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- Nearest Transit:
-
U Street Metro Station (Green, Yellow)
Shaw Metro Station (Green, Yellow)
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 5 pm - 2 am
Fri 5 pm - 3 am
Sat 12 pm - 3 am
Sun 12 pm - 2 am
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Late Night
- Music:
- Background
- Best Nights:
- Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Hipster
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
150 reviews for American Ice Company
Review Highlights
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"They serve the beer in mason jars, which is pretty unique." In 16 reviews -
"The beer selection is grand, and always fresh." In 27 reviews -
"The pulled pork sandwich was excellent." In 7 reviews
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150 reviews in English
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Review from Erica K.
5/11/2012
Never have I been in a place while traveling for work that showed so much love for Midwestern craft beers! Our bartenders were all really nice, even giving us walking directions back to our hotel.
The BBQ wasn't life-changing but since this place is much more of a bar and less of a restaurant it's really pretty much the highest quality bar food you can ask for.
I enjoyed the atmosphere which got livelier as the evening went on. Good music, cool decor.
All around we had a great time. -
Review from Sarah S.
5/21/2012 3 Check-ins Here
Hipster beer spot. I grew up in the Midwest and we thought people who drank out of mason jars were hicks. Here everyone drinks out of a mason jar.
They also serve BBQ. Not missing much there. -
Review from Maya B.
5/13/2012 1 Check-in Here
Haiku #8
(warning: as I've only been when the kitchen is closed, this review is about the bar experience)
Heavy metal tracks
Mixologists' facial hair
And lots of liquor
Those are things I remember about my trip to American Ice Co. Let's just say, despite not being into heavy metal, I'm a fan. The indoor-outdoor vibe is a nice touch. So is the rustic minimalism. The hipster scene (skinny-jeaned, handlebar-mustached men and a bunch of "cool kids") is just a bonus, if you're into that sort of thing. -
Review from Phil B.
Washington, DC
5/11/2012
"Happy hours are for places that aren't doing very well. And we're doing VERY well."
--verbatim from an American Ice Company bartender when asked about their happy hour specials
Pretty much sets up what this place is like on a given evening: full of pretention and a heavy amount of attitude. That said, they have a nice, albiet overpriced, beer selection and decent BBQ sandwiches. Like Erica K. says, there is a wide range of midwestern beers, which is a nice perk.
The aesthetic of the place is neat but the staff is keenly aware of this. -
Review from John M.
Washington, DC
5/24/2012
Hipster haven in the middle of U Street.
If you can get past that, then you're set. Lots of beers on tap and bottles. Low key-ish vibe with an intense hipster atmosphere. You will be drinking out of mason jars.
BBQ is alright... not mind-blowing or spectacular. But it's certainly good enough for a bar, and is great for warm summer evening dinner. Swachos are good too. -
Review from Deborah N.
Columbia, MD
5/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
4.5 stars for the Atmosphere and Beer, 1 because I can't give a zero for the Food (actually the first time I've wished I could give a negative number for food).
Off the beaten path - cool
Modern, minimalist but not to cold interior design - cool
Outdoor beer garden with heat lamps - cool
Only two heat lamps - not cool (well actually too cool, heh heh)
Service - not so great, not so cool. Either inept though inexperience or downright disinterested. And yes, that waitress did snatch a menu right out of my hands to replace it with the "newer" one. The prices went up in a snap (but luckily not in a paper cut...)
Beer - I am not much of a beer drinker but I did like the Czechvar I had.
Food - only had the nachos but they were definitely NOT COOL AT ALL. No, they were vomitorious. Hard to describe but let's say the cheapest Walmart tortillas covered with, perhaps, melted white Velveeta? (melted in a microwave, of course). And a giant whollop of (bleh) jalapenos. Somewhere buried in there was some very tasty chili, but, hey, they've got good chili round the corner at Ben's and it comes on top of very delectable and well-prepared hot dogs.
Yes, I would without a doubt go again for drinks. But I would eat elsewhere first.
P.S. I have read a lot about annoying hipsters ruining this place but I have yet to see one in there, nor to be annoyed by any of my fellow customers. Just the nachos and menu-snatching!Listed in: It's a Love/Hate Thing
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Review from Tara L.
5/4/2012
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. -
Review from Mic G.
