My boyfriend and I went to Dacha Beer Garden (Shaw) for an afternoon date and it was such a vibe…read more The patio was full but still felt cozy and fun lots of energy without feeling chaotic. The sunlight coming through the big windows and umbrellas made everything feel warm and relaxed. It's definitely one of those spots that feels very DC weekend.We ordered the giant pretzel with cheese and mustard and it was SO good soft, warm, perfectly salted, and ideal for sharing. The fries were crispy and seasoned just right. We also tried a couple of beers (the grapefruit one was especially good and refreshing), and everything paired perfectly with the food. It's casual but still cute enough to make it a real date. You can sit, talk, enjoy your drinks, and not feel rushed. I'd absolutely come back, especially on a sunny day. Perfect for daytime dates, meeting friends, or just enjoying good vibes in Shaw.

It has been nearly 11 years (!) since my initial review, so an update is sorely in order. This…read moreplace is still going strong, stronger than ever in my view. They have slowly made changes over the years that make this an absolute must visit. What hasn't changed: the outdoor vibes and string lights are as pleasant as ever, and without the crushing crowds and lines that typified this location in their early years, it is a much nicer vibe most days. In my first review, I complained that the menu was very light on German beer options. They offer far more now, including a beer that I do not believe you can regularly find at any other bar in the city: the Weihenstephaner Korbinian, the world's finest doppelbock. It is one of the most delicious beers I have ever had, and they have it here on tap for a very reasonable price. Another positive change: they have a kitchen now with a full menu of food options. Their giant pretzel is a classic, of course. If you're a weekend happy hour chaser, they sell $5 High Noons all day Sunday. One final note: the location is absolutely perfect. Baan Mae has opened next door to the north (a 5/5 dining experience, amazing Thai food), Ugly Duckling is across the street to the south (a 5/5 happy hour and cocktail experience), and Ivy & Coney is right across the street to the east (a DC icon and 5/5 dive bar and football spot), so Dacha is essentially the centerpiece of the perfect night (or whole day) out.

Came here after a lingering afternoon across the street at the beer garden. Hankering for some pub…read moregrub, my daughter and I shared some pickle spears and we each had a burger. Service was good from this eclectic bunch of waitstaff, but it was pleasant and efficient. The fried pickle spears were not breaded enough, but the remoulade dipping sauce was a nice change from the typical ranch dressing. Our "standard" burgers were char-grilled, greasy and perfectly seasoned. The double fried fries were crispy and tasty. Will have to return to try some of their BBQ offerings, but if you are in need of a burger, don't overlook this spot either!

Awesome spot to enjoy food and drinks! And the COVID system is awesome. You add your name to a…read morewaitlist to be seated outdoors. You also place your order and pay online so they try to keep it as contact free as possible. I had the rose cider and ordered mac and cheese, hush puppies and fries...because I was trying to be healthy. I enjoyed everything! My friends ordered the burger and onion rings and enjoyed it as well. Prices are very reasonable. They also have outdoor heaters so they'll be well prepared for winter and colder weather. We were also treated to a round of the offshoot hazy ipa since the brewmaster happened to be here. He bought a round for everyone and it was really nice of him! I look forward to coming back!

The music, the energy, the vibe of the space.... Maybe the World Cup was contributing, but I…read moreabsolutely loved it here. I see my friends talk about this place all the time and they we're making me feel like I'm the only one who has never gone. Well I can finally scratch it off my list! My friends and I only got one round, but it was a great time. They check IDs at the entrance, and then you are in a consent wherever you want. You could hang out in the outdoor space or you can go to the covered area that has long benches like a typical biergarten. Hop in line to place your order -- one person takes care of your drink, and another person rings you up at the register nearby. The line was getting long but it was moving quite efficiently. I'm not much of a beer drinker, so I just got a cocktail (elderflower G&T) and it was great. The place got really full, but I enjoyed myself. It's smaller than some other biergartens I have been to in the city, but there's something about the vibe of this one that I like over the others. I'll have to come back on another occasion!

