Massive burgers and sides for a good price!! Came here for dinner with some friends and was not disappointed. The portions were huge. The burger itself tasted a little bland but the toppings I added made up for it. Would come back here again! read more

Tonic - Mac & Cheesy Burger - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Walked in around 9+PM without a reservation on a Saturday night for an impromptu hangout and we were able to get outdoor seating. Love the fairy lights in the outdoor seating area which is perfect for a chill night out with friends. Prices are moderate and I could taste some lavender garnish in my drink. read more

Tonic - Lavender Gin and Tonic - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Went for happy hour and really good bar food for the prices. They're known for their tots. I loved the Chicken Tots (six sauces to choose I did sweet thai chili, not too spicy) , so crispy and not overwhelming breading. The regular tots were so crispy (although I tasted some curry? Which I like, not sure if anyone else would). Also got loaded tots and cheese pizza which were pretty good for the price. The ambiance is super relaxed and good space so you're not too close to the next table. Loved the brick walls made it seem historic. Lots of graffiti made it seem more run-down and casual. They also had a find a book/leave a book library--so cute! Our waitress was fabulous! Super attentive. The busboy came by our table maybe 50 times, which I'm not complaining. If you want a laid back American bar and food place with excellent service, this is a great spot! read more

We're staying at the Courtyard in foggy bottom. We wanted somewhere that we could grab lunch to take back to the room. Tonic was pretty much the only thing nearby. I had to place my order on Uber eats which was fine. We got the Hannah's hot honey chicken sandwich, old bay wings, and a Caesar salad. The Uber app noted it would take about 15 minutes to get food. Took about 20-22. Not bad. Came out hot. My boyfriend enjoyed his chicken sandwich but stated that the fries were really salty. They didn't give any condiments like ketchup which he usually likes on his fries. Since we were back to the hotel (and the hotel bistro is closed) he just used some of my ranch from the wings. I got the old bay flavor wings. A couple of the wings were overcooked (like burnt) but all the others were great. Side Caesar was a classic Caesar salad. No complaints. Only suggestion would be to include silverware (I had to ask) and traditional condiments. read more

Jacob M.was super nice and helpful sitting outside. Food was great. Mac and cheese was the best. read more

Tonic - Beer flight - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Server held straw at top with his full bare hand, food took forever to get out, water was wicked murky. Place looked like ur average dive bar inside. read more

Tonic is a good option for food for those in the Foggy Bottom area. The food can be a hit or miss but is often on the better side. I highly recommend the Tim's Chicken Tots with BBQ sauce. Tonic is also mainly known for their tater tots. It is an absolute must whether you get their Totchos (tater tot nachos) or just a side of tots. In terms of setting Tonic is in a great location and has indoor and outdoor seating. It's often filled with working professionals during lunch and happy hour. During dinner you'll often see GW students as Tonic is in the center of GW's campus. Overall Tonic has good food and is a good fun option for those looking to enjoy a meal out. read more

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Great beer selection (including other half, triple crossing, and the veil on draft, and these beers are included in their happy hour at the time of posting of this review), tasty totchos, great happy hour beverage and snack options. Cozy bar vibe. Sit at the bar! read more

Tonic - Tim's Chicken Tots Totchos Triple Crossing Falcon Smash draft beers - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

If you like tater tots this is the place for you. Classic DC college restaurant and bar. I've always enjoyed the food, drink, and ambiance here. They can accommodate large groups but call ahead. read more

Happy hour! Just do it! The food isn't great (just think college bar everything). But I had a great time! Cheap drinks, our waiter was amazing and we had a large table for our friends. Couldn't really ask for more. read more