Silver Spring, MD
5/2/2012
The Functional Review:
The Space: a converted garage turned into a poor man's picasso of a bar with a large patio that is perfect for warm weather days and night.
The Food: 2 words - sandwiches and sides. here they are -
- pork -
- turkey -
- brisket -
sandwich (with slaw) $9
platter (with slaw & beans) $12
combo (any 2 meats, slaw & beans) $13
[[they also have half smokes and a salad option, but they don't list them on the on-line menu]]
- sides -
chips & queso $5
chili con queso $6
bowl o' chili $5
veggie chili $6
swachos $9
veggie nachos $7
coleslaw $3
bbq beans $4
pickle sampler $4
pickled veggies $4
please note - - food -begins at 5 pm, available while it lasts
The Booze: nice selection of drafts, bottles, and cans of various craft beers served at a reasonable price. a commendable stock of liquor ~ especially of the bourbon and rye whiskey varieties.
The People: yeah, they are hipsters, but hipsters are people too (dammit)!
The Verdict: you don't come to this place to indulge in epicurean delights. you come to this place to drink good beer in a cool space. yes, they serve their beer in mason jars. what's the big deal? would you rather them serve their beer in tin cups or medieval goblets?
as for the crowd... i dunno. i came to this place during happy hour on a friday. i was meeting up with an old buddy before we went to go see a show at a venue around the corner. we left at 7pm and it wasn't crowded. if you hate crowds, maybe that's the time you should come to this bar.Listed in: Dive (sorta) Bars and other…
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Review from Megan J.
4/23/2012
The Good: Bell's draft beer.
The Bad: it's pretty loud here.
Ugly: bathroom fail.
Heated patio
smooths a multitude of sins
will be back to eat -
Review from Molly W.
4/21/2012 3 Check-ins Here
I think my favorite part about going to the 9:30 Club is having dinner and drinks beforehand at AIC.
So as a disclaimer I would like to say that I am neither Southern nor do I consider myself a connoisseur of all things BBQ. What I do know though, is what my taste buds like and that is the meaty goodness that is served up on the combo plate. Plates come with baked beans, cole slaw (which normally I am not the biggest fan of), and your choice of brisket, pork, or beef.
Beer on tap, outside picnic tables, awesome setting and a variety of drinks all served in appropriately sized mason jars. Last night I opted to be classy and tried a glass of champagne which completely hit the spot.
Kitchen closes at 10:30, so don't get there too late. Even two hungry people can share the combo plate and potentially have left overs.
You can thank me later. Or now. Nows fine too... -
Review from Andrew R.
Washington, DC
4/21/2012
Worst service I've ever had at a bar (and I've been to too many). Saturday afternoon (4/14), fairly quiet and empty. Three bartenders gathered at end of bar watching Caps (yawn who gives a fuck). Refused to acknowledge my presence or the group ahead of me, who stormed out after waiting for seven minutes. Dorky skinny with glasses Bartender #1 glanced at them and chuckled. Bartender #2 with long orange beard didn't even notice and would have cared less even if he had. Only #3 (woman) was working and worth anything. It's not a pretentious urban hipster issue as other reviewers note. I like hipsters just fine, even been accused of being one. These people are just lazy assholes.
Add to the service issues a boring and overpriced beer list (served in mason jars, seriously, trying to be PDX or Williamsburg 10 years ago?), annoying and predictable mid-00s semi-indie (MGMT) playlist, and overwrought design and you have a place not worthy of your hard-earned drinking money. Oh and bathroom was filthy with no TP (according to the wife).
I'm sure management of this joint (Hiltons?) don't care because they make money hand-over-fist in a town with a serious shortage of interesting bars and with far too much disposable income, but if they do care - fire everyone who worked here at 3pm on Saturday 4/14/12.
Go east on Florida Ave for far more interesting and more friendly bars. -
Review from John M.
Washington, DC
5/19/2012
I'm vegetarian, so this is a bar only review. Atmosphere is great, but this place is always packed. Draws a mid- to late-20s crowd, if you're looking to escape the college crowd. You're gonna want to get here early if you want a shot at a table. You will wait in line for the bathroom, so grab a drink first. Service is okay, especially considering the high volume of people. Good beer selection, although it's not your cheapest option in town or even the neighborhood. The patio area is a definitely plus, as is the proximity to 9:30 Club.
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Review from Morgan W.
