No wait on a Saturday night, whereas these three places had 2-hour waits or no further tables for the evening: Hank's Oyster Bar Bar Taco Mi Vida We were a party of 7 and were seated right away in one of those picnic bench communal tables. There are arcade games throughout, in the main room, in the corridors, in the back room, and upstairs. Great venue and fun place! The pizza and nachos I shared were both really tasty, fresh, great portion, and enjoyable. They also have outdoor dining with heaters. Definitely a fun spot I'd recommend. read more

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Great spot and addition to all the Wharf has to offer. Boardwalk is a convenient stop pre or post dinner/concert and also is a great venue for events. While they have an outdoor patio for prime people watching, inside is the attractions with countless modern and classic arcade games. I got the full nostalgia effect playing the Simpsons and Ninja Turtles arcade games. Staff was quick and friendly and they have numerous bars and rooms for private events or mingling. The TVs are also plentiful for watching games in-between arcade games. read more

This place is mayhem, which is perfect for kids. It's loud, there's lights and lots of junk food. Luckily, there's alcohol for the adults. They have happy hour from 4-6 every day and truthfully is the only reason anyone should ever go to eat and pay for what's offered. Drinks are okay, but nothing spectacular about them. So.... read more

Boardwalk Bar & Arcade - Part of the arcades - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

We have gone to Boardwalk a couple of times. If you go at night they try to have a fun young vibe but usually pretty quiet. The bar is fun because it's outside on the warf but nothing crazy. During the day it is kid friendly with the large tables and arcade. Food is pretty basic and bland, we got the kids pizza and kids will like it because it's basic. We also got the chicken sliders which do not come with any side but are solid and more flavor than what I was expecting. If you had kids and are looking for a simple place with kid friendly food I would recommend but if you want amazing food I wouldn't swing though as it's not too flavorful. Vibes and drinks are good though! read more

Food was bland and way overpriced! And to add 5% surcharge is absolutely ridiculous! First and last for sure!

One of the worst experiences I've had in a long time...service was horrendous, drinks were even worse. The atmosphere is a mess and none of the staff are trained well. This "flight" was $40....biggest rip off of my life. They were overly sweet, overly acidic, watered down some and others too much alcohol. They also tagged on a 5% surcharge for who knows what. I would not recommend...beware. read more

Boardwalk Bar & Arcade - Boardwalk menu - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Boardwalk Bar & Arcade stays true to its name by creating an arcade with a beach themed ambiance and west coast vibe. The happy hour specials are great, especially compared to the cost of drinks anywhere else at the Wharf. After happy hour is a different story though. I ended up switching from beer to mix drinks when happy hour ended because they were the equivalent price. While they do offer a lot of different classic arcade games to choose from (Street Fighter, Dance Dance Revolution, etc.), if you're coming here looking for a real gamer experience than you're better off finding another spot - these is definitely a bar first with arcade games as a bonus. You do get a pretty good bang for your buck when it comes to purchasing a gaming card + points. We played at least 4 2/person games and still have enough credits to come back and play four more rounds (if that's the hook to get customers to return, good job )! Overall, it was a fun experience and worth checking out, especially during happy hour. read more

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Definitely a tourist trap if you have children. We went because our kids 11 and 14 were drawn in by the arcade. The games were overpriced and very few. The outside made it seem like there would be a ton of games to play, there were not. My wife and I sat down to have a few beers while the kids played the games. Vanessa G. our server was nice and friendly. We were charged a random 5% on our bills which I weird. Curious to know what that was for. The restaurant seemed to be pretty dirty the floors were sticky and the bathroom was a bit of a mess. The food looked to be like carnival food. I wouldn't go back to be honest with you. Definitely a tourist trap on the Wharf. read more

Boardwalk Bar & Arcade - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Service was a little slow, but that's understandable for how large the place is and how many people are there. It was great still though. The food came out fast, and was pretty tasty overall. Didn't get to play any of the games but they looked fun! read more

