Very chill, not pretentious, good bartenders, plenty of seating, music is good, overall just a good…read morespot to land

I stopped by this bar for a quick drink after attending dinner. It's a low-key spot located in the…read moreChinatown area and kind of gives a speakeasy vibe given the downstairs walk to get into the bar underneath another establishment. The environment was fun and lively there's a large bar when you walk in with a few TV's and plenty of wooden tables and stool type seating throughout the venue. The service was solid and even though the bar was packed it never took too long to get the bartender's attention or for them to come over on their on volition. They have a wide variety of beverages with reasonable pricing between $8-$16 (and the pours are fairly heavy as a heads up). All in all a cool spot to check out if you're looking for a change of pace from the stuffy and overpriced cocktail bars for something that gives a more divey, relaxed, neighborhood bar experience.

So this place is a go-to for pasta lovers- either in person or delivery. The large portion is a…read moremust! Even to have leftovers! One of my favorites pictured here is the squid ink pasta in a spicy sauce with blended shellfish. The bread crumbs on top, shellfish and pasta have the best texture combination. The red pepper perfectly compliments the dish. My other go- to is the gramigna- the white sauce with pepper and sausage is a very tasty dish. I truly appreciate their homemade pasta! For apps- can't go wrong with the burrata. The service was impeccable and the atmosphere chic casual.

I was sold on the $7 martini happy hour alone - like how can you go wrong with that kind of deal,…read morein this economy? Cucina morini was great all around- we came for the happy hour of $7 martinis but stayed for dinner as well. The martini lounge is small but with great people watching in a beautiful space. The bar seating was all very vibey - the aesthetic of this whole place is elegant and cozy without feeling too stuffy. The Morini martini and the dirty martini were definitely our favorites, though the espresso martini was solid too. Now for dinner - we knew this spot was known for its appetizers so we started with the yellow tail crudi (ricciola), the focaccia with the side burrata, and the broccolini. Each appetizer complemented each other so well - the crudo was fresh with bright flavors, the bread was airy and light and was great with the small burrata, and the broccolini was the star of the show - spicy, charred, and exquisite. I could have easily ordered just more apps but we wanted to try some pastas as well. I appreciate that they have both small and large portions of pasta. We tried the small gramigna and the larger portion of the cappelletti. I am usually a fan of red sauces but both white sauce based pastas were some of the best I ever had. Forget some of the other Italian spots in the area, this pasta was hands down amazing. Light, easy, understandable - the flavors were there without doing too much. Both portions were fantastic and a good amount for the $$. No dessert for us - I think the apps and pastas were quite enough. Service was great, we both had a glass of wine with dinner which was tasty, and the vibes were great. Will definitely be back!

Stopped by this wine bar for dinner on a weekday and was able to walk in. I'd heard good things…read moreabout the drinks here but wasn't sure if there would be good dinner food.. and I was pleasantly surprised! Loved the moody vibe of the wine bar, it felt very cool, cozy and sophisticated. We sat in a booth under a red light so unfortunately my food picture turned out super red. Friends loved the selection of orange wine, and we ordered mcbetty truffle fries, shrimp scampi, honey whipped goat cheese, shishito peppers, and caesar salad for 4 people. Highlights were definitely the shrimp scampi with focaccia and fries, with the goat cheese on bread as a close third. A little pricy for the portions but honestly impressed with the variety of flavors and quality of the food. Service was ok, food came out a little slower than expected. I had really hoped to pick up some pastries (miss those baked joint cupcakes!) but seems like they don't sell them in evening. I'll have to come back for brunch/lunch to get some!

La Betty is a really cool vinyl wine bar that has all the vibes. Wine isn't usually my go to, but I…read morereally loved the space and the overall ambiance. It's got plenty of character and feels like a great spot to hang out with friends or for a nightcap. When you walk in someone will help you find a seat and once you you're ready to order, you go up to the bar to order drinks or food. Although wine isn't my main thing, they do offer a small and limited selection of alcoholic options just no cocktails. Enough to do the job. I loved the music and the dim, chill, laid back decor really complimented the overall feel. It's definitely a spot I'd come back to especially to try out some of the food. Really dope spot.

Lovely place for a drink! I decided to get an old fashioned which was quite good! Also ordered the…read moreburrata which was delicious! Service was very friendly and quick!

Came here to meet up with a few friends. It was busy for a spring Friday evening but the service…read morewas great. The staff got us to a table as soon as one opened up and recommended wines for us based on what we said we all liked. Their recs were spot on for our group. We decided to order some bites to eat and recommend the burrata and burger!

Baan Siam was great for a recent group dinner! Food was delicious, ordering was efficient and space…read morewas great. Have also had Baan Siam as takeout catering before for a party and that was great too.

Two Haiku Review: DC…read moreAsian food Can be hit or miss. This place Is pretty good. I Liked the duck salad. Fast service, nice ambiance Without high prices.

