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Jin
Categories: Nightlife Bars Lounges Restaurants Asian Fusion Lounges, Asian Fusion [Edit]
2017 14th St NWWashington, DC 20050
Neighborhood: U Street Corridor
(202) 332-2104
- Nearest Transit:
-
U Street Metro Station (Green, Yellow)
- Delivery:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Late Night
- Music:
- DJ
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- Yes
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- Yes
- Ambience:
- Trendy
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
38 reviews for Jin
Review Highlights
"Just went here for happy hour but I'm always looking for a..."
(in 13 reviews)
"...me and my friend a Peach Martini - which was soooo good."
(in 4 reviews)
"...spot to go to just hang out, listen to music and just lamp."
(in 3 reviews)
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38 reviews in English
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Review from R G.
Washington, DC
1/15/2012
I must admit that I haven't been to Jin in a while, but I used to go regularly.
I don't remember which night is "black people" night (Friday or Saturday), but it was ALWAYS a good time. Free to get in. Really good DJ. Nice crowd- 25+, -35; not pretentious. Everyone was there to dance and have a good time, not stand around looking bored and mean.
I'll have to visit again soon. -
Review from Juliet S.
1/15/2012
My work had our holiday party here, which was perfect for our size of roughly 100 people. They let us DJ the event and had decent appetizer food - the highlight being the slightly spicy conch fritters.
Bartenders are cool, willing to recommend a good drink. I was super surprised that they don't offer happy hour on MONDAYS - what?! And of course we had the party on a Monday so we were shelling out $10 per mixed drink...a little steep considering the atmosphere, IMHO. -
Review from Vince W.
Silver Spring, MD
11/23/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Jin is a very chill little spot to go to just hang out, listen to music and just lamp. I used to visit this place a lot when I first moved to DMV 4 yrs ago. I still enjoy going this spot when I get an opportunity to go.
When you visit, you must try the Jerk wings! They are the best in town. I always order the jerk wing platter which comes with rice and plantain. It never disappoints. I like to order one for now and I order an extra platter to go.
The staff is always very friendly and helpful. Leela, the bartender is the best. She will always take care of you and she has a great personality.
This is still one of my favorite spots! -
Review from April S.
1/14/2012
I don't know about this place. My friends and I went here to do a birthday celebration, part 2 type of thing. One good thing I must say is there was no cover charge and the host looked at my ID without giving me a funny look (I need a new picture...lol). When you get in, the decor is nice...but it was really dark in there so my eyes could be playing tricks on me. There wasn't a lot of people in there. I would say no more than 30 people (which was cool). The dj was good and the drinks were cheap. I must say I did have a good time. It's just it like a random spot. A no name place trying to be something that it's not. I think I would have liked the place more if they weren't trying so hard to be a "Lux" or "the Park." BUT all in all, I would go again.
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Review from catherine s.
Silver Spring, MD
11/22/2011
Just went here for happy hour but I'm always looking for a great deal. Nice upscale ambiance, a bit small though. Great happy hour deals ($5 food and drink specials) and was not crowded on a Thursday. Service was great, would come again for sure!
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Review from Mariatu K.
Lanham, MD
9/19/2011
My cousins and I went by there on a Saturday, I must say that it was fun. The DJ was on point. He started out with some 80's music which was great for me because I'm an 80's fanatic. Then he worked his way up to the current stuff which was also good. I will definitely go back.
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Review from Erika B.
4/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
We are neighbors so we wanted to try one of the few places we haven't been. I really enjoyed our server and the small appetizers we had. I really liked the carribean style cuisine; jerk chicken and sweet plantain. The interior wasn't really my style but that's okay.
I won't return because I had an unnecessarily offensive encounter with the owner on our way out. He was rude as could be. Not only will I not return but I will tell others to stay away as well. -
Review from Cory R.
