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The Red Derby
- Nearest Transit:
-
Georgia Ave Petworth Station (Green, Yellow)
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 5 pm - 2 am
Fri 5 pm - 3 am
Sat-Sun 11 am - 3 am
- Parking:
- Street
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Music:
- DJ
- Best Nights:
- Mon, Tue, Fri
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Dive-y
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
209 reviews for The Red Derby
Review Highlights
"The sweet potato fries are sooo good."
(in 22 reviews)
"There's an awesome beer selection and friendly service, too."
(in 28 reviews)
"Belhaven, Dale's Pale ale."
(in 6 reviews)
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209 reviews in English
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Review from Adam M.
1/23/2012
Only in DC would Red Derby be considered a Dive Bar. The rooftop bar is actually quite nice when it is open (and why is it NOT open in the wintertime? In dis dem dare America we have these things called HEAT LAMPS!) and in addition to the best non-happy hour pricing in the District (eg., $2 Natty Bo's, $3 PBRs, etc.), you're treated to some great views of Upper Columbia Heights. I have heard from others that their brunch is solid but have only been here to imbibe the Drink.
5 Stars for the cool rooftop bar and the kindness that Red Derby has shown my poor little wallet the dozens of times I've patronized it in the past. -
Review from Chris S.
1/5/2012 2 Check-ins Here
****4.5 Stars****
I'll start with my one and only negative about this place, it being cash only, leaving it shy of the coveted 5 star rating.
This place is great. Canned beer and really good food. That basically sums it up.
The beer is cheap, plentiful and diverse. Basically, if it's in a can and available, they have it here. So why not swing in for a PBR or DC Brau, a shot of bourbon and have some fun?
The food also is a surprise. The grilled cheese is definitely one of my favorites in the city, with a perfect crispy-gooey ratio. The daily specials on food are also killer, ranging from burgers to tacos.
They offer weekend brunch, and I've heard nothing but good things. But given that it's a bit of a hike from my place, it's rare that I can make it early enough on a weekend, hangover sleep is far too important.
The staff is also a major highlight of the Derby. They are always fun, cool people who will gab with you about just about anything. But of course, they aren't the overly intrusive sorts either. Well, I guess unless you want them to be.
Check out the roof deck on a nice day, it's perfect and is equipped with a bar of its very own.
The recent online blog that cited the Derby as one of the best cheap bars in the country definitely had it right, this place rocks. Now if they'd just start taking credit cards, I'd be an even happier (and drunker) camper. -
Review from Colby P.
Washington, DC
1/5/2012
Since I live half a block away I spend a good deal of my drinking time there. Having said that, if I lived further flung, I'd make the trek. The atmosphere is great, the bartenders are very friendly and the beer selection is stellar. A note to beer connoisseurs: all beer is in can form. A note to uneducated beer snobs: aluminum actually preserves the integrity of beer better than bottles. No light gets through.
The verdict: it's not as good as draft but you can pocket the extra $3 you would be spending at Meridian Pint and apply it to your second round.
I like to bring out of town friends or the uninitiated here for a round or two of combos. Then we move on to the Pale Ales or Stouts. If you want to stay low-end, Natty Bo is only 2 bucks
The addition of brunch on the weekends is a nice bonus. Bloody Mary's run $2 if you are ordering food. And they are decent.
The only thing that is run of the mill to mediocre about the Derby is the food. It's of the typical pub grub variety and best avoided unless you need to put some food in your belly before drinking. The Derby burger or breakfast burger (brunch) are usually solid exceptions to the rule though.
The place still gets 5 stars because of the pleasantly dive-ish atmosphere, prices, etc. Plus love the roof deck addition! It's a great place to go with friends and over indulge. If you're looking to scheme on guys/girls or if you want something to eat look elsewhere. -
Review from Mary C.
Washington, DC
1/28/2012
This bar is my jam. By far my favorite in DC (and I've been to many a DC bar).
It has all canned beers, which actually makes for a better beer. Fabulous microbrews. You can't beat the price either. If you're in a PBR or Natty Boh type mood you can get a tall boy for only $2. However, if you want the fancy microbrew category, you can get one of those for only $4-6. The ONLY downside of this bar is that it's cash-only so you have to come prepared (or pay the ATM fee at their on-site ATM). It's so awesome though that that doesn't make me knock them down a star.
