After just getting in DC and feeling a little Hangry The cheeseburger and ginger beer hit the Spot! I sat at the high top near the window and people watched, the bartender was very kind and talked about seasonal gin and tonic drinks. I'll go back and definitely give it a try read more

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I recently returned to Service Bar for the first time in almost a year and was excited to see much of the menu unchanged from my last visit. I ordered another "kiwi" cocktail which was just as refreshing and delicious as I remembered. The server also recommended the Griselda blanco, a mezcal cocktail which I probably would've never ordered for myself but I ended up really enjoying. We ordered the chicken nachos to share but I have to say, they did not hit the way they did the first time I had them.... The cheese sauce was a different color, the toppings were less generous, and the chicken was a smaller portion and not as flavorful. Even looking at the photos from this year and last year, it's obvious that they skimped on toppings this time around. I also ordered a kale caesar with no croutons and it was pretty good but nothing life changing. I probably should've just ordered grilled chicken on that, skipped the nachos, and added the deviled eggs because they looked amazing! read more

Very nice vibes here. Ample indoor and outdoor seating. Ben was the best bartender! He had amazing recommendations and was so friendly! For an app, I tried the deviled eggs. I try deviled eggs at any restaurant that has them and this spot is high in the rankings now. You get 4 so that was a lot for just one person (I ate 2) because they were stuffed. The chicken skin included was a nice touch. Very delicious. The Brussels sprouts were very tasty and cooked perfectly. Perfect portion size for sharing! I tried the fried chicken dinner and it was tasty. The thighs were cooked to perfection and I added the Nashville hot spice. My bartender also gave me an assortment of different hot sauces to try with the chicken, which was nice because I love spice. The green beans were nice and fresh. I could skip the Mac and cheese next time. Overall, everything was delicious. Not your typical bland bar food. read more

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I tried service bar last night as the first six months of the year is coming to close and the Chase restaurant offer was about to expire. So I wanted to make sure I got an opportunity to try one of the restaurants on the list. We tried several different drinks which were all very good. We started out with the mozzarella balls and the brussels sprouts which both of these share bowls were very tasty. We left no crumbs. Then we tried the burger and fries with the fried chicken, macaroni and cheese and string beans. The meal was much better than I expected. I would definitely try this again. The waiter that supported us outside was amazing. Continue to check in. Continue to validate the options that we had selected and insured that we were having a good time. read more

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You know you're getting older when you pull up to the 900 block of U St and instead of going to El Rey, you cross the street to go to Service Bar. This was my first time here and I stopped by because a close friend said they have the best fried chicken in DC. I can attest that they have the best service in DC and the best cocktails for the best price. As for the chicken, I'll give them top 5. The service was impeccable from staff assisting when you walk in to the moment you're seated to the moment you walk out the door. The drinks were also amazing and unique. I had a rum sour (off menu nightly special) and a starry nights cocktail. Both were impeccable. The green beans were the best I've had in DC, but the mac and cheese could use some work. Overall I rate this spot a 9/10 and definitely recommend it for anyone visiting or local. read more

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If you've been around DC long enough, you already know Service Bar is a staple--but going back recently reminded me why. I came through for a late-night bite and it absolutely delivered. I brought a friend who had never been and always hear me say service bar has the best fried chicken. The Korean-inspired fried chicken with that American spice blend? Perfectly crispy, flavorful, and paired with fries that honestly deserve their own spotlight. And the burger... top tier. As someone who takes burgers seriously, this one is firmly in the "worth coming back for" category. What made this visit special though was the nostalgia. I remember when Service Bar first opened--I was deep in the hospitality industry and this was the spot. And then I saw her--one of the bartenders, a gorgeous Asian woman (I forgot her name) who has been there for as long as I can remember. Seeing her instantly took me back. In a city that's constantly changing, moments like that remind you who's been part of the culture all along. I even went back and found my Yelp review from 9 years ago--and just earned my regular badge here. Wild to see how long I've been coming, and how this place has stayed consistent through it all. It's rare for a place to grow with you like that. To stay relevant and feel like home over time, Service Bar does both effortlessly. Grateful for the memories then and now--and already looking forward to the next visit. read more