Fort Washington, MD
1/18/2011
I like JIN for the reason most people don't, it is SMALL! ... I am sooo tired of tipcal D.C. spots full of stuck-up people, too good to dance. At JIN you have no choice, its too small not to dance and be standing around, so you dance...lol..stand if you want and you will get bumped, booty-bumped lol (ladies thats cool bump me!) your shoes may get steppped on. If you're stuck up and don't want anybody touching you, bumping up against you, stay ya ass home don't go to JIN. It is for people that like to have fun, drink and dance. There is no standing room usually on a Friday or Saturday night.
There are plenty of "See Me I Somebody Clubs in D.C." go there... -
Review from Aaron J.
Alexandria, VA
While driving around U-street myself and 2 other friends decided to give this place a try. I'd previously been here before and remembered its great $5 happy hour. In which there are 5 specialty drinks, and 5 tasteful appeitizers. The place is a nice chill spot, for after work, or just meeting up with a group of friends. I enjoy the couch style table seats with individual tv's in each section. There is usually a DJ playing classic hip-hop and some new school hits. I've never been disappointed with the music selection. The bartenders, make your drinks nice and strong, so be careful to all you light-weights out there. I do recommend you try this place out yourself.
I will def be back. Nice place. -
Review from Michelle R.
Houston, TX
7/14/2010 1 photo
Randomly checked in here on a Tuesday night. The decor was nice - love white couches - especially when they stay white! John the bartender was entertaining and really nice. He jumped into our conversation and it wasn't awkward or rude - it was like we were at Cheers. He offered to make me a strawberry mojito and said if I didn't like it, I could send it back - no problem. Ended up making me and my friend a Peach Martini - which was soooo good!
Another staff member noticed I was hot and turned up the AC - talk about customer service. These people ROCK.
Would definitely show up here again but maybe on another night. -
Review from Pam Z.
3/10/2010
Why am I sometimes the only Asian person in "Asian fusion" places?
Please don't answer that question. This is DC after all.
My friend and I went here for a weekday happy hour, and the $5 martinis were awesome! Also, their happy hour wings just ok, but it was their spring rolls (really just fried dumplings, don't be fooled by the name) that were pretty darn good. Suffice to say we got a second order. And a third. Yeah, fried things can be awesome.
We managed to grab the cushy nice window seats (props on the decor), but alas, you could tell that it gets crowded and we had prime real estate later on in the night. It ends up being more of a dance club, which is utterly bizarre on a work night. My friend and I were definitely out of place in our work clothes. The music was WAY too loud, and the servers were REALLY pushy to get us out of there when happy hour was over (hence the two stars -why does DC have such crappy customer service). We were still ordering drinks and food, what's the rush?
Btw, someone double check my Chinese, but the character outside doesn't translate to "Jin" phonetically (this is a pet peeve of mine- similar to the Hillary/Russian button debacle). -
Review from Jeremy Q.
Washington D.C., DC
11/17/2010
I have had both good and bad experiences a Jin.
I had gone a few times before I recently re-discovered it, but the crowd was extra bourgeois (think DCFab!), even though most are probably living way beyond their means. I'd walk in, then walk out.
I went a few weeks ago for the J. Ivy album release party and had a good time. The bartenders, I had to teach how to make a few drinks, but I was fine with that, because it wasn't that busy. I had a good time and they comped a few drinks for me. I tipped them extremely well.
If you know me, you know I hold it down on de tips.
A couple of weeks later, I came back with my wife, had a decent amount of drinks and food, and they didn't comp anything. Ehhh.. ..it's whatever I guess.
I think I'm going to forget about this place unless something like the Masters of the Mix events happen here again.
The food was pretty decent though, will give them that. -
Review from Lydia P.
Washington, DC
11/15/2006
Love it! Love it!
Edgy, fun, modern decor with an eye-catching red leather sofa that makes Jin definitely stand out among other bars in this area as a hip, cool and trendy place to hang out!
The food is fantastic!
The drinks makes you energetic!
The music draws you enthusiastic!
Outstanding! -
Review from pauLine R.
Washington, DC
7/28/2010
Headed over here due to the lack of air circulation next door at Marvin's. Smaller than I expected, but definitely wasn't cramped for a Friday night.
