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    The Bottom Line

    3.8 (384 reviews)
    Open 11:30 am - 1:00 AM (Next day)
    Updated over 3 months ago

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    THE BOTTOM LINE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Divey
    Casual
    Loud
    Happy hour specials

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    Katie H.

    Friends and I were searching high and low for a bar that was playing John Cenas final match--finally the day of the match we see an event at this bar we've never heard of. We walk up and go down the steps to the basement pub, which is decorated for Christmas and has an incredibly homey divey vibe (which I am a big fan of). We were there ALL night trying the nachos, funnel cake fries, Caesar, quesadilla, and drinks. The quesadilla and funnel cake fries were my favorites. Everything was phenomenal, they had a great menu selection for food, beer, wine, mules, and cocktails. The cocktails menu tends to lean into whiskey and gin, but you can ask for other drinks like a spritz or espresso martini and they can make them. Service was absolutely fabulous, our waitress was phenomenal. Will be back!

    Rumit P.

    I absolutely love the vibe of places like these---it's the kind of bars you see on TV and in movies where it's cozy, people are playing pool, it's got a hometown bar feel, warm booths, low-hanging decorations, affordable drinks, personalized service, and owned by locals. They're not bothered by big businesses like OpenTable or Resy for reservations. I emailed the owner, and he got me a table. Simple! The space is large for where it is in downtown DC. It doesn't have that annoying bougieness with $20 drinks and fancy drink glasses and garnishes. The food is good, unassuming, and served fast. The drinks are varied, tasty, and affordable. The service is friendly, warm, and genuine. I am totally coming back and recommending it to everyone I know.

    Janae T.

    The waitress Narin (sorry if I spelled that wrong) was amazing it was 6 of us and the wait wasn't that long. Any party over five they do put under one bill! But otherwise I ordered the jerk chicken with Bbq sauce and fries. It wasn't what I expected but at the same time I didn't know what to expect. It wasn't bad though. I also ordered the I street breeze and and another drink. One friend ordered a cheeseburger with tator tots, another ordered a quesadilla, a chicken Caesar wrap, and I believe a Philly steak and cheese sandwhich. Everyone enjoyed their food though and the prices aren't that and. Especially with drinks 10/10 Highly recommend

    Nisha B.

    Nice little underground bar! This place has probably been around for a long time. Farragut West metro is about a minute walk away. Farragut North metro is about a 5 minute walk You have to walk down steps to go into the bar. I was there on a Thursday @ 130. The bar/restaurant was at 70% full. Folks began leaving prob 2 from lunch. They have happy hour. I got the nachos, good. Came with a spicy sauce on the side. Good. Bartender (maybe his name was Eric or Eddie) was amazing! Friend had chicken wings. They smell good and sounded hella crunchy. lol. This would be a perfect neighborhood bar gem. I would def. come back!

    Norm C.

    Solid pub. Burger was very tasty. Bar staff was very friendly and efficient. Good selection of draft beers. Outside seating for those nice days. Plenty of tvs and all hard sports playing! Music was a little loud for me but overall a spot worth visiting.

    Bottom Line Nachos
    Nachogirl1 ..

    Nachos: bar nachos are usually a hit or miss. this one? absolute hit. Gorgeous platter. Fresh & hot. Gorgeous hefty combination of all the perfect toppings. Perfectly crispy tortilla chips. God is real. God is good. All else: music here is so nostalgic. gorgeous bar during the winter season. just a good D.C. classic. It's not the most spacious so it feels cozy & intimate. Bartenders were real nice. The music was blaring at one point and we told them to tune it down a bit. (I am not old I just get overstimulated very easily). Would recommend, 10/10.

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    2 months ago

    What a fun place!!! stopped in there for a beer and World Cup soccer. excellent service, friendly staff. highly recommend going there.

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    8 months ago

    WHO dey! Lets gooo Bengals! All of services were great and ppl are nice here, the food overall were yummy than we expected thank you

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    1 year ago

    Awesome bar! A true sports bar in DC with food and drinks galore. The manager is the nicest person ever and the bartenders are awesome!

