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Fraîche

4.1 (200 reviews)
Closed • 4:00 pm - 10:00 PM

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FRAÎCHE ATMOSPHERE

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Casual
Trendy
Intimate
Romantic

Recommended Reviews - Fraîche

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Reviews With Photos

Golden Golden Gate Noodles
Jihan D.

Ok, so boom, this place is in Columbia Heights next to Wells Fargo and Dave's Hot Chicken. Easily accessible from the metro (blue or yellow line), not well lit to stand out so you will need to look for those two landmarks. Inside it is small but the bar is spacious. They have a happy hour that runs from 4pm-7pm (for now) and it consists of $1 oysters and $1 wings. I ordered the punch drunk rum, oysters, mambo wings, golden gate noodles w/ shrimp added and the butterscotch bread pudding. Everything was served hot and tasted delicious. My food and my friend's came made to order. The service is what is tricky. I did not make a reservation, nor did I have to because it was a Tuesday night and empty, there was no host when I entered and I had to wait to be seated. Again, this night it was empty and I was sat all the way in the back on the wall which is most likely why my server took over 10 minutes to greet me. I didn't want to risk losing his attention so when he came I ordered my drink, oysters and wings. I told him one more person was joining me and that would be when I would order my entree. He first told me HH was only serviced at the bar then changed it to only HH drinks are served at the bar -- cool no problem bring the food and we will order drinks regular priced. Then when my friend arrived he told her the minimum was 6 wings she would have to order to receive the happy hour pricing. That is no where on the menu and not what he told me. He was extremely unattentive, we went to the bar and host to cash out, he failed to tell me a 20% service charge was automatically added to my bill and I ended up double tipping. I also had to ask for my receipt since it was not given after the transaction or during for me to see the calculation. Overall great food! I won't be back solely based on service.

Bayou Gumbo
Reg B.

Fraîche was a good experience! We tried the lamb chops and shrimp noodles, gumbo, charbroiled oysters, meatballs, and sticky ribs. Everything was delicious, with great flavor across the board. The menu is a little limited, but what they offer is definitely worth trying. Overall, a solid dining experience, and we will be back to try more!

Charmaine T.

Fraiche DC is a cute and unique spot. I'd describe it as casual dining with well-prepared comfort food. The space has an urban aesthetic and plays R&B music. It gives a bit of a nightclub with food feel. Your liking of the atmosphere/vibe will depend on your personality! I stopped by for an early Saturday dinner without a reservation and was able to sit at the bar. The bartender was a little slow, but I appreciated that he acknowledged it and made up for it with some fantastic cocktails. I ordered the salmon entrée which was prepared perfectly. There is a 20% service fee on all checks. Overall, I enjoyed the food and cocktails and thought it was a cool spot to check out!

Entrance
Karen R.

Decided to try Fraiche and had an overall good experience. The restaurant is located in NW DC. Parking is limited. There is a garage near the Giant around the corner. I made a reservation and was seated when arrived. Was hoping to have a booth to sit at but they said it's first come first serve when you arrive and then was told that there are other parties for the booth. Lighting was candlelit, nice for a date night but had to use my phone light to pick from the menu. Menu seemed to have fewer options than expected. Decided to try the lamb chop with the garlic noodles and it did not disappoint. The lamb chops came with 4 and a good serving of noodles. I thought it was a bit overpriced but it is DC. Also had to order the Mac and cheese and that was delicious. The food came out pretty quickly. Most guests were ordering the noodles with the lamb chops or braised brisket. This was a bit out of the way for me so I do not think I would return but everything I had was delicious.

Brussel sprouts
Danielle W.

Fraiche DC was AMAZING! The service, the vibe, the music and the FOOD! Everything was on point. We started with the oxtail meatballs and they were so good we literally ordered a second round! I had the Golden Noodles with salmon and shrimp and Brussel sprouts, and my husband had the Jalapeño Jam Burger and oysters. And because clearly we weren't ready for it to end, we took home the mac & cheese and Old Bay wings for my daughter to experience which she also gave a thumbs up! Y'all... it was ALL amazing! Great food, great atmosphere, and an overall great experience. We can't wait to go back! Highly recommend!

