- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Nellie's Sports Bar
Categories: Nightlife Bars Gay Bars Nightlife Bars Sports Bars Restaurants Gay Bars, Sports Bars, Restaurants [Edit]
900 U St NW(between N 9 1/2 St & N 9th St)
Washington, DC 20001
(202) 332-6355
- Nearest Transit:
-
Shaw Metro Station (Green, Yellow)
U Street Metro Station (Green, Yellow)
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 5 pm - 2 am
Fri 3 pm - 3 am
Sat 11 am - 3 am
Sun 11 am - 2 am
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Late Night, Dinner
- Music:
- DJ
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Wed, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- Yes
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- Yes
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Robert T. said: "This in an all-around wonderful business run by great people. Perfect for a small meal to eat in front of the fountain in the warm months. Hot and filling snack for the cold months. It's a good place to get a small meal/snack for two…" read more »
166 reviews for Nellie's Sports Bar
Review Highlights
"I had a great time at Drag Bingo on Tuesday."
(in 28 reviews)
"The "Beat the Clock" happy hour is awesome and the food is..."
(in 6 reviews)
"The sweet potato fries are great and the wings are spicy."
(in 10 reviews)
Loading...
166 reviews in English
-
Review from Erin D.
2/5/2012
I came here on a Sunday afternoon to watch my beloved Chargers and had a great experience. What I loved about this particular sports bar was the food. They have your traditional sports bar fare -- burgers, fries, wings, etc. but also have some non-traditional fare: corn dogs, edamame, hummus and pita bread, tzatziki and pita, empanadas, etc. I ordered the corn dogs and fries (oh how I wish corn dogs were served at all sports bars! ) and thinking they were mini-corn dogs, I ordered six. Was I surprised when my food arrived and they were regular-sized corn dogs. Needless to say, I shared my food with the others I was with!
There are a good amount of TVs (although not as many as Buffalo Billiards), so if you're there to watch a football game, you'll find your team somewhere in the bar. Service was great as well. I'd definitely go back! -
Review from Rhea U.
Washington, DC
2/5/2012
I love me a good gay bar, so I'm loathe to complain about this one. I'll be gentle.
PROS: Phenomenally nice people work here. I thought the bartenders were all adorable, friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable about how to work a cocktail. I also ordered some French fries that blew me away, and I'm not one who normally makes a bee-line for the greasy, fried food.
CONS: Maybe I'm missing something here, but the ambiance was not my cup of tea. The lighting was just not flattering. I suppose some people might enjoy the brightness, but, at 11:30 on a Friday night, I wasn't expecting lighting that was reminiscent of a hospital lobby. I also thought the stairs were too steep (but of course, they don't have women in high heels frequenting those stairs, so it must not be an issue), and the dance floor upstairs was much too crowded for my liking.
Overall, this seems like a cute little place to hang out. I just wish they'd turn the lights down a little. Give a girl a break! -
Review from Emily B.
1/15/2012 1 Check-in Here
I've spent a handful of nights at Nellie's over the years, both for trivia night and to watch games. It's truly become my favorite sports bar in DC when we are not opting to watch a game in our own living room.
Nellie's is bright and well-decorated, its walls adorned top to bottom with sports memorabilia, Christmas lights and a disco ball. There are ample televisions on all of the walls, and one of the downstairs rooms boasts a huge projection screen. But by far my favorite thing about Nellie's is the excellent service. I reserved a table for 6 on Open Table on the night of the Broncos-Patriots game, and when we arrived it was not ready. I assumed we'd be told "too bad" because it was so crowded, but our waiter for the evening immediately cleared out a table for us even though the rest of our party had not arrived. Throughout the night, he was an absolute machine as he served not only our group (that mushroomed to 12) but as far as I could tell he was the only server on the tables around us as well. Drinks were refilled at light speed, food came quickly, and our empty bottles and dirty dishes were whisked away before becoming unappetizing.
Although Nellie's is a gay bar, we have brought plenty of straight guys here over the years, and they always like it too. It's just a fun, upbeat place to watch games, and the elements that make it clearly a gay bar (the occasional shirtless guy with bondage straps on his chest or the fact that there are very few women in here) are not the things you notice most when you go. It doesn't feel like a novelty--it's just a sports bar that mostly gay guys frequent.
