Amazing location with great, fast service. The food was delicious and most certainly will be returning. Enjoyed the outdoor seating, noticed the indoor seating area had very loud music. read more

See all

I came in to watch a football game at the bar, have a couple beers, and a snack. For a short visit , and low expectations, I wouldn't have anticipated running into a single issue. First, there's not a lot of choices for bar snacks. Sure, they've got a nacho plate, and chicken tenders to share, but it would be nice to have appetizers or bar snacks for a single diner. Seems solely geared towards the dining room. Maybe consider a separate bar menu? I ran into the TVs being arbitrarily changed to different games. I get that the bar has to accommodate multiple customers, but one second I'm watching the game in front of me, then without a question to see who's watching what and where, I have to crane my head to watch a screen across the room. The final issue was my bill. The menu advertised a set menu of drafts. I asked for an IPA, and the bartender brought back a lager, saying that it was a "DC brau" and similar. Never asked me if I'd like some else. Clearly she knows nothing about beer. A lager is not an IPA. When I got my bill, it was for $24. I had two $8 beers. Says so clearly on the menu. The bartender argued that I got the LARGER beers. Not only did I not see the larger beers on the menu, I DIDN'T ORDER THEM. My reviews on Yelp are largely all positive and 4 to 5 stars. AVOID THIS PLACE. read more

Great indoor/outdoor space. This place is perfect for sitting outside and enjoying a beer or your favorite cocktail. We enjoyed the poke bowl. The Asian steak salad was really good but a little too wet for my taste. The burger was also a plus! read more

See all

Great food and nice patio for sitting outside on a beautiful night in the DC area. Convenient location too!

The Arlington location is smaller and very cramped. They also do not honor daily specials as CLEARLY listed on their website and the server is not kind or considerate or accommodating read more

love the atmosphere very nice setup, the service started off okay the waitress took our drink order then it came when she came back (Ashley) i asked for lemons and that's when it started going bad the waitress (Ashley) never came back and we waited for at least 7 to 8 minutes no waitress. She walked over weighted on the table behind us and walked away never coming back, i set there with my arms folded a waitress came over and asked was everything okay, no its not and she began to take our order. Lynae was the waitress who came and went above and beyond the call of duty for her job and i thank her so much. She did not have to come and wait on another table and work the bar. read more

While exploring the city with my family, we made a reservation at this restaurant. I'm always up for some fish and chips and was delighted to see that it was on their menu! I decided to go ahead and get it. Unfortunately, I was disappointed and it didn't taste as good as I thought it would. However, the service was pretty decent and I really liked the atmosphere of the place. read more

Makers Union - American Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

See all

Stopped in with the wife and friends after the Marine Corps Marathon. With no reservation, we didn't really feel like waiting an hour or more, so we sat at the bar. Two lovely ladies sitting there were nice enough to shift around so our party of 4 could sit together. Erica was behind the bar, and she was phenomenal. She was engaging and fun. She made sure that all 4 of us had everything we needed. From mustard to jalapeños, we were well taken care of. The TVs on the walls had Sunday sport ballgames going, but there was no distraction or noise. 10/10. read more

We stopped in today to enjoy our first experience at Makers Union. The environment is alive comfortable and welcoming to all. The service... friendly and responsive. Only looking for a small bite to satisfy our palates we order the She Crab Soup and Chicken Wings. To our dismay the soup was soup, very watery. She Crab Soup should be made as a creamy bisque that is presented hot rather than warm. There was the right hint of spice for those who have a bland palate. If you are looking for a flavorful She Crab with body this would not be the high light your day. Lastly the coffee was served on the 'warm' side as well. The allure of the establishment and the entertaining atmosphere keeps you wrapped in a great environment. But the She Crab needs assistance. Please serve it hot, a bit more flavor/spice and with the bisque body to give a full flavor Service was great though!! read more

A terrible experience on Sat 12/6. There were multiple reservations available on Open Table but when we walked in, the nasty and rude hostess said that we couldn't be seated until 2:30pm, although it was 1:45pm with open slots. We made a res through Open Table but she still said there's nothing she can do. She was so unfriendly and snide, as if she didn't care to try to figure out a solution or speak with a manager. Great job deterring customers from eating at your location! read more