Went to Wunder Garten (WG) for a special event on a Saturday afternoon in April…read more They had a great mix of people--local, international, straight, gay, young, and some older folks. At late 50s, we were certainly at the top of the age spectrum; but we felt welcome. We had drinks and planned to have food, but gave up after the event and went to an indoor restaurant the next block up. The first thing you need to realize with this space is that it is an outdoor venue. Not a reason to lower the rating yet--just know what you're getting into. Yes, the Quonset hut is technically a permanent structure; and the cabanas are under cover. However, the hut is less than half the floor space; and the cabanas are all open-front. So dress appropriately. You will probably be shielded from the wind, but forget about climate control if it gets busy. So where did WG lose stars? Let's start with the bar. I asked for a Manhattan made with Woodford Reserve. What I got was a 2 oz pour of Woodford, neat. This was not a 'tall order'. If your bartenders can't mix a drink with literally two ingredients (...plus bitters, so maybe three), then you're just in the wrong business--minus one star. Also, they ran out of one of the beers on their menu. You're a beer garden. You had better have all the beers on your menu or some way to adjust your beer list throughout the day. The other star evaporated when we realized that there was nowhere to eat the food if we had bought some from their food trucks (...clever idea, by the way, replacing a fixed kitchen with food trucks docked to the venue). All the free seating--yes, you have to pay extra for the cabanas--are actual picnic tables. Unless you get there early or pay extra, you will have to stand (...in the weather) ...while you eat. Bottom line: ~$53 for a large mug (1L) of hard cider and a pour of whiskey, consumed standing up in 85 degree F weather. Versus next block: Two margaritas, one soda, one appetizer, two (amazing!) entrees, and one desert brought to us by a lovely waiter and consumed at a clean table while sitting on comfortable chairs in a 72 degree F environment for $122. We may come back to WG for a future event, but that will depend on the weather and our appetite for a standing-room-only experience. As for bringing friends? Nah--we'll just find a picnic table at a local park and skip the premium prices.

Decent beer garden, we stopped in very close to closing time so we only got to enjoy the atmosphere…read morefor about half an hour. Bartenders were quick and knowledgeable. I can see this being a fun place to hang out in the evenings, especially with the open air seating! Good vibes!

Reasonably priced, easy QR code ordering, awesome giant pretzel and loaded hot dog. Basically all…read moreoutdoors. Theres a tent, but dress for the weather. Gets pretty loud. Good as a beer garden.

From the moment we walked in, the staff made us feel completely comfortable and welcome. The…read moreservice and drinks were excellent, and the bartenders were incredibly knowledgeable about the wide selection of German beers available. They were happy to offer recommendations and made the experience even better. As visitors to DC, we really appreciated how warmly we were treated -- like regulars from the start. Beyond the great staff, the friendly patrons helped create a fun and enjoyable atmosphere. Definitely a spot we'd recommend and look forward to visiting again!

Important context: I am in my 30s and came here around 4:00 p.m. on a Saturday with a friend who…read morehad been over a decade prior and enjoyed it. I was expecting chill beer garden vibes, which has been the case at other similar spots I have been to. Sauf Haus was definitely not that, though part of it was definitely on us for not doing our research. Others have mentioned the two steep staircases. I happened to be in an unfortunate position where I have a knee injury and was in a brace, so that was challenging. Now, that isnt something my friend had remembered about Sauf Haus and I didnt think to look it up, so that is on me. I was able to make it up, but it was challenging. It seemed entirely inaccessible for those who have a disability (permanent or temporary) that renders them unable to go up stairs. When we got to the top, the first bartender we encountered seemed to be inconvenienced by us ordering. The bartenders we encountered in the outside area and later in the indoor portion were friendlier/more helpful, though. There was also a day party going on with a loud DJ, lots of dancing, and a mister/bubble machine, which is seemingly a weekly event. Again, I did not think to see if there was anything going on, and there is nothing wrong with that - it just was not what I expected in going here. What was more concerning was that, in the 2ish hours we were there, we saw at least 5 (likely more) people get kicked out. Manyyy people that i saw were struggling to stand and had the thousand yard stare in their eyes. Several people threw up. One guy straight up peed all over the floor of the men's room. Oh, and both bathrooms are left entirely open, and the men's urinals are directly inside the door. So that is all just...exposed, which I have never seen in a venue before (even at the diveiest of dives). It seemed like it was reasonable for security to kick out the people that they did, but it also seemed like bartenders were heavily overserving. And, again, this was all before 6:00 p.m., so I can only imagine it gets worse after that. They had a good beer selection and sell most beers in both .5 or 1 liter mugs. We got the 1lb soft pretzel, which came out hot and crispy. I loved that it had several different dipping sauces with it. It was tasty and reasonably priced. My friend and I were going to both get a beer flight (as advertised on the menu), but they only had one flight board available so I got a cocktail instead. They do charge a 20% "service charge" during certain hours on weekdays and all day on weekends, but they make sure to tell you that isnt a tip and that you should still tip extra. I got a couple cocktails, so my $14 drink turned into a $22 drink after tipping. The cocktails I had (Strawberry Smash and Feel the Passion) were really good. Overall, I am rating Sauf Haus a 3 because we were not their target demographic. Those in their target audience seemed to be having a great time, and I could see myself enjoying a spot like this when I was in college. But I do think there is an overserving problem and they could do better on some other customer service aspects, too, regardless.