4/16/2012
2.5 stars
This was a fun way to spend a Saturday evening. My group arrived early, grabbed a table, and was ready to eat some BBQ! That was, until we found out they only had turkey, everything else was gone...at 3pm. Saddened, we decided to stay, because Standard was packed, and honestly, we wanted some beer.
Everyone got the turkey, and everyone agreed that it was a great turkey meal, but not bbq. There was no smokiness. I ended up pouring on as much sauce as possible to give it more flavor. The beans and pickles were all very good.
Around 5-ish, a waitress came over to ask if we had a bar tab open, because of a bar shift change. We said no, because we were at a table, and we didn't realize that our order was actually being placed through the bar. She snottily told us, "Well, have you paid a bill? Because another word for "bill" is "tab." So you should wrap that up." WTF lady? One person in our group noted that she was serving the entire restaurant, while two useless bartenders watched the game, leaving everything to her. As the night went on, it was very apparent that the restaurant is completely understaffed. Because of this, service was slow, and waitresses were having to handle way too much on their own, which would piss me off too. But still, the attitude could be dialed down a notch.
The line for the bathroom? Insane. The beer? Not cheap, but tasty.
Overall, it was ok because of the people we were hanging out with. But I wouldn't go out of my way for another evening at American Ice. -
Review from Kathy Q.
Washington, DC
4/15/2012
Like many places (and people) in DC, American Ice is trying too hard. It wants to be a hipster dive bar, but all the ironic metal gas station signs, mason jar serving glasses, "industrial" furniture, etc are just too carefully planned and executed. The deer head just tops it off. Welcome to 2009.
Don't get me wrong, I like dive bars and hipster hangouts with the best of them. But American Ice is just too planned out. It has no trace of the authenticity that you can find in Philly or Baltimore bars. It's the cool bar for people who think venturing as far east as 10th St NW makes them "edgy".
The overwrought vibe is made even worse by the surly service. -
Review from jon a.
Washington D.C., DC
4/6/2012
American Ice Co. is sick. That's it. To be fair and provide info to other readers, the food is great for what it is, and that's simple, sloppy, mostly BBQ or mexi-cali grub.
Drinks are relatively stiff and very well priced for what you get. Nice selection of beers and bourbons.
Great people watching as everyone seems to come together here, dudes in suits and the hipster lesbian couple and everyone in between.
And the decor is super.
Holler at AmIceCo.
Oh, and I own a bar in a different neighborhood, so my review should count for something ;) -
Review from Irena N.
3/26/2012
Disclaimer: I am only reviewing this as a bar. We did not have a meal here and did not experience the service other than from the bar.
Upsides:
- I loved the space. It has this awesome rustic warehouse vintage look, and even a little space to sit (at one of the numerous picnic tables) if you waited a little. And of course outdoor space with seating is always a bonus.
- I also loved that drinks are served in Mason jars. I know it's not super original these days, but I found it charming.
- This is a beer-focused bar; however, unlike most other beer-focused bars, they a) mix a decent cocktail, and b) have a very solid wine list, which the S.O. and I appreciated, as non-beer drinkers out with a crew of beer lovers.
Downsides:
- Not enough places to stand while waiting for table spots to open up
- Everything smells like barbeque. Even when sitting outside at midnight, wafts of barbeque smell permeated the air. After a few hours of drinking, it became a little bit nauseating.
- Hipsters
I wouldn't be opposed to returning, but I definitely won't be the one to suggest it. -
Review from Raymond G.
Washington, DC
4/5/2012
Start with the good. The location is awesome. Garage like door that incorporates outside picnic tables with a funky inside. Retro beer cans behind the bar. Nice bourbon selection, including all three bulleits! Always busy, but also relatively easy to go in without a reservation and get a seat and a beer within 10 or so minutes.
Now, the mediocre is the food. The BBQ is ok at best, which, I suppose, is all you should expect. Paper plates and limited options is a good idea, but it just isnt executed that well. A bit too dried out for good BBQ, and the sides are just ehhh.
But if you are looking for a few beers, fun environment, easy bill, and ok BBQ, it is worth the trip. -
Review from Colleen M.
Washington, DC
5/14/2012
Great atmosphere, indoors and out, good beer selection and good food (love the swatchos).
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Review from Michael D.
Washington, DC
4/19/2012
I stopped in here for a couple drinks with a friend on a recent Monday night. It immediately became one of my favorite bars in DC.
