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!

Get the focaccia! It was amazing. The inside was light, airy, and soft which contrasts perfectly…read morewith the crispy exterior. The outside was also moderately charred which carried a nice smoky flavor. There is an upcharge for adding burrata, which was also very delicious. The taglioni neri was also good, but the sauce was very tomato forward and the tomato's sweetness cut through the seafood flavors. I would have preferred the sauce to be much more seafood forward instead.

Cucina Morini is a delightful dining experience that truly lives up to its reputation, especially…read moreduring martini hour. With $7 martinis available from Monday to Sunday in their cozy lounge, it's an ideal spot to unwind with friends. I sampled several cocktails and found each one to be exceptional, but the standout for me was the Cala Rossa a sweet yet refreshing delight. After enjoying our share of martinis, our appetites kicked in, prompting us to check for a table. The staff was incredibly accommodating, allowing us to sit at the bar. We indulged in their pasta offerings, opting for the Capelletti and Rigatoni, both of which were delicious and perfectly cooked. Cucina Morini combines great service, delicious food, and a vibrant atmosphere, making it a fun visit for anyone looking to enjoy a fantastic night out.

We just stumbled upon this cafe while staying down the road. The vibe is hip, relaxing and…read morecomfortable. The coffee , donuts and breakfast sandwiches are to die for. I could move to DC just to be closer to la Betty!

Great vibe inside, but not super impressed with the experience at la Betty. The interior space is…read morecozy and cool, but it lacks a lot of the warmth of what I love about a restaurant. You seat yourself and order at the bar, servers will bring you your food as it's ready. The food was good, but portions were tiny. The whole menu is labeled as shareable, but the butter beans literally had maybe 15 beans with toothpicks to share... the fries were pretty good, but for $12 for just a bowl of fries, I would expect exceptional. I liked the chili crisp salmon, but it didn't blow me away, and the portion size for $18 was so small. I did think the Parker house rolls were fantastic, and they came out piping hot, which was delightful. The mocktail option was also excellent! I really wish they would reconsider only having Baked and Wired pastries available in the morning- you only have one rotating cake option available for dessert, and it would've been nice to be able to enjoy more. I did not think the service experience here merited an automatic, unchangeable 20% gratuity. There's very minimal service- you are just brought your food and a water carafe. And while everything on the menu looked and tasted good, the tiny portions for items labeled as shareable didn't feel quite right. A fun place to stop in for a glass of wine, but I didn't love the experience enough to be eager to return.

Dear reader, Maxwell…read morePark is exactly the sort of charming little wine bar that makes an ordinary evening feel rather more sophisticated than it had any right to be. The wine list is enormous, with plenty of options whether you know exactly what you like or prefer to experiment a bit. During our visit, they were running a back-to-school theme with clever head-to-head comparisons of similar wines. You could order half glasses of each and taste them side by side, which made the whole experience feel fun, approachable, and slightly educational without becoming terribly serious about it. There is a good amount of seating inside, plus a lovely patio with fire pits that makes lingering especially tempting. The food menu is equally flexible, ranging from simple chips for snacking to a full burger for dinner, with more indulgent options like caviar and Champagne if the evening calls for a little grandeur. Everyone was incredibly nice, and we had such a relaxed, enjoyable time. A wonderful spot for wine, conversation, and a proper little hangout.

This place has been here forever, and I have walked by it so many times. A friend finally invited…read moreme out and it was such a blast! Every wine I tried was something totally new. They were on the tail end of their winter menu, and the sparkling wine that my friend was super excited about was phased out. But I just told the staff what kind of wine I was in the mood for and they chose something wonderful for me. I took pictures of the bottles, I'll track those down and post them later. I'm glad I managed to find red and white wines that I enjoyed. I also noticed that they had a crunchwrap on their menu and I had to try it. It was smaller than I thought, but the flavors going on?? Spectacular. There will also these dumplings... SWEET POTATO DUMPLINGS! And they had sage and candied walnuts. Ultimately they tasted more like a dessert, but I was obsessed with those and loved how unique they were. I'd return here, there's just too much good stuff to try! Can get pricey if you want to try a lot of wines, though.

