Bar Deco

I’ve tried going to Bar Deco a few times, including their official opening that was just too busy. I managed to go back a couple days ago, and was excited to go try their poutine and sample their happy hour.
As others have mentioned, bar deco is three floors beyond ground level. First, the spacious dining room. Second, the very narrow and long bar area. Third, the terrace. As the dining area has a lot of spacing between tables, everything was full and I ended up going to the bar on the second floor. The bar was insanely crowded as well, nevertheless I managed to order a delicious 3 stars white ipa ($ 5 during HH), and the poutine.
If you’re familiar with poutine, you’ll know it’s often the outstanding mix of fries, cheese curds and gravy that will make your new year resolutions drop in one meal. That’s of course, if it’s good. Their poutine is a modern twist on the original ingredients, with potato slides (not wedges, but half inch slices) with a duck gravy and some cheese. The portion is huge, and for $ 9 during HH not a bad deal. The gravy is fairly tasty and rich — compensating for the lack of curds, but the potato slices just don’t work. Too big, undercooked, it just tasted starchy. No self-​respecting Canadian would endorse it, and I can’t. Might be okay if you’re curious, but if you’re looking for poutine, there’s much better in DC (try SmallFry, Elephant and Castle, for instance).
Other than that, the service was as good as it could be. Joe, the bartender, was doing whatever he could to try to create a connection with patrons but it was hard given that more were just squeezing at the bar to order drinks. The constant pressure for people to order made it awkward for me to be there eating, so I rushed down my food, finished my drink, and went somewhere else. If it had been less crowded, it would have been a lot more enjoyable, but I hardly see that happening given that the room is super long and narrow.
Would I go back? Maybe if I wanted a cool rooftop overlooking chinatown, perhaps. But for a drink, the bar section didn’t work for me.

Not the best brunch I’ve ever had in DC, but not the worst. It’s a decent spot if you live nearby, though I wouldn’t necessarily travel/​commute solely to eat here.
There was no wait whatsoever to grab brunch at 11:15 on Sunday morning — a pleasant surprise in DC. My biggest issue was the breakfast offerings on the brunch menu. I ordered the french toast and it was cold, soggy, and all around not good. A bit disappointing. However, my boyfriend got the steak and eggs and it was phenomenal. I’m guessing that Bar Deco is good with normal lunch/​dinner type entrees, but isn’t good with traditional breakfast options. Bummer. The coffee was good, but it was cold! So disappointing. The Bloody Mary was nice and spicy though, just the way we like them. The brunch sides were delicious — bacon, sausage and cheese grits all cooked to perfection. That was probably the highlight of the meal. I would go back for dinner to see how Bar Deco holds up for primetime entrees, and will be sure to update this review with my next experience there.
It is worth mentioning that Bar Deco is still somewhat new, so they could be working out some kinks on the menu and in the kitchen. Hopefully they figure everything out. The place has potential and is in an amazing location.
Pro: Large space, no wait, rooftop deck, good Bloody Mary
Con: Not good at breakfast, cold food, cold coffee

Another successful brunch spot! We had reservations for a group of 10 which they were easily able to accommodate. The bottomless beverage option they offer for brunch (which they also have on Saturdays!) is $ 20 and is ONLY for the standard mimosa. That being said, they bring you a glass FILLED with champagne and you’re adding in your own orange juice– major props for that.
The food was excellent in my opinion. I ordered the infamous Bar Deco Benedict, as did half of the table. The other half ordered the Breakfast Sandwich. I was a little sad that one of my benny eggs was overcooked– but the other was perfectly poached. Also don’t be fooled by the «breakfast potatoes” — they’re actually finely diced potatoes that are impossible to get a spoonful of– but thy are delicious. The breakfast sandwich comes on a substantially sized hoagie-​type bread and no crumbs were left behind for me to sample.
You will definitely leave feeling pleasantly plump and somewhat drunk! Will gladly be back here soon.

I come to this place often for happy and brunch. There brunch is pretty good, I usually get the skirt steak and potatoes that melt in your mouth. For happy hour I will have the wings or I will try something different. One thing to know about this place is the menu is always changing but the food is always good. It is a few menu items that didn’t agree with my pallet but the flavor is was great. I always sit at the bar around the same time and the same bartender always helps me. I feel horrible that I don’t know his name but he’s black with a fluffy beard. He knows my drink preferences so he’s always recommending the most perfect drink. He’s not one of those «let’s get the customer drunk» bartenders either so there no mixing and matching with him as far as liquor choices. I appreciate that personally because I like to be able to get up and go to work in the morning! :)