Donica T.

Me and my family went here for a night out and to celebrate my cousin's business. The atmosphere is very nice, a great spot to go to when you want to enjoy a vibe. My cocktail was on point and out of everything that we tried, we thoroughly enjoyed the devil eggs and the charbroiled oysters. For my entrée, I had the garlic noodles with crab and they were delicious. I will say this establishment is rather pricey, but it's definitely something you can go and try. The customer service, what's subpar, but overall we had a good time

Jennifer W.

I was invited to check out their dinner menu and I really enjoyed the entire experience. A girlfriend and I went in on a Tuesday and the bar and lounge was buzzing. D&K was doing karaoke. The space is beautiful with black Art pieces on the wall for purchase. Chef JR was present and greeted us and gave us history on the restaurant which we appreciated. For drinks, we ordered Dusse sidecar, Blueberrymint margarita, and Lemon spritz. The side car was definitely my favorite! For Appetizers, we ordered Mambo Royal wings, Charbroiled oysters, and Sticky ribs. The ribs were mouth watering. For Entrees, we enjoyed the golden gate noodles with Lamb chops, Salmon, and the Coco Curry (vegetarian). The lamb was my favorite. For dessert, we enjoyed Butterscotch Bread pudding . Our Server was Bagner and he and the Manager Riggs was great. Parking is around the corner near giant . The vibes are great although the crowd looked a little younger. I definitely want to try the red snapper next and go to brunch.

Churros
Chelsea A.

Went back to Fraîche and had a MUCH better experience than my first visit! This time around, everything hit. The French onion soup wasn't overly salty like last time and was actually really filling. Loved that. My friend loved the mussels and the vegan entrée, and the fried snapper is definitely a MUST. The oxtail meatballs were also such a creative addition to the menu and something a little different. The drinks HIT, but dessert might honestly be one of the best parts. The churros and bread pudding were both so good and the perfect way to end the meal. Definitely glad I gave Fraîche another visit because this experience was a complete turnaround!

Espresso Martini
Samone C.

Came to Fraiche DC and had such a good experience. The Butter-Kissed Lamb Chops were easily my favorite 10/10! The lamb was seared perfectly and paired with the garlic butter, garlic & herb mashed potatoes, and asparagus. And those mashed potatoes?! SO good. I just wish they gave a little more because I could've definitely eaten more! The lamb chops themselves were a decent portion and very satisfying. I also tried the espresso martinis 9/10 Smooth, delicious, and reasonably priced. We also ordered the raw oysters with watermelon mignonette. I had never tried watermelon mignonette before, so I was curious, but it was actually really good and added a nice twist to the oysters. The ambience was chill with great energy, and the staff was super receptive and attentive without being overbearing. Overall, Fraiche is giving good food, good drinks, good vibes definitely so I will be back !

Ashley A.

My husband and I have been following Chef Matt for yearsssss and jumped on the opportunity to try his restaurant while in town. I booked a reservation for 9pm on a Saturday night and while busy, it was not packed. There was room at the bar and other tables if someone were to try to do a walk in though. We were seated very quickly and greeted by our server. She was very lively and seemed happy to be there which is a great quality and made us comfortable right away. Drinks: Red Sparrow & Fraîche Old Fash. The red sparrow was good and simple. Reminded me of a boozy strawberry lemonade. The old fashioned was eh. Nothing worth ordering again. Appetizers: Deviled Eggs & Sticky Ribs. The sticky ribs were really saucy and had a tangy flavor which was really good. My only complaint was that the pieces were not meaty enough. The deviled eggs were also really good and while the yolk was not heavy in flavor, the caviar, chicken, and hot honey complimented it perfectly. Main Course: French Quarter Risotto & Mambo Fried Snapper. These stole the show. I'll be thinking about that snapper forever. Fried perfectly, not fishy, seasoned great. I love that I didn't have to take it off the fish myself. Having it fried in bite sized pieces made it easier to enjoy. The Risotto was also perfection. Strong Cajun flavors that was complimented by the salmon. Nothing was overpowering and it was a struggle not being able to finish the whole thing. I'm beyond happy that the restaurant lived up to our expectations and exceeded them. We had been making Chef Matt's recipes from YouTube for years and love that his own versions were consistent with how he teaches us to make his dishes at home. Fraiche is a must stop for us next time we're back in the DMV.

