Great brunch spot! The steak & eggs never disappoint!
Sara Wakefield
We hosted a private whiskey tasting at barrel this past weekend to celebrate a birthday and it was a phenomenal experience. Matt was so easy to work with in planning a great experience from start to finish - securing a date, planning the slate of whiskeys to taste, bringing in some special bottles for us to sample and helping with private dinner in the basement to follow. The downstairs bar has a great vibe and is super private. Matt also is super knowledgeable and started the tasting with an overview on how whiskey is made, the difference between bourbon, rye, whiskey and scotch and reviewing the specific bottles we sampled. Great option for a small private party to celebrate a special occasion!
WightCrow
A great whiskey/bourbon spot—ask to see The Book! Plus their Shakespeare in the Pub nights and themed events in Bottom of the Barrel are SO fun.
Brett Gwyn
Many of us from a book signing went to this establishment afterward. The customer service was great, the food we had was all good, and the drinks were made well. The establishment was clean and had plenty of room for everyone.
Jim Schultz
Old school Capitol Hill pub.
Evan Stephens
A real gem - get the milk punch!!!
Jaisie
Barrel Restaurant has a cozy vibe and amazing food. I tried their steak, and it was cooked perfectly juicy and full of flavor. The staff were super friendly, and the service was quick. It’s definitely a spot I’d come back to for a relaxed, delicious meal.
Follow my IG account for Curated Google Maps list for brunch, happy hours, rooftops, parks, wineries & more in the DMV area: @yourdmvbestie
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Old Fashioned and Maple Old Fashioned, Brussels Sprouts, Steak and Eggs, Chicken and Waffles, Shrimp and Grits, Burger
Megan Moore
Cozy atmosphere. Definitely get the brussel sproutes, they were SO good!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Brussels Sprouts
Shari Daniel
Barrel is always a vibe! Service is always welcoming and they have an awesome happy hour. Whether seated at the bar or at tables, there is always something new to experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken and Waffles, Macaroni and Cheese
Ryan Underwood
Fantastic cocktails, a friendly and professional staff, and the best private tastings led by their GM Matt. The perfect way to end a long day or week at work. Plus their menu regularly changes with fresh new options.
First time here. Drinks were good. Food was good but I wanted it to be a little better. We had the hummus, brussels, and corn dogs. The corn dogs were quite spicy and didn't need to be, especially as a shared platter.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Jaden Brown
I recently returned to Barrel for lunch and had a fantastic experience. I ordered the Vermont Maple Old Fashioned, which was a delightful twist on the classic cocktail—smooth, with just the right hint of sweetness from the maple. Paired with the Carnitas Breakfast Burrito, it was the perfect combination. The burrito was packed with tender, flavorful carnitas, fresh ingredients, and just the right amount of spice. I’ve dined here before and hadn’t had quite the same great experience, but today everything clicked—excellent food, cozy atmosphere, and friendly service. Definitely a spot I’ll be returning to more often!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jason Paul
Stopped in here before dinner reservations for a quick couple drinks. Drinks were awesome and really unique. A little pricey but kind of goes with the territory. Definitely recommend the Lavender Fields Forever for a nice twist on an old fashioned.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Kevin Wright
Great local bar with tasty food. Loved the brussel sprouts. The bartender was friendly and helpful - sharing travel tips that we requested. Will be back soon.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Brussels Sprouts
Denise C.
This is one of my favorite places in DC. They have a great selection of bourbon, and their food is quite good. When we visit, we always like trying their barrel-select picks, which are usually always good. Everything we order food, we get barrel fat fries, which come with a delicious dipping sauce. Their carbonara and burger are our go-to's for entree dishes. The carbonara is always cooked perfectly, and the sauce is perfectly creamy. I love that they put a breaded fried whole egg on the top (it is my favorite). Anyway, the reason for the 4 stars instead of 5 is due to our recent experience. As mentioned above, we usually come in to taste their barrel selects. Well, yesterday, we ordered their Eagle Rare pick, which was not listed on their menu, and then we tried their Weller full-proof pick. Needless to say, when we received our bill, we were shocked to see that they charged $28 for a one-ounce pour of Eagle Rare vs. $20 for the Weller full proof two-ounce pour. The pricing made absolutely no sense since Weller Full Proof is a highly allocated bourbon compared to the Eagle Rare. If we had been told the pricing, there was no way we would have paid $28 for a one-ounce pour. Just be aware and ask for pricing if bottles are present and they are not listed on the menu. Since it was not listed, they should have mentioned pricing to us before pouring the drink, as it was not worth the $28. Did not like that sketchiness by Barrel at all. Might go elsewhere for bourbon like Jack Rose.