(Disclaimer: I've only been here six weeks).
The good: the beer selection is great, the prices are reasonable, the atmosphere is very chill, and they have a fantastic outdoor seating area with large picnic tables. Also, the crowd was made up of mostly good (and hip) looking late twenty-somethings, mixed evenly between men and women.
The bad: the waitress was a bit snooty. That's it.
I'll definitely be back, as the food looked appetizing, there's plenty more beer to try, and it's a great summer bar due to the outdoor seating. -
Review from Douglas B.
Washington, DC
5/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
A hidden treasure. Highly recommended.
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Review from Andrea M.
3/14/2012
4 stars for the beer & ambiance. 2 stars for the food.
The bar is great. A bit warehouse-y on the inside with a great outdoor space, the exposed brick is blackened from a real fire that once tore through this joint. The pitchers of beer are $23. Reasonable, and they have a decent selection. It's just fun, relaxed and absolutely perfect for some outdoor sitting.
The food on the other hand is sub-par. People praise their "swachos" (swine (aka pulled pork) nachos) - Now, if they used real cheese, these things might just be irresistible. But I cannot abide that fake, plastic cheese. It makes me want to gag. I've also had their pulled pork platter with slaw and beans, and it's definitely decent, but when you've got Rockland's to compare it too ... I'm sorry, it's just not good enough.
But if you're going to see a show, I'd definitely recommend this place as a starter venue. -
Review from Daniel A.
4/16/2012
American Ice Company came as a bit of a surprise to me. After getting turned away from another place because my friend thought it would be prudent to dress like a caveman in sandals, we headed over to American Ice. There was a bit of a line, which I am not terribly used to for a U St. bar, but it moved fast enough. Also, this might have ultimately been a good thing since it never seemed to get overly crowded. We were able to find seats open and space at the bar to order drinks. They have a very good beer selection and an open air setting. The outdoor patio is equipped with heaters (which were not necessary this time). The demographics were a little heavy on the bros side, but not unreasonably so. I would recommend going to American Ice Company, especially if you are looking for a quiet night out with friends who didn't get the memo about dress codes.
Listed in: The Ol' Stars and Bars, I came for the beer
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Review from Jason G.
4/26/2012
This barbeque place feels like it belongs in NYC. It makes clever use of the bombed out building in this bombed out neighborhood, and has a nice outdoor front courtyard. It feels very scenester/hipster. We got beers and the pickle platter. The beers were good ande I love any place that serves pickles. Be careful, some of the pickles were extremely spicy.
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Review from Tracy B.
Washington D.C., DC
5/15/2012
Swachos= amazing. This place definitely gets crowded, and standing to eat my food isn't ideal, but it was well worth it. It was the perfect place to go before a show at the 930 club.
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Review from Meredith L.
Glen Burnie, MD
4/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
*Hipster 'casual' that seems too stuffy to relax in*
I experienced American Ice Company on a Friday night for a friends birthday. If you know what you're looking for it isn't hard to find, but if you don't I can imagine driving up and down the street looking for this place. It's a converted garage, and if you don't notice the super hipster kid on the stool is a doorman, you would just think he's hanging out.
The atmosphere is fun and casual. It's meant to look "rustic" and it's clear they tried REALLY hard to get that vibe. If it weren't in DC, you would think it was a cowboy themed tourist trap. The look distinctly says, "We spent a lot of money to look like we didn't". Drinks are served in Mason jars and food comes on paper plates. The outdoor patio has picnic tables and strings of lights. There are "rustic" signs on the walls and very carefully distressed brick walls. I don't really mind that it's so kitschy, because it's very clean for a bar, but don't go expecting a true "dive bar" or "rustic" experience. It's filled with "hipsters" but not even real hipsters. These are 20 and 30 somethings who think their plaid American Eagle shirt is "grunge" and their Toms make them "hipster".
Drinks aren't the most expensive we've paid for in DC, but they are marked up considerably. They have a decent selection of beer. I drink stouts and my only choice is usually Guinness, but this place serves at least three different stouts, as well as a few selections of cider-another favorite that is usually limited to one kind.