This place has a wide selection of beer on tap! Great outdoor open air seating. If the weather is…read moreright, this is the place! Highly recommend to relax with a cold one!

I always enjoy a visit to Aslin. The beer is tasty and this spot has a nice outdoor space, perfect…read morefor the spring or fall. When I had a remote job, this was a great place to work. Where I could sit outside and enjoy a coffee during the day and a nice happy hour special as the day stretched on. The atmosphere is nice and it has a nice energy with the many others who join at the communal tables and TV sets that line the walls. It's a nice neighborhood spot. Not exactly kid friendly but a fun spot for adults and friends.

I'm a craft beer lover and this was my chance to hit one of my favorite breweries. First of all…read morethey have a great selection of beers, awesome setup (love the patio but it's too cold this time of year) and the staff were really great!!!! Overall it was a really great experience and I will come back several times before heading back down south.

Service is good, and ambiance is really casual. Beers are okay, but I didn't find a favorite out…read moreof the flight I ordered. They have some cool games to play, though. Top-tip: parking in the nearby parking garage, an after here get some grocery shopping done at MOM's and validate your parking ticket at checkout. ;)

Great spot for Michigan fans to watch a game! We went here on a beautiful Saturday evening for one…read moreof the Final Four games and it was the perfect place to watch the game while sitting in the outside area. My expectations for the food at a place like this are usually pretty low, but what we had here was very good! You can rarely go wrong with a big soft pretzel, and the one here was very good. We also had the chicken nachos. I'm generally not a big nachos fan, but these were better than most because it didn't have the thick caked on down cheese like a lot of places do. We also had the buffalo chicken hoagie, which was quite tasty!

Some friends and I tried to go to Midland's and were turned away by a very rude bouncer. My friend,…read morewho is 24, has a valid ID and was turned away. The bouncer said "I can't tell you what is wrong with your ID until you provide me with a second form of ID." As someone who checks IDs for a living, THIS IS NOT HOW THIS WORKS! We will not be returning. I'm not going to lie, a part of me wonders if this was because one of our male friends was in a dress.

It's a great place for a warm day. Lots of seating in the shade. Very friendly staff who get your…read moreorders out quickly. The vibes are solid--not too loud but still fun. I didn't eat any food but I think my friend enjoyed her quesadilla that was made on site and fresh! It's like Dacha kind of but less packed and much fewer little kids around.

(4 out of 5 stars)…read more My biggest complaint about Electric Cool-Aid has nothing to do with the business itself: The parking situation is absolutely atrocious. We drove around repeatedly looking for a place to park, and even the nearby public parking garages were inconvenient. Between the summer heat and my mobility issues, a long walk wasn't an option. We eventually found good on-street parking, but only after spending way more time searching than we spent planning our visit. Things did improve once we arrived. The lady checking IDs at the door was friendly and helpful, and she took the time to explain how everything worked, which was appreciated since we were first-time visitors. The slushies were exactly what we needed on a hot day. In fact, just about every single slushie we tried was outstanding. Truly, they were delicious! They were cold and refreshing, which came in clutch on a hot June day. Another nice touch we apprecaited is that they're pet friendly, so I was able to bring my puppy, Chewie. The crowd was a good mix of ages, which always helps make me not feel like an elderly man at a college spot. Electric Cool-Aid also provides a water station, which was another bonus on such a hot freaking day. Overall, we enjoyed the experience and would HIGHLY recommend it... you're already in the area. But, while it's worth a visit, it's probably not worth making a special drive into DC just for it especially if parking and mobility are concerns. We will consider visiting again but maybe a driving service is best...

Came for a Tequila Festival. I'm not sure if the cocktail prices were for the Event or standard…read moreBeer Garden Someone please explain this receipt to me!! We got 2 Golden Sage.. which I think was like $16 a piece We got 2 cocktails and 2 shots = $68.00 Wtf is "rocks" for $16?????? Automatic 20% gratuity for mixed cocktail drinks ($12.36) TOTAL = $83.45 Also, i didn't get a chance to view the itemized receipt or that gratuity was included until I emailed myself the receipt Seems very deceptive

First time at Arlington Beer Garden, for an event . Found…read moreparking on a Sunday at a church for free right around the corner , I like the bar tender that could whip up an mocktail , since a I don't drink . The bathrooms were in the back and surprisingly clean which I liked . I will be coming back soon .