Great place to hang out if you're into R&B, Hip Hop, and a little bit of B-More music.
Bouncer was kinda a D-Bag though. -
Review from Kaye D.
Baltimore, MD
11/30/2010
I was there! I almost forgot that I was though after a couple tasty Smirnoff mixes!
Smirnoff hosted a viewing party of the new reality series Masters Of The Mix on BET and VH1. I can see why Jin was selected. It was uh...cozy, which created a great space for mingling. The decor was quite pleasing, reds, purples, browns and whites with plush couches and comfy ottomans.
Let us not forget the edible treats! The meat fell off the bones of the wings...(now thats some good happy hour food) and the fries rivaled that of the golden arches and made friends with the Smirnoff in my tummy.
It was not too big, not too small but Jin was just right for the night. I think you would enjoy! -
Review from Tiffane C.
College Park, MD
12/11/2009 3 photos
I came here Tuesday during happy hour for a friend's birthday get-together and it was actually pretty populated for an early weekday. In addition to our party, there was a gathering of teachers and two other groups who were out to have a good time. There were also a few stragglers at the bar, so there was a lot of competition early on for getting in drink orders because only one bartender was there. It was a little annoying and they were on their way to being a two-star joint, until my peach martini finally came up and redeemed the place.
Once I settled down on the couch with my drink, later followed by two potstickers and ribs "appeteasers," I was satisfied. The ribs were amazing, but the kimchi threw me off. Soon after, another bartender and two waitstaff showed up, which expedited service. I topped off the night with a signature drink called the G-spot and let's just say this drink is aptly named.
Overall, I think this is a solid place, especially for happy hour. From 5:30 to 8pm Tuesday through Friday, you can enjoy $5 martinis, flavored mojitos, house drinks, beers, and appetizers. The atmosphere is nice thanks to the decor and music, which is not stellar, but okay. I was confused by the flat TV screens because they were just playing random visuals. It'd be cool if they showed music videos, movies, or some other form of engaging entertainment. All the same, they're a nice touch even if they aren't well utilized by the management.
I wouldn't want to come here as a final destination for the weekend, but if you're looking for a nice, recession-friendly happy hour or pre-game spot, Jin's a good way to go.Listed in: Crowd Pleasers
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Review from Blaze J.
Washington, DC
3/9/2009
I frequent this joint when I want to cool out and listen to some good jams. Cost is free and usually there's never a line if you get there early enough. Only problem is that this spot is mad small but the people usually make it into a good party and the house DJ usually keeps the crowd jumpin by playing a mixture of old school hip hop & reggae and even spins a few of those old R&B classic like MJ's "Off the Wall" type joints that takes you back.
The crowd is usually mixed with progressive professionals and even the eccletic types. Happy hour specials are $5 drinks and poured well. Best nights are obviously Fri and Sat. You can always hop into this spot during the week if you want to plan a happy hour and its usually far more comfortable than during the weekend. -
Review from Tracey C.
7/16/2009
I've been to Jin before but the experience didn't even come close to mirroring the one I had on Saturday. This time I didn't' feel like a sardine in a can. I think people were designating it as the after party spot because only a handful of people were there by eleven. I felt bad for the bartenders but the lack of a crowd made it a great place to secure a spot before they started pouring in closer to 12.
DJ Jerome showed up and got things cranking right before folks started getting there. He played the traditional mix of rap, upbeat R&B and reggae that you can expect in an urban space. He even had a little MJ mix going for a bit (R.I.P.) but that was expected as it is always a good way to hype up the crowd.
If you want to lounge then skip this place because odds are you won't be able to secure a spot at the bar and I'm not sure about the policy for the tables surrounding the dance floor. It seems like a good place to put on your list if you're into dancing the night away. -
Review from Tyra G.
Washington, DC
8/29/2008
I've been meaning to write a review about Jin for a few months now. In June, I celebrated my 25th birthday party there. I reserved a VIP table which accomodated myself and about 12-15 of my closest friends. And boy was it well worth it.