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I'm giving 4 stars because our service was excellent and our food turned out to be pretty great as well. As an arcade though, this is more of a 3 star experience. They have a limited selection of games and the prices seem high for all of them. We had a great time with adults and kids but they weren't very busy at the time, it may be harder to enjoy games if they are busier. They don't have massive space so I get why they have limited games. What they do have is a great bar and plenty of TV's so this is a nice place to have a drink with friends and watch a game for example. The food is also better than expected which is a bonus for this kind of place really. read more

This place just had no redeeming qualities. The food was terrible. We ordered the grilled cheese, popcorn, Mac and cheese, pizza, and nachos. Everything was just super bland and lacked on execution and presentation. The arcade games were super expensive and so was the parking. I would never go back. As someone who grew up going to the boardwalk and enjoying the amazing food that you can get there, this place definitely didn't do justice to the boardwalk namesake. read more

Just an all around bad experience unfortunately. The service was terrible & the food not much better. We had brunch, but maybe they are better at lunch. The buffet was terrible & not worth $32. read more

Great place to stop and have a hotdog or pizza or tacos . The tacos looked the best . Our server was a little off , but think because they were busy . It's not cheap, I will say, for what it is . read more

If you are in the market for over priced light beers and mediocre arcade and pinball machines.. Then look no future and head to Boardwalk bar & Arcade. All jokes aside This is def a cool meeting spot to catch up with old friends or maybe a first date. Just very hard to justify paying $10 a beer. Even the arcade tokens didn't make very much sense to me. 5 bucks got you 55 credits i believe, but then the arcade games were all 6 or 12 credit games. Which is very easy to burn through, especially if you are sharing with a friend. Love the idea of this place just not crazy about the execution. read more

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A quick & simple outing with a nice view turned into an uncomfortable experience for my coworker. The host staff was so pleasant and friendly. However, our waiter was friendly to myself but snappy & rude to coworkers. From taking drinker order's to ordering our meal. This made for an uncomfortable first experience for my associate. To the point we almost left. Other wait staff checked on us throughout our visit, so that made up for the 1 persons attitude. I have been here before, so I felt bad that this was a recommendation. We work in an industry that often hosts events & and gives suggestions to visitors on where to go. read more

Hate to leave one of these types of reviews, but hello we sat for over 25 mins and not a single person asked if we wanted something. I was waiting for my other party member, and would have gladly spent some money on a beer or cocktail in the interim, but not a single person approached me except to accidentally try and give me someone else's drink order. Get your stuff together! We were also planning to hit the arcade after. Time to kick your staff ... let's see, probably upwards of $150-200 night that we would have spent there. We spent it somewhere else on the wharf. #Fail read more

went for bottomless brunch with friends and was pleasantly pleased by the value. however the food does not meet the bar for quality food that DC is known for, with many of the dishes being mediocre at best. i cannot fault the place too much as it is also an arcade and predominantly a bar, both of which it does very well. would recommend if you're a family interested in having a fun outing or young adults looking for a cheap place to have a few drinks and eats. service is decent, nothing to write home about but overall an okay place read more

Boardwalk Bar & Arcade - breakfast burrito with chips - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Unassuming place to watch sports at the wharf. There are a number of screens upstairs and a few arcade games sprinkled around. I went with some friends on a Tuesday night and the place was pretty empty aside from people who were there for trivia. I ordered a Cuban sandwich which was alright but overpriced in my opinion. read more

Boardwalk Bar & Arcade - Cuban sandwich - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

After our Yelp elite event, we went to Boardwalk and it was a great experience. I don't have pics because my phone died(I left my charger on the boat). Womp womp! Had such a good time. The drinks taste great bc the bartenders know what they are doing. The atmosphere or should I say "vibe" was awesome because the bartenders and other people at the bar knew how to have a good time. Conversations were funny. The place was clean and we are definitely coming back. The bartenders that made our night great were Giani and Brittney who made the "Lori Harvey." Lol I forgot the guy's name, but he was super cool. He has locks and a friendly smile! Thanks for a great time guys! read more

