Screwtop Wine Bar

Met a friend on Sunday evening for a glass of wine and apps. The wine (sauvignon blanc) was good, and salad was fine (at $ 11.50, it mostly kale and mixed greens-​barely any avocado or sunflower seeds… kinda pricey I thought for what I got). The staff was clearly harried– it took several attempts to get someone to take our order for food as well as getting a second glass of wine. So it was fine, but not amazing.

3.5 wine bar, but I’ll bump them up for a reason to be revealed LATER!!!
Have you been to a wine bar that also doubles as a restaurant? You know, the one with the bottles against one wall so you can buy more of what you drank after you’ve gotten a little tipsy? Yeah, this is one of those places. It’s pretty cool, overall, but I’m not a wine guy, so this is kind of lost on me. However…
They give you 4 sliders! This might not seem like much, but I’ve ordered sliders and received places with 2 sliders way too often. Usually you get 3. But here, you get 4… Well, it’s also because they don’t give you fries, but hey, I’ll take the 4^th slider.
I probably should just go to a burger bar.

Love this place! Romantic and I really enjoy the champagne flights. Try the nachos, they’re amazing! Awesome for date night or time out with the girls.

This may be may favorite wine bar in the DC Metro Area, and I’ve been to quite a few!
It had been awhile since I went to Screwtop, but I grabbed dinner here with two girlfriends the other night. Happy to say that the quality of the food and drinks are just as good as I remembered.
The South Africa Red Wine flight was fantastic — I even enjoyed the Pinot Noir, which I typically do not. Also had one of the best sandwiches ever (the Seasonal Grilled Cheese — absolutely delicious!)
The space is small, so waiting for a table is pretty much the norm (especially on a Friday or Saturday night). I’ve visited Screwtop with a group of friends, on a date with my fiancé, and with family. It’s great for all.
They also have a parking garage underneath the restaurant with free parking. If you can snag a spot, it’s super convenient.
Some of their wine prices are a little pricey, but you definitely pay for the quality. Great selection overall.

Their truffle oil Mac and cheese is divine. However, it comes in the tiniest portion size. Definitely wouldn’t be enough food for a main course. Comes in a dessert sized bowl with a side of salad.
Small, cute spot. Definitely good for a date spot, very intimate. I’d feel uncomfortable being here with someone you’re not into though, lol.

Best tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwich I’ve had in a long time! Ordered ahead for a quick pick-​up and the soup was still hot when we got it. It’s quaint inside and they have Cranberry Sangria! Will definitely be back again soon.

I walk past Screwtop on my walk to Gold’s Gym. It also smells so good!
I had been there previously for wine flights, but I decided to go with a friend for dinner. We ordered a bottle of rose, and I got the maple bourbon chicken panini — yum! It came with a side salad which was essentially just some lettuce.
I came back a few weeks later with a bunch of girl friends for a wine night. We got flights, ordered bottles, and got dinner. I wasn’t super impressed with the food this time around. I got the greek salad — which was good, but nothing amazing — and a shrimp dish. The shrimp was scorching hot and a bit overcooked. The sauce also had a strange sting to it that didn’t seem to compliment the shrimp very well.
The overall consensus was that while this was a great environment for a girls’ night, the food wasn’t as good as we thought it would be based on how amazing it always smells and how much they charge for it. Some other dishes that were ordered were nachos, BBQ sandwich, goat cheese and bread, and grilled cheese with tomato soup. I heard the grilled cheese is the best option on the menu!

