April 27, 2009
I loved the vibe of this place: no tvs or music, and long German-style benches that they cram you in with other patrons, enjoying a great selection of German draught beer and Belgian bottles. All over-priced. I can see how the atmosphere might turn some people off, but this is place is all about socializing over good beer, in a somewhat lively setting. I only made it here once while in DC, mostly due to their high prices, but I would definitely come back if i found myself up on U Street in the future.

November 30, 2008 [ Updated July 25, 2009 ]
Small neighborhood joint with strict rules: no standing, no TVs, no martinis. Good food with frequent specials (NY strip on Tues, spicy chicken on Monday). Most folks stick to the tap selection, which is decent esp if you like German beers. Good range of Belgian bottle, mostly in proper glassware. Very friendly staff. Top 2 floors available for parties.

November 20, 2008
We drunkenly stumble into this bar on occasion. They usually have a small cover charge because they have a good jazz/reggae house band that plays. The bar is low and dark, the second bar has a tv because we watched the PSU and Ohio State game there. The beer selection is mediocre at best and expensive. As dive of a bar as you can get in the district.

June 8, 2008
Great little place. Wood, drark, dank, sunken down, etc. No TV, no standing, lots of beer. German, Belgium, etc. I’m confused as to what the exclusive Spaten Red they had on tap really was, oh well. Nice selection and good times.

January 21, 2008 [ Updated August 24, 2008 ]
One of the nicer places I’ve been that offers some good German/Austrian/Belgian beers both on tap and in the bottle. Beers can be a little expensive and the food is so so, but it’s a nice atmosphere and metro accessible.

January 13, 2008 [ Updated January 19, 2008 ]
Hey, cool place! Feels a bit like a grotto, sunken down a few steps from street level, it’s a lot of red brick and brown wood. A small joint, it’s cozy and comfortable without being pretentious and faux high class. They don’t allow standing, have no TVs, and the music isn’t too loud, making it a very sociable place to drink. Draft offerings are mostly German and Austrian selections, with Spaten Dunkel, Oktoberfest and Maibock, a couple of US micro drafts, and Hacker-Schorr Hefe-Dunkel and Eggenberg dunkel and Urkbock 23, and Belgian bottles. Prices range between $6-8 per glass, a little spendy but it is U Street. It’s walkable from Bar Pilar/Cafe St Ex, and it’s Metro accessible, right across U St from the 13st Metro exit. Food menu was mostly American pub grub, which didn’t seem to match the whole Bavarian feel of the place.

June 13, 2007
Really a solid beer bar. Strong on draft German and Austrian beers, usually with a surprise or two. The impressive list of Belgians is overpriced in my book. Had a spicy corned beef sandwich of some kind that was damn tasty. An enjoyable evening, but the final tab was on the scary side.

February 25, 2007
This is the best bar in DC for so many reasons, many of which are already listed (e.g., no TV!!!, background level music, backgammon etc.). The bartender and wait staff are ever present and extremely good! Proper glassware, nice selection of tap and bottled beer. THe food is the best ipub fare in the city. If in a small group try to sit at the bar and be amazed at the service. Fantastic, truly a neighborhood bar!

October 10, 2006
My favorite bar in DC, hands down. The ambience is just regular pub, with hundreds of names painted into bricks on the wall .. these are folks who have contributed money to the owner’s work with Habitat for Humanity. No TV, no music, and no standing means a very laid-back scene, one that is never over-crowded. The beer selection is very good. There are always around 12 beers on tap, usually including a Spaten lager, a seasonal Spaten, a Leinenkugels, a stout (previously Beamish, currently Murphy’s), Kostricher Black Beer, and a Paulaner Hefewiezen. The most fun beer on tap is the Urbock 23, with a sign that states that this is only one per customer. Served in a six ounce glass, this beer is interesting and I’ve never seen it anywhere else. There is also a good selection of beers in the bottle, focused around Belgian beers. (I’d estimate around 20-25 beers in the bottle, maybe more). Glassware is always appropriate, which is a nice touch. Food is OK, cheap. But you probably aren’t coming here for the food.

September 13, 2006
A really nice bar with excellent service, an incredible selection of bottled Belgians and a nice variety of draughts.