Tonic - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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We walked by and saw two available tables outside and one table someone was just leaving. So we decided to eat here. We are tourists and didn't know what's around. So we went inside and asked can we eat outside for 3 people. She said no and I couldn't hear why not. We wanted to eat outside as the music is very loud and the A/C was on. She did offer us upstairs but that wouldn't solve the A/C problem. So we left. Maybe couple of feet away there was an outdoor square. We sat down to look for another restaurant. Nothing close. And then I said why don't I order and we eat here. Waited about 30 minutes and then went to see if the food was ready. I told the lady at the front I'm waiting for the food. She said "ok". Another 10 minutes and I asked her how much longer. She told me the food is picked up at the back of the bar. So I went and of course it was ready and I was waiting for nothing. At lest she could have told me this sooner. Anyways the food was good and lots of it. But no napkins or cutlery. Even though I asked for it on the order. We had to use the nearby trees to clean our hands. It's a joke. But at the end I was really disappointed with the customer service. This restaurant is on a college campus and maybe that's why customer service sucks. read more

Tonic is a great pub in a historic pharmacy building. I love the retro atmosphere and the wide options of indoor and outdoor seating. I stopped here with my husband for lunch after attending a National Symphony Orchestra rehearsal at the Kennedy Center. It was a lovely day, so we decided to dine at Tonic on our way to walking down to the Mall of the Monuments. We were greeted as soon as we entered and given a high top near the bar. We order the house ale and blood orange cider to start. We enjoyed both while munching on the Cajun egg rolls. For our mains we ordered the Steak Department Salad and the Memphis Burger. All around solid food with a fun environment to just hang out and enjoy the day. We would comeback. Thanks! read more

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I was here on 6/10. I only bring this up because I didn't get the name of the nice lady behind the bar on the first floor and the receipt didn't have her name but she elevates the game here. At first I went to the third floor but found they didn't have any taps and bummed out that their wing HH special was no more so I closed out quickly and went downstairs. I was considering going somewhere else but it was raining so chose to sit at their main bar. It was busy but someone had just left and my new favorite bartender had just cleared it up and said I was good to go. I told her that I wanted something to start with and asked about the soup but she steered me towards the pork belly mac and cheese after confirming I'm big on the pig. I'm glad she did because it had that crisp, smoky texture on top of mac and cheese with even more cheese on it. Delicious and honestly something I probably would have overlooked. I asked her what she would get and she mentioned the bacon mac and cheeseburger, something that wasn't even on the menu and I should try it again next time since I had just had their m&c. I had no such reservations and unhesitatingly ordered it then and there and I have to say I was very happy with her recommendation there as well. Despite it being similar to what I just had, the bacon was different enough from the pork belly but still really good. I was going to order one of their house beers but she came through again saying I might be better off with their other house beer. I really got the sense that: 1) she obviously knew her stuff, 2) was a straight shooter 3) SUPER busy; she was behind the bar pouring and taking orders, she was in front of the bar also taking orders, I saw her walk out to the patio until someone else came in to take over. If it was a little less busy I suspect that she would have come by just to chat but she only SEEMED to be everywhere at once, which is good enough. Overall, it's a decent spot but that bartender, she single handedly gives this place an extra star. read more

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I love tonic! It was one of my favorite spots for happy hour when I was in graduate school and on a budget. The restaurant is usually very crowded during happy hour- but you can get drinks and specials at all of the tables and patio seating. We sat outside last time we came, and it was surprisingly, so cozy with the heaters. They have crispy tots and yummy totchos during happy hour, and they are very reasonably priced. The totchos are very filling and easy to share. I'm vegetarian so it's very easy to substitute the meat on the totchos with beans. They also have the best drink prices. During happy hour everything is affordable for rails, tap beers, and wine and frosé. Drink prices during happy hour range from $5-10. I definitely recommend if you're in foggy bottom looking for a quality happy hour on a budget. read more

Tonic - FROZE 16OZ - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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nice lounge area- upstairs does have a dedicated bar with a tender but the evening we went she had tons to be desired - drink so strong we couldn't finish (....service was soooo slow it would've taken the entire show to simply explain the problem so instead of wasting time we wasted a shit load of money which I'm not very happy about) vibe is very mellow yet eclectic, seating surprisingly comfortable. food was great (but I don't remember if it was pricey-sorry) read more

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The happy hour is classic! Great beer, great food and great vibes! Be nice to everyone and they'll be nice to you. A must eat and chill spot for anyone in the area or looking to be in the area. read more