The music is fantastic. The scene is hip. People call it "divey" but I think that's slightly inaccurate. More just a cool scene (it definitely subverts the oft annoying DC going out scene which is awesome).
They also have board games you can get out and play with your group. And an awesome rooftop bar. This is a must-go. I used to live near this bar but moved closer to downtown. I try to get up there as often as I can, but let me tell you If I still lived in the Mt. Pleasant/Columbia Heights/Petworth region, this would be my "Cheers." -
Review from C B.
Washington, DC
12/14/2011
The Red Derby is one of my favorite bars ever. This is why:
1) They only sell beer in cans. I've always been a huge fan of aluminum, and have gone as far to ask, many times, what kind of beers a bar has in cans. I usually get a weird look, as well as an idea for the character of the establishment that I happen to be in. I am a big fan of efficiency, especially in business, and I imagine that only serving cans is one of the reasons why this place is able to keep their prices so low. You don't have to worry about the cost, maintenance and hassle of maintaining a keg/tap system, and you use less storage space than having bottles. If I was going to open my own bar, I would definitely explore this business model.
2) They sell Budweiser in the elusive 8 ounce pony can. I'm sure there are more, but I've only seen these in two places in the district: the derby and graffiato. The 8 ounce can has many advantages: it fits in the palm of your hand and can be easily concealed, the smaller quantity of a single beer opens your up to a wider selection of beers throughout an evening, and most importantly, your beer probably won't get warm while you are drinking it.
3) They sell extremely cheap beer/shot combos. For $4 you can get a baby combo which consists of a bud pony and a shot of rail whiskey, for $5 you can get a shot of Jameson and a Strohs, and for $7 you can get a king combo which is a tall boy of something and a shot of something.
4) Their brunch bloody marys are only $2 and delicious.
Now, the place is not without its downsides: The food, with the exception of the sweet potato fries, is mediocre, the crowd can be questionable at times (definitely not the best place to go searching for the next ex Mr. or Mrs. you), and it can get super packed on certain nights. Regardless, it is still quite deserving of all five stars. -
Review from Johnny D.
Washington, DC
1/15/2012
Divey neighborhood bar with a great variety of beers, surprising what comes in cans these days. Roof deck is a great addition. I almost hate to give it a great review as it can be very crowded some days.
What I have had off their menu is decent bar food. -
Review from Tatsu O.
Washington, DC
1/10/2012
Good beer selection, friendly bartenders, nice divey atmosphere, fun crowd, and awesome rooftop. It is cash only but they have an ATM. Food is nothing spectacular but it does the job - I don't go here for the food (though the breakfast burger during brunch is not half bad).
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Review from CHRISTOPHER F.
Arlington, VA
1/4/2012
Good all canned beer
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Review from Noel O.
11/2/2011
What a great hole-in-the-wall place! A friend was visiting from out of town, so a group of us met here to socialize and enjoy their rooftop deck one more time before the season got too cold. Even the night was a bit cooler than expected, the rooftop was still a great place to be because they have heat lamps. Smart move!
Now I've been to plenty of dive bars that only serve beer in a can, but I've never been to one that has a rather impressive beer list (including beers I've had plenty of times, but never knew they even came in a can) that's ONLY canned beers. I rather intriguing concept, especially when your server brings you a plastic cup (dive bar, remember) for certain beers and not for others. "Because some beers are better out of glass" is what they say when you ask why. Aren't all beers better in a glass rather than a metal can?
Kudos to our server who remembered our names all night and was rather helpful with us when one guy left a came back, we moved tables, and took up more room than we needed to trying to keep some space open for a bigger group than actually arrived. If you're in the area, the Red Derby's definitely a good place to check out. -
Review from Shane C.
Washington, DC
10/14/2011
This review is for Red Derby's "Brunch". If you're going to drink, and drink only, then you're golden here. They have a nice selection of beer and a great rooftop.
