Visited Realm Rooftop for brunch with the colleagues I actually don't mind spending time with…read moreoutside of work. I had a pretty good experience overall. The rooftop deck was definitely the highlight. Modern, chic decor with really nice daytime views of DC. I can imagine the atmosphere is even better at night. Food was decent. I had the shrimp and grits, which looked a little plain presentation-wise, but the flavor was actually very good. The French toast was also tasty. My main issue was the portion sizes. Everything felt more "tapas style" while still being priced like full entrees. My plate disappeared faster than my parking validation. Drinks were solid though. I tried their version of an Old Fashioned and really enjoyed it. Overall, good vibes, nice drinks, and a beautiful rooftop setting. Just be prepared for smaller portions than expected. Service was friendly and attentive.

3/5 Realm Rooftop…read moreLounge is one of those places where the ambiance is doing some very heavy lifting. The views are stunning, the music is on point, and the vibe has all the ingredients for a great night out. Unfortunately, the service and operations left a lot to be desired. We stopped by after dinner for a nightcap, and honestly, the experience got off to a rocky start before we even made it upstairs. One member of our group was denied entry because his denim shorts were cut off, which is fair enough if that's the dress code. He went home, changed, and returned, so crisis averted. Once we got upstairs, however, the confusion continued. We asked both the bar back and a server whether we could seat ourselves in the bar area, and neither person seemed to know the answer. After a brief game of "Who's on First?" , we tracked down the hostess, who informed us that yes, we could sit wherever we wanted. Great! Or so we thought. After taking a seat, we spent several minutes watching our server walk past us repeatedly without acknowledging our existence. At some point, the men in our group decided to do what apparently needed to be done and headed to the bar to order drinks themselves. Now, here's where I have to give credit where it's due: the drinks were excellent. We ordered the Purple Rain, Island Spritz, Casa del Fuego, and a tequila soda water, and every single one delivered. The bartender clearly knows how to make a cocktail. Unfortunately, she also seemed like she'd rather have been literally anywhere else. The drinks were enthusiastically slammed onto the bar with an energy that suggested we'd personally inconvenienced her by ordering them. Despite all of that, the ambiance truly is fantastic. The DJ was spinning an excellent set and created the perfect soundtrack for a summer night in DC. The rooftop views are gorgeous and absolutely worth experiencing at least once. Unfortunately, Mother Nature was operating on "surface of the sun" settings that evening, so spending too much time outside wasn't an option. At the end of the day, Realm has all the makings of a great rooftop destination: beautiful views, strong cocktails, and good music. What it's missing is a smooth operational flow and staff who seem interested in providing hospitality. Would I return? Yes--but I'd give them some time to work out the kinks. The potential is absolutely there. As I always say: I'm not difficult to please. I just have standards.

Came on a Saturday night, around 10pm…read more Music was being played on a laptop I guess. The speakers were terrible. All muffled and the place was only playing trap music Place upstairs is hella small and as the night went on it got too crowded. We were probably there for an hour before leaving. I would not return

The Elroy just opened up on May 25th, and still smelled new when we went for drinks for a friend's…read morebirthday on the 28th. Yes, a bar smelled NEW. Crazy huh? Anyway, they still had some kinks to iron out such as stocking the bar upstairs and taking the price tag off the grill they bought at Home Depot. The Elroy definitely shows promise. Similar to other places on H, there are two levels and a back deck that is fenced in. There is a bar on both floors, but the first floor one is more substantial. Drinks were average priced, but came in those slanty glasses, so be forewarned that if you're not used to them, you will spill. (You'll see what I mean). Upstairs there are a few padded benches along the wall and drink tables and chairs to accomodate groups. Hopefully they've put up a curtain or something to block the direct in-your-face beams from the street light outside. The coolest thing though? When you're in the bathroom on the second floor, it's one way glass, so you can see out, but people can't see in with normal lighting conditions.

This is a cute lounge. I came here yesterday for a friend's farewell party and we were able to have…read morea reserved space for our large group. The vibes were nice. There's hookah available. Service was great. I really enjoyed the wings - I ordered jerk and I tried one of the old Bay and Buffalo from somebody else and those were also good. The drinks were well made and a lil strong (in a good way) and they had a happy hour even on a Saturday so I can appreciate that. One downside about the area is that parking is scarce. I had initially parked on H street in an area that said tow away zone although I saw other cars parked there. I didn't feel comfortable to leave my car there so I ended up moving to a neighborhood street and my car was fine although it was a little bit of a walk. There isn't a visible sign outside of this spot but it is located right next to Po Boy Jim, if that helps. I would come back again.

I came here for the first time on Saturday for their day party to celebrate a friend. Our group had…read more3 reserved tables. Our waitress was very nice and attentive. Anything we needed she was there. I ordered the old bay wings and they were delicious. The hookah was great and so was the hookah service. My only takeaway was that the hookah was advertised as $12.50 for happy hour but we were charged $15.

My friends and I went here for The Set, an R&B party that we all enjoyed! The party did not start…read moretil 10p that night and to start with parking, there is a garage locally that you can park at. It costs $40 for a flat rate and that was that; the walk in took maybe 4 minutes. I also wanted to highlight their parking situation because I frequently have a lot of parking issues when trying to access DC. But we walked inside, had an easy access to the event, and as the entered.. the vibes welcomed us! Great dj, great drinks, and great friends! I think I saw that these R&B events are monthly or continuously scheduled out, so if you love the vibes, go to Ivy City!