Was excited to get the crab Benedict, but unfortunately was disappointed but what appeared. The crab cakes were very small (but lump) and the biscuit underlying it was so tough that it was hard to break off a piece. Also the poached eggs were, at least to my liking, overcooked. On the other hand, the service was great and very attentive. In terms of ambiance, I'm not sure Peter Frampton is worth using covers of... read more

Great value. Excellent food. Even better service , if that's possible. With the back and forth of bottomless and not brunches, this is the BEST in between! Inchi is the BEST! read more

See all

Came here on the Fourth of July to grab dinner instead of going to see the fireworks. I ordered the French Dip. The sandwich was solid and when dipped in the jus was sooo meaty and tasty. The service was also amazing. Our server was super friendly. My friends had said the fried chicken sandwiches was meh read more

Makers Union - French dip, with a couple fried chicken sandwiches in the background - American Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

The only reason I'm not giving a 1 star is because I've dined here once before and the experience was good. However, today was horrible. We showed up at our reservation time and still had to wait 20 minutes to be seated because they were "running behind". Once seated, we were told there would be a wait for clean glasses to serve us water. The food ended up coming out at different times over a 15 minute period. Finally when I received my order, it was incorrect. Altered the waiter and was told that I was wrong. But the fries were covered in garlic and Parmesan (which I asked not to be) and the other side (broccoli) was never served. Also had to wait 15 minutes for burger sauce. All in all, I'd say just do not visit this place on holidays or during busy times. More ideal for weekday happy hour or dinner. read more

Makers Union - Makers Flat Iron Steak & Fries - American Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

We made a reservation for 12 and were promptly seated upon our arrival. Service was good throughout the meal. I ordered the mac and cheese with crab and a side of broccolini. The mac and cheese was so bland - it was essentially noodles with some cheese and crab on top - not creamy and not really strong in cheese flavor, but the crab was fine. The broccolini, however, was so flavorful, I could not get enough of that! With a disappointing meal, I don't know that I would come back with so many other options in the DC area. read more

Okay, first off, myself and friend were super hungry. So, we ordered 4 appetizers. All appetizers were really good. To complement those, we both ordered the smoked old fashioned that costs more than the makers. All-show, but not that great and the pour was a bit short. We ordered the makers old fashioned, and that was much better in taste and quantity was good. Service was good. Waiter was on top of it all; great job! We both ordered the steak and it had great flavor. Restaurant had indoor and outdoor seating; nice setup. We actually requested to move tables to take advantage of the better view of the screens for the football game playing and they accommodated. Sat outside with other friends later for another drink. Overall, yes, I would come back again. Just have to be selective with drinks. read more

Checked it out twice, both times during happy hour. The food is decent but the service was inconsistent. I had their chicken sandwich which had a pretty good sized piece of chicken but nothing special and the brussels sprouts were yummy though the portion was small. The prices were a bit high. Both times I sat at the bar, I had different bartenders serving me. Miguel was very friendly & personable and made some delicious drinks. He gave great service as well. Jon (I could be wrong on the name/spelling) on the other hand, not so much. My first drink was strangely bitter and my second tasted like it was made incorrectly. At that point I gave up. I drank both but they weren't enjoyable. Definitely not a very friendly bartender either and it seemed like he didn't want to be there. The restaurant itself, has a cool floor plan. It's completely open, with even the kitchen visible so you can see the entire restaurant from anywhere you're seated. There are TV's around the bar so if you're into watching sports, they've got you covered. The music was pretty good too. Overall, so so. The food wasn't bad and it's a cool setup but there are better bars with better, friendlier service in the area so I probably won't go back. read more

I went to Makers Union for brunch and it was great. We got the unlimited brunch and got the kale Cesar salad, the Brussels sprouts and the Nashville tenders along with the French toast, chicken and waffles and crab cakes. The Brussels sprouts were the most delicious vegetables I've had in a long time and everything else was also great! The staff was also extremely helpful and very accommodating! read more