Entrance
Lakeisha S.

My friend & I came here to enjoy the oysters & wings Happy Hour on a Tuesday a couple of weeks ago. It was both our first time there. The host(ess) was missing the majority of time and we were finally seated after a really long wait (maybe they were short staffed that night who knows). I guess we did not realize it was karaoke night that night. The music was so loud, we literally had to lean in too close or stand by each other to hear our own conversations at the table. The wait staff was so disorganized & all over the place. We never received water nor silverware for at least 20 minutes of being seated before I decided to walk to the bar & get it all myself. I should not have to do that. We also had to keep flagging down the waiter to take our orders (along with other people in our part/ section of the restaurant). Apparently, the wings ran out two hours into the Happy Hour & my friend was annoyed because that's what she really wanted. She ended up just ordering the truffle fries & she liked it. The oysters were pretty typical. They had no oyster forks & the ice was mostly melted by time I received it. Nothing to write home about. It was really hard for us to enjoy ourselves because the music & singing was entirely too loud, similar to a night club. This is coming from someone who's kinda hard of hearing. I dont know how long Fraîche has been around, but they have A LOT of things to work on such as professionalism, staff communication, timeliness, organization skills, and customer service. They have potential but have blinders on. The prices absolutely do NOT match the ambiance of the establishment. High end, upscale prices in a place that looks partly like a mix of a dive bar, club, & regular dine-in restaurant does not add up. Do you want fine dining or do you want karaoke nights in a club? I am always weary of chefs who start restaurants from social media fame & the influencers who do their reviews without telling the whole story to potential customers. I am unsure if I would return here on my own. It did not leave a good first impression on me.

Honey Jerk Grilled Lambchops with Broccolini
Jay G.

My Wife and I went here for date night based on a recommendation from our Daughter, and when I tell you it exceeded all expectations, I mean it! Out of three suggestions she gave us, I chose Fraiche because the Creole soul/fusion vibe sounded so interesting. The crazy part is, I've actually been following both of the owners, Chef Matt Price (Mr. Make It Happen) and Chef J.R. Robinson, on social media for a long time! I love their work but had no clue this was their restaurant until we got there. First, a quick tip on parking: we parked in the Tivoli Square parking garage, which is not expensive at all, and it's right by Giant (which we needed to stop by after dinner anyway). When you walk in, the atmosphere is beautiful, and they were playing R&B hits that set the perfect mood for date night. Our waitress was super helpful and brought us the water we wanted right away. To drink, I tried the Honey Bear gin cocktail, very refreshing and lemony. For an appetizer, we got the Sticky Ribs, which have a great Asian fusion style. Oh my God, they were so good! They were flavorful, juicy, and you get four ribs, which is perfect. For dinner, my Wife got the Golden Gate Noodles (the garlic noodles) and added salmon. The red pepper flakes gave it a kick that was a little bit too much heat for her, but it was still so tasty that she fought right through it and loved it. Personally, I thought the heat level on it was perfect! I ordered the special, which was the Grilled Jerk Honey Lamb Chops served with mac and cheese and broccolini. Everything was top-notch. The lamb chops were cooked perfectly, and you get 4 or 5 of them, which is more than enough. The mac and cheese came out in a cast-iron skillet, and "Oh Hell Yes," that cheese pull was ridiculous! It was so flavorful, you can tell they put real seasoning and love into those noodles. The broccolini was cooked perfectly too. Without a doubt, I want to go back and try even more of the menu. These chefs are amazing, wonderful, and top-notch. Anytime someone asks me for a DC recommendation, I'm giving them this spot. 10 out of 10!

Charbroiled Oysters
Quels P.

