Reddit told us this was the best spot to eat before a concert at the 9:30 Club, so we had to try it out! The swachos were good overall, but there aren't any toppings besides cheese, meat, & jalapeños. The meat was FANTASTIC. We got the chicken & brisket. The chips & cheese were nothing too exciting. We never did learn why they're called swachos. You seat yourself & order at the bar. We didn't order drinks & there were plenty of tables available at 6pm on a Tuesday. Biggest critique is how dark the bathrooms were. I had to fix my makeup at the table. read more

American Ice Company - Swachos - Barbeque Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I've been eyeing this spot for several weeks now and finally decided to give the American Ice Company a try. I've been wanting to pop in for some wings and beer, and it did not disappoint. Upon entering, I loved the outdoor seating area, which is perfect for enjoying good beers and cocktails when the weather is warm. The atmosphere is inviting, with exposed brick and large TV screens ideal for watching sporting events. The staff is cool and friendly, making the experience even better. The food was good both the nachos and wings were delicious, and the drinks are decently priced. read more

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Where do I begin.... First, this is definitely a place to add to the list if you're looking to catch some sports. They have a jumbo screen outside in the heated patio area and 2 large screens indoors. Next, it's a bar so don't expect seating accommodations, you're free to grab any available table and place your food order by the bar. We ordered the smoked wings (dry rub) chips and queso, along with street corn. The street corn was a miss, hence why my review isn't 5 stars. The taste was very acquiring and I couldn't quite put my finger on what I was actually eating. No sense of flavor direction at all. The chips and queso were actually really good! Those chips were nice and fresh and the queso was piping hot with some diced peppers in the middle of it. Definitely something you'd enjoy with a beer or some wine. The star of the show were the wings...these wings were INCREDIBLE! No seriously, they were amazing. And before you say "you can't go wrong with wings" you can! But this place knew just how to smoke the wings and place that black pepper/mild spicy seasoning on top of it. The wings were consistent with juiciness in each bite and their bbq sauce packed a kicker that I thoroughly enjoyed. Solid yet small wine selections but they had more beer on tap and non-alcoholic options were available. We were there on their famous Bingo night (Wednesday) and that was a crowd favorite. My boyfriend and I enjoyed a game and although we didn't win, we won on an enjoyable date night at a random spot found. read more

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Probably one of my favorite bars in dc. I love the outdoor area, which is perfect for a nice evening outside. What really gets me about this place is their brisket nachos. It's my favorite kind of nachos- simple and done right. read more

Cool spot with really great food, super nice bartenders, and a perfect setup to watch sports/football. They are open super late (2am/3am) and the food is honestly a standout! The Brisket Nachos are essentially a perfect bite, the chili is warm and hearty (more of a sweet chili than a spicy chili), and the grilled cheeses are a perfect match. The energy in here is fun during game days; it's a great spot to grab a beer and some great food! read more

American Ice Company - Brisket Nachos - Barbeque Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Not sure if he's the owner or the GM but the dude named Jimmy SUCKS! There's an old Google review that mentions him and his behavior hasn't changed since. Dude IS THE WORST! Also they don't coin any food there it's all brought in fast food style. Reheated and only sub par. Back to our dude Jimmy. He is a total asshole when it comes to asking him anything. From getting drink to asking about the bingo game. Literally acts as if him being there is a trouble. My guy if you don't work here and can't get drink for people waiting DON'T pour drink to your friends. He also yelled at me when I despited my $77 tab they handed me when I had 4 beers. When I asked for the itemized bill his response was "we don't have it". Well sucks for you because I'm not paying $77 for 4 Partly Cloudy beers which are $8 each. Jimmy you SUCK. And if he is the owner I hope American Ice fails and someone who actually cares as much as the bartenders there takes over. If he isn't the owner I hope who ever is replaces him be as he doesn't give a fuck about anyone that isn't his "pal" You suck Jimmy! read more

Fun visit the other night when we stopped by. Everyone from the guy at the door to the bartenders was friendly. It was a Bingo night which was fun surprise. I ordered an espresso martini which was served in a short glass which was a bit different. Tasted good though! Overall, a great visit! read more

great bar, space inside and out, always crowded. standard drinks, swachos are awesome, wings are solid (smoked but can be a touch dry)

