Pound The Hill

My husband & I stopped in for coffee on a chilly, wet day. Well, he had coffee, I’m not a coffee drinker. So, on this «chilly» day, I decided to have a nice, cold smoothie. And it was yummy. Plus, a nice giant biscotti caught my eye, so I had one of those as well. Perfect combo right?
I really can’t comment on any of their other offerings. I can say that it’s a nice coffee house. Most people were just on their laptops or reading. A cool addition would be comfy couches and deep cushioned chairs. Maybe in the back room. The folks working that day were really nice and personable. And that’s a plus. Their food menu looked interesting and seemed reasonably priced as well.
I would stop in again when in the area.

I stumbled across Pound the Hill perusing for lunch options near the Navy Yard using the Unilocal search engine. Saw they had some good reviews with some affordable lunch options ($ 5 & up) so I thought I would stop in.
This place is a hidden gem… literally. It is a very quaint, artsy café tucked in between a host of other cafes/​carryouts/​restaurants on busy Pennsylvania Ave. Walked right up to the register and ordered the Chicken Pesto Poundino… came with a free side of tots (Wednesday Special).
My total came up to just over $ 8.00.
After a ten minute wait, my sandwich and tots came out (tots come with this homemade BBQ type sauce — delicious) and the sandwich was VERY good. Nice crunch to the toast, good flavor to the chicken and it was very filling.
My ONLY complaint is that I am a true germaphobe (sp?) and the cook that was preparing my sandwich was NOT wearing gloves. I tried my best to put it in the back of my mind, but cleanliness is a MUST, and I feel as though if you are working with food, you should be wearing gloves at ALL times.
I digress, I will be going back to try some of the other items on the menu that piqued my interest i.e. Croissant French Toast and their Steak and Cheese, and suggest if you are in the area, Pound the Hill is high on my list of places to stop.

Cozy, cute, quiet– a great place to hang out and get some work done. I work remotely often so have been looking for a coffee shop in the area that is actually quiet and comfortable. This place has a great vibe in the morning, it is quiet throughout and even has a back room that is silent and attracts people looking to read, write or work. I appreciate the fact that they have a breakfast menu that consists of cooked meals rather than just the usual parfaits and scones. I have not checked this place out in the evening yet, but after getting my Unilocal 25% of a bottle of wine deal I am intrigued to go back sometime this week!

Ambiance is great. Strong wifi. A fan of the $ 5 happy hour wine. Coffee is ok.
The food is really dissapointing. I ordered a sandwich recently, and it was so bad I felt queasy afterward. The steak and cheese was supposed to be «quarter pound of shaved beef, melted provolone, carmelized onions, and horseradish aoli.» The aoli and onions were there, but the shaved beef and cheese was totally missing. Instead the sandwich had what appeared to be frozen beef strips, the kind you got from your grade school cafeteria. They were salty and tough. Gross. My $ 3 side was a teeny, tiny salad barley larger than the dressing container.
Come for a latte and to read a book in the sun, but avoid the steak and cheese sandwhich.

I didn’t get a chance to taste the tea (since I’m a tea drinker) but I did get a beer. So, I’m a little torn giving this review.
The drink menu is pretty expansive with craft beers, good selection of red and white wine, and a nice variety of coffees and teas (with some interesting coffees, shame I’m not a coffee drinker). I think anyone could find a drink they enjoy.
The atmosphere is quiet, and at the time we went, library quiet. This is a little weird when you are trying to have a beer with a friend. I think this is more suited to a study location, where you can have a glass of wine or tea with your homework, or read a good book.
I’d like to go back to give the tea (loose-​leaf) and food (breakfast all-​day) a try. Unfortunately, with the number of great coffee places in DC, I’m not sure this place was memorable enough for me to go back to to try again.

I haven’t eaten here yet but they have what seems to be a good menu. I always enjoy
grabbing a café au lait or chai latte. The service is good and the staff works hard. Also it’s well maintained and clean. It’s a nice space to sit with laptop or book and while there isn’t tons of seating it’s a good size. Convenient location as well.

