My wife and I got caught in a downpour on the way to the Betsy. Sadly, it was closed for a private…read moreevent. It looked fantastic on the inside, so we were sad that they would be closed. However, the bartender was kind enough to recognize the state we were in, and he offered to let us stay until the private party began in 30 minutes. We were able to enjoy a nice cocktail and then on our way out, he offered us his umbrella, since it was still pouring outside. After our dinner that evening, we brought the umbrella back and even though the private party looked to be overwhelming, he still treated all the guests with a smile on his face. Fantastic place to grab a drink and we'll certainly be back soon.

Big fan of the Betsy! I have been dying to try it since I am a huge Gin fan and I had heard it was…read morea Gin bar. I can confirm that the drinks are delicious as is the food. While I love a good Gin cocktail, oddly Gin and Tonics are not my favorite, well that was until I had an Earl Grey Gin and Tonics from the Betsy. It was incredible, highly highly recommend!! Very much looking forward to going back and trying more of their cocktails.

After a long week and an especially long Friday, ChatGPT convinced me, insisted, really, that I try…read more600 T. When I got there, almost everyone seemed to have arrived as a couple or in a group, and I was like... why did I come here?! The server and bartender were both nice, as were the people walking into the bar at the entrance. I started to feel more comfortable, especially once I took in the dark, cool ambiance. The woman making batches of cocktails right in front of me was kind of mesmerizing, too. I went with the house dirty martini, infused with truffles. You could taste a subtle hint of truffle, which made it feel a little more special without being overwhelming. 600 T is cozy and artistic, with a low-key atmosphere where you can mind your own business, but if you want to talk, you still can. You don't have to, though.

600 T's espresso martini is well-made -- rich and velvety rather than overly sweet, with a good…read morecoffee-forward balance from the espresso amaro rather than tasting like a dessert in a glass. It's a cocktail that clearly gets attention from the bartenders rather than being an afterthought on the menu. The setting adds to it -- a cozy, subterranean speakeasy vibe with a wood-burning fireplace, exposed lighting, and a jazz soundtrack that makes it feel like a proper night out rather than just a bar stop. Great spot for a date night or a low-key evening with friends. Solid pick if you're in Shaw and want a well-crafted cocktail in a space with real character.

The outdoor area here is WONDERFUL. I came with friends on a beautiful Friday evening and had a…read moregreat time. I liked their beer snd cider selection and the service was quick. Highly recommend for drinks with friends!

Introduction leading up to my "2nd date at Wonderland Ballroom":…read more Representing 2018, W is for Wonderland Ballroom. So, I went here for a 2nd date (or what I thought was a 2nd date) on Friday, August 31, 2018. I had met her at an event in July 2018. I was at an event in downtown Silver Spring in the early evening, took the Metro to Woodley Park DC for a 3rd date, which ended up going poorly but it was for the best in the long run, took the Metro back and decided to see if there was anyone I still knew at the event in downtown Silver Spring. There wasn't, but I met some nice people including this woman, who I got her phone number. We went on what I considered a great 1st date (one where we were there for hours) in Wheaton, where we both happened to live at the time. Experience at Wonderland Ballroom: Our 2nd date was here at Wonderland Ballroom for a comedy show with multiple comedians. As I recall, she was friends with some of the comedians. Wonderland Ballroom is a local neighborhood bar in Columbia Heights, but in a quieter area not right in the heart on 14th St, this is on 11th Street, which is mainly residential. It's pretty dark in there, more of a tavern feel. It's not bad, but I tend to like places with better lighting especially if I'm eating, which I did. I did like my sandwich, and I believe I may have gotten eggplant fries as a side with ranch, which was a good recommendation. I'm looking at the menu online today in 2026, and I only see fries, tater tots, or salad as side options, but I do see the eggplant fries as a separate appetizer. So, I'm not sure if they removed as an option, or perhaps I paid a small upcharge at the time. In spite of good eggplant fries and decent sandwich, the atmosphere of dark & kind of small, a bit crowded, brings to 3-stars. Also, the Wonderland Ballroom is a misleading name for the place. Really, a ballroom?! This is no where near a ballroom, which is often a grandiose place. Maybe a large place for ballroom dancing, wedding, or even for some crazy President to destroy the East Wing to host his wealthy cronies! I can't imagine anyone would ever have their wedding at Wonderland so-called Ballroom. Conclusions with my "2nd date": Afterward, my date & I rode with a couple of comedians to downtown DC draft house restaurant & then some more comedy, which was free. I had already eaten at Wonderland, but I socialized with the people to a certain extent. But I really felt like a 3rd wheel and neglected by my date. I was texting with an old friend about how my date wasn't going well. After this not so good time, I would've taken the Metro from downtown back to Wheaton, but my date said she was getting a Lyft back she ordered and was paying for already, and I could ride back with her, which I agreed. I thought this was a nice opportunity for just the 2 of us to have a good conversation on the Lyft ride all the way back to Wheaton. Guess what? She ended up talking to the Lyft driver more than me asking how he likes driving, how long he's driven, etc., which is fine to a certain extent, but it was much of the 30 or so minute ride. Once we got to just north of downtown Silver Spring, less than 10 minutes from drop-off, I asked her a question about previous relationships, and she rudely said that doesn't concern you. I was taken aback by her response. Ultimately, right before dropping me off first, I was direct and asked her if she considered this & our prior Limerick Pub in Wheaton 5 days earlier as dates or just hanging out. She said just as friends. I was hurt, but appreciated her brutal honesty, the end of August & now after midnight the start of September was depressing. After my summer 2018 of lots of dates, one of which went to a 4th date, that Labor Day weekend while at my apartment's pool, I threw in the towel for having one develop into a relationship or at least solid enough dating to take to a wedding I was a groomsman in early October. I ultimately got a female friend, who had a boyfriend as my "date" to the wedding. Incidentally, that following summer she became my girlfriend lasting over a year.