An excellent place down town for drinks and sports. Bar Deco functions as a sports bar while not being a seedy frat house. In the shadow of the Verizon Center Bar Deco is a great place to go to enjoy a Caps or Wizards game without coughing up the money for tickets or fighting the crowds. That said the dining area on the second floor functions as a wonderful place for dinner and drinks. The bar area is always buzzing with 20 somethings have a good time but it is the rooftop area that really sets Bar Deco apart. Even when it is cold the roof has heaters to knock off the chill and because the building is tucked away between two larger buildings on either side the wind chill is minimal.
Be careful!!! The chairs on the roof are incredibly unstable. My fiancé and I have seen someone fall out of their chair every time we go. EVERY TIME. To the point we even mentioned it to the manager on duty the last time we visited.

I have been waiting a while for my first post in DC. I must of arrived during the soft opening, sometime in SEPT. My waiter knew nothing about the wine available, the apps, or the entrees. I finally decided on the salmon tacos. I asked for the fish to be under cooked, if possible. When the food arrived the salmon tasted as if it had been sitting at the bottom of the grill for days. It was so bad I spit the food back on my plate and did not finish. After waiting for 30 min for the waiter to come back, smoke break I assumed, he asked if he could take my plate out of the way not even bothering to ask is the food was good, ok, or eatable.
I did try one more time, on the roof. I almost broke my leg as my bar stool collapsed 2 times during drinks.
I will not be going back to this restaurant.

A pretty rooftop space — that’s uncrowded — in Chinatown? Unheard of! That is, until you get to the Bar Deco.
If you’re tired of meh Chinatown options like Bar Louie and Rocket Bar, head over to Bar Deco. My only wish is that they’d have a larger beer selection. They do, however, have a variety of mixed drinks/​liquors. I’ll have to come back to try the food and HH.
It’s really cute and clean, wedged between two buildings and super close to the Verizon Center.
On the night that we went, there was no Hip hop, EDM or even Top 40’s playing in the rafters. Instead, it was 90s rock all night long! My friends and I thought this was hilarious, especially for a Saturday night prime time. No harm though … we then proceeded to have a mini-​karaōke session, belting alongside bands like Third Eye Blind (Semi-​charmed life, goooodbyeee!) Perhaps they should introduce a karaōke night here?

Bar Deco looks like a San Fran or NYC quiet and dark lounge from the outside with the window candles and first floor ambience. Little did we know the third floor was an Arlington Bro Bar, complete with huge tvs, loud music and backwards hat brosteins.
I have not tried the food, but the bar area feels like an identity crisis. It would be better without the tvs and loud music.

The owner reached out to me after reading my previous review, and invited me back for another meal. This seemed really generous so we talked further, and picked a date for me and my husband to come back in. We picked our anniversary since the dinner seemed like a nice treat.
Indeed it was! Everyone was so friendly – really a great level of service. We also were touched by the little things they did to make our evening special, like putting flowers on the table and giving us some champagne.
It was also interesting to sit at a table by the bar, since we got to see that area too (last time we ate in the dining room). It was especially nice as the evening went on and it got a little quieter/​more relaxed.
We tried lots of bites – mac and cheese (with bacon), chicken and biscuits, a burger, a sandwich, sidewinder fries, cake, and a drink each. The fries are fun because of their shape and the cake was HUGE. Enough for a whole group.
Many thanks to the Bar Deco team for hosting us. That personal touch is rare!

You HAVE to go here for brunch or you’re missing out! My squad takes brunch very seriously and we’re those people you hate to sit next to who are determined to take FULL advantage of the «bottomless» portion of the bottomless mimosa option. There were 12 of us on a Sunday morning, and we were preparing for a full day of Sunday Funday, so needless to say we were a handful. The food was AWESOME! I got the Bar Deco Benedict, and it was just the right combination of soft and crunchy and savory and a hint of creamy. I also sampled the chicken and waffles and the breakfast sandwich, and was very impressed with both. I would highly recommend all 3.
I would have given Bar Deco 5 stars just for the food, but our server, Richard, was really fantastic. He put up with us with a smile for almost 4 hours and kept the champagne coming. We’re a little rowdy and we love our champagne, but he kept bringing us more and was really funny and let us enjoy our afternoon. We finally got asked to leave, but with a smile and apology… and if we’re being honest we should have been kicked out about 2 hours in… oops. :)
Would love to come back here– highly recommend!