On Penn near a few cozy spots with bars/​restaurants nearby.
Been in a couple times and it’s just the right amount of busy, but still a laid back place. It’s a legit coffee shop, eclectic furniture, hardwood floors, and plenty of people just clicking away on their laptops and relaxing. The place is close to the Capitol but for some reason the Hill crowd isn’t prominent here (thank god).
Try black tea with steamed milk.

Meh.
If you’re really hungry, don’t get either of the salad dinners. They’re really small. I had to order a second one after the first one, to the tune of $ 22 total…

Sometimes, the best things are enjoyed at a slower pace…
I stopped by, in a hurry, for a quick cup o’ Joe before heading back to the office… but before you know it, I found a hour had past in the process. Yes, I got caught up in the moment of enjoying a bangin’ Nutella Latte and lounging to a couple of tracks to the likes of Lauryn Hill, Adele, Erykah Badu, U2… and the list goes on.
I really dig this place! A cool meeting spot for some eats or a quiet cup of coffee…
Pound the Hill offers up an interesting mix of coffee, blended beverages and food items. An added plus, is that this place offers Breakfast all day! My favorite kind of eats. And, I can eat it all day…‘Holla if ya feel me!’ From the moment you enter this place, you become drawn into how relaxing and calm the environment is. Lots of seating, work tables, lounge areas and eclectic spaces in this now transformed Capitol Hill Historic row-​home turned store front. The place is wired and WiFi connected as well. I know because I am riding that wave, while I type this review. Definitely a cool place to partake in some teleworking or perhaps a quick speakeasy with friends… because this place serves wine and beer by the glass too! What more can a man ask for? Maybe… a couple of flat panel TVs and ESPN… but that would definitely kill the vibe of this place. I found myself in a sofa space people watching, sipping on a drink, and feeling like I did not have anymore pressing things to handle for the day! And, believe me… I do! Until I can scratch that perfect winning lotto ticket, become filthy rich, and wake up to no demands (i.e. work, the grind, etc.)…I will remain set and happy in my already abundant, yet narcissistic paradigm of life! Because moments like this will do!
Thanks Pound the Hill for adding some relaxation to my crazy day! The Nutella Latte was really good too… not too sweet… just right! A sudden, quick stop before heading back to the office turned into an… oops my bad…‘über extended’ lunch break! I reckon I will have to explain this one for sure. LOL
I did not try the food this time around, but I will definitely be back to partake in their eats…
P. S. Pound the Hill… your Pandora playlist and that Steak n’ Eggs (i.e. made with shaved prime rib) is on my radar!

I like the décor and the interesting art decorating the walls. The barista working when I was in was incredibly welcoming, kind, and just made the place feel like somewhere you’d want to be. It’s in an excellent location only a short walk from Eastern Market Metro.
The cider is perfect for this weather, and the limited time Hot Nutella drink is rich and decadent. The only criticism is that my husband has ordered a couple frozen mixed drinks and hasn’t had great experience with them.

To preface my review, the amount of knowledge I have about coffee is close to zero, like oh-​my-​god-​yay-​Starbucks zero.
I stopped on a chilly night after dinner with a few friends to grab something sweet. I decided to have their nutella latte, and I can’t say that there was anything spectacular about it. I couldn’t really taste any nutella until I nearly finished the entire drink; it was all gooped up at the bottom, so my last few sips were all nutella and no latte. I’m not entirely sure if this was the way the drink was supposed to be or if the latte wasn’t prepared correctly.
I have to say though that this is an ideal place to study and hang out. The space was quite large with ample seating, but Pound the HIll didn’t really leave me with the desire to come back for more.

This place is so comfy and inviting, I can’t stand it! Upon walking in, you’ll see many small tables, a picnic table, and arm chairs. Be prepared though — most of these spots will probably be taken when you walk in (as was the case when I stopped by Saturday night).
Anyway, I came by to grab a dessert because the online menu had a good selection for a café. I was bummed to hear that the place only had biscotti. Furthermore, the place was supposed to close at 10pm, but my friends and I were told it would close at 8:30 that evening. Believing these are unique events, I’ve decided to give this coffee shop four stars.
I got a nutella latte and also tried my friend’s «hot nutella» — a play on hot chocolate. Both were pretty good in my book. I enjoyed the fact that neither of the two drinks was too sweet, and on a cold night, both were satisfying. Dunking the biscotti into the hot nutella was divine.
The menu had a decent listing of coffee drinks, teas, and alcoholic beverages. The guys working the counter were cool and friendly.
Bottom line: if you’re looking for a place to relax with a book or laptop, swing by this cute coffee shop. It’s a great place to relax and take a load off!