This meal was absolutely delicious! While in DC for a nearby convention, my friends and I were…read morecraving Thai food and came across this restaurant, and I'm so glad we did! The service was great, and the restaurant itself was really pretty and had such a nice atmosphere. We all got the mango frozen cocktails, and they were AMAZING; so refreshing, and honestly the perfect pairing with the food. Everyone in our group ordered something different, and everything we tried was so good. I got the Thai vermicelli, and it was absolutely delicious! I also got to try some of my friends' dishes, and everything was flavorful and really well done. I'm usually pretty nitpicky when it comes to coconut curry sauces, but it was so perfectly balanced and flavorful. It was easily some of the best Thai food I've had in the DMV (honestly!). No complaints whatsoever. I'll definitely be returning next time I'm in the area! :)

Solid restaurant. Went on Tuesday before the Rush concert. Was a little welt but that wasn't a…read moreproblem (they weren't busy early). Had a resy res though. Anyway seated quickly, service was good (see later). Had the coconut soup with chicken and the tom yum chili paste egg noodles with chicken & shrimp. Food was excellent. Soup was very flavorful and delicious. First other: main course came out before I was done with my soup. I'd expect better timing when it's not busy. Second other: the noodles have 2 chilis on the menu meaning "medium spicy." I get it, spicy is subjective, but they weren't spicy at all. Tasted great, just not spicy. Ambiance was nice, kind of dark and very Asian themed. Comfortable seating. I'd go back; the food was good!

Amelie had been on my radar for some time and I finally stopped by on a recent Monday around 7:15…read morePM. The place was busy, but not packed, and I got a table without a reservation. I tried the Beef Tartare ($19) which came with a quail egg and sunchoke chips on top, a small side salad, and a large bread basket. The tartare was good and the bread was great. For an entree, the Trout à la Grenobloise ($33) was great. It came with mashed potatoes, green beans, almonds, and caper-lemon-brown butter sauce. It was a really nicely cooked piece of fish. The restaurant was larger and the decor more modern than I expected. I also didn't realize it was part of a small chain, with locations in NYC and SF. Service was a little slow at first, but then fine. Overall, a nice, classic French meal.

They were very accommodating and friendly even before we sat down. We had an error with our…read morereservation, and they helped us out, and we only waited about 15 minutes before a table that worked freed up. We were a little squished but couldn't complain. The restaurant itself is decently large with very nice decor. It is definitely on the nicer and intimate side of things but can be decently noisy. Our waitress was very nice and helped give some quick recommendations on their wine list. The food and wine were pretty good, all very enjoyable. - The escargot was delicious - The French onion soup had a healthy amount of melted cheese on top, just a touch salty, but I still enjoyed it greatly. Great wine selection that you cannot go wrong with. Was shocked to see it in DC as I frequent the one in SF. It did not disappoint.

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!

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.

The restaurant was very busy when we arrived, but service was still smooth and swift. I wouldn't…read moresay the Korean food is particularly authentic, but it was a decent American twist on Korean cuisine and still tasty. The tteokbokki came with additional vegetables and mushrooms, and their banchan were quite good. The mandu was meaty which I appreciated too. I wouldn't come back because I didn't feel the value was quite there (very pricey) but it was still an enjoyable meal overall. The ambiance was nothing special, and I do wish the bathroom had been cleaner.

This is our first time visiting Washington DC, and we haven't found many great dining options near…read moreour hotel. We discovered this spot on Yelp. The moment the banchan (Korean side dishes) arrived and we took our first bites, we knew we'd stumbled upon an outstanding Korean restaurant. Every side dish is prepared authentically and tastes fantastic. Our first main dish to come out was kimchi fried rice with beef. While it isn't made using a fully traditional Korean method, it was absolutely delicious -- easily the best kimchi fried rice I've had in the past few years. We also ordered their signature pork and potato stew. It was excellent; the chili flavour was smooth, and every ingredient was wonderfully seasoned. Our server was incredibly polite and friendly, and we were happy to leave a tip for them. We plan to come back tomorrow evening, but unfortunately, our server told us they might not be working then. This Korean restaurant is highly recommended. If you're staying nearby or travelling in Washington DC, I'd strongly suggest stopping by to enjoy their wonderful Korean food.

studying art history, took a trip to d.c. to go sight seeing of some of my studies. decided that we…read morewanted to go out one of our nights here, this is where we landed. cider on tap, means we're going to have a good night. walked past a group of (maybe) 26 year olds, they took one look at my friend group (realistically we are more alternative looking for what district of columbia is used to, anywhere else in the midwest we're average), guy looks over, "whispers" to the rest of his group, "DO YOU THINK THESE GIRLS GO TO ART SCHOOL?". he was absolutely right. we do go to art school.

Amazing service and incredible drinks! Graham is the best bartender in the city…read more Also the creativity is unmatched! Order what you want from the menu but they are also willing to make you specialized drinks to your liking.

Everything about this restaurant was outstanding! We ordered one of each appetizer and all of them…read morewere great!

I've forgiven them for the brunch experience. This spot remains one of my fave Mediterranean in DC!…read moreThe food and flavors are amazing and it's a great spot for a date or happy hour with friends. The labneh is always a must!