I love the ambiance of Jin, from the color scheme to the layout. I also loved the music, the food (which was cheap AND delicious), and the flavored moijitos I was drinking all night. The waitress that was assigned to our table was very friendly, and even showed me how to do a "hyphy" dance (she was from the bay are).
Please do not mistake Jin for a club. It is a restaraunt and lounge, so yes, it is small. But if your looking for a location of an intimate gathering or a place to "pre-game" before attending a club-Jin is the way to go! -
Review from Tyra W.
Washington, DC
10/21/2011
One of my fav low-key spots. If you come after 5, but before 9, you don't have to worry about not hearing your friends talk, or not being able to find a waiter to order...the HH wings are the BEST, the spring rolls, and conch fritters are great too! Also, the HH drink prices are $5 before 8, and they're pretty darn good too! If you stay later, you might be able to get in a dance or two!
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Review from Robin M.
Gaithersburg, MD
5/20/2010
Interesting place; never heard of it or even seen it before. I went on a Tuesday for an Charity event so the Happy Hour was decent, the music was lounge/party-ish poppin, and the VIP floor section was open for seating etc. Seems like a nice chill spot and I see the potential to be a regular.
Yes it's small, but not uncomfortable. The pictures on this page don't really do the place justice. The ambiance is relaxing and the lighting give it kind of a glow. -
Review from Jaryn F.
Philadelphia, PA
5/15/2010
I'm not sure if Jin deserves 3 stars or 4, but I am rounding up (I'm in a good mood today). I've been here twice for happy hours and have left satisfied each time.
The good: The staff is friendly (someone welcomed us in & held the door for us upon entry, our waitress was engaging and helpful). The drinks are relatively cheap (5 bucks for martinis, mojitos and mixed drinks during happy hour...which lasts until 8pm!). The appetizers are pretty sizeable for the price. The music is great (everything from raheem devaughn, to jamiroquai, to gotan project) and I frequently found myself interrupting my friends to yell "oh snap! this is my jam!"
The bad: The drinks are relatively weak. I guess I can't be too demanding when a martini is only $5, but I could have easily downed 3 or 4 without feeling much of a buzz. There's also a credit card minimum (which we managed to avoid).
When I want a nice evening out with friends and don't want to break the bank, Jin is my venue of choice. It's also a nice alternative if you can't get a table or counter-space at The Gibson. I'll be back. -
Review from Heather G.
Washington, DC
6/30/2008
Ah, yes...it appears that I have fallen into the same trap yet again. Just as I had suffered through Play, I suffered through Jin. Lame. Lame. Lame. Too much line drama. Too small. Not enough dancing. And I get it Mr. DJ you need to be all creative and lay down beats or whatever...but I would just like to hear some good old, unadulterated Michael Jackson, if I may.
And a dress code...seriously? -
Review from Natalie M.
Washington, DC
2/6/2010
Some friends and I went to Jin on a Thursday after work. The place was pretty empty and small, but we liked the ambience, so we decided to stay a while. We sat on the red sofas by the window and a waitress soon approached us to take our order. The waitress wasn't friendly, but she did let us know about the $5 special on a selection of food and drinks. I ordered a peach martini and conch fritters. The martini was flavorful, but not strong and the conch fritters were yummy.
The waitress, who had been hovering over my friends and me when we initially arrived, virtually disappeared as soon as she brought us our food and drinks. Some additional people had arrived after my friends and I got there and we understood that the waitress had to attend to those customers, but that was no excuse for her to ignore us. My friends and I made several unsuccessful attempts to get the waitress' attention. I eventually had to leave my seat and approach her to let her know that we wanted the check.
This was my second time visiting Jin and I had the same experience with this waitress, so I gather this is her mode of operation. It's too bad the only waitress in the place doesn't know how to do her job well. I would go back, but only if I planned on ordering at the bar. -
Review from Brittany W.
Silver Spring, MD
12/3/2010
As you walk down 14th street you will have a hard time spotting Jin out among the storefronts. They have a very nondescript sign out front and from that I shouldn't have expected much. I happened to go for a happy hour with a friend and his classmates. I had previously checked out the happy hour menu online to get an idea of what to expect. They have martinis, mojitos, wings, you know regular happy hour fare all advertised for $5. Outside was also a sign naming the previously mentioned items for the happy hour.