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Came here on a Sunday evening and was ultimately shocked that the place was packed. We didn't have to wait to go in fortunately but it was just loud and filled with many people at the bar or people just dining in. It was interesting to see so many people out on a Sunday! My friends and I were bar hopping so we were in here for mostly drinks. A drink from the menu caught my eye because it was a direct reference to a song I really liked. Ever heard of The Neighbourhood? The drink consisted of Jameson Black Barrel, Chai, Apple, Wild Turkey 101 Rye, Honey, Sherry, Lemon, Angostura bitters. It was a very good drink to sip to, I would definitely recommend it to those that drink! Unfortunately I did not get to try out the food but I would love to come back and update when I get the chance. I heard the fried chicken was good! read more

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I found this place originally from one of the "best of" lists a while back but didn't make intentional plans to visit because it is so far from the hotel we usually stay at. However, one of my credit cards was offering $150 in statement credits by the end of the year if you dine at certain restaurants. Service Bar was the option that looked most enticing for hubs and I. When making the reservation, there was only the option to sit outside. It is winter, in the north, so I thought it was odd. I figured they had heaters but still rare. We were starving so we decided to go early. No luck in getting inside though. It was freezing this night and once we were seated, we realized the heaters were not enough. We were greeted by our server finally and ordered everything quickly because we knew we would be uncomfortable with the temperature. The presentation of my drink was great. Our server said a little script while pouring my penguin drink! We ordered the Mozzarella Balls as an appetizer and they were so friggin good!! For our dinner, hubs ordered the chicken fingers with a side of fries. I ordered the Impossible burger, green beans, and we also ordered the mac n cheese. My burger did not look right and sure enough, when I built into it, it was beef. The server apologized, ordered me the Impossible burger, and discounted my drink by 50%. The food was so friggin good! I was unable to finish my burger so I took the rest to go. We also ordered a mac n cheese to go because it was that friggin good! I had to use the bathroom and going inside was a mission. It is super tight inside the restaurant, as well as the bathroom. Probably the tiniest bathroom I have been in lol. We definitely will be back but only if we can sit inside if it in the winter! read more

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Came here on Valentine's Day and sat outside since the weather was decent. The patio setup is simple but it did the job. Good people watching and the staff checked in just enough without being on top of us. We tried a few of their drinks and that ended up being the best part of the night. Every cocktail tasted clean and balanced. Nothing overly sweet and nothing that felt rushed. You can tell they take their bar program seriously. For food, we ordered the mozzarella balls and the chicken nachos. The mozzarella balls were solid with a good crunch and a nice cheese pull. The nachos had good flavor and the chips stayed crisp, but they could have used more chicken for the amount of chips on the plate. It felt a little uneven. Overall, it was a chill Valentine's stop. Great drinks, friendly service, and decent food. I would come back mainly for the cocktails. read more

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Cocktails are absolutely on FIRE here! They're unique, decently priced, full of fresh flavor, and boozy. The chicken nachos had only a singular bite of chicken on them, but the rest of the toppings were pretty dang good, so it was fine. If you're over in this area for a concert at 930 Club, please have your pre-show drinks here! read more

Service Bar - Pineapple Vodka Soda - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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so good! came here on a saturday afternoon, right after open. it wasn't too busy, just the right around. perfect ambience, friendly staff. the drinks were phenomenal and the suggestions by the employees were great. i got the road runner and flying squirrel, they were both strong and full of flavor. not over powering, but packed a punch. read more

Service Bar - road runner - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

If you go to Service Bar and you don't leave obsessed, then we can't be friends. Service Bar is exceptional at what it does (no wonder it was the only DC bar to make the Top 50 Bars in the World list!) Their drinks are made thoughtfully, theatrically, and (often) perfectly. I don't usually like chicken wings, but I dream of their chicken confit wings. It's also so cute inside. read more

