One-star is generous. Of all the restaurants in the Eastern Market area, this place easily boast the worst service combined with mediocre food and average drinks. Frankly, if you just want bar food at an ok price-- this place is fine. The problem with Tunnicliff's Tavern is the staff. The staff members are not friendly, not intelligent, and can be extremely rude. They can make getting an average burger into a nightmare. There are lost of places to eat and drink in around Eastern Market. SKIP this place-- you won't regret it. read more

The first time I walked by Tunnicliffs I thought the place was getting raided, there were so many cop cars outside. Now that I live here, my hypothesis is that this is just a local bar where the cops occasionally hang out. I live right up the street, and this is a great place to meet up with people after work for a drink, or hell, if you just want a drink by yourself and not look like an alcoholic. Their specials change quite a bit, but I think on Tuesday/Thursdays it's half off Makers Mark or something ridiculous like that. Bourbon rocks anyone? I haven't tried enough of their normal food to say yay or nay. Burgers and wings I've had for dinner have been good, but nothing super memorable (and not as cheap as I would like, but this is Emkt area). It's like SB said, I don't come here in association with Eastern Market (Tunnicliffs brunch is nothing to write home about). Tunnicliffs always has awesome service. The bartenders are sarcastic without being surly. They're attentive enough, but not annoying. You'll always be perched next to someone interesting from the neighborhood if you sit at the bar. It's a great mix of ppl (young and old! no weird I'm-being-hit-on-by-married-men thing here *ahem*Georgetown*ahem*) People are actually FRIENDLY in Tunnicliffs. It's utterly bizarre. Note: Poor Tunnicliffs lost their liquor license for a couple weeks. Will be back just in time for the new year though! read more

We stopped in while at the Eastern Market because it was about 90 outside. We decided to eat inside because we needed AC. The server was nice and very attentive. I have grilled cheese, my mom had a club sandwich and my sister had a chicken sandwich. All 3 were really good and the bill was reasonable. The only downside is the bathroom, they have 2 one stall bathrooms that are unisex. They were also kind of gross and very dive barish. read more

I prefer Tunnicliff's as a brunch place rather than as a bar. The staples of brunch are the breakfast burrito with huge chunks of chorizo or the crab omelettes. The portions are generous and the prices are reasonable, and the service is decent. I especially like sitting outside during nicer days and just people-watching as people walk to and from church, cafes, Eastern Market, jog, etc. It's a prime location for that. On less than perfect weather days, the plastic see-through tarp provides ample protection from rain and cold, and the heat lamps work fine (though it's better to sit right next to them). As a bar, the few times I went, it was just ok. I went once for dinner, and it took forever to get a server to seat me, and the food was not as good as its brunch fare. I went a few times to watch a couple of football games, and I think I prefer other bars in the area (in terms of size of TVs, beer selection, seating space, atmosphere, etc.). Having learned this about my preferences, I think Tunnicliff's is a solid brunch option on the weekends, and when I lived close by, I regularly took my out-of-town guests there for Sunday brunch, followed by Eastern Market shopping and Capitol Hill strolling. read more

Dark walls, wood beam running down the length of the ceiling. Definitely a mellow place to catch a drink during a hot Eastern Market excursion. Loved staring into Billy Clinton's eyes (picture on the wall) as I sipped my Peroni. Food looked delicious, maybe will try next time. read more

This place is a mellow place to have a few pints on a weeknight. On the whole I can't think of anything particularly distinguishing about the place, but the service is good and the prices aren't ridiculous. I can't speak about the food as I haven't managed to make it past the beer course yet. read more

When people say, 'Oh my, the salad was awesome' I always say to myself, 'A salad, HOW? I think I understand now. I had the black and blue and it was AWESOME. It looked so good that I dug right I before getting a photo. If you want to know what an awesome salad tastes like, try this one. I went on a Wednesday around 130p. It wasn't crowded and the service was professional and quick. The only thing that concerned me was being charged for adding red onions. I've always believed that if there are extra charges associated with an order, the customer should be told in advance. Also, the DC bag fee should be charged when a bag is needed, not just an automatic charge already added before it's determined if the customer wants/needs it. Being me, I expressed my concern and it was received. I'll be back to try many other interesting menu options. read more

I highly recommend this place for brunch, I ordered a burger rather than breakfast food which was a mistake. I tried my friend's omelets and they were fabulous ... the fresh OJ is a must. I also had lunch here once and it was very good. I like the atmosphere. It is a great place to dine at while in the Eastern Market area on the weekends. read more