Too bad expectations don't always live up to reality. I mainly went because of the $5 mojitos. After I ordered my first pineapple mojito the waitress comes back and tells me that the mojitos are no longer listed at happy hour prices although they were advertised on the website as well as the chalkboard outside. She also tells my friend that his dirty martini will now have a $2 upcharge. I was thoroughly peeved but soon got over it and got a peach martini (not my kind of drink at all however it was pretty). Then I ordered wings which were just ok. I also got word from someone with us that the ribs and the conch fritters were just ok.
My overall experience was just average. They do have really nice decor but too bad they don't keep their word on prices for drinks.So Jin is nothing too exciting or too bad. It looks like this place has potential but unfortunately I won't be going back to find out whether it can reach the potential or not. -
Review from Maxwell S.
San Francisco, CA
12/17/2006
Jin is a bar with a club feel in the U St. corridor that caters to those looking for an upscale posh-like venue. Personally, I don't go to U St. to get the life of the rich and famous mystique, so I thought this place was a little out of place.
On another note, my barber told me he swore this place off after they tried to charge him and his girlfriend a $20 cover on a Wednesday night. I can't relate as I went for a holiday party where they had an open bar, so my knowledge of their ridiculous cover charges and drink prices is limited. -
Review from Tyler N.
Washington, DC
6/8/2007
I wouldn't recommend it as a food destination. It wasn't bad, just kind of meh. The conch fritters were pretty tasty, but I've had bicycle tire fritters that were tasty. The Malaysian chicken satay tasted like plain grilled chicken, and it was missing the dipping sauce. We didn't get the salad we ordered. The jerk shrimp sushi roll was inferior to what you'd get at just about any sushi restaurant. All this being said, the portions are big and the food prices aren't bad. The food is probably more appropriate as something for a group to nibble on long after your tastebuds have been saturated by alcohol.
As for the drinks, they were pretty disappointing, especially at $10 a pop. My caprianha -- usually a refreshing drink on a hot night -- had so much simple syrup, it was almost undrinkable. The "Drink Pink" my wife ordered was a little better, but also way too heavy on the syrup.
I felt bad for the waitress, who, in addition to being the only wait staff there, was also keeping the bar. She was really friendly, and our food came out without any delay. -
Review from Dana B.
Pittsburgh, PA
2/1/2009
This place gets points for their cheap happy hour deals- drinks- decent sized appetizers for $5. I went for a Wednesday night happy hour. The crowd gets good around 7:30p, but there is barely any seating in this place for the amount of ppl it can hold...so get there early. I recommend the chicken wings. They have a delicious jerk seasoning that makes them a great surprise. The DJ....not so much. Don't expect to dance.
Also, they have a $20 card minimum, so either bring cash or buy their drinks. I feel like theyre a little pricey with the drinks for what is basically a room with barely any seating, especially if you want to eat. -
Review from S. A.
Washington, DC
8/8/2011
cool place, really laid back great customer service. it wasn't crowed and the temperature in there was very comfortable. The young ladies who were servers kept checking on us to make sure we had everything we needed. I liked the music the volume was great, but as more people showed up the DJ cranked up the volume too high, since this is a lounge I would recommend keeping the music at a more moderate level. heads if you buy a water bottle from the bar and can't finish it in the building don't try to leave with your bottle...the bouncer got all bent out of shape when I tried to leave with my water...I mean it was a $5 bottle of water, I wasn't gonna leave it...oh also I would also recommend putting toilet paper in the restrooms.
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Review from Alicia C.