BBQ-It's fair at best. My boyfriend ordered us some of the "Swachos": pork nachos. They were not exactly hot when we got them, more like lukewarm as if they'd been sitting on the bar line for a long time. The pork was good but very scarce, and there was much of the plate that was just plain tortilla chip. He also ordered himself a pork sandwich. It was also lukewarm and the pork was very plain tasting. If they were planning that the barbecue taste would come through they didn't succeed. They had a tangy vinegar sauce on the tables and it added something to the sandwich, but not enough to justify the price for a mediocre meal.
The service was barely okay. It is "seat yourself", and even though someone had called ahead and discussed having a birthday party here, they did not designate any portion of the place for it like they said they would. With so few tables and so much of the place being focused on the food, you would expect some part of it be assigned seating. The place ends up being full of people skulking near tables to jump in them as soon as someone appears to be leaving..NOT relaxing as someone waiting or someone eating at a table. The waitress we had was surly, the bartender was surly. The door guy was the only friendly person we dealt with.
I would go here again if we were in the neighborhood, but I would never make a special trip into DC to go here. There are bars in Baltimore or elsewhere in DC that are TRUE "dive" or casual, have good food, and have people who are really diverse and relaxed, rather than uptight waiting for one of the coveted tables. -
Review from Jennie L.
4/20/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Cute hipster bar that serves BBQ. So the entire place smells like BBQ. Nice outdoor seating area.
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Review from Eric N.
Washington, DC
4/14/2012
Stopped by here for a drink and quick bite before attending a concert at 9:30 Club and was very impressed.
The space is great with some outdoor and some indoor, although in general it's a little on the small side so it gets crowded quickly.
The beer selection is decent, but anywhere that serves PBR Tallboys is alright with me :)
The BBQ is amazing! Well, maybe not amazing because I had the swachos which is pulled pork nachos with cheese and a variety of other toppings so it's hard to tell how amazing the pork is by itself... but if there is one food I could eat for the rest of my life that might be it.
I'll be back for sure! -
Review from Kady H.
Arlington, VA
2/29/2012
Shout out to my girl Jen for introducing me to this bar. A girlfriend and I went here for a happy hour (What Up JS and MR!) and as soon as we walked in we were overwhelmed with the scent of ... pork. Oh yes, I said pork. Not a pork person myself but whatever floats your boat.
This place was hipster chic without being ironic (you hipsters and your irony!) but I liked it. Very rustic with raw wooden tables and benches. The hipster bartender in the plaid shirt and ironic mustache made a mean drink. Without that drink I would probably give this place 3 stars (really not a fan of pork smell) but his drink was money. I told him that I wanted a cocktail but nothing too fruity or strong and he made me the most amazing mix of orange vodka, St.Germaine and some other yummy stuff I can't remember. It was one of the drinks that could get you into major trouble. After I said that to the hipster plaid wearing mustache sporting bartender he told me that is why he smartly put the drink into a half size glass. Perfect drink and perfect size.
All this hipsterness was making me hungry so I ordered chips and queso. All of a sudden, I was at the AMC Hoffman watching Breaking Dawn. Sure enough, there were exactly like movie theater nachos right down to the paper dish they came in. Lucky for AIC I am a huge fan of movie theater nachos.
Here comes the fun part...I asked for my tab. At this point I turned to my friend and said "if this nonsense costs me $20 for a drink and nachos and they aren't showing The Artist, I'm gonna be pissed" But low and behold it did not! I don't think that I paid more than $12. In the words of Wooderson "Alright, alright,allllrighttt."
So all in all I will give it two snaps up in a semi circle. I say semi-circle bc I am pretty positive we smelled like pork for the rest of the night :(
XOXO Gossip Girl -
Review from Antoinette P.
Washington, DC
3/30/2012
American Ice is a hipsters paradise. It is also a paradise for those who love to sit outside and drink even in chilly weather. With the picnic tables and outdoor heaters, it's easy to grab a mason jar and friends and chat the evening away. The long islands are strong as ever. You can sip one while chatting with government drones and Shaw hipsters alike.
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Review from Samantha G.
Washington, DC
2/13/2012
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.Listed in: Places to Drink, DC Drink Spots
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Review from Drea G.
Chapel Hill, NC
1/4/2012
Went last night around midnight - was happy to see there was a small crowd given the weather and the fact it was a Tuesday night. Unfortunately the kitchen was closed but we had a few glasses of wine instead. Our server was cute, friendly and fun. She entertained us since the bar was relatively quiet. Some dude with an obscene mustache harassed us for a bit but all in good fun.