First time trying this spot! I came with friends and we had a reservation, so we were seated right away. The atmosphere was nice, but it felt more laid-back than the website had led me to expect. Our waiter was friendly, though service could have been a bit more attentive. We had to remind him a couple of times about things we'd requested, like water and our drinks. To drink, I ordered the Fraîche Spritz, which I'd give a 6/10. For appetizers, I tried the fried oxtail meatballs (7/10) and the charbroiled oysters topped with lobster and crab (4/10). The oysters looked promising, but they were underseasoned for my taste, so I probably wouldn't order them again. For my entrée, I had the gumbo, and it was definitely the highlight of my meal. I'd give it a 7-8/10 and would absolutely come back for it. It's not easy to find good gumbo in the DMV, so that alone makes it worth another visit. We skipped dessert this time. The menu is pretty eclectic, but that makes sense since the restaurant blends Cajun, Caribbean, South American, and French influences. Overall, while a few dishes didn't quite hit the mark for me, I'd be interested in coming back to try more of the menu.

Sticky Ribs

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Reviews are largely positive. People highlight the creative fusion menu, standout oxtail meatballs, lively atmosphere, and attentive staff.

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1 year ago

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6 months ago

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7 months ago

Food was amazing. Staff was friendly and knowledgeable. Drinks were really good..very cool vibe..

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11 months ago

Food was amazing. Vibe was amazing. Service was amazing. Will return when I want to ball

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2 years ago

Food and service were great! Spot was a nice vibe and the music was good. I would recommend checking them out.

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2 years ago

Everything was amazing from the service to the food, which was very unique and delicious.

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1 year ago

from Start to finish 10/10 food&drinks amazing service was great. no complaints. blu and ebony were also great. def plan on going back.

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Page 5 of 5

Ask the Community - Fraîche

CR NoMa - Swordfish Nicoise Salad

CR NoMa

4.4(223 reviews)
2.3 mi•NoMa
•$$

Went here for a work dinner and didn't know what to expect. Just followed the usual Yelp protocol…read moreand sent it. The place was pretty packed with everything from business to a bridal shower party. I really enjoyed how simple and inviting the place was for conversation. Being with other co-workers, I didn't want that place that I was screaming over everyone to have a conversation. More importantly, it wasn't that 20 year old vibe of being 4 deep at a bar begging for a drink. It was an elevated crowd that wanted a drink after work or a place to decompress. Oddly enough, there was even a guy there who whipped his laptop out to work while drinking and eat at the bar. Kinda different but hey, to each their own. Overall, this was a total win for me as it was still a weekday and exactly what I was looking for. Service at the bar was spot on and overall a secret win that Yelp help guide me towards. If you're in the area and need a post-work venue, I can vouch for this place 100% Food Taste: 5 Overall Service: 5 Value of service/food to cost: 4 Facility: 5 Ambiance: Pretty modern feel with that same take on food and value. Definitely fits the food vibe in the area. Repeat customer: yes Dog Friendly: no

I came here with a friend on a random Friday. It used to be open somewhere else in dc although this…read moreis a new location. It was quite loud when we came in, probably because it was Friday night. The service was great though. They were prompt and open to change, as needed. I ordered the pastrami sandwich, my friend got the flatbread and we shared the cigars. Everything was outstanding. I would definitely come back here again for more items.

Photos
CR NoMa - Seating area near the front of the restaurant

Seating area near the front of the restaurant

CR NoMa - Chicken Kebab

Chicken Kebab

CR NoMa - Tea

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Tea

Flight Club D.C - At Flight Club Social Darts, cutting-edge tech meets an elevated menu of shareable snacks, cocktails, and curated beers.

Flight Club D.C

4.5(62 reviews)
2.0 mi
•$$
Free WiFi
Vegetarian friendly

I booked reservations on line for two people Saturday 1:30 which was $15pp. the time slots after…read morethat were $17pp. We took a little longer then expected to find a parking spot so we arrived 10 mins late to our booking time. The staff was so nice they slid our time slot by 15 mins so we could keep to the 90min total duration. We were quickly taken to our bay and was provided instructions on logging in to the system and selecting the games etc. the games were sooo fun! It really showed our competitive spirit! There were lines on the ground denoting your level of expertise so it's customizable to your skill level. We order a few drinks which were delivered quickly and tasted fantastic! The decor and vibe was so awesome!! There was so much to see and surprises at every turn. No spoilers but check it out! Of course we will be back!!