Fun spot to watch a game with fair prices on beer and cocktails. They have bbq on the menu but didn't get to try it but it looked good. You order everything at the bar and get a number for food delivery. Nice staff will go back read more

If you don't like American Ice then honestly grow up. This is the best neighborhood spot in the entire city. The swachos are next level and the undisputed king of bar food in the DMV. Good beers on tap served out of mason jars, simple and strong mixed drinks, as many pickleback shots as your body can handle. American Ice is a certified good time all day every day. The bartenders are nice and efficient, and the vibe of the bar leans "drinking beer in your buddy's dad's garage in the Midwest." And I mean that in the best way possible. read more

American Ice Company - You know what time it is. Swacho time. - Barbeque Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

A nice place to have a quick bite after going to the 9:30 Club for a concert! It's a little confusing how to order here--tables have waiters, but small tables and the bar doesn't--but the food was pretty good! I liked the chill atmosphere here too. read more

American Ice Company - Swachos - Barbeque Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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This is a fun spot! Super lively but has an indoor and outdoor seating section. Easy to get a seat on a Saturday night, and easy to talk and catch up in a loud environment. Nachos were good, I think the non-vegetarian version would have been better. Grilled cheese was delicious as well. We also got the seasonal cider -- which was great! Good place to head after a concert at the 9:30 club. Definitely nothing insane, but it was a good find and enjoyable read more

American Ice Company - Veggie Nachos - Barbeque Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Just your local dive bar. It was very crowded on a Saturday with standing room only. There are tables inside and outside but not many of them. They have options on tap and cans available. I personally wouldn't get food here, the cook was out in the open and the area didn't look clean. If you're coming for a quick drink this bar isn't bad! read more

American Ice is a laid back bar in Shaw serving drinks and some awesome food. A must-order item is the Swatchos (nachos with pulled pork)! Even though I'm not vegetarian, I actually prefer that version (substitutes beans for the pork)... it's delicious! They also have amazing grilled cheese sandwiches! Hot Tip: substitute chili for your side in place of the tortilla chips! The chili is also vegetarian, but I don't miss the meat at all when I eat it. Will miss American Ice Company, as they close after Halloween (& will hopefully reopen in 2021). read more

American Ice Company - Vegetarian swatchos on the left ($10) & regular swatchos on the right ($11) - Barbeque Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I came here for a drink after dinner. I got a gin and tonic because they didn't have the ingredients to make the cocktail I originally wanted. The service was decent and it looks like a chill place to hangout. read more

American Ice Company - Inside seating - Barbeque Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Great local bar for the beer drinker. Great spot for watching the game. What more could you ask for? Ideally, a bit better food menu; but it is a BBQ spot and they do a decent to good job. It's in a great part of town with plenty of other options but beer and TVs this place has you covered. read more

Came here for happy hour with my apartment. I brought my friend. I did not know this spot was here and they said they'd been around for 8-9 years! Granted I'm only a recent transplant but wish I'd been going all summer. We sat at the bar. The service was great. To drink, I had the americana combo (PBR + rye shot) which was absolutely delicious. I asked the bartender how to drink it and he said however I'd like. So I would take a swig of the shot and chase it with beer. The tallboy was a tall one (**see what I did there baha**) so I would just re-order the shot to have with my beer. To eat, my friend and I shared the nachos. They were pretty good. Came out very very fast. We added this homemade red spicy sauce that was both sweet and hot and phenomenal! Exceptional addition. Overall, great experience and I would most definitely return, especially for Happy Hour, my favorite drinking time read more

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Bouncer told us as we entered if we sit at a table a server will come by. The server did indeed come by but only to tell us to go order at the bar. However he continued to serve the other tables. We were the only two POC - I surely hope that wasn't it. Whatever the reason it just didn't feel good. Left me to feel more conspicuous. read more

Love this bar. It's rustic and cozy inside usually with a nice service at the bar. The food is very good especially for bar food. It's also not the most typical bar food. The patio is great for an early summer or late spring outdoor beer and it is convenient to get to. read more

This is a great bar. Ana is an excellent bartender. Her personality is radiant and her service immaculate. We need more Ana's in DC.