Continually on the hunt for a good brunch, I spent a beautiful Sunday morning with a few friends at Tunnicliff's, opposite the bustle of Eastern Market. I'd been once before for a pleasant but unmemorable drinks/dinner, but the Farmer's Omelet (mashed potatoes, bacon, cheese, onions, topped in sour cream) might prompt a return visit. The breakfast burrito, french toast, and bagel with smoked salmon were also ordered at my table, and all looked worthy. The service was workmanlike and the food unpretentious (Q: "What kind of bagel comes with the salmon?" A:"Plain jane."; Q: "Do you have iced coffee?" A:"Well, we have coffee and we have ice."), but it was relatively inexpensive and unrushed. Certainly deserves a try if you're in the area. read more

The food was pretty good. But when it came down to paying the bill, my party and I encountered some problems. It was three of us, and we decided to split the bill (since the waiter never asked us). One member of the party was paying for her portion on a card, while me and the other person paid with cash. Our cash total ended up being around $35 combined for our food, the remaining portion would be paid on the card. We explained this to the waiter, which he seemed to understand since it doesn't seem like a difficult concept. Bad assumption. He came back to the table asking did we want the change, we said no and the other member signed the receipt and we left. A day or two later she realized that the ENTIRE bill was charged to her card, and that the waiter pocketed our $35 as a tip! Who does that? We explained very throughly HOW we wanted to pay and he came back to the table with the money kind of balled up in his hands. I thought it was the change from our meal, not the entire $35. So, the food was good, but the sheisty waiter who steals money made this meal a sour one. read more

Given the amount of places to get good brunch in this town, this is one that's not worth going out of your way for. If you've made it to Eastern Market on the weekend, then you're probably looking for some Mimosas or Bloody Mary's, which this place has and does pretty well. The rest of the menu, however, sounds a lot better than the food tastes. I've had a burger and the grilled cheese -- they were about as average as average gets. It does have a patio that allows dogs, but you won't be able to get a table for more than 2 for brunch without a bit of a wait. The place is pretty chill at any other time. Rumor is true: they are unisex bathrooms but one of them has a urinal. They should really just invest in men/women signs. read more

Excellent little gem in the Eastern Market area. A friend told me once in passing their brunch was impossible to get a seat in and I had to try it. The french toast is amazing, although I'm sure able to shave a few years off my life for the sweetness and sugar included! Potatoes leave something to be desired, and the boyfriend reported that the omelets were good. Do yourself a favor and try to go in bad weather - you'll get a seat faster with the market not being a zoo! read more

There are many reasons to visit Tunnicliff's Tavern, but even more reasons to return. The food is delicious. The bar and restaurant are clean and welcoming. The reason my husband and I keep returning and bringing our friends, though, is the service. The staff is attentive, friendly, and engage the customers. It isn't an anonymous experience. Overall, we love this place and will be returning again and again...if only to see what Danielle has posted on the chalkboard. read more

Ordered a burger during COVID 19 and it was cooked perfectly and the gentleman who was working could not have been more kind. Support local business! read more

No matter how many pizza places open on the Hill, Tunnicliffs has the best. Thin crust loaded with great ingredients. Get the Mediterranean and a Greek salad. You won't be disappointed! Alison read more

We stumbled on this hidden treasure 2 weeks ago as a plan B when our go to's on the neighboring 8th street were ridiculously packed with long wait. I was skeptical but let my friend choose in attempts to try something new. It didn't look like much from the outside but with the beautiful weather as we approached we saw that the tiny patio was jammed pack. We really wanted to eat outside but with no visable seating we walked inside, we were greeted by friendly hostess and were immediately sat since there were only 2 other tables sat with a few stragglers at the bar. Our immediately came over and offered suggestions and took our orders. It didn't take long for our food to come out and she frequently checked on us and kept the unlimited craft of mimosas filled, even answered our prayers to go light on the OJ and heavy on the champagne! I had the breakfast burger, which just your regular smegular breakfast burger. However my friend had the pancakes that I absolutely had to try and they were amazing, ultimately ordering a single pancake for an additional $4.00 which I thought was a tad high but totally worth it! I will definitely return on purpose just for those pancakes, too bad that it doesn't come as a complete meal. You have to add on everything else paying additional $3 i.e.; eggs, meat, just to make it into a complete meal. read more

Tunnicliff's is a good neighborhood bar. They probably are best known for the brunch, tasty omelettes and a yummy breakfast sandwich are among the offerings, but the non-brunch food is good too. As far as food allergies go, I'm happy to say I've had better experiences here than other reviewers. I can't eat dairy and they are always great about making sure to hold the cheeses, creams, etc. and are very understanding. But at the end of the day, Tunnicliff's is what it is: a neighborhood gem with good, not great, food that can cure any hangover, decent service, strong drinks and great people watching. read more