See all

The food was good, but I would be aware of the food you order. I ordered the mixed berries pancakes but the berries were basically just a garnish. The server was clearly training as they were a pair without our service experience. I asked how the mixed berry pancakes only comes with only 3 berries and one looks to the other "is that what it's supposed to come with". The waitress mentioned "well that's what they put on it" (basic cop out) -- neither of them knew what was supposed to be served. But ended up coming to the conclusion to bring me more berries for the mixed berries pancakes (kinda the whole point) it's like getting 3 pancakes with 1 chocolate chip per each pancake which obviously isn't the same as chocolate chip pancakes. I searched previously posted pics as a back up but they brought out more berries and did not bother to charge extra which is what I expected after their response. It was a fine experience. The vibe was nice. Nothing much else to mention. read more

Makers Union - Mixed berry pancakes - American Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Great food and our server did a great job suggesting our choices. Despite it being busy he ensured that we were served even during the snow when they were short staffed. We were visiting from Texas for a convention and had limited food options due to closures. We were very satisfied and very thankful. Great vibes with a bar feel. I forgot my servers name sorry! read more

See all

Great new addition to the area for drinks and solid food. The space inside and outside are well appointed. Happy to have a place like this for local eats. Service was good. Recommend trying the wings, garlic parmessan fries, French dip, and steak frites. read more

Where to start. The food and beers were delicious! No complaints on that. The service was wonderful. The place itself is cool! It's a semi new spot as well it appears. The problem I had was happy hour. The Happy Hour menu only applies to patrons sitting at the bar. That's a weird "happy hour" policy. I would recommend management change this policy! read more

Honestly yall I can't complain. Our reservation was for 1230pm & we arrived at 1258pm & we still got seated & the hostess herself cleaned off our table. & tho the food was delicious, and it's "cute" inside, its portrayed as unlimited brunch however you can only order the items you originally chose, and mimosas are $21 +1 every mimosa after. Though our server was nice, service was a bit lagged..however I must understand the service industry hasn't been the same since COVID ...... Anyways, about the food French toast Deviled eggs Nashville hot chicken tenders Scramble Brussel sprouts Crab cake poached egg Side note: maybe add some type of seafood (shrimp, calamari , mussels) to the menu read more

See all

Came here for the Super Bowl since Makers Union advertised having a watch party for it. It ended up being a disappoint. The TVs were too quiet and they were only able to turn on captions on the inner TVs not the outter TVs. Their themed drink for the Super Bowl was tasty but very sweet. The nacho chips were too thin for my preference. The food was mediocre and the atmosphere was lacking for the Super Bowl. We ended up watching it at an apartment which had louder TVs so we could actually hear the game and had a more enthusiastic crowd . read more

See all

Did a girls dinner here and the food and atmosphere were both great. The restaurant was festive with Christmas decorations and holiday music. I got the burger and it was delicious! Also the holiday cocktails were awesome too! Service was on point as well. I want to go back from brunch next! read more

See all

Very solid brunch with good portions and decent prices. The group I was with got the monkey bread, very good but I am not very into sweets so didn't have more than a couple bites. I got the French dip which was excited to see on the menu as I feel they aren't all that common anymore. It was good though not the best I've ever had. The breakfast nachos I think I would order next time. Liked them a lot , though I would hold the egg just from personal preference. The other dish was the ham breakfast which looked tasty and good sized. Only thing I would say was bottomless mimosas were 21 for the first glass and then $1 a glass after for each. Not sure how I feel about that as a deal really but I guess at $11 for one you def have to drink three mimosas to break even. Service was good, I wouldn't say anything stood out but was there when we needed haha. I have seen reviews that say the restaurant is too loud, I didn't run into that but maybe it is more an issue at night. read more

See all

Hated it! Definitely wouldn't recommend. The food and drinks were not good. The monkey bread was hard around the edges and we could only eat a few pieces in the center. The spinach dip was ok. Drinks had to be returned twice. read more

Amazing food and great bartending staff. We were here for a private event so I can't attest to what the setup is normally like, but we were super impressed and can't wait to go back. read more