This is a delightful place to have a sophisticated experience with «that special someone» or a bunch of them. There are a ton of wines to pick from and they are a tad more expensive than what you might get down the street at the Cheesecake Factory. Then again, the quality is a bit higher and the staff is more than equipped to help you pick the perfect pairing.
Speaking of pairings, the are also «small plates» to accompany the wines. A few things about them… Firstly, the plates are huge wooden affairs that look more like dugout canoes. And, what’s on the plates isn’t sparse either; the helpings are generous. Not as generous as what you might get down the street at the Cheesecake factory. Then again…
Finally, there was something interesting I noticed as I looked around the cozy serving area, consisting of an «L» shaped bar and a single row of tables. It was a weekday evening, The place was almost full to capacity, and there were maybe three male customers. Do what you will with that information, I’m just putting it out there for your consideration.
In my case, six glasses of various flavors of wine, three appetizers, and a salad (all of which were outstanding) came to about $ 120. Given the quality, I would call that a bargain (to be reserved for occasional use)

Hands down my favorite place in Clarendon. All of the food is fantastic and the wine flights are fun to do with friends.
I love the huevos rancheros and the sliders, my boyfriend is obsessed with the buffaloaf sandwich, and we have friends who can’t leave without the nachos. The cheese plates are fantastic as well.
I wish their mimoas were a little less expensive for weekend brunches. $ 9 is high for the neighborhood and I’m sure it speaks to the quality they are using, but it’s too much for me to justify.
Be prepared to wait a while for a table on a popular evening, but come before noon on the weekend and easily get a table for brunch.

2.5: I’ve been to Screwtop twice now, most recently with two girlfriends on a Thursday after work. Like other reviewers, I’d like to give them a higher rating than I did.
The location is great given that it’s tucked away from the main busy street and has a cozy neighborhood feel. But, while it’s great that it’s so popular, there is not nearly enough room to account for the high demand. It’s great for people dining/​drinking with one other person or, better yet, themselves, because the amount of group space is minimal or uncomfortable. When I came with my two other friends there was a large party (off to the left when you come in the entrance) that essentially took over any group seating. We sat at the bar which resulted in a lot of me, on the one end, saying my friend on the other end, «What was that?» or «What did you say?»
My two friends had arrived shortly before me and already had glasses in hand. When I showed up and clearly was joining them, it took a good ten minutes before a wine-​tender came over to me and took my order. I had made eye contact with one of the cheesemongers who could see I was waiting who I think flagged them that I was waiting. If it wasn’t for her who knows how long I would have waited.
I appreciate the wines not being your usual mass-​produced suspects. Wine by the glass is your typical price for the area and a pretty good pour. The wine & beer menu is well crafted and provides flavor notes for all the wines. I like how the varietals are organized into clever, quirky names, such as «Butter Me Up» for buttery Chardonnay and «Drink Pink» for Rosés.
As for the food; the portions are small for the price. We chose three cheeses for our own: the Taleggio, Saint Angel and Cabot Clothbound. While we did well choosing on our own, with all the different types of cheese available and countless ways to craft your own board, it’d be nice if Screwtop offered a few «cheesemonger’s choice» with recommendations for cheese boards. Two glasses of wine each and a shared cheese board, our bill was $ 90. I guess I shouldn’t be, but I was a bit shocked by it given that I wasn’t as delighted by the experience as I had hoped.
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I generally love wine bars and Screwtop was no exception! I know this is a big statement, but I think I had the best cheese of my life (so far) here! My fiancé and I visited for wine and cheese (post-​dinner) last week and had a very pleasant experience. The place was quite crowded around 7:30 on a Friday night, but we found a space at the communal long table with little wait time. Even though it was a shared table, we were able to have our own space and it was intimate.
We ordered the Red Dragon cheese platter, which came with cheddar with Welsh brown ale and mustard seeds. It was perfectly spicy with a kick and paired very well with the «Mai Mai Rose» wine that I ordered! So perfect. And I loved the accompanying flatbread and mango jam too! My fiancé got a Sauvignon Blanc off the «My Mind is a Total blanc» section of the menu, which he enjoyed.
This place is adorable and they sell all sorts of cute knick knacks in addition to wine. My fiancé got 2 bars of chocolate, which he said were delicious.
We were both very impressed and will certainly visit again! :)

Very pleasantly surprised. Nice little atmosphere and pretty small place so you might have to wait for a table if your with a larger party. Would be a great place to come with a friend or two, a bf or even do a first date.
They have a good wine selection. Happy hour is only select hours so we didnt get there in time to take advantage of it. We ordered the baked goat cheese and each got side salads. I thought we would have to order more food but we actually got more than enough. The baked goat cheese came with a loaf of toasted bread and they give you a very good sized log (i estimate at least 6 to 8 oz of cheese). It’s served with a delicious fruit jam with gobs of little berries. Very good.
Service was nice. Bathroom was clean. I would certainly be back to try more of the menu and a wine sampler!