I like it, will try it again for food and drink. -
Review from David D.
Washington, DC
1/25/2012
My first Yelp review, inspired by a truly satisfying if too short visit.
American Ice Co is hidden behind a cement wall on an unassuming block of V Street, close to the 930 Club. When I turned into the courtyard from the street the first thing that struck me was how shiny and clean everything was, looking brand new despite being open for more than a year. Sturdy picnic tables and gas space heaters outside, booths and a beautiful stone bar inside, everything tasteful with an industrial feel and some great old-time butcher shop touches.
Brendan, perfectly welcoming and personable, was behind the bar. Started with a tallboy of Sixpoint Lager to celebrate Craft Can Beer Day, then moved on to the food. Brendan recommended the brisket, which I got as a sandwich for a very reasonable $9. I asked for a beer to go with it and he was spot on with the Great Lakes Beer Company Edmund Fitzgerald. The sandwich arrived with two ample sides of baked white beans and coleslaw, as well as two pickle spears that had been pickled in-house. The green house-made hot sauce was perfect with the beans, and the brisket couldn't have been better - big smokey chunks of tender meat with a light char and some really flavorful bbq sauce on the side.
I'll be back, thanks in equal part to the ambience, the small but diverse craft beer list, the food and the staff. -
Review from Vivian H.
11/5/2011
"Even after all these years, you still know what I like."
Call me a snobby hipster from Brooklyn or whatever. A long lost person in my past life took me to this wonderful hipster bar. It was a Monday evening and the place was pretty dead, but we didn't mind. All we needed was some good strong drinks and good conversation.
The bar is beautiful and of course manned by man with a fabulous moustache. Lord, I have arrived in the land of Hipsterville, Washington DC style. Felt so much like home and yet it wasn't...
Apparently, El Dorado rum is not easy to find but my companion knew this place carried it, and of course, for old time's sake, we had some.
The rum flowed, the conversation endless, and finally a mend on broken hearts.
I like this place not only for the speakeasy quality but for so many other reasons that have nothing to with the place. Sigh, call me biased, but I had a bittersweet time here. -
Review from Jon O.
Washington, DC
3/26/2012
Went here for a friend's birthday party. We were part of a pretty large group and everyone had a great time. Our server was awesome. The place got packed eventually and she was still incredibly attentive. I wish I knew her name and I'd give her a shout out here. She was great.
The food was awesome. We had several orders of the Chip and Chili/Queso and Pork Sandwiches. We'll be going back for sure. Great outdoor space, great food, and even better service.
Only suggestion: Add another bathroom or two closer to the front (outdoor seating). It got really crowded towards the back restrooms. -
Review from Karen B.
10/28/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Review is for late night bar only, not the food.
I love the hipster-y vibe of this bar, though I hate using the word hipster, bleh. I was very excited to come across American Ice Company since I am a recent transplant and had only seen the bad sports bars and after work haunts crammed with suits that DC has to offer. AIC is unique by DC standards... think Big Star minus the bananas crowds and tacos for you Chicagoans. Mason jars are my jam, and the outdoor patio was great on a late summer night. Surrounded by factories and whatnot kind of makes you feel like you are in a secret locale. I could never keep a secret though, so here you go. -
Review from Kate N.
11/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
I have a soft spot in my heart for American Ice Company because it was the location of one of the first dates with my boyfriend. We had a great time drinking great beer, and we had a wonderful waitress.
Overall, however, I'd have to say that the crowd at American Ice is a real limitation. It gets so crowded that the line for the bathroom alone is inhibitive. It's otherwise a cool spot though -- the food is okay, the beer selection is fabulous. I'll be back -- but not with a big group! -
Review from Jason C.
Washington, DC
12/7/2011
Great beer
Great meat
Large portions
Awesome feel
Agreeable customers
Amazing staff (Gigi, Patrick, Brendan, to name a few) -
Review from Ronald P.
Washington, DC
9/27/2011
I come from BBQ country, so I'm a bit biased. But there are great Northeast BBQ places, so this place doesn't get punished for being out of the South/Southwest the way people rip on bagels outside of NY. Hill Country, for example, is one of the best BBQ places I've ever visited, and it was in New York City! (Coming to DC, too! I'm pumped!) Old Glory at least gets the side dishes right. And Rocklands, well, rocks. So I had at least an open mind, and at most high expectations. No, this place gets a bad score because its BBQ just sucks.