My only complaint is that the food is just average, but that's really most sports bars. I do like that they feature a wide array of burgers and some unexpected offerings like arepas. -
Review from Holly K.
1/6/2012
My Cbus/Pittsburgh crew hit here before hitting Town on the night before new year's eve and Nellie's was pretty fun. Really crowded for a gay sports bar, it was mostly men but there were a few stragglers of women floating about the crowd. The one thing I noticed that struck me odd was how bright it was in there. Most bars, especially lgbt ones, are usually lit on the dimmer side. Oh no. Not here. Make no mistake you saw EXACTLY who you saw in that light "gurl".
But, besides that, we tried to see what was the "happenin" thing upstairs and we couldn't even get up there, which was fine. The group kinda huddled in the corner (no pun intended) and eventually left for Town. Had it not been so crowded I'm sure we would've moved around more. Bar staff was quick and attentive despite the mass amounts of people who were waiting like a dog on a summer's day for their water dish. Overall, fun little spot...would hit it up again for sure. -
Review from Cliff W.
11/30/2011
Thanksgiving weekend the Caps played the Rangers at 4 pm on Black Friday... while most would go shopping I'd rather go to a sports bar, drink, and watch hockey. We'll just consider it my little way of helping out the economy. It was either this or engage in fighting over 2 dollar waffle irons at Wal-mart.
I show up at 4:05 and the friend I'm meeting is a big believer in having the sound on when we watch games in sports bars. In the main room there's a large projection screen and at the time it was showing college football. In a separate bar area there were more TVs and the bartender was extremely helpful in getting both the game on TV and the sound on. He actually wasn't able to set it up himself but was very proactive in getting his manager to arrange things for me.
They have Guinness on tap, which is my beer of choice most often, and my bartender never let me beer bottom out so service is very on point. I will say that it was in the afternoon and not that busy though, but still, good service is good service.
My friend showed up and was a bit hungry, so she went with the chicken tender and fries basket. She shared a bit and I found them to be quite tasty even though it's a simple dish, chicken fingers can still be screwed up.
Overall, I had a good time even though I didn't know about the board games and will probably go back to Nellie's on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon to catch another hockey game. -
Review from Pam Z.
Ya gotta love a gay sports bar with the slogan "Join Our Team" :) That reminds me...I keep meaning to buy one of their shirts.
However, the last time I was at Nellie's, I almost threw down with someone. I was with a bachelorette party that was looking for a place to finish off the night sans gropey rude d-bags at Solly's. Here's what happened when I was with Kristina D and Chandana K:
Drunk guy hip checks me so hard I almost fall over.
ME: Excuse me?
DRUNK GUY (snaps his finger in my face): Get over it B*TCH!
DRUNK GUY'S VERY SMART FRIEND (facegrabs his friend and leads him away): I'm so sorry! He's reeeeeeally drunk. :(
DRUNK GUY: Bachelorette party at a gay bar, real original.
(Drunk guy's friends continue to lead him away and keep him away for the rest of the night).
But anyway, aside from the one bad (drunken) apple, I've usually had a good time at Nellies. A little more drama than your typical WeHo bar, but nothing some California girls can't handle.
Nellie's is famous for their drag queen brunch on Sundays, which I still have yet to attend. But they're also famous for their happy hour! It used to be the 1-2-3 happy hour, but alas, prices have gone up $1. Let the chaos ensue.
BEAT THE CLOCK
M-F
All bottles, Miller Light, or House Vodka Drinks
5-6pm: $2
6-7pm: $3
7-8pm: $4
Sunday Drag Queen Brunch
$20.00 Brunch Buffet
First Mimosa is Free -
Review from Judson W.
Woodbridge, VA
11/16/2011 22 Check-ins Here
Nellie's is not your typical gay bar. It's simply a great place to kick back, watch some sports, and eat some great food. Sure, there are some fun attractions like drag bingo and trivia night but the best part is the chill atmosphere.
The decor is very quirky with tons and tons of random stuff adorning the walls. You could make a night of just walking around scanning the walls. They also provide BOARD GAMES for free. Yes, you can play drunk Jenga if you want to.
There's also an outdoor patio upstairs (with its on bar) that's great on a warm day. In total there are 3 bars (2 upstairs). The drink prices are kinda high but the beer bucket specials on Sunday are affordable. This may be a bar, but the food is great! The fries are always crispy and delicious and their signature corn dogs are to die for. And how can you pass up mini cupcakes for $1?