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    1 year ago

    Al and B were the best. Great burger, miller lite, and vibes. First introduction to DC and couldn't have asked for a better first impression

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    2 years ago

    Rudy was the best server full of personality great personality great ambience would come back just because of Rudy

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    Ask the Community - The Bottom Line

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    The Sovereign - Mariniere Mussels | Instagram: GaoGirlsGrubbin

    The Sovereign

    4.0(610 reviews)
    1.3 miGeorgetown
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    Got recommended this place and was really excited to check it out. We ordered the mussels and a…read morechicken salad, and honestly, it was an excellent choice. The lettuce was super fresh, the dressing was the best I've ever had in DC, and the chicken was perfectly cooked. The mussels were absolutely exquisite. I'd definitely come back to The Sovereign!My only note for improvement is the service. It took the waiters a while to get to our table, and attentiveness was pretty low overall. Granted, the restaurant was packed, but if it's going to be that busy, they should definitely schedule more staff. It would make the whole experience complete. Other than that, everything was excellent!

    More of a 3.5, rounding up because I would have probably liked it a lot more if I ate meat…read more Which probably makes it clear that if you are vegetarian this is not the friendliest menu. The beer selection is incredible, vibes are solid - it is pretty old world and upscale for a beer joint - but if you are looking for a full meal vegetarians should go elsewhere. They *have* vegetarian options but it's one of those things where they do the bare minimum because they have to and your choices are like...the one thing. Which leads me to the one vegetarian entree, the risotto. It was fine. Not mindblowing. Small portion for the price - small portions all around, frankly. See my pic. Our server, who was impressively attentive/efficient given that he was the only person making the rounds to all of the tables in the upstairs room, which were packed because of the World Cup, recommended getting.the brussels sprouts small plate without bacon, so I did. I did not like it. It came with pomegranate seeds and a sauce that were sweet but then had parmesan and savory flavors that did not go. I suspect the salty, fatty bacon was important to balancing out these flavors. People I was with got house pickles, fries and meatballs which all appeared solid. The portions for the fries and meatballs were pretty teeny for the price IMO. Like I said, beer selection is out of this world. Not mad at the prices or portions there, especially given that it's largely imported. Is this personally a place I would make a go to? No. Only if I am taking out a friend who is super into beer tasting. But if I were super into French and Belgian beer and or really liked that kind of food (eg mussels and very meaty Northern European dishes) ? Maybe. So my personal recommendation is to come, have beer, enjoy the ambiance, and treat food as an afterthought for if you need something to eat.

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    Duke's Grocery - The Proper Burger - fully loaded with Applewood Smoked Bacon, Smashed Avocado and Runny Egg!

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    3.9(439 reviews)
    0.3 miFoggy Bottom
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    On the hunt for the best Burger in DC. Not only was it the best in DC, it's the best I've ever had…read moreand I've travelled to all 50 States. Walked in and seated at the bar right away. Novice was the bartender and recommended the Proper burger. I added my typical fries and a Diet Coke. The burger came out quickly. Right off the bat, it's visually amazing. A properly stacked Burger is hard to find. The 2 best things about this burger are 1. The taste , and 2. The form of the burger. The taste is absolutely fantastic. The Gouda paired perfectly with the red onions and the perfectly cooked, juicy beef patties. The aioli was just enough and not overbearing, like looking at a painting of a castle and noticing the subtle blurred background of misty forest. The arugula added another layer of flavor that helped kick this burger into the highest echelons of Burger superiority. And of course, the brioche bun was perfect for this style of burger. It kept its shape while I gently smushed it down in my hands. The entire burger kept its shape and didn't fall apart like some other Burgers will. As I sank my teeth into the first bite, the first thing I noticed was all the flavors blending together. Each bite afterwards just added to my mystified and puzzled bewilderment. The texture was moist and soft. As I chewed and swallowed each morsel, I began to think to myself, is this it? Is my search over? Is this the BEST burger in the country? Never had I tasted such a wonderful burger! (Sorry In-N-Out 2x1, raw onions, chopped chilis, toasted bun, you are no longer on the top of my list). As I neared completion of my newly discovered epitome of gluttonous desires, a feeling of sadness started to take over. I would be done with the burger in a few more bites, and with that, my journey would conclude. I sat there, staring at what would be my final bite. The last bit of pleasure in between my slender fingers, still dripping with the juices God had placed there after it was grilled to perfection in the Kitchen. I placed the final delectable piece into my mouth. I spent what felt like an eternity chewing this treasure before finally gulping down the goblet of wonder. What came after was a feeling of pure bliss. I had finally done it. All the years, all the time dedicated to finding the best Burger ever, is complete. I called my wife and told her "Honey, it's time. I'm coming home." The fries were ok.