I sooooo wanted to like this place. It's definitely cute BUT quite a few of the patrons should have been over the bridge at Chuck E Cheeses!! Parents playing alongside their SMALL CHILDREN was a bad idea! The children were definitely having the run of the place on the day we visited! As much as I don't like Dave and Buster's, I will have to say that D&Bs is a step UP!! Wayyyyy up and definitely more palatable than BB&A. The food was ok. The drinks absolutely were the best part of the visit. Maybe had I had a few more drinks the vibe of the place would have improved. BIG MAYBE! Perhaps you'll have a better experience!! Hope so! read more

Overpriced food. Usually for $17.95 and most restaurants you get three tacos. This place was 2 tacos. One hotdog for almost $11. Granted the dog was delicious. This place is simply not worth the wallet. Games are awesome here but if you're hungry or still drunk from a Nats game, this is not your place to chow down. read more

I was so excited to see an arcade spot popped up in the wharf but after coming here, much was left to be desired. I get that it's supposed to mimic that of a boardwalk but that doesn't mean the food has to be as subpar as actual boardwalk food. I almost ordered the pizza (fyi they only have one pizza option) but luckily the couple next to us ordered it and it just looked sad... and it was $17!? It didn't make sense. I also wish they had better arcade games. They don't even have a full size pop-a-shot. It just doesn't compare to the Bowlero across the water in Crystal city. If you've been to that Bowlero you'll understand how much of a disappointment this place is. If you haven't been there, trust me it's worth the trek. Skip here, go there... the food, games, everything is top notch. 10x better. The redeeming quality here is they do have happy hour every day, which includes three dollar popcorn and cotton candy; six dollar pretzels, hotdogs, and corn dogs; and a few drink deals. All the cocktails are on tap, which initially I thought wow what a great idea and then i tasted three of the cocktails and thought oh..maybe not such a great idea. I don't know if it's because the drinks are on tap or whether it's the concoction itself but the drinks were not tasty. I think we tried the Cotton Candy Collins and either the Coney Club or Candy Apple Spritz and they both just tasted like syrup. The Nucky Palmer was all right, so i think if you stick to the classic cocktails: Mojito, margarita, mule etc., then you should be alright. read more

Boardwalk Bar & Arcade - $2 Popcorn and cotton candy during happy hour - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This place is so lame. You have a handful of arcade games scattered around this sparse place. The food is absolutely abysmal. The tacos are sad excuses for tacos both fish and chicken (they're disgusting). The pretzel is decent. The grilled cheese sandwich is solid and good and the nachos are gross. This was a first and last visit. read more

I came here for a birthday gathering on a Friday evening, and it was so cute! I like how it's sectioned off to be secluded if you want to be. My friends enjoyed the dance dance revolution arcade game. Such a blast from the past! I tried the frozen margarita. It was delicious, and strong enough to get you tipsy off 1-2 drinks. I'd come back! read more

Boardwalk Bar & Arcade - Bar area - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Came in here for a drink and app after checking out cherry blossoms nearby. We sat at the bar, hoping to order something quick to eat before exploring the rest of the area. Their website says they are open until 10 pm and doesn't say anything about not serving food, but we came in from 2-3 and our server said the kitchen was closed. But while we were sitting, there were other people who were receiving food from the kitchen, which was very strange and disappointing. The drink I got was very good though. Frose with vodka and rose in it. Not too sweet and well mixed. However it's pretty expensive and service isn't great. The atmosphere is pretty loud, they have a lot of games and activities to do that seem fun. I probably wouldn't go out of my way to come here but the patio is nice when the weather is good. read more

Boardwalk Bar & Arcade - Frose - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I've come here only for drinks and people-watching and would recommend! We usually sit at the outside bar, never a wait. You can just seat yourself. We get the berry bourbon tap cocktail, most popular and very good! I know what you're thinking, tap cocktail?? Yes but I promise it's good! I also tried the froze drink. Not a fan. Wouldn't get that. Got their chips (not fries) literally spicy chips - to nibble on and those were good. Staff is always super friendly. I've never explored the arcade inside or the second floor but maybe one day. I like this place read more