To sum up, I would recommend Nellie's to anyone, gay or straight. It's very difficult not to have a fun time here. -
Review from Kristin M.
Washington, DC
9/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
I can't believe how much time I've wasted watching sports games in straight sports bars. Nellie's is awesome!
Stopped in by myself to catch the second half of a Ravens game, sat at the bar, and loved the whole chillaxed experience. Everyone was friendly and jovial, and no one tried to make a move on me (one time, I thought a guy was hitting on me, but it turned out he was just trying to get to the guy I was sitting next to lol).
The bar area's a tight squeeze and was full for Nellie's Sunday Funday - drag brunch and football all day, 3 screens for multiple games - but everyone was in great spirits, there was tons of laughter, and it really had a comfortable feel, even for someone who didn't know anybody. Oh, and the bloody marys are delicious!
I'll definitely be back, with friends, to enjoy the festive atmosphere, the cheap buckets o' beer, and the knowledge that when someone bumps past me it's because I was in their way, not because they're trying to cop a feel. -
Review from Fannie G.
Arlington, VA
9/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
True story, big tall straight man walks into a gay bar with his wife. No body cares.
So we didn't know that Nellie's was a "gay" bar; hey, we live in Arlington, we got to take culture where we can get it. Thing is, I have walked into gay bars in other cities and the clientele was not really thrilled to see me. Nellie's was friendly and fun.... and this was at 5:45 on a Monday. The Happy Hour specials were great (no, my cosmo was not made with Belvidere but at $2 a pop, who cares?).
Even more fun was when we returned to the bar after a show at The 9:30 Club. The crowd was raucous but polite and the bartender was genuinely happy about seeing us again.
Yay. New friends. We'll be back. -
Review from Maya B.
12/14/2011
Super fun multi-level gay bar that is perfect for anyone and everyone. Like sports? You're good. Like to dance? You're golden. Like to drink? Don't we all?! Nellie's is definitely a party plus!
-
Review from lara s.
8/28/2011
It wasn't what I initially expected, but you know what? I like this place. At first the lighting, which is really bright, and all the tvs were a little much for me. I was looking for a good place to grab a drink, people watch, and dance. Ok, maybe Nellie's wasn't the best spot to pick, but I'm new to the city and I was just looking for a place to go out.
What turned around the experience for me was the friendliness of the patrons. The crowd on the Friday night I went was mostly men. But, even being one of the few women there I felt ok. The guys were nice, friendly, and even struck up some conversation. One guy told me he liked my accent, which I still keep thinking about because it's hilarious. I'm from Miami, he was from Georgia. In any case, a great crowd.
The only thing that made me mark it down a star is that even though there's room to dance upstairs, everyone was just standing around. Dance people! The music was good too. Dance people!
I'll definitely be back. I'm looking forward to Drag Bingo on Tuesdays.Listed in: Out in DC
-
Review from Helena B.
Washington, DC
9/17/2011
Wasn't really wow-ed, but I definitely went on what must have been an off day. We sat down around 1 on a Saturday. Really quiet. TV was on with a bunch of sports. Waiter was attentive and did his job, but definitely didn't go above and beyond his duties. Food was just okay. Nothing brilliant. I got the Chicken BALT and my boyfriend got the angus beef sliders. They were both good.
Overall, the 3 star rating for this place is perfect. A-OK. Nothing underwhelming, but nothing memorable, either. And that goes for service, food, ambiance, and pricing. It's just OK.
I'm sure I'm probably missing out on something since I haven't seen any of the drag stuff, so I will make sure to update if I ever happen upon a drag event at Nellie's. -
Review from Shamus O.
Los Angeles, CA
11/30/2011
I like this place... not cheap but the drinks are poured stiff and the staff is accommodating. I was there on a crowded night but had a great time with my friends. I didn't eat but I sure as heck drink my self silly.
-
Review from Cassie C.
Washington, DC
11/5/2011
This is a fun gay sports bar. It gets very crowded at times. I like the empanadas and the chili cheese fries here. Service is fast. Portions are large. If you get there before 8 on weeknights, they have drink specials. The best thing about this place is the sense of fun and camaraderie inside the place.