That being said, their brunch is horrible and pretty expensive considering what you're getting. I probably should have known that a dive bar wasn't going to be all that into making good breakfast food but I tried it anyway.
Breakfast burrito - really poor attempt at this. I make better ones with frozen hash browns, cheap cheese, eggs and catsup at home without a microwave. I'm not sure what was going on here, but there was probably one one egg and some other things pretending to be ingredients in there. The only redeeming factor was the tater tots, but generally I don't pay $8 for a bunch of tots for breakfast.
My second, and perhaps my biggest problem with Red Derby's so called brunch was the coffee. At the risk of sounding like my senior parents, it was practically cold. We were there right when they opened and I saw the guy bring out the pot from the back. So my assumption is that it was made an hour or two earlier and just sat there until someone (myself) had the nerve to ask for some instead of ordering a $2 bloody mary or mimosa.
If you're like me, a good way to ruin a breakfast/brunch is to have cold coffee, or no coffee.. It's a pretty easy thing to make, and pretty hard to mess up. Trust me, you're better off getting coffee at a gas station than here.
My suggestion for RD would be to step your game up (doesn't even have to be that much, your a dive bar after all!) or to stop pretending. -
Review from Lia M.
8/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
I liked The Red Derby, which surprised me, as I was prepared not to like it. I thought it would be more dive-y, but as Amanda pointed out, it is more hipster-y. Which is not at all my scene, but still, The Red Derby was nice.
Red walls, dim lighting, detailed ceiling, plenty of tables and bar seats, patio seating, two huge bathrooms that were warm and clean, plus a cute, albeit small, roof deck create a chill, come-as-you-are atmosphere (skinny pants probably help your cause, but really, no one cares what you wear here). I can't remember the music, but I assume something was playing in the background - not really sure though. Service was attentive, though not friendly (I told you this is a hipster joint). Cash only (ATM inside); $7 for a medium-strength Tanqueray & tonic. I saw patrons eating; food looked like basic pub grub, but good. I would not visit on my own accord, as the neighborhood is a bit out of the way for me, but would not hesitate to return if someone suggested it or if I was in the area. -
Review from Danielle F.
Washington, DC
11/17/2011 2 Check-ins Here
My new favorite dive bar! Great place to come for brunch. They have simple, tasty food, for super cheap. The breakfast sandwich and breakfast burrito were both delicious. So was the $6 pastry basket filled with cookies, granola, and other treats baked locally. But the real highlight was the $2 bloody marys (or $2 mimosas, if you prefer). We thought the quality might suffer for the low price, but were surprised to discover that they were absolutely delicious. Coffee and water are self-serve, but I actually appreciated being able to refill both at my leisure rather than being dependent on a server. All of the staff were incredibly friendly. I was bummed not to have noticed the giant tower of board games until we were on our way out. I'll definitley be back!
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Review from Tara L.
7/13/2011
My very first pickle back. How special, eh?
Pickle juice as a Jameson chaser sounds just plain wrong. Yet, how come it's delish? It's kind of like when two really unattractive people create an amazingly beautiful baby. It doesn't quite make sense, but it is what it is. And you're happy about it!
I'm open minded, non-judgmental and will try just about anything once. Especially a drank.
Thank goodness I did.
Normally:
Pickle Juice = blah
Jameson shot = blah
Pickle Juice + Jameson Shot = blaaaaaah-dow!
To my amazement, pickle juice as a Jameson chaser was spectacular. No heart burn and it cut the after taste of the Jameson immediately.
But this is neither here nor there, since this is not all what Red Derby is about. It is just a mere experience on the roof deck that I had the chance to relish. (Pickles, relish...whatev.)
The roof deck is super chill and low key, with red light accents glowing. Downstairs is a similar vibe, albeit a little darker with a bit more mood, and some bar games in the far back.
Overall though, divey, delicious and filled with devilish conversation if you attend with a group of loquacious ladies. And if not, you'll still have a good time. Just come with an open mind and alcohol palette. -
Review from Becky P.
Washington, DC
11/18/2011
Hands down the best dive bar in DC. Rocking beer selection, CHEAP, good bartenders, fun music, awesome rooftop bar, fried mac & cheese wedges. But cash only- so dont come with a debit/credit card and get mad when you have to pay atm fees!