I visited Screwtop a few weeks after returning from Napa Valley, so it’s safe to say that my wine standards were naturally a little high. I’m happy to say that the wine offered here not only met my standards, but possibly exceeded them. What really stands out to me about this place is how the wines are categorized. Want a buttery Chardonnay? Check out the «Butter Me Up» section. Want a nice red blend? Check out the «Mix Tape» section. Want to try something from South Africa? Check out the «BBQ» section.
While the wine truly hit the spot, I was even more impressed by the food offered here. The grilled cheese sliders w/​tomato soup for dipping were phenomenal and the buffalo sliders were so tender and delicious that my friends and I couldn’t resist having two helpings. The only downside to this place is the small size, which leads to a cramped space, especially on busy weekend nights. I was with a party of six, and there are only two tables that fit parties that size. Thankfully, the staff were generous enough to let half of us stand at the bar while we waited for one to open up (there is generally a no standing room rule).
Overall, Screwtop has the potential to become my go-​to spot for a nice glass of wine. I will definitely make it a point to return on my next visit to Clarendon.

4 stars = service. 3 stars = overall.
HH ends at 6pm! And what sucks is… I can’t order the same glass of wine I was drinking even if it was after HH. I don’t mind paying the full price after HH but they just don’t offer it at all. So unfortunately, I had to change up my wine. For a WINE bar, I kind of would’ve expected that there would be a more variety of wine and for things not to run out of.
Food: decent selection of cheese, but for almost $ 20 — you don’t get much at all. Gotta give them some kudos for a very well seasoned tomato bisque soup.
Overall, okay. Service was good, everyone was nice. But probably wouldn’t come back for the limited items and overpriced food.

I’m thankful that fellow NOVA Elite Unilocalers Mary Kate M. and Phoenix Simone W. invited me to partake in a little girl’s night out for dinner and drinks and Screwtop, as I had no idea this cute spot existed. It’s definitely perfect for hanging out with your gal pals to do whatever it is we girls do when we get together, sip wine, and talk about life. There definitely weren’t more than a few men in the otherwise-​packed space when we were there. Tucked away next to the bar, the ladies and I pored over the menu, which had a surprising amount of variety of dishes for what might otherwise be dismissed as simply a «wine bar with light bites.» You can definitely have your cake and eat it, too, all while enjoying a nice variety of wines.
Now, what’s cool about Screwtop is that you can more or less choose your own adventure in terms of having the typical «girl’s night» with wine and cheese, or you can have a full meal, accompanied by a glass or few of wine. Even better is that Screwtop offers complimentary samples, 2 oz sips, 5 oz pours, or full bottles. Their wine menu is very easy to navigate, complete with cute and witty titles, such as «Call A Cab» for their list of Cabernet Sauvignon selections. The menu also indicates which wines are organic, sustainably-​produced, or biodynamic, for those who are concerned with the origin of their wine. Sangrias, wine flights, and craft beers round out the extensive list.
Food-​wise, there’s a comprehensive selection of cheeses, naturally, to pair with various wines, which are accompanied by various charcuterie options, and bread or gluten-​free crackers. You can also add on tapenades, chutneys, olives, almonds, and popcorn for your snacky needs. Alternately, for meals, they have several «plates for sharing,» but we found them to be quite adequate for individual servings. I chose the soup of the day, which was a smooth and delicious carrot coconut, in a cute little cup, for only $ 4. Delicious! My «main» was their amply-​sized Pot Belly Big Lettuce Wraps, for $ 9.50. There was plenty of meat and the peanut sauce was very good! I paired my pig with the suggested Malbec and it was a delightful combo. My dining mates thoroughly enjoyed their food as well; the Truffle Mac and Cheese, the Buffalo Sliders, and the Maple-​Bacon Bourbon Chicken Sandwich.
Everything seems great up to now, but we ran into some non-​kosher service snafus (read more about it in Mary Kate M.‘s review from 4÷23÷15), but I will add that it seemed quite odd that our server appeared to know very little about wines, and had a difficult time discerning between various kinds of whites when pressed for assistance, and wasn’t sure what was in stock or not.
I feel as though I would return here, because the food, ambiance, atmosphere, etc. are all spot-​on, plus parking is easy and free in the garage below. I would just hope for a different service experience altogether.