We went on a Friday night and it was packed- be prepared to stand in line. We only waited for ten or so minutes, and once we got in and found a table, service was prompt and the drinks were made quickly. The drinks are expensive but they were like nothing we've had before (complex, refreshing, a combo of flavors you'd only find at Michelin type establishments). We ordered and would highly recommend the following from the bird insert menu: the golden pheasant, kiwi, wandering albatross, and helmet vanga. read more

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It's a small place do it gets very crowded in the evenings and during their happy hours. We were here four some bites and cocktails. Their cocktail menu has so many cocktails inspired from different parts of the world. I ordered kiwi and it was yum and came with a cuts super behind it. The soap peppers were also super flavorful. Their orange sauce is just something else!!! Loved it! read more

Service Bar - Shishito peppers - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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This is a top notch spot for the cocktail lover in your life. The decor is pretty casual as the star are the drinks. They range from simple-elaborate! They often do specials on Sunday nights and many of their staff are award winning. Also, considering how well crafted the drinks are, the prices are comparable to other DC spots with subpar drinks. They also have a casual food menu. read more

Service Bar - A part of their specialty bird focused menu - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Absolutely worth your time! We came by on a Saturday night with a group of four at about 8pm. It was busy! They limit how many people are inside to prevent crowding, so we had to wait around 5 minutes until four people had left & we could get inside. Initially we were at a standing table (and ordered our drinks there), but after around 10-15 minutes, our server led us to a seated table. The music was loud, but not so loud you couldn't hear one another. The limit on how many people they let inside meant that we didn't feel crowded & it didn't get unbearably hot the way it can in a busy bar. The server was fantastic--attentive, stopped by regularly, and when our drinks arrived, gave around a 30 second description for each cocktail. We came because of the featured bird menu, which did not disappoint! Each drink cost ~$20, but they were each beautiful & delicious. Everyone at our table loved what they ordered. Overall, highly recommend--unique & fun bar experience. If I lived in the area, I would absolutely be stopping by every few months just to see what new & exciting drinks they have to offer. read more

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This is a very nice place to grab a drink and some food with significant other or your friends. The vibe is super cozy. The place is very warm and the bartender is very helpful. The food is actually really good as well and the drinks were phenomenal. They have unique drinks that satisfies everybody and everything was very good. read more

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This review is for cocktails only. I have heard their food is pretty good here too so I'll have to try that next time. Service here was great. We sat ourselves at a high top and a server came to take our drink orders. He walked us through the menu of the different drinks which was helpful. I got the Strawberry Sayonara and my partner got the Burnt Orange Sour. They were both light and refreshing drinks. Nothing too intricate but good overall. The ambience seems fun at night and the service provided was great. I would like to come back here again to try their other drinks along with some food. read more

Service Bar - Inside - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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This is a stellar and chill cocktail bar in the u street corridor. The service was great and the drinks were inventive and tasty. They currently have their "bird" cocktail menu and I loved the kiwi cocktail. They also have snacks that are a good pairing for the drinks. The deviled eggs were a highlight! We were able to sit at the bar and the bartenders were super friendly. Note that this is a pretty small spot any they tend to get busy so try to come early if you can! We will be back for sure! read more

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We had reservations for three people at 7:30pm on a Thursday evening. They seated us at a high top on their outdoor area which I didn't love because it was sandwiched between the sidewalk and street and it was quite noisy. The inside itself is quite tiny with not a lot of seats so definitely make a reservation. It's ranked North America's 23rd best bar and got a James Beard nod for its bar service so I had high expectations. The drinks were excellent - I especially loved my Milk Punch Bergamot because it was so smooth and flavorful. The food is classic comfort food but done very well. I would come back!! read more