This place is weird and I like that. Lots of good craft beers on tap. Good mixed indoor/outdoor space. Really no reason to hold back on being loud as hell. But if you were looking for a calm business meeting, wrong locale. There's a sign that just says Butts. So, consider the selfietunities. read more

American Ice Company - It's where the butts go - Barbeque Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I'm so happy that American Ice Co is back open! A great bar, with outdoor options during COVID. The swachos (pork nachos) are some of the best nachos in town! It's a great place for a casual drink or, as in many years past for me, a spot for a birthday party or similar get-together. read more

American Ice Company - Swachos - Barbeque Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Came here after going to the 9:30 club and really loved the vibe. The bartenders were friendly and the drinks were pretty good. I love the outdoor seating and it's in a prime location. Would love to come back here read more

American Ice Company - Barbeque Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Granted, we are transplants to the area, but have lived here for a while and finally decided to check out this bar for a nightcap per recommendations from co-workers with some friends. Our friends ended up bailing but we decided to take a chance! Bartender was AMAZING! She was very sweet and attentive but the door guy (?) was very talkative yet RUDE! He kept interrupting the bartender, and I heard him make jokes about her accent which we thought was unsavory. I only wish I stood up for her and apologize for it- my sister's husband is ESL and I know he is insecure about it. He kept talking to us and at one point made a joke (?) about us doing "our part" about cleaning our glasses and pulling up bar mats, and even made a similar not-well-received joke to the girl sitting a few stools over from us- and she didn't get it either. I'm not totally sure what his deal was, but we decided to head home shortly after, because the vibe was NOT IT. All in all, the drinks were delicious! We will absolutely give a second try earlier in the day when the kitchen is open to try out the nachos we hear are to die for, or for the bingo our friends attend! Lots of screens in the place, should be good for big games or award shows Heard it is a fun place to visit after a concert, just not sure it was the right night for a first taste. read more

The darkest of dives, with some pretty sweet selection of local craft beer. American Ice is right were Florida and U Street meet, which seems like a prime location for bar hopping and a night of belligerence. This also makes for a great first stop, setting the bar pretty for your first night in DC in a very long time. Hook around U Street for some pretty sweet eats while you're at it! read more

American Ice Company is a cute little bar near many of the music venues on U Street. My friend and I came to enjoy happy hour before a show, and we really enjoyed our time here. Bartenders were laid back but good, and happy hour (M-F 5-7 PM) was great. We ordered Swatchos ($10), Mac and Cheese ($5), a few rails (HH $5), and some glasses of wine (HH $5). The swatchos were huge and easily split across three people. They are smothered in cheese, pork, and jalapeños. They are unique and delicious. The Mac and cheese was also delicious and super rich. Wine and rails were good. I will definitely return! read more

American Ice Company - Glass of Pinot Grigio... HH $5 ($8 Regular) - Barbeque Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Wish I could rate this place a negative number. My friends and I were there and a man who pretended to be a server there (for hours) kept harassing my friends and I. He was buddies with a guy who ACTUALLY worked there and they let this go on the entire time. Only time the guy was asked to leave (allegedly) was after he groped my friend. We had been berated by an alleged employee for no reason and once my friend said what had happened they "felt terrible" and did nothing about it. It was a Sunday early evening and my friend couldn't even be there without being groped by someone who pretended to work there (and was friends with the staff). The staff couldn't even look my friend in the eye and apologize after all of this. They knew the guy was creep and let him be there and keep harassing patrons. Terrible management and disgusting how they allow women to be treated there. They should be ashamed. read more

A typical dive bar featuring a very limited food menu. Very busy and noisy. Id recommend getting food to go unless with friends. Open late which is a plus. Auto 20% gratuity and 3% charge to pay with card which isnt. Ordered the pulled pork grilled cheese. The meat had a tremendous amount of fat on it. The bread itself was actually very good. Couldnt get past the fat on the meat though. read more