Came here tonight for a girl’s night after happy hour to get dinner and drinks. Believe me when I say this is 150% a girl’s place. There were maybe 3 men patrons in the whole joint. I liked that quality since I haven’t stumbled upon many establishments like this where it is a place women can come and enjoy a glass of wine and take it easy. This isn’t a bro place even if the hockey game was on.
What I liked was the wine selection. What I didn’t like is that the food was about the same price as the wine. I will not fault the place for me being a cheap ass, and also I am no wine expert.
Moving on…
I liked the food I had. The tomato bisque didn’t seem to be cream based how I usually like it. It was a bit runny for bisque, and had more of the consistency of well… soup. There is a good difference between tomato soup and tomato bisque. It worked out either way, but don’t be misled to think you’re getting bisque.
The sandwich I got was the Maple-​Bacon Bourbon Chicken $ 13.50
— Roasted chicken, bacon jam, and melted Fontina cheese pressed
on tomato focaccia bread.
The sandwich was good. I didn’t taste the bacon jam which is what sold me on the idea of getting this sandwich in the first place, unfortunately. Nonetheless, I enjoyed it and it is a filling sandwich. All sandwiches comes with soup, salad, or chips.
They have a pretty wide variety of food for being a wine bar. It goes beyond the wine, fine cheese, and meats. That was one thing that drew me here. Most wine bars I come across serve tapas style plates or primarily meat and cheese. They get a plus for the diverse menu.
Service was spotty. Our server was nice, but was a little misleading when it came to getting one of my wines. I had tried a few samples to see which glass I wanted next. She brought out prosecco when I had asked for one of the reisling sips. I drank a few sips before making the comment it wasn’t the right drink and my friend tried it and agreed since she did order a glass of prosecco. When we tracked down our server, I asked if I could just go ahead and keep it since I had drank some of it. She said sure, apologized for it being the wrong drink, admitting it was wrong, and said she would replace. Great! No problems. I will get my drink, and keep what I have here since I have already started it and no point in wasting good alcohol.
Time for the check… they don’t split checks, so we had to divy it up before giving her back our cards and determining who had what. The prosecco sip was on the bill. It is only $ 5, but when you tell me I am not going to be charged and you acknowledge your mistake, then that should be that.
When she came over to take the bill away and our credit cards, her attitude towards removing it changed. It was the way she said it and she backtracked a bit on what she said previously. She said, ‘Well, you did drink it, and I can’t remove it from the bill, so I will have to get my manager to do it.’ OK, what? You said it was fine 45 minutes ago, but now you’re saying you’re not sure if it can be removed? This annoyed me. The manager did remove it and she brought out the bills as they were supposed to be charged and we had no further issues.
I just feel that if you’re going to tell the patron one thing, then you should stick with that. Don’t try to change it all of a sudden or be misleading. If you’re not sure in the first place about me keeping a drink and not being charged for it – just ask! If I had to be charged because of her mistake, then take the drink back and get me what I ordered. Pure and simple.
I am stepping off my soap box… 3 stars.

