have a good night. walked past a group of (maybe) 26 year olds, they took one look at my friend group (realistically we are more alternative looking for what district of columbia is used to, anywhere else in the midwest we're average), guy looks over, "whispers" to the rest of his group, "DO YOU THINK THESE GIRLS GO TO ART SCHOOL?". he was absolutely right. we do go to art school.

Amazing service and incredible drinks! Graham is the best bartender in the city…read more Also the creativity is unmatched! Order what you want from the menu but they are also willing to make you specialized drinks to your liking.

This used to be a great spot to relax and enjoy cocktails. Unfortunately, a lot has changed since…read morethe owner, Keith McNally was actively involved, onsite and DJing regularly. Lately, the bar frequently runs out of ingredients needed for its signature cocktails, certain food items, service has become noticeably slower, and staff turnover appears to be high. When the owner was more present, the experience felt polished, the menu was consistently available, and customer service was top-notch. Today, it feels like the attention to detail is gone. What was once an elegant cocktail destination now feels more like an overpriced dive bar.

This place was cozy and very vibey inside. I was seated on the couch with my friend, which was a…read morebit low but comfy. We ordered our drinks and madeleines. Our drinks were tasty, although the drink size itself was smaller than I'd like for the price, especially with the ice. The madeleines never showed up until we asked another waitress about it, so we got them for free because of the delay. They were tasty on their own without the given chocolate sauce, honestly. Price for them is not worth it though. Cute spot for a girls' night, but may be a one and done kind of spot for me.

Stopped into Bar Betsie for drinks and snacks and really liked the place. The whole bar has a cool…read moreretro vibe with neon, a disco ball, dark booths, and a long bar that was packed by the time we were there. We grabbed a couple drinks and ordered some snacks while we hung out. The soft pretzel with mustard was good, but the buffalo chicken dip with Cheetos was the winner. It was exactly the kind of over-the-top bar food that works after a couple drinks. The atmosphere is really what makes the place. It was busy and energetic without feeling like a club, and we could still sit, have a drink, and actually talk. Cool spot for cocktails, snacks, and hanging out for a while. Definitely somewhere we'd come back to.

I love the ambiance and service here. I've been a couple times and it's been very consistent. The…read moreinside is dark and moody with a fantastic playlist. I always leave with new songs on my playlist. It is on the smaller side so I wouldn't suggest for a huge group. But if you're looking to grab a cocktail with a few friends or by yourself I definitely recommend. I ordered the Gold Rush! The drink was perfectly sweet and a good intro to bourbon, which I typically don't drink. I can't remember the second drink I got but it was equally delicious. I will note my friend was not a fan of her dirty martini. Overall great experiences.

Dope spot great drinks and a cool Vibe. Really cool speak easy…read more Service was great drinks were good and strong

I was denied entry to this establishment for reasons entirely unrelated to my conduct as a…read morecustomer. Christopher Chapman and I had a personal relationship that ended approximately two years ago, and I had not patronized this bar in roughly two years. When I visited on September 19, I did not speak to Christopher, order from him, or cause any disturbance. I later returned with friends on a night Christopher wasn't even working and was denied entry. When questioned, Christopher explicitly told me, "Your friends are allowed. You aren't." He then accused me of using my passport to "sneak in," which simply did not happen. If there is a legitimate conduct-based reason for banning me, one has never been provided. Instead, I am apparently being singled out because of a personal relationship that ended years ago. It is deeply concerning to see a personal grievance carried out through a public-facing business--especially against a woman who is simply minding her business, peacefully enjoying an evening with friends, and making no attempt to interact with him. Prospective customers can decide for themselves what they think of that.