Tonic - All American Burger - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Always reliable in a food desert area. Great house lager on tap and fried chicken sandwich. Lemonade to pizza (need to cook them more crisp). A popular locals and college hangout. Sometimes a business crowd. Great service and bar. In the historic and beloved Quigley's Pharmacy brick building. Nice outside when the weather works. The usual woke area signs but also some funny shirts. read more

Tonic - shirts - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The chicken totchos with Thai chili sauce were amazing. Our server Maegan was awesome. My drinks were strong. So why am I giving giving Tonic a measly one star? Because of one incredibly awful policy. I'm going to direct this straight to the management of Tonic. Your 3% "surcharge" is a truly terrible policy, one that makes your restaurant an absolute "no go" as long as you have it. The incredibly stupid thing is that there is an incredibly simple fix. Just. Raise. Your. Prices. Why not just make your $14.00 pulled pork sandwich $14.50? No one will care, and you get a 3.57% bump, instead of 3%. By using a surcharge, however, you get less, and are deceiving your customers by listing one price but really charging another. Yes, your menu says that you can ask your server to take it off, but nobody wants to have that uncomfortable conversation. We eat out to have fun, not to quibble over the check. Additionally, even though you state that it is not a gratuity, the simple fact is that many people who see this charge will offset it by lowering their tip, which turns this policy into the moral equivalent of wage theft from your hard working staff. Our server Maegan was awesome, and the idea of her getting denied tips, because you want to deceive customers to squeeze an extra buck or two out of them is unconscionable. We know that the costs of labor, food, power, rent, and virtually everything else has gone over the last few years, but the moral thing is to deal with that in the same way restaurants have for hundreds of years -- by simply raising your prices. And as much as we loved your totchos and had a good time, I can guarantee that we will never, ever be back until you do. read more

I'm in town until July 28th as I'm an intern for the National Press Club. Nothing much is really open for the summer so I decided to drop into Tonic. The place was kinda busy as there were a lot of college kids, which is typical since it is a college bar after all. I got a root beer and Charlie's Cheese fries to kind of save money. The food was good, and the soda filled me up, though it was in a bottle. Nothing wrong with that. Overall I'm giving this place three stars because the atmosphere of this place is mostly geared towards college kids, since it's right by GWU. The bartender who served me was really nice, but I can tell when a place is understaffed. I will come back again because I know they can do better. read more

Tonic - Charlie's Cheese Fries - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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The food came out incredibly fast, but other than that, the service was non existent and we had to ask for straws, water, napkins... And we placed our own order via the app. And at the end, the app has us pay, asking if we would prefer to tip 18%, 20%, or 25%. I choose and pay. Only afterwards do i notice that they had automatically applied 20% tip. So they straight up deceptively got us to give them extra money. Congrats on the extra few dollars, the coworkers and i will definitely never come back. read more

Currently eating here, put our orders in the app, got our food well before getting any drinks. Had to remind the server serval times for drinks. Watched a dog come in and immediately get a bowl of water before we got a drink. Food was fine but could definitely do better on the service end. read more

Stopped by Tonic last night for happy hour. We were seated outside in the tent area. There were large heaters in the outdoor area so we weren't cold! Happy hour wings are $0.99 each (min 6 must be purchased). We shared the Thai wing. Soooo good! Sweet and savory with a slight kick of heat, definitely 5/5. We also shared the Buffalo-spicy Mac and cheese. It was okay, nothing to brag about. It cost $3 extra for the 'spicy' part and it was nothing but jalapeños, 3/5. We also shared the "totchos" (tater tot nachos). Delicious and crispy! The loaded nacho toppings were on point too (guacamole, salsa, nacho cheese and sour cream). 5/5 The drink were pretty good too. $5 for a vodka sprite and $5 for a rum & coke. 4/5 (minus a star cause there was too much ice). All in all, we had a good experience here. I highly recommend if you're in the DC area (or visiting GWU like me)!! read more