Came here last night for a last minute solo dinner and it was the best decision. I love the look of…read morethe restaurant. Lights are somewhat dimmed with red accents everywhere. I was already impressed by the weekend happy hour deals. I started with the Aromatic whites wine flight (great pours for $12!!). All 3 wines were delicious and the bartender, Fabio was the best and very engaging throughout my time at the bar. I had the beef tartare and it was the best I've ever had! I then ordered a glass of the Domain du Somail Red Blend paired with the steak frites, which was the best pairing. I was stuffed but decided to get the crème brulee, which you could never go wrong with. It was the best CB I've had in a while. I will definitely be back for restaurant week or just an impromptu happy hour.

Food 3.5/5.0 Service 3.5/5.0…read moreValue 3.0/5.0 Decor 3.5/5.0 Overall 3.5/5.0 Decent French restaurant, nothing in particular to write home about. The ambiance is decent.

Ugly Duckling is a lovely little wine bar with plenty of window seats. I visited for a short 30…read moreminutes during Happy Hour but during my visit I had a great experience. I enjoyed their happy hour rosé and how spacious it was inside. Beyond that I also loved how kind the bartender was. Because I was staying in a hotel nearby, he gave me helpful and thorough recommendations on his favorite local places to eat. If ever I'm staying in this area again, I'd be sure to pop in here for a drink or two. Would definitely recommend it to others.

A new fave! This place is located in the perfect location, right across from Ivy and Coney and…read moreDacha, in a nice newer building. The whole vibe is immaculate, with dark walls, dim lighting, and a great playlist, which all sets a very welcoming atmosphere. They have one of the best happy hours in town. M-F until 7, you can get incredible deals. You can get chicken or BLT sliders for $3.50 apiece, and reduced priced stuffed mushrooms, too. The $5 whipped feta comes with a big side of potato chips. These are small bites, but for very small prices. Food specials on a happy hour menu always get me excited. The chicken sliders were the consensus fave and will definitely be our go to. The drink deals are even better, though. I had a delicious old fashioned for just $7, and for round 2, the preparadas up is amazing. It is a bright red draft milk punch that is a little sweet, a little tart, with gin, lime, a touch of spice, and a sour candy garnish. Very fun, but very delicious, too. And it packs a punch. Plenty of other options are discounted, too. If you are reading this during the government shutdown, they have additional shutdown deals (available for everyone, all day), so it's almost like all day happy hour. Don't miss it!

Food: I tried Gaji Bokum & Dak Jjim. They both were well seasoned and delicious. Dak jjim is a bit…read morespicy. Just a heads up. ;) Service: I received an incorrect order by an accident, and when I went back, they fixed the mistake quickly. Staff were friendly even though I arrived there after their closing hour. Ambiance: there is a bar area, left side when entered the restaurant, and a dining area on the right. Both parts are well spaced out to have a meal comfortably.

I've been to Mandu a few times over the years and I'm sorry to say my most recent visit didn't hit…read morethe mark. I visited on a Friday around 6:30 PM and sat at the bar to catch the end of happy hour (Mon-Sun 5-7 PM). The bar was empty at the time, but a few other people showed up later. The dining room had a handful of tables occupied. In short, easy to get a seat. Drinks were good. I like the Somaek ($6) which is a small beer and a shot of soju. Beer ($7) was beer. We got some beef and pork mandu (dumplings) that were pretty good. 6 pieces for $10 on HH. We got two entrees, the Ddukbokgi ($28) and Yukgaejang ($29), which came with four banchan. Ddukbokgi is chewy rice cakes, gochujang, onion, and bulgogi. We thought it was only ok -- we've had better, including at Mandu in the past. Yukgaejang was a new dish for me. The menu described it as a "spicy beef stew, brisket, noodles, shiitake, bean sprouts, and egg." I expected the brisket to be sliced and recognizably brisket, but it was pulled -- it looked and tasted more like pulled pork. The dish also didn't have any noodles in it. I didn't like it. The banchan was seaweed, bean sprouts, kimchi, and cucumbers. It was okay. Service at the bar was fine.

Deliciousness - 3/5 Happiness -5/5…read more This place is for drinkers as it has no food, so if you want to lift an ale (and go out for dinner before or after, or bring food in with you), this is the place to be. They have a large beer, wine, and liquor list (although not nearly as many English beers as I expected from a place called Crown & Crow). I won't deny that I wasn't a fan of either of the mixed cocktails I had, with both (including strangely a smoky drink) being too sweet. But the beer was expertly poured and the wine was a very generous serving. The prices are also more than reasonable, which is great for a DC bar. But what really elevates this place is the service. By late night, the place was jam packed. But each and every bartender was extremely friendly and they expertly worked the crowd, getting drinks served quickly (which too few places manage to do) and swiftly clearing off tables of dirty glasses. I also greatly appreciated the free goldfish that they happily dole out to the patrons. The staff made this a really good time.

A basement bar filled with lively conversations. Chill music. Lots of craft beers on top…read more This is the kind of bar that you wish was a block from your house. And yes the bartenders are a hoot.

Awesome customer service, food is good! Mauricio and Paola were awesome servers too, they helped…read moreand were consistent with alot

Best French toast EVER!!!!! The waiters are so patient and considerate. And don't get me started…read morewith the ambiance, it's amazing. I highly recommend Unconventional Diner.