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I was excited ab trying this place out bc some friends recommended but it was definitely a waste of time. There was no one to greet you when you walk in but the three bartenders on duty saw us walk into the establishment and stayed huddled at the other end of the bar without moving to greet and welcome us. I started to walk out but my friend had to use the restroom so I figured I'd see if they would be able to redeem themselves. I stood at the end of the bar waiting for my friend to come from the restroom and stood there for FIVE minutes (with only ab 7 people sitting there with drinks in hand already) and FINALLY one of the bartenders decided to come down to me. She didn't walk up and say "hello, do you need some assistance?" or anything that would be deemed a professional greeting for the service industry. She looks and says "have you been helped?" Clearly she knew that I hadn't been helped bc she was just coming down to say something to me and there are no servers walking around the establishment. I said "Hello (she still didn't speak back), I'm waiting for my friend to come out of the restroom and then we can decide." She turns around and walks away without another word. (Can we say the customer service and professionalism = OFF IN A MAJOR WAY?!?!) We went upstairs to scope out the remaining areas. There was a cute lounge area upstairs but I was definitely shocked that there weren't that many games at all (). Once done, we came back down to try again and the same three bartenders saw us come back, sit down and grab a menu but each one of them went around the back of the bar to act as if they were busy but we could see that they weren't actively helping anyone. We got up and left. THROW THE WHOLE OPERATION IN THE TRASH...I WOULDN'T GO BACK TO TRY IT AGAIN EITHER. I'm sure this is how they operate regularly. Don't waste your time bc you definitely aren't missing out on anything. read more

Boardwalk Bar & Arcade - Outside - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Let me just be completely honest. As an arcade, this place is a thumbs down. Way down. The games are minimal and older style, and frankly they suck. My kid is old enough to know a good arcade, and express his opinion. You don't win prizes, and the tokens aren't cheap. But as a hangout for adults late night, thumbs up! I recommend it highly for drinks and hanging out, talking or watching a game. There's food here. Don't expect a restaurant at an arcade. Expect fair snacks/pizza, popcorn, hotdogs etc. , but opinions will vary. Service is hit and miss. A lot of people work here. Some deserve good comments. The appearance of this place is good. It's an appealing place to chill out. Give it a try. We need more places in this category here. read more

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It's been a while since I've written a one-star review. The last restaurant I gave one star at least had atmosphere, so this place really deserves zero stars. Of all the places we ate while in D.C., this was the low point, so unless you're just looking to drink, don't bother with Boardwalk. The name is clever, it looks okay from the outside, and there was no wait. That should have been a clue, but we were hungry and the wait everywhere else was ridiculous. Here are the lowlights. Seating inside is nothing more than picnic tables jammed together like giant community tables. The service was non-existent. No plates (eventually delivered by someone in a foul mood), no refills, no follow-up check-ins, and I had to ask for the check. Seriously, it took several minutes for someone to take our order, and then the pizzas came out lighting fast. So fast, that I question how they were made. Take away the bar and the view of the Wharf (which you can only enjoy from the bar) and this place is basically a Peter Piper Pizza. Except that the pizza is better at Peter Piper. Take my advice, wait for a table anywhere else on the Wharf. read more

Accommodated a large Bachelorette party! They were wonderful and very quick to help us. read more

Food was subpar at best; to be frank, below average! Very much seemed microwaved and not freshly cooked. The drinks were ok, but do not expect anything spectacular, especially with the costs associated with it. Everything seemed overpriced and not worth it. Service wasn't bad, but the waitress had almost no personal skills. This is more of a quick stop for college students. The set up is kind of like picnic tables packed against the wall and you'll definitely be sharing tables. read more

