Comfortable, inexpensive (for downtown D.C.), and delicious food. I'm not sure why this isn't a 4/5 star place. I've been going to this restaurant nearly every week for over a year and I disagree with what I've been reading on here: 1: Food is great. Pulled pork mac and cheese is delicious. I've ordered almost everything on the menu and it's always tasty and filling. P.S. Brunch on Saturday & Sunday is always a good choice. 2: They have a fantastic staff that are willing to bend over backwards to take care of you. Sometimes things do happen. Tell them while you're there and they'll do anything they can to fix the problem. (To the ones that gave them a bad service review: I think you either don't eat out often or you've never worked in a restaurant.) 3. Location: can't beat it. Walking distance from all the best dangly parts of D.C. and in the heart of the George Washington U campus. 4. Price: if it's not happy hour (4-7pm I think) and you don't want to pay 10+ dollars for dinner, then don't go out to eat in D.C. It's a nice burgers, steaks, tots, and beer place in the heart of D.C. Not a Shoney's in Topeka. Happy hour does provide 75 cent wings and 4 dollar munchables if the wallet is tight. Overall, even though I love this place, I would've given a 4 star because there's always room to grow, but I feel like I have to balance out the idiots. If you're visiting the National Mall, the White House, a concert, or wandering around, then this is the perfect place for a quick lunch or dinner without the exaggerated price and ego of most places in downtown D.C. read more

Eh. Underwhelming. I was so hungry I wasn't willing to drive back home until I'd fixed the blood sugar issue. I didn't like the cheeseburger at all. The bar was comfortable and the bartender was friendly, but I hate paying almost ten bucks for a bad burger. The salad next to me looked a little more promising. Still, wouldn't be in any kind of rush to go back. read more

We went for brunch, and I really was not impressed. Breakfast is breakfast, so I guess the best comments I can give are about the service. I asked for lots of chocolate chips in my pancakes and they gave me nearly nothing. I asked for some extra and for some reason they couldn't...That's just silly. Any other place would give you a mini cup heaping full. Also, tea was THREE DOLLARS. Thats unheard of. The brand was Bigelow, so there's no excuse to charge that much for hot water and a tea bag. I don't see any reason to ever go back. read more

Their website and menu got me really excited... mac n cheese, tatchos, wing specials, great drink selection. Walked in and it was fairly crowded so we headed to the 3rd floor lounge which had an elegant but friendly and comfortable feel. We ordered spicy wings, regular cheesy mac n cheese, and the tatchos. Food came out fairly quickly, and we were starving so we dived in. The mac n cheese was okay, but not as amazing as expected. Same with the wings--traditional bar wings, nothing special. The tatchos were REALLY nothing special, and actually came out quite cold. They came out with all the toppings separated from each other which made it impossible to get everything in one bite. Overall I enjoyed the ambiance, but was not impressed with the food or the service and didn't get a good first impression. read more

Hit this place 2 times while visiting DC this past weekend. Great location and great vibe for happy hour Friday night. had some beer and the happy hour wings. Wings were good. didn't have any other food but the tots and the burgers lookged great. Great happy hour 5-7 specials also on the friday. great rustic building in low key neighborhood. roomy upstairs for dining also although I always like to sit at bar. Giving this place 3 stars cause I went back on Sunday during NFL football and the service was very bad. I wrote "you should take care of your customers" on my credit card bill and drew an arrow to the $1 tip I left on $40. Had to flag down this bartender every single time we needed a new drink. He never once checked on us on our own. I guess he is independntly wealthy and just working there for fun. One bad bartender doesn't ruin this place-give it a try!! Great happy hour crowd and good place to watch some football. read more