-
Review from Vonetta Y.
Washington, DC
Updated - 6/15/2011
How it is that a bunch of people could be just so...just...nice?
I mean, just so nice! And perky! And singing Mariah Carey + Boyz II Men with gifted voices on a Saturday afternoon?
The bar food actually isn't bad (the nachos will soon send me coming back for more), and of course, the pours are always strong. And they were showing the Man U match. And the servers are just so nice!
Just so nice!1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
4/1/2010
Since 9:30 Backbar never filled up (or even trickled, for that matter), we hopped over to Nellie's… Read more »
-
-
Review from Jeff P.
Alexandria, VA
7/3/2011
My partner and I have been going to Nellies occasionally for a few years and watching mostly big games. We recently decided to get married. We are both big sports freaks and immediately thought of Nellies as a place to have the wedding and reception.
We approached Doug and his team (Rocio and Matt) and they indicated that they had never done a wedding before, but were willing to give it a go. We met with them several times over then next few months and they came up with a great game plan (sorry for the pun).
Along the way, we had a custom food tasting for my fiance and I along with our best dudes...and they cooked the best food you could imagine. Rocio even agreed to make our best dudes a Vegan wedding cake. BTW, the cakes Rocio made were world class. You couldn't pay the freaking cake boss to make better cakes!
This last Saturday, we had over 100 people on the roof and the wedding was simply amazing. Matt and his team of bartenders and Rocio and her cooking and cooks simply did the best any place could ever do.
People kept asking us who made this?, who made that? Our answer....NELLLIES. Empanadas, corn dogs, Sliders, chicken salad sandwhiches, toquitos, you name it, they made it and in Vegan versions too!! Oh and they even had a custom wings station where the guy made the wings you wanted right in front of you! I mean come on how cool is that?
The atmosphere that they created was fun and made everyone feel special. The bartenders were great and showed great care when one of our guests got a bit out of hand...Thanks for that btw! We had out team flags and colors all over the place and games on all of the TVs. It was truly incredible. A sports fan could not have had a cooler wedding. It's simply not possible.
In short, we love Nellies. We love the staff and the team that Doug and Rocio and Matt have assembled.
If you are a sports fan, Gay or Straight, go there. Have fun. Consider Nellies for your group events. You won't regret the decision!
We love you Nellies! -
Review from scott s.
Updated - 10/28/2011
nellie's is still fun, still mixed, and still cheap for happy hour! hurray!
i had the day off and came here with my buddy joe for happy hour. we arrived at like 4:58 p.m. and had to wait 120 seconds outside until they opened the door. i give them points for keeping the trains running on time.
so anyway, we head upstairs to the deck and proceed to invest a total of $29 between the two of us, which got us like 1902836501978325 happy hour drinks, a JINORMOUS plate of nachos, and covered tax and tip. huh? $29??? uhm, can i just move in here?
so yeah, it was fun. there were some random dudes milling about that we talked to - totally chill, not the creepy "hey little boy, you want some candy?!" types. i like that about nellie's - i always feel like it's just random people hanging out and no one has any issues.
yeah - nellie's is solid in my book. four stars.1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
3/19/2010
nellie's is fun! the crowd is very relaxed and is often pretty mixed, which is refreshing. like 8… Read more »
-
-
Review from Marcus P.
Washington D.C., DC
6/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
I'm kinda hard on bars, I know. So few offer enough of what I'm looking for to warrant rave reviews: great music, great bartendars serving great drinks, great guys with great smiles, great food at great prices...and not necessarily in that order. Nellie's comes kinda close. It offers a pretty cool neighborhood bar feel in the heart of the busy U Street corridor. The rooftop patio is adorable and overlooks the bustling area below; drinks are decent--bartenders cute and professional; I've only filched schneckens from my friends' plates when they've ordered their noshes (ya know, when the schnecken beckons...), but what I've tasted was pretty good.
So why not give them four stars? Well, I've never been there when the music was great, memorable or made me want to stay longer than I intended; while the patrons are nice enough and as one reviewer adequately stated "...mostly without affectation," the overall clientele lacks the spice (and/or diversity) I'd need to make this a regular drop-in spot--a little too "white bread" for me; the bartendars, while nice enough, aren't exactly oozing with rock em-sock 'em personality...yada-yada-yada. I'm not into drag shows, so I won't speak on all that--doesn't add or subtract from my review. The themed weeknight activities (trivia, bingo, etc.) feels somewhat contrived and is a bit of a bore to me. I dunno...some bars you walk into and know that you've found a gem; I walked into this place and knew I found a rock (solid place to get a drink before going elsewhere).Listed in: Dance of the Red…
-
Review from Lillian C.