Well, this was my first time playing darts. Apparently at Flight Club, it's more than throwing…read moredarts at a board and hoping you hit the center. There are a variety of games that test your accuracy and precision. The club is intimate with it's Victorian decor. All the games are played and scored electronically. Food was okay. I got the beef sliders and parmesan fries. Items were pricey as the sliders did not include the fries. The patties were a tad too salty as well. Oh, and you get videos of your time there the next day if you enter your email at the start of the game.

Photos
Flight Club D.C - Flight Club is a high-energy, upscale spot where tech-powered, fast-paced darts meet elevated small plates, craft beer, and a...

Flight Club is a high-energy, upscale spot where tech-powered, fast-paced darts meet elevated small plates, craft beer, and a...

Flight Club D.C - Flight Club Social Darts is a chic hangout offering immersive, technology-driven dart games alongside upgraded pub bites and ...

Flight Club Social Darts is a chic hangout offering immersive, technology-driven dart games alongside upgraded pub bites and ...

Flight Club D.C - Flight Club Social Darts is a nightlife destination.

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Flight Club Social Darts is a nightlife destination.

Free State - Hazy IPA

Free State

4.3(151 reviews)
2.4 mi
•$$

Not to be confused with Free State Distillery in Upper Marlboro (though many also call it Arthur…read moreWheeler Spirits haha), this place is located just off of the main street in chinatown, and it's surprisingly lowkey. It's a basement bar with a bit of a dive vibe, but it's hard to ignore the nautical, blue crab theme throughout. Turns out that one of the owners is a Marylander, which is cool to see reflected in the decor in a place in dc, even though it is next door. They have a happy hour and they have a great variety of drinks in general. It's bring-your-own-food (BYOF) and there are a bunch of delicious looking Asian spots nearby, including upstairs. It didn't start getting crowded until closer to 10, which, as I said, is surprising for this part of town to me. Everywhere in Chinatown is not going to be packed and busy, and this place is here to remind you of that. Stop by if you're looking for a more chill vibe. Staff are pretty cool.

Free State is perfect for a chill bar in the Downtown area. It's exactly the kind of place you want…read moreto share a few drinks and be able to hear the person in front of you. I had a delicious orange crush drink and my friend had a sangria. The bartenders are extremely chill and nice; they only come up when you need it which is nice for good conversation. I'll easily be back when I want to catch up with friends without a speaker blaring in our ears. Great place to introduce to more people!

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Free State - Spiked chocolate

Spiked chocolate

Free State - Bar

Bar

Free State - Small glasses

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Small glasses

Chadol Korean BBQ

Chadol Korean BBQ

4.5(138 reviews)
2.0 mi
•$$$
All you can eat
Full bar

Chadol Korean BBQ was such a fun pick for our monthly dinner series! My friends and I had a great…read moretime and honestly left fullllll. For $45 per person, the all-you-can-eat experience feels like a really solid deal considering how many protein options and side dishes you get. They start you off with a variety of banchan (side dishes), including a salad with this super tasty dressing that had the perfect little spicy kick. For the BBQ, we kicked things off with the spicy bulgogi and butter garlic shrimp, while the others tried the pork belly (I don't eat pork). Later we ordered the steak, spicy brisket, and grilled squid, which were all delicious. The spicy brisket especially was a standout for me. The guys also ordered two rounds of fried dumplings that looked amazing, but since they contain pork, I had to sit those out. I'd love to see Chadol add a veggie dumpling option to the menu! As for the sides, the kimchi and cold glass noodles were both hits at our table, and of course we all added white rice. The "mashed potatoes" though? Definitely more like potato salad and unfortunately very bland. On the other hand, the cheese corn costs extra but is 1000% worth adding. For drinks, the guys enjoyed the Woody Old Fashioned while I had a mezcal margarita-style cocktail that was smoky and refreshing. We also ordered one of the chicken options but never received it and eventually just gave up on it. One of the coolest parts of the experience is the ordering system. Most meats are ordered directly from a machine at your table, and the food comes out quickly on this conveyor belt-style setup which was honestly so fun. Drinks and side dishes are ordered through the servers. The atmosphere was lively and energetic without feeling overwhelming. The restaurant is actually much larger inside than I expected, with a modern setup that works well for smaller groups. That said, I didn't really notice tables for larger parties, so I'm not sure how they accommodate groups bigger than 6 people. Service started off a little rough because our server wasn't very attentive, but after I called it out, he definitely stepped it up and things improved. Overall, Chadol was a really good experience and absolutely worth the price. The 1.5-hour seating limit makes sense too, both to keep things moving and give others a chance to enjoy the experience. I'd definitely go back!