Makers Union - American Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

See all

The weirdest sequence of events I have ever witnessed happened here. My boyfriend brought me here because he had a good experience when he came with his father. Unfortunately, I did not get to share that same sentiment. At first, everything was going smoothly. We were seated, got drinks and orders in. However, upon receiving my first course, the quality was questionable. I got the French Onion Soup and usually those are pretty hit-or-miss, so I gave it the benefit of the doubt. But when my steak and fries came, there was a portion of broccolini oriented in the center which, oddly enough, had something "orangish-red" poking from beneath the bunch. Lifting it with my fork, I found a thick, PLASTIC RUBBER BAND around a bundle of broccolini. You know, the ones that you see at supermarkets holding veggies together. That means that they probably just grab it and heat it up without even separating or washing the vegetables. I'm in the medical field and I can confidently tell you that there is a HUGE risk of bacterial and parasitic contamination there. We called the waiter over and he promptly took my plate back, but didn't say anything else. No remorse, just robot mode. Which I can appreciate, I guess. Next, they brought my re-do plate, and it was a girl (not the man who took our initial drinks order, and served us our food). One thing that a lot of these Reston dining scenes like to do is have multiple people serving you, which I can't understand because it gets confusing when it comes to tipping. In actuality, I don't care how many people serve us. It's a small detail, and I am a very patient person, BUT what happened next pissed me off and is why I am mentioning it: The new "server" (the girl who served me the re-do of my plate that they had taken back) set my plate down and everything looked fine (no rubber bands on my broccolini this time!) But when my boyfriend tried to politely ask if we could get my portion taken off the check (which is reasonable because he didn't touch his food while we were waiting for mine and his had gotten cold as we waited for my redo plate) the woman gave us an incredulous look and said "I'm not your server. You have to ask your server about that." and walked away.... The thing is...Did she not just serve me a plate? Can she not just relay the message to the manager or whoever? As she walked away, we just decided to drop it and attempt to eat because 1. We were starving, and 2. We don't actually like being difficult. However, all of that quickly went down the drain when we came to the conclusion that I had no fork. My boyfriend, able to catch the woman who walked away after giving me my redo plate, asked for a fork and she panicked. I am observant when I dine out, mainly of peoples expressions because it's a habit, but I often use it to read the room. I think at this point she realized how much they had messed up at our table and so she quickly came back with a fork and all of a sudden blurted out that the meal would be on the house. So...I didn't have to ask my server? Or was she my server all along? I wanted to chug the diabetes inducing vodka cranberry that was sitting at my table. Another woman also walked up to our table to "apologize" for everything since nobody had done so yet. I'm not sure who she was, if she was a manager or what, but before she walked over I happened to notice some things. She was complaining from my line of vision, dragging her feet, and one of her coworkers gave her an overtly encouraging high five. What I'm trying to say is that I could blatantly see how much she was dreading this interaction. She barely made eye contact, said sorry, said it was on the house, and left. It was kind of awkward. I just smiled and nodded. I don't ever make scenes at restaurants-- but I do make them on Yelp. We finally ate our mains as the table beside us who had come much later were getting their checks. It was decent but not worth the trouble. My steak was overcooked, and they got my dessert order wrong too which I was too tired to say anything about. At that point I just wanted to leave. Probably won't be back. read more

Makers Union - French onion soup - American Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

First time and we were blown away. Quick service, healthy servings and very kind, wonderful people working there, all around great. The Appetizers and burger was excellent. Shout out to our server E****. She was super. She asked if there was any occasion and there was, our 36th anniversary. At the end she surprised us with a wonderful dessert and Happy Anniversary. I was very impressed and I will definitely go back! read more

Makers Union - Inside - American Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

I did not have any of the food, but I did have the drinks and they were pretty good. The service is super nice but super slow. The ambience is very festive because they came here during the holiday season so I would say this place is pretty good and I would recommend to come here just to hang out with a couple friends or have a drink. read more

Makers Union - Super Duper cute - American Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Sat for over 30 minutes without getting my order taken. It's such a shame because the food looked delicious.