College Park, MD
1/3/2012
I had a great time at Nellie's and the people are so friendly; their cosmos are super tasty and the decor is very nice. I heard there's a bear happy hour and would loveee to be there!
-
Review from Mensa M.
Manhattan, NY
7/5/2011
My gripes w Nellie's Sports Bar:
1 It's a Gay Bar. (Meaning = I CAN'T HIT ON MEN)
Big no-no.
2 It's named NELLIE'S. ("Touchdown" sounds more gay. Esp hyphenated,)
3 SUPER CROWDED on rooftop.
4 So-so music
But my D.C. peeps like it, so there must be some good to Nellie's. -
Review from Melissa D.
Loudoun, VA
5/13/2011
two star = Meh, according to Yelp and that really was my response after I left.
Nellie's was on the way from the metro station to the 9:30 club and it looked like I could grab food with out spending a fortune. This it did provide, but when I pay extra for sweet potato fries I would like them to be hot - or at least warm. My pulled pork sandwich was "value for money", however more vinegary for my taste. G & T number one was fine, number two was more Christmas tree than expected, but I did not specify a gin so that is my bad.
Maybe I arrived on the wrong night, becuase the place appears to have potential, but I just was not feeling it. I wanted it to feel like a friend, instead I just felt like I was allowed in the group today and would be ignored in school tomorrow. -
Review from S A.
Washington, DC
5/22/2011 6 photos
The girls and I decided to checkout their drag queen sunday brunch
an it was awesome!
The brunch was served buffet style with your choice of a bloody mary or mimosa.
Your waitresses are also the talent! so they try to be very accomodating to you before they go get ready.
The food was a lot more than I anticipated. The buffet table was laden
with the usual breakfast items, fruit and pastry along with a few surprises!
Grits. Chicken Curry, Fried Plantains and egg rolls.
Quite an eclectic cuisine for a sports bar.
The performances were spectacular!
The great Ms Shiqueeta Lee greeted you as you dined and got the show started.
The hits were rolling and so was the waffle station!
They perfomed a number of current hits from the likes of Rihanna to classic Tina Turner.
The girls, the costumes and the show again was awesome!!!!!!
GO!!!!! -
Review from Hooah G.
Springfield, VA
7/18/2011
I must be crazy to think coming to Nellie's during drag brunch to watch the US Women's Soccer champs would be fun.
The place was really crowded and very loud. Each seat was taken and at many times I kept thinking, are they over their capacity here? Firecode, what?
I had a beer and left. Ended up going to Bugsy's in Old Town to watch the game - see my review of that experience on Bugsy's page.
But, I'm not writing Nellie's off - I'll try for their drag brunch some time - it looked fun. -
Review from Jennifer J.
Washington, DC
4/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
Bring your good purse and don't have anything embarrassing in it. Excellent possibility it will get snatched, combed through and certainly comment on. Fantastic, we will be back!
Super good time had by all, but PLEASE get there early or make a . reservation. Drag Bingo is on Tuesday at 8pm. There was standing room only by 7:15, so if you want to play, or even be able to SEE what is going on, get there early.
Actual bingo time = 20 minutes
Shit talking and commentary = 1hr 40 min. Hilarious. Very funny, if you are easily offended you shouldn't be in this bar anyway.
Excellent drinks and surprisingly good food for a sports bar! Great staff, very friendly and efficient. They dealt with a HUGE crowd with speed and grace. There was a LOT going on and lots of people, but the staff there is top notch. They took everything in stride, lots of smiles and even though they should have and could have seemed stressed, they didn't miss a beat. True professionals who like their jobs, its a nice change!
Empanadas were really good, although screaming hot-break them open and let them cool! Chili cheese fries were awesome, but get the big plate. No matter how insistent someone at your table is that they won't eat any THEY WILL, so make sure to get enough. Wings were good and the quesadillas were so-so. otherwise, everything was awesome!