Kudos to the better half for suggesting this inviting, cozy, relaxing wine bar. Perfect timing too on a hump day Earth Day mid/​late afternoon — not busy so we can chill.
After our customary anniversary week lunch date (our first date was around these parts eons ago), his attention was on the search for a glass of something… found it.
Upon entering, we knew we were going to accept this wine bar/​shop. Since it wasn’t bustling, we had the opportunity to pick our seats. But definitely I can imagine the opposite during the weekends. There’re about 7 tables (4 to a table) and several seats at the bar.
A shout out to our knowledgeable easygoing staff member who helped me find a beverage during our first visit. I cannot remember her name but she’s a lovely brunette w/​a ponytail on this day ^_​^
After a spicy satisfying lunch I was hoping for a glass of something crisp, fruity, and refreshing. But not dry and I was up for any suggestions. Framboise? Raspberry Belgian lambic beer? I’ve never had… intriguing…tickled my brain cells. Let’s do it!!!
The Framboise Oud Beersel bottle/​packaging is so pretty and yes I now appreciate raspberry beer.
Oh, during our conversation regarding suggestions, we were informed that each month they offer a different theme in the wine bar. Constant change and variety — how fun!
We originally planned on just drinks but… toffee brownie sundae happened thanks to Him. Paired well w/​the framboise, though. Struggled trying to stay awake but I was content.
Ended this pleasant experience w/​an über short walk since our car was parked across the street (simple meter parking).

I came here for the first time for their happy hour last week after hearing rave reviews from a friend who lives in the area, and it did not disappoint!
We got here right before the place got really crowded, so we were lucky enough to get a table right away for the happy hour. They had a lot of variety of wine types included in the special and I tried a red and a white and we also split a cheese flight. We asked our server to just pick 3 cheeses for us, and I enjoyed all 3 immensely. They came with some dried cherrys, a fig jam, and a break basket, all super fresh and delicious.
The service was great, they came back to check on us often and stopped by right before the happy hour ended to ask if we wanted anything else at the discounted price, A+ for service there.
I will definitely be back here, if you do come on a friday night try and arrive early, it apparently gets crowded!

Classy without being overbearing. This is a good place to wine and dine with girlfriends or cozy up to a casual 1^st date. (I tell my straight guy friends to take the ladies here. you’ll get brownie points).
They offer a diverse flight of wines that pair well with their food options. Cheese lovers rejoice: There is a lot of focus on fine cheeses — from the mac and cheese to their grilled cheese and other sandwiches and plates. These are smaller portions, though, so you may need to order more. I tried the Pot Belly pig lettuce wraps (very tasty but also light fare), Swiss turkey melt and rustic short rib sandwich.
Wine and cheese is never that cheap, so come here expecting shell out a bit more than your usual fast casual spot. It’s a small location, so it can get crowded. Expect to wait at least 10 – 20 minutes on very busy nights. You can also linger and shop around their mini gourmet shop while waiting or take one of the bar stools in the front. They sell Savannah honey, as well as an interesting selection of beer, wine and food gifts.

This is a personal favorite. From years ago when I lived in North Carolina and would visit friends down the road from Screwtop in Arlington, this was always a favorite to visit. Now that I live here, it’s a place I now can introduce to others. I brought my girlfriend the other week for a nice quiet glass of wine. They have a wide variety of wines to choose from and rotate them out. They have really neat wine dispensers on the counter tops. Another notable add is the great menu they have that is derived from fresh ingredients and their specials also rotate. The desserts always help the room smell fragrant and warm. The cobb salad with fresh avocado is incredible and I highly recommend. If you’re only interested in wine or a small snack, they offer great nachos or freshly popped popcorn!
They have an array of cheese plate that are available along with the rows and rows of bottles of wine and other spices/​cheese and tshirts as soon as you walk in. The location of Screwtop is great — in quaint little Clarendon, although parking can be a bit of a pain but usually not too bad to find a spot! Great night to sit, talk and laugh with a friend or significant other and prices are decent! Feel free to stroll past and enjoy yourself some wine! I know I’ll be going again very soon!