Two words: Tater Tots. They're deep-fried and salted just right. Granted, it's not hard to mess up something that comes out of a frozen bag, but they hit the spot. The turkey burger is also tender and deliciously seasoned, served on a challah-like bun with your choice of cheese (I picked smoked gouda) and toppings. It's so huge that I could only eat half before cutting myself off. I always enjoy the innovative cocktails at the Mt. Pleasant location, so my dining companion and I were highly disappointed when we were informed by a waiter-slash-GW student (?) that they hadn't yet obtained their liquor license. Service also left something to be desired. Our waiter wasn't particularly attentive, although food came out very quickly, which was welcome, since we were heading to a show at Lisner Auditorium within the hour (Tonic is an eminently convenient pre-Lisner-show spot for dinner, I might add). We made a reservation ahead of time but didn't even use it because the place had plenty of seating at around 6:45 p.m. on a Saturday evening (perhaps the lack of liquor license is to blame?). Looks-wise, I liked the brick interior walls and the loft-feel and the original Quigley's sign out front. read more

To start, I work at that Federal Agency just a few blocks away and this is THE ONLY RESTAURANT within 2 block walking distance. I had heard some crappy things about it from others before I went. I've been a few times now - work lunches, mostly. The food has been good every time. I had a tuna something and it was good, and a few different salads. Nothing to complain about there - food was great. Tasted my co-worker's food and it was all tasty. Well done. I agree with all the other posters that the service here is horrendous. It doesn't matter where you sit, the service is still crappy. I've been seated upstairs, at the bar, and outside and each time we had terrible service. The food is good if you need something in that area, but give enough time for slow, slow service and to be slightly annoyed. read more

I wanted to write a good review about this place. My fiancé and I went after going to a concert at GWU last friday and he raved about it having gone there before and had a great experience with colleagues. We sat at the bar, it wasn't too busy, apparently it's more of a GWU Grad School student hang out. It took ten minutes to get the bartender's attention, we were sitting toward the end and couldn't see what they had on tap so we asked. "What do you have on tap?" "That stuff right there" was his answer. Now maybe it was just bad luck, bad staff on that night. But any bartender that says "that stuff right there" when you can't really see it? He didn't offer us a list. Didn't offer to name anything... Sorry, I have had some GREAT bartenders serve me in my day, and he was not one of them. We didn't stay long enough to order - I'll have to go back. But be prepared for less than knowledgeable staff with less than stellar service. Maybe I'll go back once more sometime when I'm back over in the foggy bottom area, hopefully I'll get a chance to try these tater tots I'm hearing of, maybe I'll even find out what they have on tap. read more

Tonic is the type of place that you want to like. The name is catchy, it seems to be located in a old pharmacy, and the interior is hip/cool. I gave it two stars because of these things. But the food, well the food is a totally different story. I don't want to get too wrapped up how mediocre the food was, but I can tell you that it was awfully weak. Had a tater tots appetizer to start with, which was fine. Regarding the chipotle honey mustard sauce that came with, it was unique, but weak. Great idea in theory, but poorly executed. Things just went downhill when our meals arrived. My buddy ordered a sausage pizza, which looked like a frozen pizza. You know, the kind with white, crackery crust - barely cooked with bland yellow cheese and an inkling of bright red pizza sauce. He said that it was one of the worst pizzas he's ever had (but that the sausage was okay). I was a little bit more adventurous. I had the catfish po'boy. It wasn't horrendous, but it certainly wasn't "good". The catfish itself was more of a chocolate brown color. Usually fried fish on a sandwich should be a nice golden fried color. The bun it was on seemed to be soggy and stale at the same time. Is that even possible? At $19 for lunch (tip included) I didn't think this place provided enough value, service, or food. I'd maybe go back again in the future for beers or a drink, but I'm steering clear of the menu. read more

Food was mediocre, service was okay, but we had to wait 30 mins for a burger and tots! The chili was so tasteless... I will not come here again! My friend got a medium well burger that came out burnt. The only thing that was decent was the cornbread. read more

My third visit. 1st time I paid cash for my take out order and the female bartender didn't give me my change back. Second time I paid cash for my take out order and the bartender applied my money to a different Customer's check. This time my order was 100% wrong and the only reply was "Well, I couldn't hear you." Considering how noisy it is in here if you can't hear the customer perhaps you should ask them to repeat their order or better yet, repeat it back to them to make sure it's correct. This time my cash wasn't mishandled. Shocker. read more