Super fun time, great staff and you really can't have more fun on a Tuesday in DC anywhere else. -
Review from k j.
Leesburg, VA
10/26/2011
Nellies is bomb. I wish I could get out there more often.
This is why:
1) Great Service
2) Good Food
3) Great Ambiance
4) They know how to make strait guys feel welcome
5) Very accomodating
6) NICE PEOPLE
I'd give them my business anytime I am in the area. -
Review from Rahsaan C.
Brooklyn, NY
5/23/2011
How you doin'?
Funny how it takes leaving NYC for a visit back DC to actually find a decent gay bar. Pretty much all of theme here where I live officially suck now. This place is really fun and everyone's friendly and they men were mostly without affectation. And the rooftop deck is great fun in the summer.
I want to attend Drag Bingo. Next time I'm down south, I guess. -
Review from Ruth S.
Hyattsville, MD
10/29/2011
Hi! My favorite thing about Nellie's is the drag queen entertainment. On Sundays, they got brunch at both 11 am and 1 pm. Shi-Queeta Lee is a cool host. On Tuesdays, there's bingo at 8 pm to 10 pm. Shi-Queeta Lee and Tyria Iman are the entertainment. You can even dance to the music at Nellie's. Anybody can have a wonderful time there. Enjoy!
-
Review from Harrison S.
Washington, DC
6/17/2011
Take me out to the ball gay-me. Nellie's makes "gay sports bar" seem anything like a contradiction in terms.
Admittedly, I rarely go for the sports (unless to watch Gator football or basketball). This was one of the first bars I went to when I moved to DC and I have been consistently impressed by the friendly atmosphere (always a nice mix of people of all different backgrounds, ages, races, and sexual persuasions), the delicious cheap bar food, and of course the reasonably (for DC) priced drinks. Happy Hour prices are a steal!
Perhaps the best feature of this bar is the upstairs open-air deck. It's perfect for having a beer with a few friends in the spring/summer after work or before dinner.
I most enjoy going here on weeknights when it's not as crowded (Friday and Saturday night get a little too up close and personal). -
Review from Bridget C.
Washington, DC
4/7/2011
On the night that I visited Nellie's, I had walked from 20th and L Street NW to the U Street Corridor (it was a nice night and I needed the exercise). I had initially planned to stop by DC9 for a couple drinks and a greasy dinner (not my favorite place, but familiar). For some odd reason, they didn't have food that night. As I thought about my next move, I was reminded that a friend of mine had worked as a bouncer at Nellie's for awhile, and I was aware that it was a gay bar. I wasn't in the mood to be hit on, so I figured it might just be the right place for me.
It was pretty packed, but the bartender took care of me right away, and he was really sweet. I had a grilled chicken sandwich with pepperjack cheese and grilled onions, and a side of fries. It was better than I had expected, and I was very happy sitting by myself, listening to the trivia in the next room, and eating my dinner and drinking my beer...
Halfway through my dinner, a man comes over and starts chatting with me, not taking the hint that I have absolutely no interest in speaking to him. He offered to buy me a drink, and when I rejected his offer he finally snuck off. I suppose dining alone does give the impression that I'm a single, lonely young woman, but I'm not. I can't knock Nellie's for some guy who was clearly in the wrong bar. The man did say that he was on a business trip, so he probably had no clue that it was a gay bar.
I would definitely go back, despite the fact that my plan to sit in solitude backfired. It was a very fun and well-kept establishment, and after dinner I had another beer and spoke to a few groups of people, and everyone was really nice and laid back. I'd eventually like to get a few friends together for the trivia night. -
Review from Maya C.
Who would've thought I would go to Trivia night!....after driving all over DC because my GPS had PMS that day, I ended up at Nellie's with Hue, Mike T, Tony, Allison and her hubby.
Who knew...a super packed place with awesome atmosphere in an area that is definitely up and coming...Nellie's.. a great bar with awesome vibe! Also for Metro riders a stop less than a block away!!!
The wait staff super awesome suggested the veggie burrito. Yes I am attaching a picture...this was the most HUMONGOUS veggie burrito I have ever had ...very filling and tasty...my drinks were pretty good too.
Definitely will go back, hope to have less alcoholic drinks and TRY to focus on the trivia questions!!! Do bookmark... -
Review from Yasmine B.