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Review from Jennifer P.
Washington, DC
7/14/2011
Awesome rooftop bar! It's a cool, laid back, come-in-whatever-you're wearing type of bar. The clientele is a mixture of young, old and everything in-between. And, the staff was great and very friendly.
My only complaints are it's a little small so it could get crowded fast and you can only pay with cash. I didn't realize that until I ordered and had to use the ATM downstairs. Not the end of the world....just a heads up!
Highly recommend....go check it out! -
Review from Kyu H.
Arlington, VA
7/29/2011
$4 Jameson Shots
$2-5 Beers
They have all the Butternuts (brewed in NY) beers...Pork Slap and Snapperhead are the best.
The rooftop is pretty nice too
JFYI, cash only -
Review from Tom D.
Washington D.C., DC
8/30/2011
I really enjoy Red Derby! It's always a good time! Once, when I was waiting for some friends to show up, I had a 20 minute conversation with the bartender... From my experience, that doesn't happen very often, or at least it's not usually a good conversation.
The good:
- nice selection of beer
- good prices
- fun time
The bad:
- hipster heavy
- the neighborhood at 2am -
Review from Stephen C.
Washington, DC
4/20/2011
People use the term "Dive Bar" pretty liberally...I don't think this is a dive bar, it doesn't feel run-down at all. It's just dimly lit and caters to a more diverse, alternative clientelle than most popular DC joints; but in DC, a rather buttoned-down, go-getter place, "alternative" really just means it's not a meat market. People will label a place as "hipster" in DC if it isn't crawling with preppy or yuppy looking people...this is really a normal, cool low-key bar. The beer isn't "cheap", they just happen to serve several 2 and 3 dollar beers, while the rest range from 4-7. The roof bar is pretty nice and I was jealous of all the people ordering food. Nice place.
Unfortunately, I feel like in the DC area, the following labels are assigned:
Unpretentious place = hipster
A place that is NOT a meat market that is laughably jam-packed for being such a mediocre establishment = dive bar
That makes sense, because ultimately DC is a government town with other aspects of life existing on the fringes. You have such a high proportion of the population being affluent in the surrounding areas, parents who are bigwig lawyers and CEOs, etc, and their children go out in DC, and furthermore, "rich" kids from around the country who come to work in DC, and they go out in the city, and that really helps to make up the DC social scene.
That was quite a little rant. -
Review from Kelly G.
7/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
The Ladies Who Lush DC happy hour moved to this chill lil rooftop bar for act deux. Whoa. It turned into QUITE the speakeasy. Venturing into topics I cannot discuss here. I guess what happens at the Red Derby stays at the Red Derby, too.
One exception is the table full of plastered patrons which was ejected by management for bad, bad behavior, to include slapping one another with bunches of flowers. WTF? Sit down. No sit all the way down. Better yet get to steppin'!
Our server from the previous spot (Mimi) joined us and we ordered fried food. The fried macaroni & cheese was better here than at the Penn Quarter Sports Tavern (it was just the cheesiest...). And someone else ordered fries and tenders. I didn't taste the tenders but the fries are, well, you know, fries.
Two things to remember about this place: [1] it is ca$h only; [2] there are skeeters galore!!! Re [1], thank goodness Jennifer P. bought me a cocktail. And thank God it was the same rail vodka I was on at the previous place. None of that switching to shots of Jameson with a picke juice chaser like the other women. Even with the description of Liquid Cheeseburger, I did NOT go for the mixture. Re [2], I spent a lot of time slapping skeeters away from my ankles.
Overall, The Red Derby, if you can find it, is not bad. In fact, it's A-OK. I'll have to return under way different circumstances to get the full effect. -
Review from Tiffany H.
Washington, DC
3/29/2011
Honors:
Coolest, Most Attentive and Friendliest Bartenders
Cheapest Bloody Marys and Mimosas
Best Place to Have an Embarrassingly-Themed Shindig (a la Buffy, Jersey Shore ...and I've experienced both here)
Best Place to Escape the "Usual" Bar Crowd
Best Place to Bum a Smoke
Best Random-Ass Conversations with Strangers
Best Place to Take Over the Sidewalk Patio on a Balmy Summer Night
Best Cure for the Next Day's HangoverListed in: District Heights, Places I Haven't Been Banned…
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Review from Kerry W.