When I think of Tonic...I think of their AMAZING TATER TOTS!! Their drinks were pretty good. I dont remember what I had but it had some pretty strong alcohol in it. Their hamburgers were amazing but not as good as their tater tots. The waiter was extremely nice and helpful. The crowd was very different, you can sense the spoiled students who ate here. Interesting.. read more

We came here for a drink after seeing Capitol Fireworks. The main criteria: it was on the walk to the metro. It's a nice, chill place to grab a drink and sit at the bar, and it's in a convenient location, so that's always a plus. They have a decent beer selection and very nice bartenders as well. So, I can recommend it. However, it's rather forgettable - I can't imagine rushing back, but if you live or work close by, I'd say give it a try. It seems like a good after-work type of place, and that would seem to be confirmed by their happy hour specials. read more

$4 beers and wines during happy hour. $6 totchos and nachos. $4 tots. AND MY FAVORITE: 75 cent wings (6 minimum) in BBQ, spicy, or Old Bay (dry). This place is a great BANG for your buck. Lemme tell ya, 75 cent is not a GREAT deal, but they give great wing. I stick to the BBQ and spicy (they're not too spicy). I don't like the Old Bay. I used to order in from Wings over Washington (WOW) all the time, but then I got sick of their crappy customer service and sub par people skills (in phone, and in person). So, Tonic it is. For everything else, it's not too unfairly priced--about what you'd expect in DC area. You see a lot of GW students here, and you also see a lot of yuppies. But you can sit outside and people watch your little heart out. read more

Tonic makes me so sad. On-campus bar and three floors of nicely-decorated spaces? Good-looking menu? Trivia night? For naught, my friends. I've eaten here 12+ times, as I'm a student at GW and live in the immediate area. First of all, horrible horrible horrible service. I'm a former waitress myself and this is probably one of five places that I've ever not given at least 18% at. Missing apps, long waits for drinks even after reminders, super rude servers who seem to think they are doing you a favor by taking your order. I truly think part of their plan is to take forever with whatever food you've ordered (30 or 45 min) so by the time it arrives at your table, you're hungry enough to enjoy anything. The tots are delicious but literally everything else is mediocre or worse----and the place ain't cheap. It's good for brunch with friends; you need 2 hours to catch up on all last night's craziness, so you don't mind the wait and the brunch menu is fine. This place has so much potential but whenever my friends and I are trying to decide where to eat on-campus the answers to Tonic are: "overpriced" and "I don't have 2 and a half hours to spare." PS: Jackie O, when she was a student at GW, could often be seen sipping milkshakes at this location, when it was Quigley's Pharmacy. Used to be quite the spot. read more

Love it! This place is great. I went for dinner on a Friday night and it was busy but we didn't have a wait. It's a little chilly in there so be sure to bring a sweater if you're not wearing sleeves. So there was 8 of and we tried quite a bit of the menu. I think this was a special but if it is still there when you go you should definitely try the fish and shrimp ceviche tacos. OUT OF THIS WORLD. I couldn't get enough and neither could anyone else at the table. To drink I had a red wine which was quite nice. My boy friend had an Adventius which was a suggestion by the manager and he was right on target. We also had the Foggy Bottom Breeze and it sounded odd but was surprisingly light and refreshing. To eat...I can barely remember because I was so enthralled in my own meal which was the curry chicken but I think our table had the mac and cheese, chicken quesadillas, citrus grilled chicken salad, southwest taco salad, another order of the ceviche tacos and that's all I remember. I know for sure that we didn't have a morsel left on our plates. We were completely fat and happy at the end of the meal. We loved it so much that we are going back for brunch on Sunday to get stuffed all over again. This is truly a neighborhood gem that you should pass up. read more

I'd heard mixed things about the Happy Hour at Tonic, but it turns out the negatives were pretty unfounded. Happy-hour Totchos are winners! The plate of food that you get is enormous, and it is LOADED with goodies. This isn't just a plate of tater tots (good tots by the way) with some dipping sauces, no-no-no. Huge plate of tots, with a large scoop of guac, salsa, sour cream, beef, and chicken. It would be a great deal/meal with just the guac/salsa/sour cream, but they throw in two heaping scoops of meat too!? The totchos impressed me a lot. I also enjoyed their Old Bay wings, they were crispy the way they should be. The beer situation was good, but a little irritating. The third floor is the place to be if you have any people with you, as there's plenty of seating space. However, all the draft beers are down on the first floor, so you have to go down and order and bring back up. You also need to have separate tabs running on the 1st and 3rd floor for your beers/foods, which can be annoying. Overall still a very positive experience. I find it very likely that I'll be back. read more

