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    Tonic

    3.1 (987 reviews)
    Open 11:30 am - 10:00 pm

    Order Tonic Takeout or Delivery

    Services - Tonic

    Bartending services

    Catering services

    On-site management services

    2 More Services

    Post-event cleaning services

    Venue rental

    Tonic Photos

    Business Info

    TONIC ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Classy
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Tonic

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    Reviews With Photos

    Smoked salmon burger and tots
    Angie K.

    I came here with a fairly large group for an event. The servers were all friendly, it was an order at the bar or with your phone sort of arrangement it seemed. The upstairs was a nice sized space for an event. Decided to order some food. I got the salmon burger and the tater tots. The tater tots were delightful. The salmon burger was disappointing. It claimed it was a smoked salmon burger and really just seemed more like the frozen salmon burgers I can buy at Costco. Preparation was decent at least and it wasn't over cooked and did I mention tater tots? There was also a pre-added gratuity which is fine, but a bit sneaky since there were also lines for additional tip. It's likely worth a visit when I'm not there for a large group event, so I'll have to give that a shot and order something else, with tater tots!

    Chef's Smoking Pork Belly
    Rue M.

    This is a Foggy Botton staple in NW DC, just minutes from my preferred hotel. It's SO cozy and perfect for an easy date night. It's in a college enclave, but does not feel exclusive or a study hall extension - so all kind of folks were in there. Hubby and I came in on a chilly evening and enjoyed a few warm, savory bites and a night cap. That night, it was all about the tater tots with the dipping sauce trios! The pork belly was interesting, but a bit more saucy than I'd prefer, so maybe next time I'll ask for sauce on the side. The wings were wings - nothing exceptional, but did the job. The highlights were the warm service from the hostess stand to our server, and the free library nook in our booth - a nod to the nearby GW University college vibe.

    Tots and chicken sandwich
    Lauren F.

    The tots here are excellent! The rest of the food doesn't do much for me, but you can't go wrong ordering any of their tots, especially the loaded ones. I appreciate that this is a very niche review, but sometimes a place does one specific thing really well. There is a lot more space upstairs, so it's an easy spot to grab a bite.

    Small mac and side of tots.
    Fiona Z.

    Good service, good and crispy tots, decent mac and cheese. 20% gratuity with a 4.75% surcharge not out of the norm for D.C. I was pleasantly surprised by how good their mac and cheese was since reviews seemed to vary. The mac and cheese was surprisingly creamy although not particularly cheddar cheesy, so if you're expecting a sharper cheese taste, this may not be the mac and cheese for you. The mini mac ($11) was fairly filling and paired with a side of tots ($5), I was set.

    ugh
    Jessica S.

    Came for a game and a drink (maybe snack) but settled for the last 15 min of a game (took 10-20min just to talk to someone and had the TV channel changed). Once we got our drink orders in, everything was smooth, though. The weekend day time food menu is extremely limited with only brunch options (limited appetizers or snacks), so we ended up skipping a snack and just settled on our draft drinks. The brunch menu seemed good, just not there for hours of eating, just something to pair with our alcohol and munch on while watching the game. In this sense it was a disappointing bar/pub experience.

    Dilcia's Wrap
    Samantha G.

    Had a great birthday dinner experience. Place was cute, staff was (mostly) friendly and service was fast. All you can really ask for in a restaurant. Lots of options, just picture you typical bar/American/finger food, with a couple of zesty items such as taco salad and coconut curry tofu. Great gluten free options, they make it very clear which options are GF which is extremely helpful. They do in fact charge for birthday desert which is dumb.

    Frose, Tim's Chicken Tots, & SD French Fries
    Stokes S.

    Tonic Happy Hour is hands down one of the most underrated spots in DC! It's super convenient for college students like me, but honestly, it's the perfect happy hour for anyone. My friends and I have made it a weekday ritual to hit the Tonic patio, unwind, and grab some drinks and food! The standout for me has to be their signature chicken tots with mambo sauce. Pretty much everything on their happy hour menu is under $10, which makes it an incredible deal, especially given the quality of the food and drinks. Even outside of happy hour, their regular menu delivers solid portions, great flavors, and something for everyone. Whether you're there for a quick bite or a full dinner, you really can't go wrong with Tonic!

    Azam's first lemon drop martini...delicious!!
    Debs v.