Arlington, VA
11/13/2011
For a while now, people have seemed shocked when I would say I've never been here and now I get why. There is a certain type of person that will fall in love immediately with this place. If you have any affinity for...
Low-key
Laid back
Wide beer selection
Non-pretentious
Good music
Quirky ambiance
Low lit
Cute beardy bartender
you might be one of those, too. -
Review from Jen F.
5/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is your typical hipster bar.
I thought I was going to get killed on the walk there. Let me just say it's not in the best neighborhood..
The beer selection is decent. Cash only though.. so I guess that eliminates the "get drunk and ring up a hugeass tab and hate yourself the next day" problem. -
Review from Shayla M.
Washington, DC
12/23/2011
A dive bar with an extensive beer list and good greasy food. Solid for a laid back night out. The upstairs was really crowded so I really didnt get the full experience.
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Review from Michael H.
Washington, DC
11/1/2011
I've been to the Red Derby numerous times, as it's a relatively short walk from my house and it's one of the places many of my friends can agree on when picking a destination to meet up for drinks.
As with many places, the atmosphere varies pretty widely depending on the time of day and day of the week you go here. If you go early enough on a Saturday afternoon for brunch or on a weekday evening, chances are it will be relatively quiet and you'll be able to get a seat and have a conversation with little difficulty. It invariably fills up on weekend nights, and since the bar is right near the door and the path through it is pretty narrow, it can bottleneck quite a bit. It is very dark indoors (day or night); there is only the bit of natural light leaking in through the windows towards the front of the bar, and the dimmers are perpetually on low. I don't necessarily mind, however, as my eyes adjust eventually and it doesn't bother me too much. The walls are a very deep red. There is a very nice roof deck that is open seasonally; it is quite a pleasant place to pass some idle time on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon.
The music selection is quite variable depending on who has control of the stereo (I don't think there's a jukebox, and I assume the staffers pick the tunes). There are board games on a shelf for those so inclined, and there is a fairly large projector that will often be playing a classic film or an obscure b-movie, without sound of course. One of the last times I was there, the Texas Chainsaw Massacre was playing. It gave me nightmares.
The staff are all super friendly and pretty attentive (though I don't usually sit at the bar, I'm usually at a table, so I don't really know the bartenders as much) and the place has a very laid-back, casual, comfortable feel to it, very unpretentious. The owner is often seen floating around and she is quite friendly as well.
The beer: I hope you like it in cans, because that's the only way you're getting it (though they do give you a plastic cup as well for pouring). There is quite an impressive selection and something for everyone, whether you like it cheap and domestic and in the $2 or $3 range, or imported and expensive. I had a molasses stout from Japan last time I was there called Tokyo Black, and it was super delicious. I'm not as familiar with their liquor selection, but if you want a mixed drink you can certainly get it.
Food: Very basic, but good enough. Mac and cheese wedges; you can't really go wrong with fried mac and cheese now, can you? The Derby Burger comes with avocado and sprouts, which is nice. They have sweet potato fries, which I always appreciate. If you come for brunch they have tater tots, something near and dear to my heart. Brunch fare is again very basic; they've got a "morning burger" which is basically a burger with an egg on it, a bacon, egg, lettuce and tomato on multigrain which is good enough, and a few other things I've never bothered with. If you like bloody marys and mimosas, you're in luck; If you get one with your food you only have to pay $2 for it. The bloody marys are decent, but not great; perfectly fine tasting but lacking in the olive and celery accoutrements I usually look for in a good one. When I get a bloody mary I'm looking to do a fair amount of eating from my glass in addition to drinking, though perhaps that's just my taste.
I consider this a nice neighborhood place with friendly staff, though it's certainly not going to set your world on fire. But if you like decent beer and are in the mood for something unpretentious and a little less expensive, it's worth checking out. -
Review from Sarah C.
Rockville, MD
3/10/2011
Good beer in cans? Check.