Super cool spot Cocktails were on point, brunch was inexpensive, delicious and not too full of itself I ordered this ridiculous tater-tot waffle thing topped with a cheese burger patty, bacon, fried egg, and a bourbon-maple syrup. I loved it! read more

Last night I went to Tonic in DC. My mom, niece and I ordered burgers and we loved that we could have any topping that we wanted. Mom had beef with cheddar, sautéed onions and roasted red peppers with their famous tater tots. Her burger was slightly undercooked but she said it was flavorful. My niece ordered beef with provolone, sautéed onions and the tots. She ate it all and loved it. I had the turkey burger with cheddar, pulled pork (yes pork on my turkey) with sautéed onions with tots. I was disappointed they didn't give anything on the menu about what was Gluten free or not. I had to ask what was and was not GF. Also the dining is on multiple floors so don't go with anyone that can't handle the stairs. Service was good, my drink was well poured and there is a borrow library on the second floor. read more

Tonic - Their menu - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I caught up with an old buddy of mine while I was in town. Unsure of where to meet, he suggested Tonic and there we went. We passed a nice outdoor patio on the way in. But, since we were gassed from walking all around, inside we went. There is a bar area inside and tables upstairs. Service seemed a bit off from the start. The group of young ladies just milled about their podium. I asked them for a table and was told there would be a wait. Off to the bar we go for some pints as we had worked up quite a thirst on this hot day. The bartender was chatting with other coworkers at the far end of the bar and after it was clear he wasn't coming to us, I walked down to get us some brews. The great beer selection made it easy. The Midwest was well represented and we got The Bell's Oberon for my wife and I had the Great Lakes Elliott Ness. Tasty brews. My buddy shortly joined us and we were seated for lunch. Cheeseburgers for the gents, veggie for the lady. The burger was great and perfectly done. Loved the tots as well. Thought the "special" for $4 still seemed steep. They're tots, right? Decent food, great beers and lacking service. read more

New restaurant just opened yesterday (I think they have another Tonic at 3155 Mt. Pleasant Street). It's right around the corner from Foggy Bottom/GW Campus. It is inside the old Quigley's Pharmacy. This is a great addition for lunch places around this area! I really like the decor inside, they have a really long bar w/ 3 big screen TVs and bunch of tables. I had the mac and cheese (elbow mac in a creamy bechamel sauce, topped with homemade bread crumbs). Yum Yum! Friend ordered the sandwiches and burgers, both looked very good! Will come back soon! FYI - They are only opening for lunch this week, will open for dinner starting 6/4. P.S. Since they just opened yesterday, they still getting into swing of things, services can be a bit slow. But it's all good! =D I found some flickr pix of the place: http://www.flickr.com/photos/97178199@N00/sets/72157600219797915/ read more

I joined a friend from the Federal Reserve whose group apparently convenes here for happy hour frequently. The space is huge - with three levels of lounge/dining space, and there is a full menu of typical pub-fare, with the thin crust pizzas being the tastiest. The service was a bit slow, but everyone is pretty laid back and the space gets the job done in terms of providing room and comfort for all to kick back and chill. read more

I've been to Tonic about 3 times since I started working in the city 6 years ago. It's about 5 blocks away from work and can be a hike, especially because the restaurant isn't huge. However, they have an upstairs with a couple big tables. You can definitely get a table with a large-ish group as long as you show up before 12. You couldn't ask for better service at the bar. The red-bearded bartender is charming and attentive. Table service isn't bad, just not quite as good as sitting at the bar. Drinks are consistently good. All around, food is excellent I've had the fish tacos and the drunken turkey burger. Both are freaking delicious. No matter what, do yourself a favor and get an order of tots. They're the best I've ever had. read more