They have an African American bouncer but they are a racist establishment(if you're black and not with white people good luck getting noticed). They will ignore you for their friends who get free drinks and the music sucks. The food is worse than the music. I just wanted a quick drink and was very disappointed. read more

Strong drinks, friendly atmosphere, and a distinctive "hipster" vibe that you'd be hard-pressed to find anywhere outside of the Pacific Northwest. What more could you want from a Friday night out? read more

American Ice Company - Of course the drinks are served in mason jars - Barbeque Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This is my kind of place. Big outdoor area with heat lamps. Good decor and atmosphere inside. And it's all about the beer. And the beer is served in Mason jars! Purists will surely turn their nose up at such a thing, but I loved it. The major downside: massively crowded! Too many people and not enough space. Be prepared for it to take 15 minutes or more to manage to make your way up to the bar. read more

I am not a big enough beer snob to be able to justify paying $6 before tip for a non-craft beer that you can easily find at your local Safeway. Even if the surly bartender serves it to me in a mason jar. With its repurposed industrial interior, this bar caters to a very specific audience: hipsters who aren't as cool as their brethren in Portland or Brooklyn, so they had to settle for D.C. Highlights include excessive exposed brick, menus written in a typewriter font, and an outdoor patio area adorned with string lights. I have no idea why rosé even makes an appearance on the menu, but I imagine that anyone who orders it gets 86'd immediately. Warning: as the night goes on, there will be a copious amount of smoking on the patio. But if it'll make you feel any better, they're probably smoking American Spirits or hand-rolled cigarettes and discussing the merits of starting a Nirvana cover band and naming it Smells Like American Spirits. read more

Good food. Fast bar service for a pre-concert meal at the 9:30 club. Right across the street.

Not fancy, but worth it. Thanks to their generous use of heat lamps, I was able to enjoy a hot toddy on AIC's patio despite the freezing cold. Our party also ordered their "swachos," and while the chips and cheese were messy and the canned jalapeños had a sweetness that I did not like, the quantity and quality of the pulled pork was excellent. At $10 a plate, the swachos are an uncommonly good deal for DC. read more

We literally came here for one reason and one reason only. Swatchos (not even sure if I spelled that right.) My friend would not shut up about them all day and, luckily for her, these pork nachos did not disappoint. We were a table of five people and we ordered three plates. I followed that up with a completely unnecessary grilled cheese with tomato soup that was also great. I'm not even sure I ordered a beer while we were there because I was too busy trying to eat as many nachos as possible so no one got more than me. This place has D.C. hipster written all over it so I definitely could not spend an extended period of time here but a drive by for pork nachos was the perfect amount. read more

American Ice Company - Swatchos - Barbeque Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I came here for a birthday party on a Sat night. The good: This place has a pretty cool set up with a very open layout. I also appreciate how they have water on the side for people. I like how you got this mild rustic yet modern look at the same time. The annoying: The open layout creates a great illusion of space, but the problem is that people are bumping into each other all the time going from one end of the bar to another. I think half my time was letting people pass through me. Seriously? Mediocre food and drink. I realize this is a bar food and stuff... and the prices are decent, but I expect the food to taste a bit fresher and more seasoned. Story to tell: 1. Don't have your birthday here unless you want your friends squished 2. Maybe okay on a weekday... 3. Decent place to get a first date (I had a friend who got 4 numbers within 15 minutes, and he isn't anything special), BUT NEVER EVER COME HERE FOR A FIRST DATE read more