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Sat at the bar before a comedy show at constitution hall. The service wasn't particularly fast but the drinks were excellent. We had the froze option and it wasn't sweet at all surprisingly tart and refreshing. Had some appetizers to share and hands down the wings were amazing. We got the sweet Thai chili and they were beyond mouthwatering. These weren't skimpy wings you get at some places they were phenomenal. Also had the sheet nachos those were so so the cheese tasted a little artificial so I'd probably pass on those but I'd go back just for those delectable wings. All in a great place to go if you're going to show especially with the slim pickings of nearby restaurants. The outside patio looked like an amazing spot to chill and next time I'd love to check that out. read more

Tonic - Froze slushy - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

What a surprise. We had an early dinner at Tonic and the pulled pork sandwich and tuna tempura were delicious as well as the famous tater tots, a trio of sauces came with them. The actual building had been a pharmacy for years and the restaurant retains the charm and funkiness of that time. Our server was delightful, knowledgeable and attentive. A must go!!! read more

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Best California burger I've eaten in eons, it was absolutely delicious and the staff were lovely with us. My friend is blind and she was treated respectfully and her dinner was exactly what she wanted and tasted great as well: grilled cheese sandwich, and tater tots add a tomato soup Yum! Thank you read more

Our food was okay, but the service was terrible. The host was not very nice when we walked in, and then when we were sat on the third floor, we were not greeted kindly. We were sat at a dirty table, didn't have silverware, and when we ordered an appetizer we didn't have any side plates to share. Our drinks took forever and the server forgot one of our meals, admitted that she forgot and did not apologize or comp that meal at all even though everyone else was finished with their food already. The food wasn't good enough for the service to be as bad as it was. read more

Tonic is about as average as you can get. The beers are fine, but the food is generally underwhelming. They have you order on a QR code and pay through the website, too; so there is not much to speak to in terms of the service. We ordered the beer flight and a draft Mexican beer. Two of the four beers in the flight were not great. We did really enjoy the sour beer, though. We ordered the Buffalo Chicken Tots, which were not good. The chicken was like reheated frozen chicken cubes. The buffalo sauce made the tots soggy. I had the fish tacos, which were average and fine. I ate 2 of the 3. The portion sizes are big. My fiancé had the Foggy Bottom fried chicken sandwich. It was also average, and he thought the chicken had a lot of batter and not much chicken. Overall, Tonic met our expectations (which were kinda low). We have been here multiple times before, and the food was never impressive. However, tonic stays busy because of the location and the bar. You'll see it packed here on the weekends. read more

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Tonic Bar & restaurant is a cool spot located in Foggy Bottom near GWU. They serve American comfort food. I came here for a social event. The food was amazing. For appetizers, their signature tater tots are great. They serve totchos - think taters tots and nachos. Simply delicious. The wings were good too. For main entree, I went with the Triple Cream burger and it was huge. The meat was flavorful and juicy. The meal was served with a side of potato fries. As a cool spot for young professionals, quality drinks are a must. It's a college bar after all. This place did not disappoint in this department. I had a Tonic Old fashioned of course. From presentation to taste, I was impressed. Pleasantly sweet, the cocktail had a nice blend of bourbon, sugar, bitters, topped with a cherry and an orange peel garnish. Balanced. Bold. Sippable. Well done. The service was good. The outdoor seating is spacious and cozy. The atmosphere is chill and relaxed. For a huge social event, the staffs were extremely nice and polite. They did their best to keep everyone orders coming out. Kudos for that! Overall, great food, drinks and great service! read more

Tonic - Old fashioned drink - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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The pizza on the kids' menu tasted like cheap frozen pizza. I wanted to try the frosé butv they were out of it.

Needed to attach a picture because sometimes nothing else hits like some chocolate chip pancakes and tots and it's convenient where not much else is nearby read more

Tonic - Chocolate chip pancakes w tots and sausage - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

We got there early for our reservation but were seated on the second floor right away. Had a nice college student as our waiter and despite being busy he was attentive. Our drinks came quickly as did our food. Hubby said the Thai Chili were some of the best he's had. The tater tots are their signature and did not disappoint. He had the TacoTots and they were yummy and plentiful. I had a basic burger and it was juicy and delish. Downside was that it was a little loud. But overall we enjoyed being in the heart of the GWU campus and the great college atmosphere. read more