Come here for happy hour! It's not the cheapest place I've ever been, but the food (really just the totchos) make the price-quantity-quality ratio fantastic. Let's start with those totchos: imagine a big ol' bowl with a little mountain of perfect, crispy little tater tots. Then imagine that someone's dumped heaps of salsa, guacamole, sour cream, melted cheese, ground beef, grilled chicken, and jalapenos on there. SO SATISFYING. I could probably sit and eat the whole plate by myself, but as a poor, underpaid summer intern, I have typically opted to split them with a friend. Luckily, half a portion is plenty tots to satisfy my post-work hunger pangs. And at $3 per person ($6 per bowl), totchos are a great deal. Draught beers are also $4. I hate cheap, watery beer, so Tonic is a total win. My fave? The Purple Hazeeeee. :) The restaurant has 3 floors. For HH, the first floor gets pretty damn crowded, so if you've got a decent sized group, I'd recommend heading up to the third floor and snagging a lounge table/sofa. It's a comfortable space! read more

A bit pricey but I guess that can be expected for the area. I stopped by for dinner and drinks and had a lovely evening relaxing both on the patio outside and at the bar inside. Although neither our server, nor the bartender were attentive, I orders come out quickly and everything was delicious (food and alcohol alike). I tried the Bourbon BBQ wings and some tots and washed it down with an Uncle Sam and Your Wife's Cocktail. The wings were packed with flavor and had a bit of a kick to them. The tots were pretty standard. The Uncles Sam was scrumptious and the second cocktail was just so-so. I hear good things about the brunch as well so I will have to give it a go! read more

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I know this place has had mixed reviews but I was in the area and decided to stop by - what a fun place! We stopped in for happy hour which meant half priced draft beers. I was pretty impressed with the beer variety on tap - I think 10 different options. Although I only left the bar to visit the ladies room on the 2nd level, I like the decor of this place. It's in the middle of GW campus so i'd imagine there are usually more students but since we cqame the week between Christmas and New Years, there weren't too many students to be seen. We shared the nachos (which I highly recommend) and also had a burger with tater tots - YES tater tots! The burger was a decent size and was good - but nothing to write home about. I'd say it's just a bit pricer than it should be - but overall we were happy! read more

My friend and I, both young professionals, decided to stop by for brunch. The service was decent (although we were ignored a few times on the water-refill front), but the food was actually quite good. We are both vegetarians and we were both happy with our dishes - she got an egg sandwich of sorts and I got the tofu scramble, egg whites only. Pricing was fair, too. I wouldn't be back for the food alone, but since it's convenient to Foggy Bottom and serves a decent brunch, there's a good chance i'll find myself here again ... sometime. read more

- Happy Hour - Excellent. Half-priced drafts, cheap tater tots, great wings. It's always crowded downstairs, but if you can get downstairs when it starts at 4, you're all set for a few good hours of great drinking and incredible tater tots. - Lunch/Dinner - Very good. The food is solid (the pizzas are especially good) and the service is helpful, attentive, and pleasant. You never feel especially rushed, and you never feel left alone. Tonic is a fun place, with a little GW homage without feeling too much like it. I'm going to come here frequently, even after having graduated. read more

Really enjoyed hanging out here with former co-workers now friends while visiting in April for a job fair. Really enjoy the decor and atmosphere and the mixed drinks were good and potent. Half price burgers after 10pm and Bells Two-Hearted on tap clinched the deal for me. Coming from the more laidback hipster climes of Minneapolis, Tonic seems like a place I could actually fit in. Reasonable prices for this Midwesterner known to be cheap among his friends. Luckily, I start work next week at a government agency very close by. I predict many a happy hour there. read more

Went to Tonic before a performance at The Lisner Theatre and I have to say that it was pretty cool. We had brunch and we ordered the donuts and they were really good, guilty deliciousness indeed! Everyone oredered pretty standard brunch items and they all looked equally great. I ordered Tofu Scramble which was good it was spicy with curry. It was great but now that I think about it I should have just ate something really dangerously delicious instead. The place was cleverly decorated and consists of three levels. Seems like a decent plae to have a party reception but I would have to go back and sample other items on their menu to make it worthwhile. Oh yeah they have unlimited mimosas on the weekends for brunch. read more