I was really disappointed in my experience at the American Ice Company tonight and I hope that this post gets the owners attention. I'm going to have to start it with the story: My friends and I came in around 10:15 and one of them is vegetarian. I'm sort of a hater when it comes to vegetarians but I understand it's a valid life choice and I do my best to accommodate. She figured she could get the nachoes con queso and when we tried to order it they said the kitchen was closed and the only option left were their meat sandwiches. I had made some okra curry earlier in the night and had it in my backpack so we figured we could ask them for a spoon to accommodate my friend while her cousin got a pork sandwich. They refused saying it was the bar's policy not to allow outside food and I protested since I had tried to spend my money on a vegetarian option that was no longer available. I figured that since they couldn't feed my friend they'd let us use their spoons. They refused and I can't say I didn't get annoyed. Later on I got to talk to the manager who was fairly indignant and after a few minutes of complaint eventually ceded that I might have been right. Still my main point was that I tried to spend my money and they wouldn't let me and he said he was just a guy making a salary and didn't really care. I told him I thought the owners would care whether I was willing to spend my hard earned dollars at their establishment and in this sense I hope they read this. This was the manager working the evening of Monday May 16th. I'm not a prick, I tend to write overwhelmingly positive reviews and respond really well to folks who apologize and that wasn't the experience I received tonight. I still left a reasonable tip but I want it to be known that the American Ice Company will no longer receive my business, or that of any of my friends who have come to trust my 4 some years of writing these reviews. I hope that readers of this review use it to decide whether to patronize this establishment and I will post any responses I get from ownership. In other news the pork sandwich wasn't anything special and the beer is cheaper at red derby which I would suggest you go to instead. I wanted to like this place but I didn't and the poor service I received will force me to make sure everyone I know avoids this place until I hear that their policies change. Maybe they don't need my business but from what I know about running a business this isn't the way to go. read more

Last year, my husband's company Christmas party was held at a swanky hotel rooftop that shall be named so when they decided to hold it at American Ice Company, it was fun to hear the reactions of his team members once they stepped into the place. "Oh my gosh! The economy must still be down, why are we having our Christmas party in a shanty town?" All kidding aside, despite everyone's first impression, American Ice Company was a much better choice for their group of creative geniuses: Metro and bike accessible, beer served in mason jars, drool worthy beard candy, quick and attentive bartenders, lots of seating, great beer pitcher, and tons and tons of satisfying, delicious food that never seemed to end. Swachos for everybody! Also honorable mentions for their brisket and pork sliders, as well as their shaved brussel sprout salad. Definitely a great choice for a jovial crowd. Also a wonderful, laid back time on normal nights as well. read more

It's a little tricky to find, but that makes it all the more special! I'm not too big on BBQ, so that was not my biggest draw here. In fact, the only food that I gave a shot were the swachos. Yes, swachos. I'm assuming that it's kind of like Benifer, Kimye, or Brangelina...except for Swine+Nachos. So much more delicious and divorce proof! Seriously though, I don't think these nachos will change your life (like Ben's appearance in JLo's "Jenny From The Block Video), but with all of that smoked pork and crisp nachos smothered in gooey, thick cheese with a little jalepeno kick, your ass might feel like a fat one (think: Jenny From The Block Video!) What did draw me here was intrigue. The fact that I couldn't just pinpoint in my mind exactly what it was like and where it was located is exactly why I set out to experience it. I can't front though - the space is dope. I love that outdoor seating is not visible from the street. The outdoor dining space is semi enclosed, so you have a bit of refuge from the street and is filled with picnic table-esque seating. Super casual, but still with a sophisticated, laid back sensibility. Nothing shabby about it. The soft lighting and exposed bricks warms the place up, keeping the look modern but slightly industrial. If you're into Mason jars, you can drink from them here. While I'm a fan of drinking mixed drinks and beer from them, I've learned that a tasty Savignon Blanc doesn't translate as much in one. Service was excellent and the staff all seemed laid back and happy to help. read more

I liked to make my milestone reviews about a really great, unique place that I love. For review #1200, I searched high and low for a place to write about. I even went through my FourSquare check-ins, in case something was missing. Since I couldn't find anywhere truly fabulous, I decided to review a place that offers my favorite thing: alcoholic beverages. I really, really like American Ice Company. The vibe is chill, not pretentious at all. I definitely enjoy the covered, heated patio--that's a big draw. Bartenders are friendly. The drinks are strong and reasonably priced. It is popular, so prepare for crowds and long bathroom waits if you are a woman. However, I am a big fan of American Ice. I'd love to try the food, but, more than that, I need to return to get my drink on. read more