I ate here around a year ago and reviewed them on google. The food is not good, service is slow,…read morefor some reason you can't order certain things with the tablet, and it's really easy to miss the little automated train thing that brings out your food. This place has negative reviews deleted on Google. Spend your money elsewhere, there's better Korean food in DC.

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Chadol Korean BBQ
Chadol Korean BBQ
Chadol Korean BBQ

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Ciel Capitol Hill

Ciel Capitol Hill

4.1(14 reviews)
2.4 mi•NoMa

Omg!! The food was delicious. This was my first time patronizing this restaurant and I was blown…read moreaway. Interestingly enough they have two locations which I did not know. The food at this location was great. The red snapper with the rice and tomatoes was very flavorful. The red snapper could have been cooked a little harder. However, other than that it was great. My friend order the same dish except with salmon. She enjoyed the dish as well but also mentioned that the fish could be cooked harder. We sat at the bar so we didn't get service from the waiter. However, the service from the bartender as great. He was very knowledgeable on the drinks and the food. Unfortunately, I did not get a picture of the drinks. But I ordered a smoked margarita which had a great taste. The ambiance was wonderful. It was very aesthetically please. From the flowers on the ceiling to the rooftop overlooking the Capitol it was great. The roof top provided a chill vibe with low music. It could be a great place for a date night or just a place to go to meet up with friends. I 100% recommend.

Finding a spot open past 10 PM in this area can be tough, so I was glad this rooftop restaurant at…read morethe Marriott Capitol Hill was open until 11 PM. However, the experience started on a rough note. When checking in at the Marriott, the front desk agent was quite rude and incorrectly insisted the restaurant was already closed. The African American guy behind the counter definitely needs some etiquette lessons or at least needs to be trained if he is supposed to be the face of Marriott Capitol Hill. Fortunately, we went up to the rooftop anyway. They seemed short-staffed, but the bartender stepped in to serve us and was absolutely wonderful. Lighting could be better, IMO it's a little too dark for my liking. The food was also a bit hit-or-miss. The sweet chili shrimp appetizer was fabulous, hot, and featured a great portion size. For the entree, I had the Trout a lo Macho. The presentation was beautiful and it arrived piping hot, but unfortunately, the mussels were not cleaned properly and still had dirt in them. For the price, the food could have been a bit more polished, though the portions were appropriate. Pros: Great rooftop views, excellent bartender service, and reasonable on-site parking ($8/hr or $12 for 2 hours, which is great for DC).

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Ciel Capitol Hill
Ciel Capitol Hill
Ciel Capitol Hill

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Bar Betsie - Back area

Bar Betsie

4.3(75 reviews)
2.3 mi

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.

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Bar Betsie - Quick view of options

Quick view of options

Bar Betsie - Frozen hibiscus pina colada

Frozen hibiscus pina colada

Bar Betsie - A well balanced Old Fashioned

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A well balanced Old Fashioned

The Alchemist DC - Killer Sally

The Alchemist DC

4.2(124 reviews)
1.0 mi•U Street Corridor

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.

Photos
The Alchemist DC - Bubble machine!

Bubble machine!

The Alchemist DC - Something experimental (no name, yet!)

Something experimental (no name, yet!)

The Alchemist DC - House made!

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House made!

Fraîche - french - Updated October 2026

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