Bottomline: I really like the ambiance of this place.
After eating dinner at Sushi Capitol down the street my friends and I visited this place for some dessert. We got there at 7:45 and was notified it was going to be closing at 8:30. The only dessert they were offering at the time we visited was biscotti which my friend ended up getting. My friends and I each got the Nutella latte. As far as the drink goes it was average at best. I did not taste the Nutella at all until the very bottom of the cup where it was all concentrated liquid Nutella. I wish it would have been mixed better.
The reason why I am giving this place a 3 star is due to the ambiance. It is a really cozy and nice looking place which I would love to do some casual work or hang out with friends. I wish where I lived there was a place with this sort of atmosphere. There were plenty of people here working on their laptops and chit chatting with their friends. In terms of seating, they have a elongated picnic style table, couple of high tables with 3 – 4 chairs, lower tables with 2 chairs and a couple of fabric arm chairs. If I am in the area, I will be back to visit again and perhaps give another drink a try. Hopefully that will be better then the latte I had.

Pound the Hill is the Mullet of Coffee Shops.
I came in one early afternoon to do some work and nurse a hot Nutella latte (warning, this runs on the saccharine sweet side). The WiFi connection was fast and I was digging my seat because before I knew it day had turned into night and the friendly baristas were shouting the arrival of happy hour.
You gotta give a nod to those who respect the game… perk up in the morning and wine down at night.
For those looking for a comfy, friendly spot to study or hang out with a lap top on the Hill, Pound the Hill can’t be beat.

The French Dip sandwich is what DREAMS are made of. The beef melts in your mouth, the fried onions are crunchy, and the cheese isn’t so overpowering as to detract fro the wonderful saltiness. And their Au Jus? Well, its perfectly salty and compliments the texture of the sandwich.
Other coffees and teas I’ve had here are excellent, the seating is comfortable, music is the perfect volume, and the WiFi is plenty fast. Love this spot. It’s only knock? That I’m not in walking distance of it very often.

Not sure how I missed this gem when I was living on the Hill, but I imagine when Starbucks originally set out to create a home away form home feel, they were aiming for something like Pound the Hill.
It is super cozy, with a back room that is a little quieter than the front room for those actually trying to get some work done. The wifi was definitely stronger in the front room, and came and went a bit in the back, so if you need wifi — stay in the front of the place for a stronger signal.

Eh.

I really want to be obsessed Pound the Hill as a neighborhoody coffee shop with good food, a cool interior, friendly staff, and a fun outdoor space. However, it comes a bit short for me.
–The food is unfortunately overrated and overpriced. The portions are small. It’s always tasty but nowhere out of the world.
–The internet never works. :-(Go to Peregrine if you’re looking for fast and reliable internet.
–The workers here are always super nice and helpful, which is great!
–The coffee is good. They make a mean cappucinno.