Washington, DC
9/25/2011
I really like Nellie's! I went for the first time a few weeks ago with a couple of friends. I really love how friendly everyone is, especially the staff. It was my first time ever going into a gay bar, so I didn't know what to expect but it was a really good experience! No one cared about whether you were gay or not- everyone was just looking to have a good time and chill with their friends. I was upstairs on the rooftop and it was really nice. I really liked their musical selection (hey, what can I say- I enjoy listening to Britney Spears' music lol). It made me want to get up and dance (and there was room for it)!!! My friend wasn't too fond of all of the Britney they played but *shrug*. I had a chicken sandwich and it was really cheap, but still tasty! Overall, a really great experience and I am glad my friends and I found a new place to chill around the U St area :).
-
Review from Jeff M.
Dale City, VA
3/8/2011 21 Check-ins Here
Im rating it as a five star for what it is.....a fun sports bar with a very attentive staff and fun environment.
The food is what youd expect from - its good. The staff goes out of their way to take care of you. -
Review from Judy C.
New York, NY
4/3/2011
3.5 stars.
Not wanting to stand and wait long before a show at 9:30 club starts, we usually end up at Nellie's for a drink or some food. During the summer, Nellie's has an outdoor roof deck, which is nice. Their service is definitely more misses than hits. The number of times that we have gone (downstairs), we definitely sat and waited for a while before any staffer paid attention to us.
The food is the so-so. We've tried their arepas and chicken tenders before, and it was dried. I am probably not rating them in fair justice since it looks like there are many events and a friend had raved about their empanadas.
I'd still go to Nellie's if I need a place to go before a 9:30 club show. -
Review from JD A.
Springfield, VA
9/20/2011
This bar rocked. Chill, diversed patrons. Had a blast! Had a ridiculous visit!
-
Review from Lucas D.
Washington, DC
1/31/2011
Never again. Worst bar experience of my life.
I went after a concert at the 9:30 club on a Sunday. I just wanted to grab a quick drink. Security guy at the door was a douchebag. It's not like they were busy. Yeah your job sucks but don't look completely disinterested and upset you actually have to do something.
Bartender asked to see my ID with a lot of attitude after it had already been checked at the door and there's a total of maybe 6 ppl in the bar. He then proceeds to eye it for a good two minutes. He then pretended to try to amend things by asking if the concert just got out and how it was. His tone was completely insincere.
I will not be coming back. -
Review from Mai K.
8/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
Nellie's is it when you are looking for a night time club scene, a spot to watch Sunday games for hours, or have an uproarious Tuesday night. Tasty wings, if not a wee bit bready, and arepas with savory goodies. I don't do hot dogs (ahem), but from those who do, the corn dogs are yummy. Many Sundays at Nellie's for the game, beverages, and talking with the friendly waiters. And more Tuesdays for Drag Bingo
-
Review from Vina Y.
1/31/2011 4 Check-ins Here
Great bar food (I love the corndogs and sweet potato fries).
But more importantly - drag bingo on Tuesdays! What's not to love? Drink, eat, play bingo, get made fun of, win prizes!
I love the contests they have between bingo rounds - lip sync for your life, dance off, beer chugging - all hilarious.
Leave your ego at the turn and if you're easily offended, maybe you shouldn't come, but otherwise it's a fun time! -
Review from Andrew O.
FAIRFAX STA, VA
9/22/2011
Good tap selection and very friendly staff. Never been to a gay bar (being straight with my gf with me) but had a blast. Anyone can come here and have a great time!
-
Review from Sally S.
Durham, NC
9/19/2011
I love this place! The Zing Zang Bloody Mary's are amazing. It was packed to the gills when we went to see a Red Skins game there last week, but people moved over and invited us to join their table. Lots of fun people and great energy there. Pleasant wait staff. The food was ok. They were out of fries at 4pm on a busy Sunday. There needs to be more restroom facilities for women. To my knowledge, there is only one single stall restroom for women.
-
Review from Mary K.
Silver Spring, MD
4/2/2011
I've always wanted to go to Nellie's and yesterday I had the chance. Went here with a group to have a leaving extravaganza and it was a nice spot to chill. Our server was great! Drinks were decently price. The music was nice to chill too. They even had games. My friends and I played jenga, I lost and ended up having to take a couple of shots.
Tip: Don't sit at the table by the door, it gets cold...