    We had a great small meal at Tonic! We sat at the bar and Azam was our bartender. She was very fun and sweet! I ordered a lemon drop martini and after she served it to me, she let me know that she had only been bartending for two weeks and this was her first lemon drop martini...and she wanted honest feedback on it. Honestly, she nailed it! It was perfect! Not overly sweet, but not crazy strong. Of course I ordered two! My husband ordered the pale ale that was on tap and he said it was delicious (also ordered a second!). We got the tater tots appetizer and we split a hamburger. Both were tasty and fresh. Azam was quick to bring me a side of the burger sauce upon request. I've already recommended Tonic to a friend who is coming to DC next month!! I wish they had better merchandise to purchase because I thought a shirt with their name would be cool, but they only had shirts with funny sayings on them. Maybe next time!! Tonic has a cool neighborhood vibe to it! If I lived here, I'd totally hang out here!!

    Andrea U.

    This college bar is on the George Washington University campus. There are two floors of diners and lots of tables inside and out. This is an old historic pharmacy that's turned into a casual restaurant bar. Happy to walk in from the National Mall and be able to get a table for lunch A Very nice casual lunch menu with a big bar. They are known for their tater tot and they have a whole top menu, including tater tot covered in nachos. My husband ordered salad and I ordered a California veggie burger with tots of course. Ainsley, our server took good care of us. My burger was very good. I enjoyed the tater tots with the three different dipping sauces. My husband wasn't impressed with his nacho salad. Lunch was generous and reasonable, but we were surprised at 3% surcharge was added to our bill .

    The Spread: Tim's Chicken Tots ($7), Tater Tots ($8), and Nachos with Taco Beef ($9)
    Kristen H.

    Tonic at Quigley's is a charming bar situated right outside the heart of George Washington University's campus. Formerly known as the Quigley Pharmacy, this small bar utilizes all levels of its historic building, including a take-out counter, a private function room, and ample outdoor seating. The decor captures the history of the building and GWU through vintage photos, period elixir and tonic advertisements, and fun GW memorabilia, all complemented by several televisions for viewing Colonials basketball games or other programs. With hardwood furnishings and a patio perfect for hot summer days, Tonic offers a cozy yet vibrant atmosphere. We made a reservation for seven people for a Thursday at 6pm, and it was a good call, as the restaurant and patio were nearly full. Happy Hour runs on weekdays until 7pm, offering most drinks and shareable appetizers for less than $10--a fantastic deal. They have a convenient system where you can order through your phone by scanning a QR code, with the option to order as a group or individually. We chose to order three appetizers as a group and each got our own drinks. The drinks arrived within five minutes, and my friends enjoyed their various selections. The standout was the $6 Frose, an adult slushie made with "Frozen house rose, agave syrup, and seasonal fruit puree." The house red and various beers were also hits among my friends. The appetizers were a pleasant surprise! We shared Tim's Chicken Tots ($7), described as "fried boneless chicken bites tossed in your favorite tonic sauce." We tried every sauce on the side, including "Bernie's Spicy, BBQ, Extra Stupid Hot!, Mambo, sweet Thai chili, Old Bay, blue cheese or ranch." Our favorites were Bernie's Spicy, Sweet Thai Chili, and the daring "Extra Stupid Hot!" which packs a nice kick. The chicken, resembling popcorn chicken, was crispy and came in a takeout box reminiscent of Chinese takeout. We also enjoyed their Tater Tots ($8), which were perfectly deep-fried and crispy. Lastly, we ordered the Nachos ($9), which comes with your choice of Taco Beef (we chose this), chicken, or Spicy Tofu, along with homemade cheese sauce, shredded cheese, tortilla chips, salsa, guacamole, black beans, jalapeños, shredded lettuce, and diced tomatoes. This was a mountain of food! The chips retained a lovely crunch, and the fresh toppings and meat were generous, especially for the price. Overall, we had a fantastic time at Tonic. Their happy hour offerings are unbeatable, the service is snappy, and the food and drinks are excellent. Tonic is a must-visit in the GWU area!

    Outdoor patio
    Madison N.

    Tonic is always a great spot to grab a drink and some appetizers. Great selection and happy hour prices. Service can be slow but everyone is always very nice, friendly, and the tater tots are great! Patio outside is also dog friendly.

    Boneless wings and  fries
    Rhy F.

    This is a pub style spot. The drinks are hit and miss- I feel they don't have a good happy hour special at all. The outdoor tables need to be replaced they are so sticky to me that it feels yucky. The burgers are really good. This is a okay gathering spot but can get very crowded inside.

    Susan S.

    Stopped in for a beer. I had the Other Half Green Flowers. BF had the DC Brau Public Ale. Beers were $8-9.50 for 16 oz pour. Bartender gave us a taste of a pumpkin beer which is not my fave. Older Cute pub with character. Didn't try the food.