When we walked in around 6:45p it was empty. But around 7-7:40pm it started filling up. It's been a…read morelong time since I was back at a true cocktail bar. Cocktails have become trendy and mostly a lazy combination of a spirit, simple syrup and a fancy-sounding ingredient. Not here. Each combination is crafted and tastes delicious. One sign of a good cocktail to me is that it has balanced flavors that somehow combine well together to create complexity that works. It did here. Our bartender was knowledgeable and guided me well after I shared my preferred spirit and flavor profile. The martini I had was off-menu and well prepared. Nostalgia for days of yore when only a handful of places in NYC were known for "cocktails" - not every happy hour menu in town. We did get the happy hour pricing ($12/drink) and yes, 20% gratuity was included. The service was stellar so I would've done that anyways and had no problem with it being mandatory. I will add - someone complained about the incense smells and when I first walked in, it did smell odd. Over time, I saw our bartender switch it out and the second fragrance was more inviting.

Very cool speakeasy type bar with skilled bartenders. They do fun themes such as house of the…read moredragon with smoke bubbles on the drinks. Good place for a one and done drink because they are very expensive... but it is DC so it's expected.

Came here right at 5p to snag a table for 2 without a resy. We were luckily able to be squeezed in…read morefor 1 hour. Would recommend making a resy to guarantee a spot. Love this concept. A record is chosen for the evening and they play the entire thing from start to finnish. Meanwhile you enjoy some lovely cocktails and some company. The place picked up pretty quick and full for the most of the time my fellow Yelp friend and I were there. Service - 5 stars. Maya was amazing. But really all the staff seemed genuinely interested in ensuring you have a good time. Drinks- my first drink I got the "Take me Out" $22, mezcal dream, well balanced. The 2nd drink I got the "Time to Pretend" $20 TQLA subtle but nice. I'm definitely coming back when I'm in town!

Had a great time here - it's small so definitely make a reservation…read more We got the 4 course to share - it's large portions so not a full meal for two people but if you're just looking for some snacks, highly recommend, we enjoyed every bite. We also ordered 3 rounds of drinks so 6 total and we each loved everything so I think you can't go wrong. I will say the Take Me Out was pretty sweet but I was in the mood for it at the time.

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

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

Great atmosphere. Ate dinner on a Tuesday night and the restaurant was very lively. No problem…read morebeing seated fast. Service was excellent along with the food.

Food, environment, and excellent service by Patrick! Patrick knew the menu, pairings better than…read moreanyone we have had before.

Very fun. Technology was easy to use and the games were fun yet not complex at all. Still fun for a…read moregroup of people. Beer was great. Food was great. Gage was an awesome host. Fun, kind, and a great ambassador for the brand. Loved it.

Went here and wasn't able to experience the full bar with games as they were booked with an event…read moreBUT we were able to sit at the bar! *insert denzel washington Malcom X GIF* (him banging on the table) Dammit the drinks were hitting and the food was amazing. Bartender was super nice and his lemon drops had my ankles wobbling walking out the door. S/o to him. I will definitely be back to have a time!

I've been hearing about this place for a while now, so our daughter made reservations for our visit…read moreand we were not disappointed! We were greeted and seated right away. Our server was new and very helpful. The space is tight in there so walking back to our table was a bit of a challenge trying not to hit someone while they were taking a drink, but the energy is high and lively! We ordered cocktails to start, and there were so many interesting choices that it was a difficult choice. We all thought we got the best one! Every dish was fresh, flavorful and fire! The scallion lamb was tender and savory. The crab fried rice was total comfort food and I could eat this every day! All those flavors! The dish that stole the show; however, was the eggplant! Wow! What a wonderful surprise. Hot, fresh and full of flavor, the eggplant was perfectly cooked and we couldn't stop talking about it long after we left!

I had heard quite a bit of hype around Astoria DC, but came in without many expectations. As…read moresomeone who does not eat pork, I found the menu a bit limiting, so we went with the salt and pepper eggplant, bok choy, vegan dan dan noodles, and beef noodles. The vegetable dishes were easily my favorite part of the meal. The salt and pepper eggplant in particular had a fantastic flavor profile, and the veggies overall were flavorful and genuinely fun to eat. The entrees did not land quite as well for me. The portions felt small for the price, the beef was sparse, and the noodles leaned a little dry. I did enjoy the atmosphere though. We sat outside, the music was bumping, and the whole space had a relaxed energy to it. I can definitely see the appeal, but between the limited non-pork options and the entrees falling short, I am not sure it would be a go-to for me.