Bethesda, MD
2/26/2009
3.5 stars
Note: happy hour rating only
I came here for happy hour for a volunteering program I'm involved with. The drinks were a deal, $5 martinis! I had the peach martini and thought it was pretty good, though the guys in the group refused to order it since it looked too girlie... but for me, it was great. For appetizers, I tried the spring rolls and the conch fritters. The spring rolls looked more like dumplings to me, but were nonetheless delicious. Both were very generously portioned for their price (also $5) and left full and happy. One note, the place is kind of small, so just keep that in mind before heading here with a large group of people. My group arrived pretty early and was able to secure a nice section of tables. But as the night dragged on the place filled up considerably. I'm not sure what this place is like at other times, but I'd say it's definitely worth checking out for the happy hour specials if you're in the area. -
Review from Sean G.
Silver Spring, MD
9/29/2006
Yet another hip new spot on U Street, Jin is selling the unlikely pairing of "Asian Soul Food". Went here for drinks so I cant vouch for the menu but its a spare spot that wouldnt be out of place in SOMA or the Marina District in SF.
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Review from Veronica W.
Washington, DC
10/4/2010
I think Jin is a pretty cool spot, but it's never busy when I go. The music is good, the bartenders are friendly and creative and the food is tasty. I'm not sure what's missing at this spot...maybe more promoting needed. It's a great place to do a private event at.
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Review from Angel W.
Bowie, MD
11/11/2008
Went 11/07/2008
This was my first time at Jin. I've walked by it going to BB&P.
I went for my friend's friend's birthday. Her parents rented out the place from 8-10 so it was cool to have the place to ourselves for awhile.
I ordered the mango lychee martini.....it wasn't that great. Actually, I didn't like the two that I tried. I stuck with my good old Malibu and pineapple....something I knew.
The waitresses and bartenders were nice and were fun.
Around 11 or 11:30, the crowd started pouring in. They had a DJ, but no dancefloor. There is a nice, mixed crowd. The atmosphere was great.
The decor is nice and minimalistic. The flat screen TVs are VERY small, but so is the place, so I guess it's fitting.
I would try the place again for happy hour. -
Review from Sandra B.
Washington, DC
10/9/2008
I visited Jin the night of the 2nd presidential debate because of an overflow of people in my original location next door at BB&P. The decor and ambiance screams sophistication and NY glam. I was only interested in the tv screens and making sure that there would be audio for the debate. For good measure I ordered a glass of wine and an appetizer...Malaysian Satay Chicken. The wine was ok, the chicken left alot to be desired, and the tv screens were small. That being said, I do think that it is better to visit during happy hour (which the bartender/waiter said was excellent compared to others in the area). For all the ambiance in the world, I would have preferred to be at another location that night. However I wont turn my back on the place yet. I need at least one more visit before doing that.
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Review from Alpha J.
Silver Spring, MD
8/19/2009
They party at this spot! I usually go whenever im around the U st corridor. It's kinda small, thus it gets crowded, very crowded and it gets hot! Other than that, its a cool low key hangout.
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Review from Faye B.
Brooklyn, NY
5/9/2008 1 Check-in Here
Hated it! Too small, too crowded. Pedestrian music. Need to cram more bartenders in that small bar or hire some more efficient ones. They need to work on letting in less people or expand or something because you can't even enjoy yourself in there. Nutso sneaker policy that kept a few friends out one evening. That's what the one star is for because that's a night that I got to go somewhere else and not be packed as hell in that small wack place.
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Review from Mimi W.
Washington, DC
3/30/2011
I have been wanting to go to Jin for years, and finally went a few weeks ago. It's a small place. The crowd was nice and the music was cool. The music could've been a little louder, but that was fine because it kept the noise level from being too outrageous. We ordered appetizers and drinks from about 6 until 9, and the bill was about $400 for 8 people (not bad). I enjoyed just about all the appetizers. Our waitress...Penny or Peaches...depending on who's asking, was great. The drinks were good too, and for $5 you really can't beat it. I would definitely go back.
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Review from Dee H.
11/10/2007
this place is better at being a lounge than a dining destination. pricey drinks but thet have servers that come to you instead of fighting across the bar for a drink, extra-modern decor and nice space for a one level place, decent music on a weekend nite and if you REALLY feel like it dance to it. it's a fairly decent stop for a place to go bar hopping on U st. Just don't stay too long.