When I arrived my friends and I had just missed brunch by about 30 minutes. I heard the brunch was delicious, but we still decided to get a bite to eat for lunch. Best. Choice. Ever. I opted for the grilled cheese with the braised short ribs and caramelized onions, sooo good!!! On my next trip to the Eastern Market I will definitely be stopping in again and ordering the same thing!!! read more

Had brunch here last Saturday after deciding the line at Tortilla Cafe was too long (and we were too hungry). Even though it was a bitter cold Saturday afternoon the restaurant was pretty busy. We ordered drinks and brunch at the bar - I ordered the crab omelette and my bf ordered the steak and eggs, both of which come with home fries. I am not a big omelette person but was craving eggs that day. I liked the omelette but it was expecting a little more filler inside. However, the crab meat was tasty, just the right amount of old bay. The home fries here are excellent. BF enjoyed the steak, eggs were sunny side up, nice and runny (ewww). Unfortunately the mimosas are not bottomless but not necessarily a deal-breaker. $5 each and the bartender made them strong (3/4 bubbly, 1/3 OJ). Several beers on tap and also have a two-page drink menu. Overall, I liked the food, atmosphere and warmth of this place. Glad we tried this place on accident, would definitely go back. read more

Tunnicliff's is a decent enought place but it's just not something I get excited about. The food is decent, the wine is OK, and the service is acceptable. Sitting outdoors (even in the winter) is fine because the heaters actually keep it cozy. The wait for dinner is usually long which baffles me because the food is not amazing. Overall, it's fairly inexpensive which is a plus. Tunnicliff's is the sort of place you go if on a Friday or Saturday night and you've no reservations to go anywhere else. You can't go wrong for coming to Tunnicliff's but there are much better places to go in Capitol Hill. read more

We eat here for lot because of the proximity to my office. Its a great place to have a quick lunch meeting, the food is pretty decent, though nothing thats going to change your life. I recommend the Tuna Steak Sandwich or the Turkey Club with French Fries. The one exception is going in for the weekend brunch, which is delicious. I like the New English Breakfast personally, but their original benedict dishes are fantastic as well. read more

This was a pretty decent meal. It looked prettier than it tasted. Thick burgers, really nice egg-wash on the tops of the buns, but overall, just good burgers. I got the TUnnicliff's burger with special sauce, which was an interesting marinara sauce, but nothing spectacular. Burger and fries were $10.95, which I thought was a little much. They had a few interesting beers on tap. Overall, it was fine service, and an OK meal, but I'd recommend Mr. Henry's over Tunnicliff's. read more

Lively downtown sports bar with decent food. I thought it was very down to earth, very comfortable, and a wide variety of choices on the menu. I had the wings. But again, you could have a pile high salad, a number of different sandwiches and burgers, and a number of deserts. The scenery is very young and vibrant. Give it a shot...or two. read more

I'm visiting from out of town and stopped in to grab a drink, food and watch the NHL playoff game. I sat at the high top table by the bar. I observed two male wait staff and bartender. Not one person stopped by my table to great me, offer a menu or beverage. Several more customers arrived and sat at empty tables around me and were offered menus, served food & drinks. I watched one 45 min period of the game and left. Terrible service & I won't ever come back. read more

Neighborhood Bar at its finest. The people watching is ... something to cherish. read more

Had a great brunch here today. Got greeted & seated right away and the waiter was very pleasant & attentive. We got two Irish Coffees that had just the right ratio of coffee and whiskey for only $5 each! Also, the breakfast burrito ($10) was really simple and delish. The atmosphere was pleasant and you really can't beat that they are right next to Eastern Market which is definitely a fun place to go on a Saturday morning. Definitely coming back and bringing more friends next time. read more

Great plane to watch baseball!! Great chicken sandwich. Bartenders Very friendly. . A must place to go. St. Louis bar in DC

Great bar, good food in a local neighborhood. Absolute must and walkable to Capital Hill

This spot typically offers good food and service at reasonable prices. Omelettes and sandwiches are definitely smart choices. For brunch items served with "eggs any style" be sure to specify! Our waiter went with the assumption of poached. read more

Been there for Eastern market on a Sunday, saw the review on yelp and went in, the front porch is small, once I entered, wow, they have a great bar, nice collection of beers ... very good scotch... I tried the chili-cheese burger, the meat was ( medium! ) cooked properly and the chili tasted great, fries were good...what else do you need on sunday afternoon after two beers !!! will go back to this place for sure if am in the area... read more

I enjoyed pancakes and home fries from my friend's plate. There were five of us and we all very much enjoyed our brunch. As a vegetarian I still had three options to choose from and was happy with the pancakes! Our server was so lovely and friendly. I'd recommend coming here for brunch and will be trying out other times/menu here. Atmosphere was nice. Small old building with low lighting. Tables were clean and it felt warm inside. read more