Crappy beer in cans? Check.
Schlitz and a shot for $4? Check.
Delicious sweet potato fries? Check.
Jenga? Check.
Hell yes, I love this place and only wish I lived closer so that it could be my regular hangout joint. The wait and bar staff are awesome and friendly. The board games are fantastic. LOVE. -
Review from Mike S.
2/7/2011 2 Check-ins Here
As many before me have stated, this bar is pretty awesome. Very simplistic decor, lots of red, cool unpretentious crowd, good music selection, lots of games sitting around waiting to be played (apparently Connect Four and Trivial Pursuit can get pretty difficult when drunk). The projector playing St. Elmo's Fire became pretty crucial once conversation got silent and/or awkward.
The beer is also super cheap. I am a cheapskate so I couldn't resist $2 beers despite that fact that they consisted of Natty Boh (tastes like piss) and Schlitz (tastes like water). This is the kind of place where you think you will just stop in for a drink or two but end up staying all night.
PS. The sign is a red derby hat over the door that is easily missed. I must have passed this place like 3 times trying to find it.Listed in: Mike + Beer = Love : A…, This Place is Kind of…
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Review from Yasmine B.
Washington, DC
6/22/2011
I suppose maybe I just went on a bad night? I went to the Red Derby back in the fall based on the rave reviews I read here (and this stranger at Alero's told me it was such a cool, chill, place). It was really dark... that wasn't a problem though. Once my friend and I were seated at the bar, we got no service. The bartender didn't speak to us AT ALL. Not a "Hi," not a "How are you doing?" Maybe I'm just crazy, but usually a bartender asks you what you would like... Whatever. I actually was offended that my friend and I weren't acknowledged at all. It put such a sour taste in our mouths, we decided to leave. But first, my friend had to use their bathroom.
While waiting for my friend, some really creepy drunk began talking to me. I kept telling him I was not interested, but he did not care. He said a lot of crazy things to us, calling us killers O_o, trying to grab my hand, invading my personal bubble completely. I vowed that I'd never go there again... and I really wanted to play the board games and vibe with laidback people :(. -
Review from A C.
Washington, DC
10/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
Awesome.
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Review from This Mac Kills Fascists A.
Washington, DC
Updated - 8/24/2011
Alot of people call this the Columbia Heights sissy bar, which masquerades as a dive. But believe, me if you're looking for trouble, you'll find it here. Two weeks ago a Salvadoran pulled a chain on me in the adjacent alley. The following week, a skinhead became mouthy and we nearly came to blows. This may be, gasp, my favorite bar in NW.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/13/2009
A darling little bar that craddles Petworth like a suckling infant to mother's breast.
Can't say much… Read more »
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Review from Haroun K.
5/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
The Red Derby has a great vibe. The rooftop patio was absolutely full, and is a great place to drink with your favorite people. There is a huge beer selection, and you can get some pretty cheap beer, if need be. The vodka tonic was pretty weak, though. One person was raging happy after eating the bacon cheeseburger. If only all bars were like this...
CASH ONLY. -
Review from Andre D.
Washington, DC
5/23/2011
If i could give the place 10 stars I would. Everything about this place is AMAZING!
Though, if i had to change one minor thing it would be to turn down the music during brunch. But then again, if you ask them for anything, ie, turn down the music, they are happy to do so.
FYI: I'm always looking to play a friendly game or two of chess. -
Review from Jenna W.
Washington D.C., DC
5/19/2011
Bring your friends, hang out on the rooftop:
Red Derby is great for happy hours and extended weekend hang-outs. $5 drink combos, rooftop bar, and board games make for a memorable night. There's an awesome beer selection and friendly service, too.
Little known fact: there is a game room in the back with Big Buck Hunter, Shuffleboard, and Darts - and more importantly, it's a break from the crowd that is usually packed in wall-to-wall. -
Review from Jethro P.
Washington, DC
3/24/2011
Some people say that this is the divest bar in DC. I think those people are nuts. You need to go to Dans Cafe in Adams Morgan. Aside from that little rant I love this place, location could be better but thats not a big compaint. The beer selection is great. The Kings Combo is a must and you cant beat that price.