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Our visit here was great. Staff were super friendly and attentive. This bay offers an extensive menu of drinks with a rotating seasonal cocktails. Indoor and outdoor seating options. If you're looking for indoor seating, get there early. Low lighting gives it a casual feel. Cozy without feeling too cramped. Definitely see why this was rated and one of the best bars in America! read more

Service Bar - Kumamoto manhattan & Zombie - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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seriously so good!!! my friend and i went here to try the bird themed menu, which is so cute & creative, but i genuinely was interested in every single thing on the menu. i got the wandering albatross, which was amazing, and an espresso martini which was also very good. for food, my friend and i split the mozzarella balls and the honey eggplant, both of which were just perfect. i cannot wait to come back and try more menu items !! read more

Service Bar - wandering albatross - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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My coworkers and I stopped here after a holiday party and what a treat it was. The music was great, the decor was eclectic and the service was great! We had someone checking on our table but the bartenders were super kind as well. I didn't eat anything while I was here but everyone was raving about how much they love service bar and I can see why! I can't wait to come back! read more

Such an amazing place.. small space but large value.. food was amazing we got 3 items from late night menu ( mozzarella bites.. fried eggplant and spicy sprouts ) .. service was very good and made me feel home .. will be back soon read more

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Really great bar!!!! Would highly recommend making reservations especially if you plan on coming later in the night. I had reservations for 9 PM and by 10:30. There was a big crowd outside the bar. I think the outdoor reservations are pretty ample and always available, however, I would definitely bring a jacket because it does get chilly at night and the heat lamps are not on (at least when I went in early April). I don't think there was a drink I didn't like but I only had three cocktails before it got too chilly for me to stay any longer and we all decided to leave. Otherwise, I look forward to visiting again when I'm in DC! read more

Service Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The thing I loved about Service Bar is that it has a bit of a dive bar aesthetic, and you can sit outside. This is absolutely perfect for a trip to DC where "business casual" means "business;" it's refreshing to be able to wear a Nine Inch Nails t-shirt and ripped jeans and ankle boots to a bar WITH COCKTAILS AS GOOD AS THESE instead of trying to look all swanky. The drinks were incredible. My favorite was the Amaro swizzle which was juicy but also bitter but also bright but also sweet but also spicy. It was amazing. Service Bar also has some of the best hummus I've had in this country, let alone in a bar. I think they must have magical tahini nobody else can get, or something. Loved the servers and how honest they were about drinks that I might not like if I don't like specific ingredients or flavor profiles. 10/10 would drink here again. read more

Noticed that Service Bar was named as one of the top 50 bars in the states and had to stop in. I'd have to say that service met every expectation and even exceeded a few. The chicken here was cooked to a perfect crisp and the drinks are one of a kind. Service bar definitely meets the hype read more

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Wanted a little Sunday chill day so I headed over to Service bar. The Bombay government punch has the perfect amount of booze and flavor. The hot dusted chicken sandwich was AMAZING!!! I literally finished the entire sandwich in about 7 minutes. read more

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My main dislike for this place is that indoor seating is first come first serve and you can only reserve tables outside. The plus is the food and drinks - we got the honey eggplant, charred carrots, chicken sandwich, and fries. Everything was great (not like blow your mind amazing) but above average for a bar. Only the fries for me were mid. My husband and I both got a selection of 3 cocktails each and out of the 6, he disliked one which I think says something when the cocktail menu is so large. Try anything that sounds good to you, truly! read more

Cute and vibey enough, easy to snag seats earlier in the night, but top 50 cocktail bars in the US???? Nahh. Their espresso martini was honestly not great (nor memorable at all) and the cocktails weren't really inventive or special. They also seemed more aligned with fall drinks (baked apple and pear gin & tonic, bergamot milk punch, etc) which I would have liked more seasonal focused options. Just, nothing truly special seemed to pop out about this place for me. read more