Tim's Chicken Tots are good, better than average. Hippo's breakfast (just a name for the classic eggs, toast, side and meat side combo found in any diner uSA) is just average, or maybe a bit below average. Why: grits were very runny, almost like a soup; sausage tasted too strong/fatty which was a bit off-putting with the heaviness of the rest of the meal, although visually it looked above average. Prices are reasonable. The vibe is nice, especially the covered sidewalk-side patio. Good place to also watch sports and have beer on tap as well. read more

Had the nicest waiter. Good food, good atmosphere. No complaints. Great spot for weekday lunch with the family. read more

Tonic - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Food all tastes like what I'd imagine licking the grill at any time day or night would taste like . I also suspect no real butter has been used in the prep of my $13 grilled cheese. There is also a 3.5 "surcharge " added to the bill to cover "inflation ". read more

Tonic - These are the bugs on the ceiling over the booth next to us . - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Some experiences one remembers for a moment. Others one remembers for a lifetime. Still others transcend the boundaries of time, and embed themselves in the collective consciousness of a people. This was one of those moments. The food was inedible. The service, reprehensible. The sauce, incomprehensible. That this restaurant remains open is one of the great mysteries of life, rivalling questions like why does God allow suffering, what is the nature of consciousness, or how many throw pillows does one woman need. In 2016 my extended family and I walked into Tonic with the simple hope of sharing a meal that would satisfy us until the morning. Yet the memory still nourishes our conversations eight years later and will surely remain with us for a lifetime. read more

Came here with a large group and the staff were super accommodating! Cheese sauce on the Charlie's Cheese Fries was stellar. Great food, easy to talk and be heard. There's a neat book exchange on the second floor, which is a lovely touch. Overall, a cool, historical place to eat in Foggy Bottom! read more

Yummy tots, Mac n cheese and pulled pork. Food was good as were the drinks. Our server was attentive and friendly. Dine inside bc there is a rodent population outside that was noticeable in the evening. We did ask to move inside but there were no available tables. read more

Tonic - Pulled Pork Platter (subbed Tater Tots instead of slaw) - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Given that I've dined here for dinner and happy hour more times than I can remember, I am surprised that I've not left a review. Tonic used to have two locations. The one in the Mt. Pleasant residential neighborhood closed several years ago. This one has gone on strong---particularly because of its proximity to the George Washington University campus. During the period when school is in session, expect big crowds of college kids but also the downtown worker bees as well. There are two patios on either side of the building in which Tonic sits--an open one without a roof (but several umbrellas) and one area with a roof. Street metered parking on G Street is usually available (free on Sundays), but there's also a garage right next under the restaurant at 2028 G Street NW if you don't want the hassle of searching for a spot. I've mostly visited for happy hour with coworkers at my last job and now coworkers at my new job. The restaurant has delicious tots, bone-in and boneless wings, nachos with meat, and hummus plates on the happy hour menu. Also, $4 rail drinks (the only other place that I can think of that has drinks at that price is Recessions). It's always packed for happy hour, and the slightest indication of sunny weather and you're looking at tight standing room only, spilling half your drink to get to the rest of your group, and mostly being verbally hijacked by louder, drunker college students barking their drink orders. If you're looking for a quiet place to have a meal, go elsewhere during the happy hour time frame. There is quieter non-happy-hour table and booth seating on the 2nd and 3rd floors, but that's sometimes reserved for private parties and booked for special events (I've done a few for work myself). read more

Yes. This place is so dang good. I got here a little after noon on a Saturday, and they were still serving their brunch menu, which is honestly pretty expansive. I ordered the impossible burger with a house salad, and my friend got tots with her breakfast burrito, so I was able to taste some of those too. Everything was absolutely delicious. I usually don't even like fake meat that much but this burger was excellent. The salad was great, too, and the TOTS! Crispy, flavorful, just so so good. I will be coming back for those tots!!! read more

Stopped in for a business lunch today. Customer service was nonexistent, seems like maybe the staff got some bad news today or something because they all seemed to be in a mood. Do not order the pizza, the crust is paper thin and wont hold together the toppings. Great place for cheap drinks and college kids but otherwise I would not recommend. read more