Really good Chocolate Metropolitan cocktail! Cocktails here are pretty good to try out. Don’t get the truffle fries; it’s not truffley at all. The brussels sprouts are only okay; it needs to find a way to make it crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Burgers are pretty good

With four different levels, Bar Deco has a little something for just about everyone.
Level One: Entrance. Upon arriving, a hostess can direct you to the level that best suites your desired experience. Either take the elevator or by-​pass the wait and burn a few calories on the stairs.
Level Two: Restaurant. The food at Bar Deco is decent and but a little pricey for «high-​class» bar food. Burgers come a la carte, so make sure to order some fries on the side. The fries come in a fun spiral shape that threw me off till I tasted how delicious they were. Bison burger — decent but not anything to write home about. After further review, I may need to come back for brunch and get the breakfast sandwich or breakfast burger.
Level Three: The Bar. The drinks here are pretty good. They have a wide range of cocktail options that all sounded delicious and make it difficult to just choose one. Personal fan of the Negroni. The bartenders were personable and made an effort to get to know our names. The bar isn’t huge (as is any level really) so after a Caps game this place can get crowded quickly.
Level Four: The Rooftop. The décor of Bar Deco is beautiful and the rooftop is the pinnacle of this beauty. This would be a great spot for Happy Hour during the summer after a long day at work. Happy Hour is Monday — Friday from 5PM — 7PM with $ 5 draft beer, house wines and rail drinks along with a few food specials. The food specials also become available after 10:30PM. (Late night!)
Whatever your preferred level, I would recommend checking out Bar Deco.

This review is for the rooftop and happy hour only. I was here recently with a few friends to grab a couple drinks after work. Bar Deco is gorgeous. As an art deco lover, I was enamored with the décor and the attention to detail here. It’s just lovely, so make sure you take a look around while you’re there. The rooftop is a pretty cool space. It feels a little bit secluded, but you still have views of the buildings around you, which I found to be a nice balance.
The drinks we had were pretty good, although I would like to see more happy hour specials. This could be such a great happy hour spot, but with only one beer on special, our options were limited. Also, try the poutine! I like how they do it with fried potato wedges. It was very tasty and made it much easier to share than normal, skinnier fries.

I went once with friends after a Capitals game. The rooftop looked appealing and inviting. The décor was very nice too. However, it did seem a little cramped and stuffy inside.
Still, the rooftop was sexy… it was heated and had a lot of space. Also, the bartenders made a «Hot Toddy» and it was delicious!!!

We went to Bar Deco on a whim. We initially tried to go to nearby Daikaya but the wait was almost three hours. We walked by Bar Deco and decided to give it a shot.
We were greeted and seated immediately. The restaurant makes good use of their space, every level is a different part of the restaurant. Our server came by and made recommendations for food and drink. We decided on a pitcher of beer while we worked on our food decisions. The menu is a mix of different American foods. I decided on the Taekwando tacos, which were their pork tacos. I also had a choice side– I picked the slaw. People also ordered nachos to share. The tacos were good, pork was tender and flavorful. But not overwhelming or anything for me to jump up and down for.
Service was fine throughout our meal. Standard but not over the top.

I’ve been twice now. Once for a birthday happy hour and once for brunch. Will definitely be back for dinner/​happy hour but probably not for brunch.
There are four levels to Bar Deco. Second floor is the main dining area. Third floor is the bar area with plenty of TV’s and tables. Fourth floor is the rooftop bar.
The happy hour menu and beer prices were awesome. $ 3 beers is a rarity in this city and I’ll take it every time! We ordered the nachos as an appetizer and they were fantastic. Instead of chicken they use pulled pork. Delicious!
We were there for a birthday and they surprised us with a free shot for the birthday girl and one of the largest slices of cake I’ve ever laid my eyes on. SO BIG AND SO RICH. We had 10 – 12 people with us and there was more than enough of that one, amazing slice to go around.
The brunch was good but pricey for what you get. I had the Breakfast Burger (burger, fried egg, avocado, etc.) which was good but that’s all it came with. No fries, home fries, nothing. We were told the brunch menu was a la carte to encourage sharing but no way am I paying $ 6 for a side of fries.
Highly recommend this place for happy hour. You’ll probably see me there!