Service Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

From service to the unique pairings of the drinks, everything exceeded my expectations!! Coming from Texas, I knew I had to try Service Bar considering the vibes and rank on the top 50 list. Easily made a reservation outside and this was by far me and my friend's favorite cocktail bar in DC (and we tried 7). If you're looking for something refreshing, the crowd pleaser was the kiwi! Absolutely loved everything on the birds menu. This place is now on my must-go places when I'm in DC! read more

Service Bar - Albatross - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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No lies told: I came to this place bc it was #33 on the World's Best Bars North America List. Loves: + Big selection of cocktails + Casual and laid-back atmosphere + I had dinner already but their bar food looked pretty good. If I had more drinks I would have ordered nachos. The one thing I noticed was how they had several cocktails that were "sold out" on their menu. Not a big deal given their broad selection but worth noting if you had your heart set on something... it happens! Overall cool spot and loved how neighborhoody it felt here. read more

Service Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Got a strong recommendation from a fellow Yelper at a DC Yelp event last week. My girlfriend & I were in DC last night for an event on U St, and we wanted to go with his recommendation. This is a very short walk from U St Metro station on the Vermont Ave side exit; literally just across on east side of Vermont on U St. We walked in, and not surprisingly this was a small place, but that didn't bother me. It was cutely decorated with a bar area & seating for full service. We got here in time for happy hour, which runs 5-7 PM. The happy hour is only drinks; so don't expect a food deal, but I knew that as I briefly checked website. I wanted to get an alcoholic beverage (on the happy hour price of course) to get the full experience besides only drinking water. I liked that the server mentioned the happy hour and said what the HH cocktail of the day was, as I was going to ask him. I also liked that he poured water in their cold metal cups right away before we settled on drink. He let us look, decide, and came back in reasonable time. I knew I didn't want the cocktail of the day. I was between 2 choices. I asked the server about Pisco Punch, which he explained as a type of Brandy from Peru (& also Chile...gotta give credit where credit is due, but server mentioned Peru). I said that sounded good over Old Fashioned and went with trying that for $9 (happy hour price...normally $11). Server brought me the Pisco Punch. Wow, it was excellent; they really know what they're doing on mixed drinks (at least this one). My only compliment was too much Ice; I don't like when the ice sticks up from the glass. The alcohol was fairly strong but covered with some sweetness. I shared some with my g/f, and we both agreed that it was excellent. She even jokingly commented we never both like the drink. I politely said well maybe something more generic like beer or some white wines. Per Yelper's recommendation, we decided to split the fried chicken. We got 4 breast pieces for $36, which came with broccoli & mac n' cheese. I was pretty hungry (just shy of hangry). We were both VERY impressed with the broccoli. It was the best broccoli, I've had in a long time, well seasoned. The mac n' cheese was good, but nothing to write home about either. The fried chicken was great, but it wasn't exactly what I thought. It had a nice honey or maple type of glaze, which added a nice sweet flavor. But I guess I had kind of hoped for something a bit more traditional. Having said that, I still thought the chicken was very good. The bill came, and of course not surprisingly it already included 20% gratuity. That is more of a common practice in DC with that Initiative 82 where it essentially raises the wage for tipped workers. Some restaurants I guess pass on to the customer with an automatic tip included. It's pretty rare for me or my girlfriend to be in DC, and when we have we didn't have tons of time to go to a full service restaurant as we were down there for another reason like Capitals hockey, Nats baseball, or other event. I've mentioned this in a few Yelp reviews of restaurants in DMV that do this for even medium sized parties of like 6. The problem with this is that the server could be terrible, slow, surly, etc. and still get that guaranteed 20%. In this case, our server had a good job with time efficiency, water refills, & answering questions. However, he wasn't friendly; he was cordial enough, but not at all friendly either. Additionally, restroom was clean but very small. Toilet was right by the sink, little room in there. Not much to be done there with the space constraints of the restaurant. Overall, food was very good, drink excellent, service was efficient but not friendly, and overall mostly a positive, but I wouldn't necessarily rush back here either. read more