    We had a nice and quick dine-in experience for lunch. It was Take Your Child to Work Day and I…read moredidn't even know they had a kid's menu! Buttered pasta for the win hah. I had a burger and fries and both were tasty! It was slow service but once we got our food it was quick to get our check. Decor was cute and cherry-blossom-themed for a DC spring.

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    ChurchKey - Tots, fries, mushroom flatbread and a glimpse of chicken sando

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    3.9(1.5k reviews)
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    Great local bar with large rotating craft beer selection. Highly recommend for any beer…read moreenthusiast. They have wine and cocktails as well. They are happy to recommend beer for your taste, and let you sample. It can be very busy and difficult to get a seat at the bar or get a table on a Friday or Saturday evening. We ordered food, and were expecting elevated bar food. The tater tots were a huge disappointment- they were very large squares , bland, and not crispy. The wings were okay. The cheeseburgers were the best- from the restaurant downstairs- mallard. Huge burger, done perfectly medium.

    Here's a review written as part of a visit to both Churchkey and Birch & Barley (the downstairs…read morerestaurant -- together they form the "2 Enjoy Everything" concept by Neighborhood Restaurant Group): A DC Gem That Delivers on Every Level If you haven't made it to Churchkey on 14th Street yet, move it to the top of your list. I visited as part of the full experience -- dinner downstairs at Birch & Barley, then up to Churchkey for drinks -- and honestly, it's one of the best evenings I've had in DC. Churchkey itself is everything a great bar should be. The beer selection is absolutely unreal -- hundreds of carefully curated labels spanning every style, region, and flavor profile you can imagine. What sets it apart is that the staff actually knows the menu. Our server walked us through a few options based on what we liked and landed us on perfect picks both times. That kind of genuine expertise is rare. The tavern pizzas from the wood-fired oven were a wonderful surprise -- thin, crispy, and the perfect companion to a cold draft. The smash burger also deserves a mention: simple, well-executed, and hits the spot. The vibe is warm and lively without being overwhelming. Great for a date, a group, or even just sitting at the bar solo with a good beer and good conversation with the bartender. This place has earned its reputation as one of the best beer bars on the East Coast -- and then some. Highly recommend making a full night of it with both floors. You won't regret it. Feel free to adjust the tone or add any personal details from your actual visit!​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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    Free State - Hazy IPA

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    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!

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    Great beer selection and a nice environment. Our servers were very friendly and I like when there…read moreis a QR code AND you can place orders as you go. Pretzel: These were amazing! The pimento cheese dip was great. Pulled pork nachos: Huge portion! These were also exceptional. BLT w/ tomato soup: "This hit the spot". Nashville Fried chicken sandwhich: I was quite disappointed in this, considering how good everything else was. The chicken was very dry and overly salty IMO. Not at all spicy either. Thyme fries: Loved these! Really cool flavor profile. I would happily come back and try a different entree.

    I won't be back unfortunately and you should probably keep walking and find something else. Didn't…read morerealize what kind of restaurant this was until I was told to order off an app and then my food would be ran out to me...and that's all you get for customer service. Runners just do that. Run around the restaurant throwing food down on tables and run back to the kitchen. Never checking on anyone to see if they need anything and how the food is. I ordered the SW Salad ($16.50) with a steak add on ($9.00) at medium temp. I also ordered a cup of Clam Chowder ($5.95) as an appetizer. Chowder came out pretty much right on top of my salad, but no big deal. Chowder was decent taste, but only found one clam. Ok whatever. Salad came out looking like a side salad on a large plate with five slices of rare, tough steak. It was so rare, that it was extremely hard to cut through, but again, who was I going to talk to about it. No wait staff would even look my way. I couldn't even get a refill on my water and there is no place in the app to order a glass of water...so that's that. Unfortunately it was just an extremely bad experience for $40. I'll be looking for dinner somewhere else tomorrow night.

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    The Bottom Line - tradamerican - Updated August 2026

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