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    3 years ago

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

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    Page 2 of 25

    Tonic Reviews in Other Languages

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    4.1(405 reviews)
    0.9 miDupont Circle

    Had a delicious birthday dinner here last night. I highly recommend the mussels as an appetizer…read more The lamb Bolognese was delicious and they were very accommodating for food allergies. Service by Natalie made the whole experience a perfect night! I'll be back next time I'm in DC.

    Fantastic New American / European restaurant in a gorgeous space. I visited the Pembroke as part of…read morea work team dinner during Restaurant Week, and we were thoroughly impressed by the quality of the food, super friendly service, and great ambiance. The space is gorgeous; I love all the plants, and the light brown, light blue, and white color combination for their furniture makes the space look classy and modern. The light brown leather couches are comfortable, and I love the way they circle around the tables to create a natural, cozy booth. Our food was just as beautiful as the space. The Restaurant Week menu comes with an appetizer, main, and dessert. Given how indecisive I can be (and how expansive the normal menu is), I was grateful to have my choices narrowed down a bit. I started off my meal with the octopus. The octopus was remarkably tender and not overly chewy, and had a delightful char that gave it a slightly smoky flavor. They double downed on the smokiness with their burnt chili oil, which, alongside the lemon and salsa verde, gave the dish a wonderfully balanced smoky, savory, and slightly acidic flavor. The crushed potatoes had a lovely crispy shell on the outside and served as a great base for the tender octopus. The main course was probably the easiest choice of the evening -- I'm absolutely obsessed with branzino, so the second I saw it on the Restaurant Week menu, I knew that was what I had to get. The fish is beautifully broiled, with a nice, crispy skin and super tender, flaky flesh. It's topped with a few pieces of roasted garlic and a wedge of lemon. The fresh lemon juice, as well as the lovely side salad, offered a great pop of freshness to bring the whole dish together. And finally, for our dessert, I chose the chocolate torta. This wonderful dessert is remarkably rich and decadent, with a strong dark chocolate flavor. It's topped with a lovely marsala date sauce and scoop of sheep's yogurt ice cream, but still doesn't feel overly sweet. The sheep's yogurt in the ice cream offers a bit of tanginess, and I loved the addition of the candied walnuts for a bit of crunch.

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    The Pembroke - Nice ambiance but disappointingly fake plants

    Nice ambiance but disappointingly fake plants

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    Proper Bar - Pasta prawn dish

    Proper Bar

    4.1(42 reviews)
    1.7 mi

    Came here with 3 of my friends while I was visiting DC from out of town and it ended up being the…read moreperfect spot to celebrate two of our birthdays. It was a newer restaurant so they had adjusted the menu/food a bit from what I saw online but everything was incredible. Katelynn was our waitress and she was the super sweet and made the whole experience feel easy and special. Food and drinks were all really good, and they gave us free champagne to celebrate and then they decorated the dessert we ordered to make the celebration even better. Overall a fun night with amazing food and ambiance!

    My good girlfriend was coming down from Baltimore and wanted to meet up for drinks and light bites…read more She's known for picking trendy, cute spots, so no surprise that we ended up at Proper Bar. A few people kept asking if we were going to Proper on F St or Proper on K St, both sports bars, and up until the day of I thought maybe they were affiliated. That was far from the truth... and honestly, once you walk in, you'll get why Drinks & Food I wasn't planning to drink since I haven't really been drinking lately, but I decided to go for a tequila espresso martini, and I'm glad I did. It was smooth, balanced, and honestly just really good. My friend ordered a Paper Plane, which she loved. For bites, we shared the chicken nuggets with caviar (yes, nuggets and caviar... and yes, they were delicious) and the lemon garlic shrimp, which was flavorful and perfectly cooked. Everything we ordered hit the mark. Prices are about what you'd expect for K Street and the overall vibe. Think $20-$25 cocktails, $20+ appetizers, and $35+ entrees. Portions, both drinks and food, lean on the smaller side, which is probably the only thing that might make you pause and wonder if it's slightly overpriced. ‍ Service Service was great. Our server checked on us regularly without hovering and offered helpful suggestions when we asked. Everything came out timely, and we felt taken care of throughout the night. Ambiance This is where Proper really shines. I walked into a cute, ground-level, dimly lit lounge with an opulent bar and a man playing the piano, which set the tone for the whole evening It felt upscale but still welcoming. Perfect for a romantic date night or a girls' night with your closest friends when you want to feel a little fancy. Overall The food, drinks, and vibes were so good that I completely forgot to take pictures, which almost never happens That alone says a lot. Proper Bar is a spot I'd return to when I'm in the mood for good cocktails, a stylish atmosphere, and a polished night out.

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    Lounge seating

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