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Well this was an interesting night lol. Think this was the third place I ended up. Got some drinks here. They were pretty good. Ended up in some secret room that was almost like a closet lol. There were about six of us in there. Good times. Got to crack jokes and be away from the crowd. I'd check it out again. The space is small but it's good to meet there with friends and catch up. Good ambiance. I'd check it out again. read more

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One of the top rated bars on the 50 Best Bars in North America, so I knew I had to come try it. I made a reservation in advance, but it seems like you can also just walk in. We were sat outside which was fine since by night time, DC cooled down a bit. Cocktails were affordable, at least more so than NYC. They have seasonal cocktails that were available as well. I ended up trying the Costa Del Sol Gin and Tonic. It was a light and refreshing drink. The citrus in it was great, and it was perfect for a warm night. The other drinks like the Pisco Punch and Rose All Day were great as well. There were items on the menu that were sold out which was surprising since we got there around 8pm. However, we ended up liking our drinks regardless. read more

Service Bar - Costa del Sol G&T - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Service great drinks great apps great. We had pickled veg and roasted carrots for apps. I dont like thigh meat and wish they offered breast meat for chicken. I know everyone says thigh meat is better. Lol. Chicken strips were breast meat but not very big for the price as i will show you. Caesar wrap was 90% lettuce so not worth the price. Fries were great. read more

Service Bar - Tenders - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I was happy to find this bar open at midday on Saturday. Between the two of us we had 2 orders of eggplant, one order of carrots and two drinks. I got the Green Machine and the other member of my party got the Libra. My drink was very light, not strongly alcoholic and mostly tasted like the mixers (citrus juice, green tea). The Libra which I had a sip of was a nice balanced fruity drink. I probably would have ultimately preferred that drink. The honey eggplant was very good hence us ordering two. We also really enjoyed the carrots. I wish there were more non-chicken options, especially larger options. I saw that there used to be an eggplant parm sandwich and was disappointed to not find it on the menu when I went. Overall the food quality was very good, especially for a bar. read more

Service Bar - Honey Eggplant - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I was gonna begin this with something like service bar has got to be one of the best bars in DC, as if it literally isn't ranked the 22nd best bar in the country - this cocktail menu is gorgeous. there are so many options that even the pickiest of drinkers could find some thing they like. such a big fan of the drawn images and the style of the menu too - they have a lot of funny decoration and garbanzo throughout the bar and menu, lots of attention to detail. outdoor seating was very cute and comfortable, much less loud than the dark neon inside bar - nice waiter, his moral seemed low....but who's isn't after explaining that the carrot margarita does indeed taste like carrot .... he let us sit for awhile even though we ordered one drink each only. no rush feeling - my friend got the classic chicken sandwich and said they're still thinking about it the next day. they had such a fun food menu centered around fried chicken. - I was sad that the espresso martini did not have the classic three beans on top and you could not taste the coconut or chocolate. it was a good espresso martini, but nothing special compared to all the other special items on this menu read more

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I can totally understand why this bar has been rated #22 best bars in North America ! The food, the specialty drinks, the service. Total neighborhood bar with great vibes. You're sure to make a new friend and have a great bite - highly recommend the buffalo dip and anything chicken Special shoutout to our server and bartender Luke. His mixology skills are some of the best I've seen and tasted ! read more

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I love this place!! It's conveniently located off the U Street Metro and has both outdoor and indoor seating. I will note that outdoor seating only takes up to 4 people for seating as I went with a group of 5 and we couldn't sit outside even though I had made an outdoor reservation for 5. However, the staff was very accommodating for our party since I had made a reservation and we were eventually seated in a little closed off room which turned out to be so fun! The staff served us when we turned a light switch on which was so cool! The drinks were great and their happy hour menu is such a deal! If you can't make it to happy hour the prices are standard DC prices around $15-$25 per drink. I got the pisco punch and mango sticky rice drink which was such a unique take on a classic dessert. Overall, a great time and would go again! Pictured: shishito peppers, fries, mozzarella balls read more

Service Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia