Cinder BBQ

800 Upshur St NW, Washington
(202) 450-6795

Recent Reviews

Jennifer Del

I was craving bbq and Mac and cheese. It was the disappointing and bland bbq ever. The meat portion was large, but it had no taste or smoked flavor. As for the alleged Mac and Cheese…I don’t know how anyone could serve something so awful. It was dry and had no cheese! I will never order barbecue in the DMV ever again. The greens were good. My meal reminded me of a school lunch for $45.

Food: 2

Dan Johnson

Tasty, small portions , yet a bit pricey.I had Had a brisket plate with fries. And the special of the day a trio of birria tacos.The brisket was lacking a smoke ring, but had great bark and flavor, definitely had that classic salt and pepper.Fresh cut fries salted properly.The trio of birria tacos were great. perfect meat , great cheese and the tortillas were nicely fried.Closer to Texas than Brooklyn.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 4

Recommended dishes: French Fries

Gunnar S

Great BBQ! Autumn is an excellent server!!

Justin Schon

Delicious brisket! Also loved the Mac and cheese and baked beans. A lot of barbecue places make soupy Mac and cheese, but not this place. They do it right.Also worth mentioning the terrific menu of whiskey options!I loved it. I plan to come back!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Matthew D.

Best brisket in dc, fantastic nachos, great service, and cool that they have hard to find bottles that are reasonably priced (not gouging like resellers)

JASON R

Tell me where you can go to get outstanding BBQ, buy allocated bourbon by the bottle, watch games, smoke cigars on the patio on Saturday nights, and join their Wednesday whisky club? Our first visit to Cinder was a great experience. The owner and staff were welcoming. The Old Fashioned is reasonably priced and they use Sazerac. If you want a bottle of some great bourbons, look no further. As long as you buy some food, you're good to go. If you like pork rinds. Then you can't miss these... If you don't like them, then you have to order them just to listen to them keep popping at the table for 5 minutes after they are served. Sunday means brisket day. Chopped, sliced, platter or sandwich, or even by the pound. Pulled pork was outstanding. The 12 yr old loved the Mac n Cheese, we loved the collards, and the sauces were great depending on your taste. If you aren't sure, ask for a sample of all of them. Also, on Wed nights, they have a whiskey club night that is something you need to actually be a member of. If you don't live in the Petworth area, it's worth the journey and experience.Kid-friendliness: It's a neighborhood joint...

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Brisket Plate, Pork Rinds, Mac and Cheese, Chopped Angus Brisket Sandwich, Brisket Collards Slaw Ribs, Pulled Pork Platter

Laura V

Pros: the brisket is beyond delicious and the opportunity to try all the bbq sauces is there. I didn't partake, but the bourbon selection is impressive.Other: The peach bbq beans were great, albeit sweet... the corn bread was good, but dry. The brussel sprouts are solid. The vibe of the place was not my preference. I don't want to say it was unfriendly... it wasn't super warm though. It wasn't too hard to find parking nearby. All in all, give this place a shot!

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 4

Recommended dishes: Brisket Plate

Evan Hage

Great restaurant! The staff are all really friendly and the vibe is great. The food is tasty and the prices are reasonable for what you get.

Michael Q.

Cinder is the neighborhood hipster barbecue spot that you didn't know you needed. We were killin' some time before a comedy show, only had like 30 minutes, and wandered in. Great vibe, cool people, daily specials, and (you guessed it) tender, tasty barbecue. We ordered both the brisket and pulled pork and loved them both. Onion rings and *mild pickles (YES) are a great barbecue compliment and we're SO glad we saw another table eating/enjoying them. Next to us, the gents were enjoying their wings and other (unidentified) barbecue selections. Servers were busy, but made the rounds and caught up quickly. Compliments to Cinder for getting us in/out in 30 minutes, tender barbecue, and holding down a reasonable price point for "what you get." We'll be back, Cinder.

Mission O.

My name is Meredith and I ordered to go at Cinder BBQ on Upsher St. NW DC this evening. This has been one of the best restaurant experiences I've ever had. Raine, Silas and Autumn greeted me with a friendly smile, professionalism and extremely prompt amazing service! The brisket, dry rubbed smoked wings, collard greens and peach bourbon BBQ beans were absolutely unctuous with the umami response, super fresh and mouthwatering , all thanks to the amazing Chef Ciara. The ambiance is also very beautiful and laid back. Their dedication to excellent customer service and professionalism are second to none and reflects great credit upon themselves and the Cinder BBQ brand. My overall rating undoubtedly is 5 out of 5 stars without hesitating. I will definitely be back for more of heir phenomenal BBQ. Raine, Silas, Autumn and Chef Ciara deserve big raises and the biggest recognition/honorable mention for their amazing friendly service, attentiveness and professionalism. Thanks Cinder BBQ for hiring this jewels of employees to represent your magnificent restaurant business! :o)

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Meredith M.

My name is Meredith and I ordered to go at Cinder BBQ on Upsher St. NW DC this evening. This has been one of the best restaurant experiences I've ever had. Raine, Silas and Autumn greeted me with a friendly smile, professionalism and extremely prompt amazing service! The brisket, dry rubbed smoked wings, collard greens and peach bourbon BBQ beans were absolutely unctuous with the umami response, super fresh and mouthwatering , all thanks to the amazing Chef Ciara. The ambiance is also very beautiful and laid back. Their dedication to excellent customer service and professionalism are second to none and reflects great credit upon themselves and the Cinder BBQ brand. My overall rating undoubtedly is 5 out of 5 stars without hesitating. I will definitely be back for more of heir phenomenal BBQ. Raine, Silas, Autumn and Chef Ciara deserve big raises and the biggest recognition/honorable mention for their amazing friendly service, attentiveness and professionalism. Thanks Cinder BBQ for hiring this jewels of employees to represent your magnificent restaurant business! :o)

Logan Livingstain

As much as I like this place, I have to say that the BBQ is subpar, at best. It's clearly not smoked and often rather dry. The sides, drinks, service, and atmosphere are all incredible.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 3

Service: 5

Frank Marina

Absolutely stellar barbecue experience! The smoky aroma hits you upon entering, setting the stage for your dining experience. Each bite was a symphony of flavors – tender meats, bold sauces, and a perfect char. The service was as impeccable as the ribs. It is also a bourbon enthusiasts paradise!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Barbecue Sandwiches, Wings

mat t

Omg the brisket melts in your mouth! The pork rinds were truly delightful, light crispy and popping in every bite. They’re served warm and come out seasoned and popping like rice crispys on a plate! Great selection of drinks and the staff is warm and engaging. Has a great ambiance inside, a couple big screens, moderately priced.Definitely going again! Thanks Rain!Vegetarian options: There’s veggies!Wheelchair accessibility: No steps…

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Brisket Plate, Pork Rinds, Sauce, Pulled Pork Platter

Connor Kalvig

The food was absolutely phenomenal! Cannot think of a time I've had better Bar-B-Q. The staff were friendly and trendy. Also surprisingly reasonable proces, considering tbe area. Only issue I had was that my chair was wobbly.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Mac and Cheese, Chopped Angus Brisket Sandwich, Sauce, Mac & Cheese

Load More