The other day I forgot my wallet, which is really just my ID and credit cards secured with a rubberband at home. My buddy drove in to drop it off (I left my big boy pants at home that morning) and I offered lunch as a rescue payment. We parked at Eastern Market and he told me about visionary burgers at this joint. I had no idea, was grateful and hungry enough to eat even a Dunkin Donuts breakfast patty, so I followed him to Tunnicliff's Tavern. 3 stars later, I'd leave Tunnicliff's as a joint to get a beer and find something inside the market to indulge in. Not bad, good fries, and big burgers, but better options in town. read more

This is a great place to stop into if you are in Eastern Market. Since DC was built on swamp and is blazing hot this place calls you in for a break from the muggy humidity. Tunnicliff has a wide selection of food for their menu. I think that they do breakfast/brunch the best. Our food was great but it was jsut as fun to watch the trays of food go whizzing by. I was hooked with their home fries. I have a big love for home fries and they were perfect- tender boiled potato that was slightly crisped on the cook-top with plenty of seasoning and peppers and onions. perfect way to catch yoke from eggs or eat plain. Service was fine with friendly service, enough time to select our food, quick turn around for drinks and refills for our waters. But the time it took for prep was longer than anticipated for the amount of people in the place, maybe they just hit a rush and we saw the end of it but keep an eye on the time for your food. read more

One of the first brunches of my adult life came at Tunnicliff's several years ago. I was in DC visiting a friend and she had raved about the french toast at this cute little brunch spot in Capitol Hill. Of course I didn't get the french toast, but opted for the crab omelet instead. I couldn't help myself...I love crabs. This past Sunday I was in DC again visiting that same friend. We woke up a tad torn up from a night of celebration at Little Miss Whiskey's and were slow to move on with the day. Everyone agreed we were hungry and that a quick brunch was in order before we all traveled back to where we belonged, so it was decided that we'd be going to old reliable Tunnicliff's. We were seated immediately and overall I had no complaints about the service. Coffee/waters were refilled whenever empty and our food came out reasonably quick. This time I switched it up and ordered the Eggs Chesapeake (two poached eggs w/ lump crab meat, hollandaise sauce & home fries). (See? I do love crabs.) It was good, but nothing special. and I couldn't really see myself longing for it anytime soon. Another person ordered the Mediterranean omelet and was disappointed to find whole slices of tomato stuffed carelessly in between the folds of egg whites. Other than the food being just average the place itself is pretty nice. If I were ever to live in that area of DC I'd definitely know my go-to spot to catch the game and drink beer. They have outdoor seating on the sidewalk as well, which they keep covered and heated in the winter. read more

I've been coming here a few times a year for 5 years now. Nothing that blows your mind, just good food and good service. Eggs benedict are good for brunch, and you really can't beat their $2 yuengling happy hour! The spinach and artichoke dip with the oven bread is pretty much the only thing I order though. It comes out piping hot and gets devoured in minutes. read more

Tunnicliff's Tavern - Spinach and artichoke dip with oven bread - Salad Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This is a great spot for meeting a bunch of people for brunch. They have a large dining room and patio, which can accommodate many different party sizes. The service is great, they are very attentive, friendly and quick. I had the crab omelette which was delicious. It was the perfect size portion, and I didn't feel completely stuffed after leaving -- which often happens after brunching. Though the food was great, I would not recommend coming here if you are looking for delicious boozy drinks. The Bloody Mary's taste like salty watered down tomatoes and the mimosas are made with both the cheapest orange juice and champagne found. read more

The food was good, but not worth the wait. Seated immediately, ordered quickly... Waited 35 minutes for food. We were the last table seated on the patio, and the first to get food. I cannot imagine how frustrated the peole before us were. Good place for locals and tourists alike. Fun to watch the market crowd stroll by. Order what you want to drink for the entire meal when you first order; refills are impossible to come by. Last thing, order the French toast!!!! read more

3.5 stars Dogs can sit right outside the patio. Surprisingly good brunch. Not that it's great or anything... I just had low expectations for the food the first time I walked into Tunnicliff's. It certainly looks like a "Tavern". Anyway... whatever the omelet is with chili in it is quite good. read more

Best late night restaurant in the area. Our Folger theater group usually comes here. Excellent prices and food. Bathrooms could use some work though... read more

I've visited this restaurant on various occasions and generally enjoyed my meal. Today ordered the crab cake benedict and was extremely disappointed in the amount of crab they put on the meal. Could barely see or taste the meat. Seriously the crab cake was paper thin. Hardly worth the cost of $12.95. Feel like I've been robbed. Im sure they know better so they should do better. read more