First things first, make a reservation! I came here twice, once on a Monday evening and then on a Tuesday evening, and it was packed! I was attending a conference in the area and this was pretty much the only sports bar-ish place within walking distance. It's a 4 minute walk from the Marriott Crystal City Gateway hotel. There was a group of us (5) and we were initially told a 45 minute wait at 6pm on a Monday. WOW. Luckily, the hostess was able to fit us in at an empty table and we were grateful! We ended up finding out that they had only been open for 1 week but they were doing a great job. The decor is lovely! Blue crushed velvet booths, lots of copper and exposed light bulbs. You can see the exposed kitchen from the dining room. They have tv's at the L shaped bar. Which is why I said sports bar-ish. It's definitely a step above your typical pub. The first night I had the broccoli cheddar soup which was very tasty and included charred broccoli. However, it was lukewarm but I didn't bother to send it back. The caesar salad was full of kale so I wouldn't get that again. It was a bit too chewy for me. The espresso martini was fantastic! That's what drew me back the next night honestly. I got there on a Tuesday night and it was packed, again! All tables had been reserved. Luckily my colleague and I found seats at the bar after about 20 minutes. I ordered the Nashville hot chicken tenders (2) and an order of fries. The chicken tenders and well drinks were on happy hour a.k.a The People's Hour (3pm-6pm). The chicken tenders were just that, tender and spicy! The coleslaw on the side was necessary to cool the spice down. But it definitely wasn't Nashville hot :-), nice try though! I would for sure come back here if I'm in Crystal City/Arlington. Especially since there aren't many other places like this nearby. read more

Noisy, noisy, noisy. Did I mention it was loud? This place is brand new and seems very nice, but after an hour there your ears are bleeding. It has the exposed, high ceilings that boomerang the noise around. No consideration at all to sound ambience when they built it. Food was good. Bar food. Some interesting items on the menu. I really liked the salmon, but didn't like the pesto, but my friends did. We liked the artichoke dip and the fries. The chips were light and fresh. TVs up high, sports bar vibe. Service was ok. Don't bring a date here--unless you want to yell cross the table at each other the whole time, or keep saying "What?" "What?" as if you are hard of hearing. sigh. this place had so much potential, but is unbearable. Why do I feel like no women were consulted in the construction of this establishment? Maybe some executives need to see the Barbie movie. I agree with the other reviewer's assessment of 90+ decibel level (a level which actually causes hearing loss after extended periods). My ears are hurting, I won't be back. read more

Makers Union - Nachos. chips were fresh. - American Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Thanks Lindsey for the stellar service. Wish you were at every restaurant I visit! He made the whole experience. tasty poke bowl and beautiful Mediterranean salad. read more

Stopped in with 2 friends for dinner since of them has been to the Reston one before. The ambiance is great and staff is really friendly. There was live music on the Thursday we went in. It's pretty lively in there so if you are looking for a place to have deep conversations at 6-7pm, this isn't it haha. My friends said their food, Prime rib French dip sandwich and pesto grain bowl were good. We also started out the nachos which was pretty good as well. I did feel like my shrimp skewer was a bit dry with the rice and broccoli. It needed a bit more sauce-y salsa. Also a good selection of cocktails and wines. Some interesting holiday themed drinks too! Otherwise it's a great spot for HH and quick gatherings! read more

See all

I walked in at 1025PM on a Friday, they close at 11. The hostess told me they were closing and could not seat me.

The Mac and cheese was unreal. I don't know if I was just hungry or if that was amazing. My garlic parm fries where I think overly garlicy which feels stupid to say. The drinks were amazing and I loved the Christmas decorations. My steak was good, not amazing though. read more

See all

The service was, well, pretty much non existent. As a former server myself, I try to give servers some grace when giving negative reviews, but there was no excuse for the lack of service we received at this restaurant. The food was mediocre and menu options were just so-so. The drink menu did look fun. The ambiance was quite fun. This is perhaps best described as a bar scene, only, and doesn't quite hit the mark as a restaurant. read more

We had to keep reminding the waitresses about our food. we even had to get the manager involved. I had such high hopes, we won't be back