Great customer service! Got seated immediately as we showed up... it was cozy with a cool and…read moredimmed lights vibe. Ordered Irish Coffee: warm and strong boozed with coffee. Good combo but it's close enough to San Francisco's Irish Coffee. Truffle fries were decent and good... pretty good with ketchup. Meatballs were interesting but very filling. It was smothered with tomato sauce and it came with two pieces of sourdough bread. Recommended to share with at least three people. It was a lot for two people so we ended up not finishing it.

Doyle is a lounge-style bar with a chic mid-century feel, wrapped in dark paneling with touches of…read morenight-gold and deep blue accents.Visiting on a cold night, I loved sitting inside tucked by the fire, it made the whole experience feel extra cozy. The cheese plate was delicious, and my old fashioned was the perfect nightcap. Service was fast, attentive, and consistently checked in without feeling intrusive. Doyle is a great spot for a drink, a relaxed date night, or a warm escape on a chilly evening.

Great ambiance Great cocktails…read more Great view Washington DC is my hometown that I will never stop loving things have changed drastically since I moved from there 16 years ago however it's still the same comfort and warmth of the people and the environment.

Twice I've had reservations for the patio at this place, and they've told me super last minute that…read morethere was a private event and my party would be moved indoors. There's no way they had 3 hours of notice of a large private event, so it's really rude to not tell me further in advance. I think they are just trying to avoid me changing my plans since it's too last minute. Very rude. The happy hour is good, the drinks are ok but not amazing. The food is expensive. The lobster ravioli summer special was tasty but it was weird because the description didn't say anything about having shrimp in the dish and it was more shrimp than ravioli. What if I didn't like shrimp? I didn't order shrimp. I ordered ravioli. My friend said the salmon was good. My other friends said the fish sandwich was ok but a little bland. This place has a nice atmosphere overall but it's def got some flaws. I would still come for happy hour or if I can EVER actually sit on the patio.

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.

It was my first time eating here and I had a very nice experience. The food and service were great…read moreand the atmosphere was nice. I went here earlier in the day so it was not packed at all. Definitely want to come back.

Good food, better drinks and fun vibe. I'd definitely come back. The staff was friendly and…read moreattentive to our group as well. Thanks!

Somehow I am just now learning that Pearl Dive and Black Jack are under the same umbrella. Anyways,…read moreI watched one of the last World Cup games at the bar and while there was no audio, it was still the perfect spot for watching. The staff have always been friendly, which is a plus. I have been to this place on both quiet and busy days, and it really is hard to get around at peak hours, which is usually later on weekends. Honestly my only criticism about the place is that the drinks are really expensive at $17 each for cocktails. It is connected to a speakeasy, but Black Jack itself is not a speakeasy and not a rooftop, and I feel like you drinks are overpriced. I can't speak on the food, unless it shares that with Pearl Dive too... And they're good.

I love an all day happy hour, but I wish Black Jack delivered more when it came to the food…read more Their happy hour schedule is a bit unusual, though it does run all day on Sundays. Black Jack sits above Pearl Dive Oyster Palace and we were ID checked just to head upstairs. The space itself is quite dim and a little worn, though the couches are comfortable. The servers were casual and friendly. Food took a while to arrive since the kitchen is shared with downstairs, but the drinks came out quickly and were generously poured. Note, there is a 4% credit card surcharge. *Oysters: require a minimum order of twelve during happy hour. We were not told the variety, and I would have appreciated more than a single slice of lemon for the table. The mignonette was quite diluted and lacked acidity, but the oysters themselves were plump and clean. If I had to guess, they leaned toward a West Coast variety with a slightly melon like finish. *House Spiced Potato Chips: came with a jalapeno ranch that lacked both heat and tang. The chips themselves were crisp with a nice onion and paprika flavor, but they deserved a dip with more personality and a stronger creamy or herby element. *Andouille Corn Dog Bites: three pieces came with pickles and mustard, but the batter was thick, oily, and overly chewy. The sausage added to the dense texture rather than balancing it. The mustard lacked sharpness, and the black pepper honey felt like an afterthought, making the batter soggier without adding much flavor. *Crush Burger: was on the smaller side and felt one dimensional for twelve dollars. It came with a few of the same chips, but the patty itself was under seasoned and tasted mostly like plain ground beef with a slice of American cheese. The toppings were simple, which made it come across like a less interesting version of a fast food burger. *Tamarindo Margarita: was refreshing and well suited for spring, almost like a spiked lemonade. The pour was generous and at eight dollars, it felt like one of the better values on the menu. Overall, the food was underwhelming with the exception of the oysters. Since the happy hour menu closely mirrors what is offered downstairs, this spot works better if you are looking for a quieter and slightly quicker option. I would call it a two and a half star experience, though I would round it up a bit thanks to the solid oysters, decent chips, and well priced drinks.