3.5 stars
I think Pound on the Hill has a great following for those who frequent the Hill or live in the area. People rave about their coffee and drinks and what not, but for me I think this place is A-​OK just as the Unilocal rating.
I came here for happy hour and dinner with one of my friends where we had a bottle of wine that was half off on Tuesday, and then some small plates from the happy hour menu and regular dinner menu.
The dinner:
Pumpkin Ravioli $ 8
fried ravioli, homeade apple sauce, spiced honey glaze, crispy sage garnish
I felt the pumpkin rav was standard. It was good, but nothing stuck out about it that made me overwhelmed by it in a good or bad way.
Gourmet Tots $ 6
tater tots, shaved parmesan, minced chive garnish, house made BBQ Sauce.
The tater tots tasted the same as the kind you get from Sonic Drive-​In. How are they gourmet? Nothing impressive, but hey! Who doesn’t like tater tots. We devoured them.
Black Angus Cheese Burger Sliders (3) $ 11
topped with bacon, cheddar & BBQ on brioche.
The cookie dough brownie was a bust. I found it to be too rich and it reminded me of a weight loss protein bar…
This is why the review is 3.5 starts and not 3. The angus beef was delightful. It tasted just as amazing as it looked.
Deep Fried Mac n’ Cheese $ 8
extra-​sharp cheddar, crispy panko crust, homemade apple sauce, apple and onion chutney
The mac and cheese was the worst idea for me. I just didn’t like it. Mac and cheese is a heavy dish in itself, and deep fried just makes things worse for my stomach. I tried a portion of it and my friend had the rest. She wasn’t that set on it either. It basically comes out as a fried ball with lots of breading and not that much mac in it. I am thoroughly supportive of this being removed from the menu completely.
Service was fine and our server was kind and kept up with us well. Décor was cute, however, I was a bit creeped out by the big eye animal paintings that were right beside us that were on sell. I kept feeling like they were looking at us.
Anyway, Pound is somewhere worth visiting. I am glad they have a good following and seem to do relatively well in Capitol Hill.

My reviews are purely based on the drinks. I did dine here once a long long time ago, and I honestly can’t really remember too much about it. I think their duck was pretty good and I posted a couple of photos, so with the 30% off dinner deal at Savored, it might be worth eating here again next time.
I love pound the hill because it offers the best slushy and iced coffee drinks. Their fruit slush is quite phenomenal. Last summer, I tried the watermelon slushy, and it was delicious. They use real fruits and mix them with some herbs. (I am not sure if it was basil or mint…)
Also, the Raspberry Nutella latte is unbelievable! Very rich and fruity, but not too sweet. I took my coworker here after one stressful work day, and the drink cheered us up instantly.
I haven’t tried their regular coffee drinks, but I strongly recommend their frozen drinks!
ps: Please bring back the watermelon slush asap! The summer is baccckkk!

Pound The Hill probably has to be the best Groupon experience I’ve had thus far. Usually when I purchase a Groupon and use it, I feel that I tend to get subpar service from the staff once I present it. However, I will say that Pound The Hill was the complete opposite. In fact, I’m going to Tarantino this review and start from the end to explain.
When Carly C and I received the check, the waiter already applied the Groupon without even needing to look at it before hand (He took the code once he handed it to us). We had shown him we had one when we got to the restaurant, however, there was no attitude given and no change in his behavior at all through dinner service. I wish I had his name, but he was one of the most helpful waiters I’ve had.
The restaurant itself is somewhat minimal, with bare brick walls, red paint, and wood accents. We both loved the simplicity of the bistro side and how fitting it is being in Capital Hill.
Going back to the beginning, once we were seated, our server was quick to explain the specials of the day. We also had a few questions regarding some of the small plates there and he was able to explain them. For starters, we ordered the bacon tasting plate, sweet potato gnocchi, fish «in» chips, and tater tot poutine. The bacon tasting plate was probably the biggest letdown of the meal. For about $ 8, you’re paying for three slices of bacon. You get a piece of overcooked duck, wild boar bacon, and regular pork bacon alongside a dipping sauce of maple with chili. I did enjoy the wild boar a lot, being it was fatty and not too salty. However, the pork bacon was very typical of the Oscar Myers sort and you’re essentially paying about $ 2.66 per slice. Not cool.
The sweet potato gnocchi was recommended throughout the Unilocal reviews and did no disappoint. I liked the balance of sweetness and savoriness due to the sage in the dish. The fish in chips I thought were quite good as well. The cod was perfectly cooked however instead of using fries, they used a potato chip breading to mimic the «chips» part of the name. Although I enjoyed the cod, like Carly, I really wanted a side of fries with my cod. It was more like eating a gourmet version of fish sticks. The tater tots poutine was also a disappointment. It was really just tater tots cooked with cheese curds and no gravy.
For drinks and dessert, we both shared the nutella latte. Like as the rest of Unilocal,I highly recommend it. Its just that good. We also finished with the doughnuts, which were the other highlight of our meal. Not too sweet, warm, and soft.
Total cost with two glasses of wine was only about $ 60, without the Groupon. Even so, I’d come back after how our first experience was. There is another Groupon going on now, so I suggest picking one up!