Great brunch spot! The steak & eggs never disappoint!
We hosted a private whiskey tasting at barrel this past weekend to celebrate a birthday and it was a phenomenal experience. Matt was so easy to work with in planning a great experience from start to finish - securing a date, planning the slate of whiskeys to taste, bringing in some special bottles for us to sample and helping with private dinner in the basement to follow. The downstairs bar has a great vibe and is super private. Matt also is super knowledgeable and started the tasting with an overview on how whiskey is made, the difference between bourbon, rye, whiskey and scotch and reviewing the specific bottles we sampled. Great option for a small private party to celebrate a special occasion!
A great whiskey/bourbon spot—ask to see The Book! Plus their Shakespeare in the Pub nights and themed events in Bottom of the Barrel are SO fun.
Many of us from a book signing went to this establishment afterward. The customer service was great, the food we had was all good, and the drinks were made well. The establishment was clean and had plenty of room for everyone.
Old school Capitol Hill pub.
A real gem - get the milk punch!!!
Barrel Restaurant has a cozy vibe and amazing food. I tried their steak, and it was cooked perfectly juicy and full of flavor. The staff were super friendly, and the service was quick. It’s definitely a spot I’d come back to for a relaxed, delicious meal.
Follow my IG account for Curated Google Maps list for brunch, happy hours, rooftops, parks, wineries & more in the DMV area: @yourdmvbestie
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Old Fashioned and Maple Old Fashioned, Brussels Sprouts, Steak and Eggs, Chicken and Waffles, Shrimp and Grits, Burger
Cozy atmosphere. Definitely get the brussel sproutes, they were SO good!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Brussels Sprouts
Barrel is always a vibe! Service is always welcoming and they have an awesome happy hour. Whether seated at the bar or at tables, there is always something new to experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken and Waffles, Macaroni and Cheese
Fantastic cocktails, a friendly and professional staff, and the best private tastings led by their GM Matt. The perfect way to end a long day or week at work. Plus their menu regularly changes with fresh new options.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
First time here. Drinks were good. Food was good but I wanted it to be a little better. We had the hummus, brussels, and corn dogs. The corn dogs were quite spicy and didn't need to be, especially as a shared platter.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
I recently returned to Barrel for lunch and had a fantastic experience. I ordered the Vermont Maple Old Fashioned, which was a delightful twist on the classic cocktail—smooth, with just the right hint of sweetness from the maple. Paired with the Carnitas Breakfast Burrito, it was the perfect combination. The burrito was packed with tender, flavorful carnitas, fresh ingredients, and just the right amount of spice. I’ve dined here before and hadn’t had quite the same great experience, but today everything clicked—excellent food, cozy atmosphere, and friendly service. Definitely a spot I’ll be returning to more often!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Stopped in here before dinner reservations for a quick couple drinks. Drinks were awesome and really unique. A little pricey but kind of goes with the territory. Definitely recommend the Lavender Fields Forever for a nice twist on an old fashioned.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Great local bar with tasty food. Loved the brussel sprouts. The bartender was friendly and helpful - sharing travel tips that we requested. Will be back soon.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Brussels Sprouts
This is one of my favorite places in DC. They have a great selection of bourbon, and their food is quite good. When we visit, we always like trying their barrel-select picks, which are usually always good. Everything we order food, we get barrel fat fries, which come with a delicious dipping sauce. Their carbonara and burger are our go-to's for entree dishes. The carbonara is always cooked perfectly, and the sauce is perfectly creamy. I love that they put a breaded fried whole egg on the top (it is my favorite). Anyway, the reason for the 4 stars instead of 5 is due to our recent experience. As mentioned above, we usually come in to taste their barrel selects. Well, yesterday, we ordered their Eagle Rare pick, which was not listed on their menu, and then we tried their Weller full-proof pick. Needless to say, when we received our bill, we were shocked to see that they charged $28 for a one-ounce pour of Eagle Rare vs. $20 for the Weller full proof two-ounce pour. The pricing made absolutely no sense since Weller Full Proof is a highly allocated bourbon compared to the Eagle Rare. If we had been told the pricing, there was no way we would have paid $28 for a one-ounce pour. Just be aware and ask for pricing if bottles are present and they are not listed on the menu. Since it was not listed, they should have mentioned pricing to us before pouring the drink, as it was not worth the $28. Did not like that sketchiness by Barrel at all. Might go elsewhere for bourbon like Jack Rose.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
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