The Good: Proximity to campus, beer selection, pizza, burgers, tater tots (mmmm. tater tots.) The Bad (well not really bad, let's say the mediocre): Service is iffy sometimes, pricing just ok, a few menu items underwhelming (see e.g. brunch). Solid neighborhood place, I like the layout. It wasn't here when i started at GW, but it's been nice to have another option when Lindy's is too crowded or ppl don't see the "charm" it has. Also fun on football sundays, grab a burger at the bar during study break to catch the end of a game, good crowds. Half-priced burgers after 10 clearly for the younger patrons who haven't heard of that whole "don't eat late or else you'll get fat" concept; a nice deal nonetheless- read more

You're un DC. Unless you are dying for flat Coke and tater tots you have much better options. If you're reading this you're on Yelp so keep scrolling to the next place. read more

The service was very fast! We ordered and got our food within 15 minutes of sitting there. The food wasn't anything special and they say there tater tots are "famous" but they tasted like regular frozen bought tater tots. read more

Tonic - Tonic burgers with tater tots - New American Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Everything was surreal about this experience. I'm almost hesitant to write this because it won't matter. They simply don't care. This will be a long one. We went because it was really close to the hotel we were staying at. I noticed quite a few bad reviews but, really, how bad could it be? We walked in and I almost get run over by a waitress. No "excuse me" no nothing. She would end up being our waitress. Stay tuned. We go to the hostess stand to see if we could sit on the patio. She says "are there any empty tables out there?" Not moving at all. Um...isn't that your job? Still no movement. Then she gestures up and says there's another patio up there and I could see if there's tables out there. So, okay. We go out there. It starts raining so we decide to sit inside. We tell her and she points us to a table. No menus. So I go get them. She says, "oh I didn't see you." I say " I literally JUST spoke with you." The waitress comes up. Super pleasant. Good. Shwew. We order two Martinis. They were fine but small so before I order another I want to know how much they are...you know, bang for my buck type thing. 11 bucks. No biggie...I'll go with a local beer. While drinking the beer I notice a girl at the bar drinking a much larger martini. Full to the top. So I ask our waitress about that glass. This is where it all starts to go downhill. She says it's the same pour. Same amount of alcohol. I'm not stupid. There's no physical way that large glass, filled to the top could fit into my small glass. She rolls her eyes and goes to get us two martinis. I tell her I'm not trying to be rude and I promise I'll tip well. I'm seriously trying to be really friendly since I was in the business for so long. I just don't like being treated like I'm an idiot. She comes back a bit later and asks if we want martinis? I thought that had been decided so I say yes. She comes back with the bigger glasses but just about 3/4s full. Whatever. We've already had our food. Not bad...nothing special. Just bar food. My sister who had been there before had left so it's just two now. Another server comes over and drops three tequila shots at our table. That's nice we think. We assume it's a mea culpa. Good on them. We drink them. Cheers. She stops awkwardly at our table looks at the empty glasses, noticeably startled. Quickly brings the table next to us three shots of tequila and apologizes to them. Whoops. These weren't meant for us. She proceeds to ignore us the rest of the night. Lots of attitude as she takes stuff off our table. Eye rolls. Harrumphs. I don't want to diminish issues but is there possible bi polar going on or is she just a spoiled brat? We continue talking...in disbelief. I finally ask her if anything's wrong. If she's okay and what did we do. She said she was tired, had been there since nine and, with much attitude..."I mean, I bought you shots." Um. Lie. Then she tells us someone else will be taking care of us as her shift is ending. We say okay. Then nothing for a very long time. No one new. Nothing. The bartender comes up to the table, slams the check on the table and says we have to leave. Now I'm getting mad. I go up to the bar and ask why. He said I was yelling at him to get us drinks. First, no I wasn't. There was cute guy that I said hey to twice trying to get his attention at the bar (to no avail btw). I explained this to the bartender also to no avail. The bartender then told my friend another story, that the guy I was trying to get the attention of complained. Another lie. As I spoke to the guy on the way out to apologize and he had no idea what I was talking about as he didn't even hear me. Also, if our waitress was passing us off to someone else, shouldn't they have come up and asked us if we needed anything? Now I'm getting mad. I shouldn't have. I mention I'm going to review them on yelp. They literally start mocking me. Yeah that was stupid on my part but c'mon. This is ridiculous. I've never been treated so poorly in a place. It's because it's run by young people who don't care and they are in a location that no matter how they treat people they will be crowded. I was in the business for 25 years and, even if someone was drunk (and we were completely fine) we would treat them with respect and politeness. Now, quickly, back to the food. They are known for their tator tots apparently. But I don't think they're made there and these are things I could make at home. So while it tasted fine I could make these at home. So a place like this you go for the atmosphere and service. Atmosphere good. Service and friendliness is the worst I've ever had. But, this will be a their word against ours...I can't imagine she's not gotten complaints before though. read more