Went here for new years and genuinely had a very fun time! The food was meh, but it was a buffet which is difficult to make the best quality so I will try not to be harsh until I try their regular menu. Drinks were great, fun time with the pinball and arcade games. The photo booth was free with tickets to the event and we got really cute pics to remember the day. It's not Dave and Busters but it's at the wharf so you have many options of other activities around. Will be back to try on a normal day! read more

Boardwalk Bar & Arcade - Can't tell but I beat my fiancé and tried to take a pic - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Loved this small arcade area. Hardly any places have dance dance revolution and that's the game my husband and I always look for. The place itself is pretty cool but I almost missed the game because it's hidden a bit. Not very busy on a week day so it was great! read more

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I came here with a large group wanting to sit outside on a warm day. The staff was patient and attentive - keeping the many orders correct and allowing us to split checks at the end. The food came out fast, but was very average American food. This is a great spot to sit outside or play arcade games with drinks and a snack or if you need to accommodate a large group, but I wouldn't recommend coming here solely for their food. read more

Oh my gosh so much fun! We were having a day at the Wharf, and tucked in here for a drink. Little did we know they have a bunch of arcade games - so fun! There are claw games, racing games, skeeball - you name it. You buy a card at the kiosk and add money for the games. There's beach cruiser bikes hanging from the ceiling and the whole space has beach/boardwalk vibes. Even the drinks! We had a couple of their cocktails that are poured right from a tap - the paloma sangria was good, and the bourbon 'n berries was a favorite. Bartender was pleasant, bathrooms were clean. Totally recommend! read more

Hostess, server and staff are really great. This is casual type eatery. Location is right next to the water and lots to do. I recommend patrons only visit here for a quick alcoholic beverage or to play games. Otherwise the food is very cafeteria/DFAC style. The quality to price is imbalanced. My meal looked aesthetically ok but tasted bland. I did take into consideration the location--you're basically paying inflated prices for the location. It is what it is. Parking is difficult if you come after 11am. Street parking available but there are several structured expensive paid parking lots. read more

Boardwalk Bar & Arcade - Breakfast tacos with fruit - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

When we arrived, there was no one to greet us or a sign to say that we could seat ourselves (which we eventually found out after we asked a bartender who begrudgingly answered us). After we sat, someone welcomed us with a glass of water and asked for order--which we each ordered a drink and guacamole. They even asked us to pay before getting anything, which we did. To our surprise we got the guacamole first which was nothing special and tasted store bought and they just out it in a bowl. 15 minutes later we still didn't get our drinks so we asked the server who then left and came back to say they didn't have one of the drinks on tap. Separately, I also ordered a vodka soda and they have 60 bottles on display and still haven't received my drink at this point. While there is a nice vibe because of the outdoor seating, the service is horrible. I do not plan to return this establishment anytime soon. read more

Absolutely amazing staff! Super attentive! Alan and amber were so amazing the first night we came that we came back the next night. Super affordable and amazing quality. Unlike some of the other places on the warf. Their pride coladas were delicious! read more

Boardwalk Bar & Arcade - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Boardwalk was underwhelming. The place is so aesthetically pleasing with the bright colors and flashy lights that I had high expectations. We sat at the bar on a weeknight, and the waiter eventually came by and told us that the kitchen was backed up by an hour. They hadn't cleared the spot before from other customers, and she splashed water all over me when she came to wipe it up. We ordered the on tap cocktails. The cotton candy cocktail was tasty but not amazing. There was no cotton candy topper. The other cocktail was fine. Another server brought over some popcorn because he thought we ordered it (but we didn't, so he took it back). The service took forever. We waited a long time for the check. We didn't even bother with the food. We thought the cocktails were way overpriced for draft cocktails. They seriously need to workout the issues with staffing and service. read more

Boardwalk Bar & Arcade - Cocktails on tap - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Every location of boardwalk is just disappointing every time I tried one of them, very uncomfortable seating and the place is way too loud. the food is really poor quality fair food has better quality than that, the menu has very limited options and not very vegan vegetarian friendly. The drinks are way too overpriced for sugared water and a tiny bit of alcohol on top. read more