I read about Bar Deco on Thrillist’s Top 12 Best Fall Restaurant Openings So Far and thought it sounded like a cool place to check out. THEN, I read the Bitches Who Brunch review of their brunch, which sounded delicious! And so, today, I went with 4 friends for brunch.
Summary (on a scale of 1 to 5 stars):
Food: 4 stars
Drinks: 4 stars
Atmosphere: 5 stars
Service: 4 stars
Price: 3 stars
Food: The food overall was delicious. In my opinion, the breakfast burger is the item to get. The chicken and waffles also looked phenomenal. One of my friend’s ordered the apple compote french toast which, though delicious, was a pretty small portion. The eggs benedicts were also on the small side. Sidewinder fries were fantastic.
Drinks: I love a good bloody mary at brunch. The one on the Bar Deco menu said it came with a bacon garnish. Um, yes please? But, when the bloody marys came out… there was no sign of bacon. That was disappointing. The bloody mary itself was good, but nothing memorable. The baileys iced coffee was a tasty liquid treat.
Atmosphere: Here’s the reason you come here. This place is so cool! There are 4 levels:
1) The entrance. This is where the kitchen is. As you wait for the elevator (or turn to go up the stairs) you can see into the kitchen. Yum.
2) The dining room. A lovely area. There were tables big enough for groups too.
3) The bar level. Tons of tvs, super long bar that basically spans the length of the building. It is definitely not going to take long for this to become THE spot to watch games on Sundays. Has a classy retro feel too.
4) THE ROOF! That’s right, a rooftop in Chinatown. There isn’t much outdoor space in Chinatown, so this is especially huge. And, it’s a sweet area! Heat lamps over each of the tables. Lots of sunshine on today in particular. A big TV by the bar. Really great space.
Service: Service was good. Very friendly, they gave us great recommendations and were all for helping us have a great, fun brunch.
Price: Ok, so here’s the biggest reason that they didn’t get 5 stars. It’s a bit overpriced. None of the entrees come with sides. Like, my $ 14 burger should come with the side of fries– instead of my having to pay another $ 6 for them. For comparison– the avocado bacon burger at Founding Farmers is $ 13, and it includes your choice of side. Also, a few of the entrees should probably increase the portions a bit– namely the benedicts and french toasts. Breakfast sandwich and burger were both good sizes though. Drinks were $ 9 each, which is about average. I’d throw in some olives/​celery/​pickle/​bacon to that bloody mary though.
Really cool spot. Go to watch a game. Go for brunch. OH and happy hour! They had food and drink specials– I’d love to go back and check it out.
What’s better on Sunday than a delicious rooftop brunch? :)

I went to Bar Deco late one night for after dinner drinks and was a little disappointed that the kitchen was closed. Everyone spoke so highly of the desserts on the menu, I’ll be back to try them.
The bar is set up pretty modern and we headed right up to the second level, the first is more set up like a traditional restaurant, to grab drinks at the bar. The bartender Joe was awesome with knowing the drinks on the menu, making recommendations and even being friendly! He introduced us to others at the bar and made sure that we were well taken care of while we were there. The music was a good mixture and the TVs were great for keeping up on the score of the game that was on.
Next time I’ll be sure to spend more time on the rooftop. It has great open seating and a decent view of the block.

Ran into this place when Beef N Bread had run out of both beef and bread. Was a good call. Start with the poutine! Just get it. Go to the gym later but eat this first. My friend got the swordfish pastrami which was really good – a light, refreshing dinner. I got the chicken and biscuits – chicken was good but biscuits were a little dry. The slice of carrot cake (very good but just slightly dry for my taste) was the size of my head. Would definitely be back to check out the rooftop before it gets cold or for a group dinner since the menu has a solid variety for a group of picky people.

It was suggested by a friend of mine to go here for lunch. I was a little skeptical, because it’s new, because it didn’t have very many reviews, and because I really was in the mood for Thai. Upon first entering, I was immediately impressed by the décor. It’s hip, trendy, and the hostess was very friendly, offering us a regular table, a spot at the bar, or rooftop seating (there are three floors in total, maybe four). Of course we chose the rooftop. The seating was comfortable, the view (of Fun Street, NW right in front of the Verizon Center) was great, and our initial server was courteous.
We then began to look at the lunch menu. It wasn’t very large, but that’s not a bad thing, when we asked our waiter for recommendations, and if he tasted anything on the menu, he kept suggesting the BBQ Ribs which were pork, but told us earlier in our conversation that he didn’t eat pork, but that aside, we went with the Parmesan wings starter, the Mahi Tacos, and the Cheddar honey Chicken Biscuits.
The wings were good. Nothing that would completely wow you but they served their purpose. Bar Deco’s ranch dressing was different than any Ranch I’ve ever tasted before, in a good way. The Mahi tacos were really good, they are something that I’d recommend to friends, and family, and so were the Chicken Biscuits. All in all, I enjoyed my time at Bar Deco, taking a point off for the waiter not really knowing the menu, and another point for our sauces not being delivered with our wings, and also because we had to get our own silverware from another table.
But if you like ambiance, something trendy, and an amazing view, I would definitely recommend checking Bar Deco out. I’m sure it’ll be here for the long haul.