I didn't actually know this was a BBQ place until my second trip. I didn't remember there being an BBQ on the menu at all (corroborated, I see, by some of the other reviews), but then I saw some online review that mentioned it in the same group as Hill Country (!?) so I got excited to try it out.
We ordered BBQ turkey sandwiches. I'd never had BBQ turkey, but assumed it would be like BBQ chicken and show up as pulled smoked meat with sauce on it (or on the side) piled open face and steaming on some big buns. Instead, we got a tepid slice of dry-ish roasted breastmeat served thick-cut as if it were a pork loin sandwich, I guess. It looked more like a homeless shelter thanksgiving dinner sitting alone between two halves of a cheap store-brand bun than BBQ.
The meat wasn't smoked as far as I could tell. That's the whole damn point of BBQ, guys, smoke. If you want to be a hipster craft brew bar in with faux-industrial decor, fine. Tha'ts what you are. But if you want to be a BBQ joint get some damn smoke. Instead, it was roasted...or something. And it wasn't seasoned, either. No rub, vinegar, or sauce. There was no flavor other than plain turkey and dry, cheap grainy buns.
None of us finished our sandwiches, and one guy sent his back. You may very well like what this place serves, but it's not serving BBQ and shouldn't be confused with a BBQ restaurant. Maybe that's the point: hipster irony. It's so good at BBQ because it sucks soooooo much at BBQ. Put that on a $40 t-shirt.
I wanted to like this place. I really did. It's so close to the 9:30 Club and DC9 that it would have been awesome if it could have been the hip, tasty joint where I could get some good beer and grub before a show. So I tried it, and I was disappointed. "Maybe it was the weather," I thought, remembering the rain that night. "I'll give it another chance." I tried it again. Still lame, only now I was pissed off because I had just wasted TWO nights there.
So we drowned ourselves in beer. This place does have a descent beer selection, which is nice, I guess. And the service was fine. Also a plus that they have outdoor seating reminiscent of a beer garden and a removable wall that makes the small space inside feel really open. Really, if this place was just more self-aware; if it just admitted that it can't or won't do BBQ, I would give it two more stars at least.
Come on, Ice Co., you're a Little Miss Whiskey's for the kids too timid to head to H St. You're Passenger for the kids who will only pay with plastic. You're Wonderland for kids who can't dance. You're a BBQ joint for kids who don't know what BBQ is, and who don't care. -
Review from Alan C.
Washington, DC
11/6/2011
I recently decided to stop by American Ice Company for a quick bite to eat and a couple of drinks. Besides, the lack of seating (due to the whole place being absolutely packed) I found the experience quite enjoyable.
The menu is limited, but don't begin to think that the limited menu means poor food. The brisket was delicious and I found the chips and queso to be quite tasty on a cold November night.
The drinks are a little small for the price, but not way overpriced. Most of the wine and beer come in a mason jar, so if you're expecting fancy....this isn't the place for you.
I'd definitely go back to enjoy the neighborhood feel and delicious brisket. -
Review from Laura L.
I came to American Ice Co. for their Spirits in Black night, a monthly cocktail event where bartenders from AIC team up with a guest mixologist, to dole out heavy metal inspired drinks (many of which are lit on fire).
I came a bit early with a ladypal of mine around 9ish and grabbed drinks and it was surprisingly packed already. I got a Full Circle kolsch for $6 a pop. It's cute that they serve drinks in mason jars but not cute that you pay full price for a drink that's not quite a full pint. I got a few rounds of that then moved onto the cocktails. Just be forewarned: the cocktails tend to take a bit of time to craft up so be patient. If you're impatient like me, order yourself two rounds then get ready to nurse 'em. The drink menu for Spirits in Black change each month ever so slightly so it's always worth a return visit.
The space is pretty awesome but it fills up quickly. There are booths on the side of the interior, bar tops in the middle and picnic benches outside. Seating can be a bit dicey depending on the night.
I had a pretty good time and the crowd was awesome, but just for Spirits in Black. I just wish they could have metal nights every night!
I've been to Amico on weekends but I don't recommend it (apparently it's where frat dudes go to die). The weekend crowd is probably the biggest deterrent to visiting this place on weekends. That, and the fact that they only have TWO CO-ED BATHROOMS!