You know what's outstanding about Tonic? It's really close to campus. You know what sucks about Tonic? It's really close to a bunch of douchy undergrads. You know what you can't complain about? THE DOUCHY UNDERGRADS: You're in their 'hood. The tater tots are good, the nachos are good (when you've had a beer or two) and happy hour is a-ok. Bell's Oberon is a personal favourite. After happy hour it gets pricey and the undergrads become more plentiful. Ahhhh to be young again. read more

Busy, busy. But we had a reservation. The wait was over an hour for walk-ins. Tatter Tots are the big thing here. I liked coloring with crayons on the table top (they put paper down). Large selection of cocktails, not so large selection of local craft brews. Used to be an old pharmacy. Didn't try the wings, even though recommended. Pedestrian fare otherwise. read more

Just arrived. Was greeted upstairs. Greeted downstairs. Having an excellent beer (DC BRAU PUBLIC). P.S. visiting from San Diego read more

Decent food and great for lunch with coworkers or happy hour... there's a nice patio, but it fills up fast. They have a tasty pulled pork sandwich and some nice salads - though I would argue that charging more for a salad (even without any meat!) than for a basic burger is just ridiculous. The salads had BETTER be delicious! The tater tots that other reviewers have mentioned taste like your average out-of-the-freezer-into-the-fryer variety, in my opinion, but they are salty and crispy and all around pretty good. It's one of the few consistent and affordable sit-down restaurants in its immediate vicinity, so if you work around the State department, it's a good place to know about. Just try to beat the GW crowd in the evenings or else you will find your meal more a co-ed mingling experience than a work happy hour. And call ahead for a reservation if you're bringing in a big group, so they'll have a table ready for you. read more

If you're looking for a quick meal before going to a show around the neighborhood, this is not the place where you want to be. Whether you're down at the bar or upstairs in the dining room, service ranges from spotty to just downright bad. During our latest visit, it took the waiter at least 15 minutes to ask us if we wanted something to drink, 10 minutes after that to take our orders, then he never checked back with us during the meal to refill drinks or ask if we needed anything. My fiance tried to flag down our waiter to refill his drink, and we're pretty sure he looked over and ignored us. It's a shame that this place has the potential to be a cozy neighborhood joint. The space is nice and the food is fine. But spotty service can really kill a place when you can go to so many other places that serve the same type of food at the same, if not cheaper, price. read more

I was so excited when I heard Tonic was opening up at the Quigley's Pharmacy. I had been to the one in Mt. Pleasant a couple times when I lived in Columbia Heights, so it's nice to have a similar version just two blocks from my place in Foggy Bottom! I went on Saturday afternoon. They serve brunch until four on the weekends, so I recommend going if you want eggies. I actually ordered the cob salad, which was refreshing and a good size. I know the burgers are supposed to be good, but I didn't try them this time. I'll update once I do. The service was a little all over the place. It took our waitress a little while to come to us, and she seemed a little confused about the menu. Overall, it wasn't bad enough to ruin the experience. I think it'll be fine in a few weeks. The decor itself was great - they've done such a nice job in the space and I love the exposed brick. I sat upstairs, which was nice, but from what I've seen of the downstairs, it looks like a very relaxed atmosphere. I'll definitely be back. read more