FOOD POISONING !!! do not eat here . I hate having to leave a review like this, but I feel it's…read moreimportant to share my experience. On July 2, around 3:00 p.m., a friend and I visited this restaurant for lunch. I ordered the fried chicken sandwich without the bun, and it came with a side of fries. Everything seemed normal at the time, but later that day I became extremely ill. I have since been diagnosed with food poisoning, and more than 48 hours later I am still dealing with the symptoms. Based on the timing of my illness and my medical evaluation, I believe this meal was the source of my food poisoning. This experience has been physically exhausting and has completely changed my confidence in eating here. Food safety should always be a top priority, and unfortunately my experience has left me very concerned. I sincerely hope the restaurant reviews its food handling and preparation practices so no one else has to go through what I've experienced. Based on my experience, I cannot recommend dining here.

A few doors down from Ben's, so it's in a great location. We stopped in while walking because the…read moredj was playing some serious music. He definitely had the tunes? The place was pretty empty and I think that we were the only people in there actually. It was dimly lit to set the mood. But regardless of it being empty, not a single server came to offer us drinks or hookah. I want to say we were there at least 20 mins. Someone even went up to the counter to order and it never came. So we left. Why spend your money where it's not wanted?

Since the Guava wings were so tasty the last time, I decided to try the Old Bay wings with ranch…read moredressing on the side. I forgot to order all flats but the drums were pretty good. I LOVED the fact the DJ played Alkaline too! I arrived later than last time so the outdoor seating wasn't available. I sat at the bar and watched all of the people arrive. Lots of fun on a Saturday for sure! The guava wings are by far my favorite and will be back for those!

I was in town for the weekend Looking for live…read moreentertainment and stumbled upon Lydia's. Its a small cozy environment. 2nd Saturday is live music. FutureBandDC played and killed it. We sat directly in front of the band and speakers. Id suggest pushing tables back a bit. We ordered from the late night menu. Pls note after 10pm the menu is limited. We ordered the honey hot wing and fries as well as the jerk wings. I assumed the jerk was grilled and it wasn't. They were very spicy if you like spice. We didn't order cocktails. The jerk chicken sandwich was kinda small and Chicken thighs are used. The overall vibe was decent and the price wasn't bad at all. I would visit again

Lydia on H is a cozy Afro-Caribbean restaurant in Washington, D.C., offering a unique fusion of…read moreMalawian and Caribbean flavors. It's a small but quaint spot with a mix of booth and table seating, making it a nice place for a relaxed dinner with friends. As a picky eater visiting for the first time, I kept my order simple with wings and rice. The wings were the highlight of the meal--crispy, flavorful, and well-seasoned. The rice, however, was disappointing. It was dry and lacked seasoning, and I found myself wishing it had at least a little butter and salt to enhance the flavor. The mocktails were delicious and complemented the meal well. The atmosphere was warm and inviting. The music was at the perfect volume--easy to enjoy while still being able to carry on a conversation without shouting, which made for a pleasant evening with friends. Our server was attentive, friendly, and made us feel welcome throughout the meal. One small note: the ladies' restroom was clean but very small and narrow. It had a hook-and-latch style door but no place to hang a purse, which would be a nice addition. Parking on H Street is always a hit or miss, so plan accordingly if you're driving. Ratings: * Food: (3/5) * Atmosphere: (3/5) * Service: (4/5) * Dinner with Friends: (5/5) Overall, Lydia on H is a pleasant neighborhood spot with friendly service, tasty wings, and excellent mocktails. While the rice missed the mark for me, I enjoyed the company, the conversation, and the relaxed atmosphere. I would consider returning to try other menu items.

One star because this is definitely my review and opinion about Yolo. This definitely a place you…read moreneed to know what it is before you go. We had no idea when we walked in and all we knew was it was open after hours. And that's all I'll say about that. The music was on point and most who were there knew exactly what type of place this was and was prepared to enjoy themselves, immensely. I chiiled most of the night and tried to keep my composure but I definitely will not be back. I love there's a place like this for people who enjoy it. If they had a food menu it would have been better but they do offer hookah .

Good food. High prices. Didn't get drinks. Staff as nice. Loud but good it you come for vibes and…read morenot to talk with who you came with.

Cool little bar next to isla. While its being referred to as a Speakeasy, its really just a cool…read morelowkey cocktail lounge. They have a very small food menu but the drinks are why you come here. They have an ok list of cocktails but have a plethora of different liquors of try by region. The DJ comes in around 9/930pm but even before he arrived the music they were playing was on point! I'd recommend this spot but you should try for a reservation in the late evening

My girls and I came here for drinks to celebrate a friend's birthday, and overall it was a really…read morenice vibe. The ambiance is beautiful--small, intimate, and perfect for a cozy night out. I'd definitely come back, especially for a date night with my wife. The music was good, although we didn't stay long enough to really experience the DJ. We ordered a mix of cocktails and mocktails (me ), and everything tasted great. My only complaint? The mocktail prices--$13-$15 is a bit much! I'd love to see them included in happy hour or priced a little lower. And please... fill the glass to the rim! We all ordered the crab patties--spicy but sooo good. I do wish there were a few more menu options, but I get it since their sister restaurant is ISLA. Service was average overall, but the bartenders stood out--they gave great recommendations and clearly know how to make a solid drink. One tip: get there right at 6:00 if you want bar seating. The space is pretty small, and it fills up quickly with reservations. Overall, a cute spot with great vibes--I'd definitely go back.