Have not tried the food but will some day. The outdoor patio give you a nice view of an up and comming neighborhood. Cash only is really annoying though. Seriously I love dive bars but this is unnecessary.
They also have tons of board games which are great for groups. -
Review from Julian V.
11/8/2010 10 Check-ins Here
Inexpensive beer and a killer rooftop that doesn't really have a great view, but is still great nonetheless.
$2 Natty Boh
$6 Strongbow
$6 Brooklyn = AWESOME DEAL
I really don't think you can drink out for any cheaper. The staff are super friendly.
Darts and Pool in the back. Tons of board games. Including the huge clusterfudge that is drunken Jenga. -
Review from Erica B.
Washington D.C., DC
4/14/2011
Everything about this bar was awesome!
The beer list is extensive and reasonably priced and the atmosphere is
pleasantly low-key (even when it got pretty crowded on a Friday night.)
Our server went above and beyond too. She was attentive and friendly - and most importantly, her beer suggestions were spot on.
I am already looking forward to our next visit here! -
Review from Molly M.
Washington D.C., DC
9/26/2011
This place could be in Buffalo and that's a compliment. The food was incredible. Simple and tasty. The drinks were cheap, super cheap. For a little while I could have sworn I wasn't in DC. I had the fish hot dog, and I tried someone else's sweet potato fries. All of it was yummy, really yummy. The roof is a nice space and it was a beautiful night. The only con to Red Derby is that it isn't that close to anything, and the drugged out hookers and drunks milling about outside. I don't get freaked out by stuff like that, but I am glad I wasn't by myself.
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Review from Katrina Y.
Washington, DC
2/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
The Red Derby always reminds me of being in the Mission District in San Francisco: a dive bar with cheap beer and hipsters and oldsters as far as the eye can see on the weekends
Anyway, I am a huge fan of the Red Derby.
Atmosphere: It is dark, loud and kind of red on the inside. Always full of a decent cross section of drunk and hip twenty and thirty somethings plus almost no douchebags or frat boys. The music is decent to good. Almost every time I have been there they are playing some random movie on the wall. We spent one evening watching a science fiction movie called Futureworld with no sound in which robots in a theme park take over... think the pirates from the Pirates in the Caribbean trying to kill you. So Random! Another time they were showing a film that contained tons of nudity, Nazis and a kid with a drum. We never figured that out. There also tons of board game to embarrass yourself with after the third drink. Who can turn down drunk Jenga?
Drinks: Exactly what I would expect from a dive bar- strong and cheap. No one can complain about $2 beers even if they do taste like piss. However, I will pay the extra $2 for a gin and tonic.
Food: For food, I have only been there for brunch. Eating dinner at a dive bar seems like either a sign of drunk desperation or alcoholism or both... not that I always above desperate, drunk munchies. The menu is pretty limited and not cheap but they do have decent breakfast sandwiches. They also have yummy tater tots....MMMM. I am instantly back in the third grade but now there is liquor. However, the best thing about brunch is $2 Mimosas and Blood Mary's. That's right! I don't know anywhere else you can find $2 Mimosas on Saturday afternoon. In fact, it is a great post-brunch stop for more booze. So skip the food and get a mimosa.
Service: Bartenders are friendly even if you might need to yell your order that them. Beware: it is cash only.
My favorite time to visit the Red Derby is on a warm afternoon where you can go up on the roof deck and drink mimosa until you cannot walk straight for $10. The deck has an odd surfer feel in the day time, which is out of place, but I love the view of the neighborhood. -
Review from Kevin R.
Washington, DC
Updated - 2/24/2011
Quite possibly my favorite bar. Every time I've been here I've had a great time. Super fun and friendly bartenders, strange videos projected on the wall, and an awesome canned beer list that caters to cheapskates and sophisticates alike. Bangin'.
Pro Tip: Your instinct will guide you toward the Natty Boh, but go for the Schlitz. It wins the blind taste test every time. Same price, too -- $2. Actually, just get them both.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/7/2010
Went here for brunch and it was excellent. Bagel/lox was supreme. The strawberry they served as a… Read more »
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Review from Irina K.
Arlington, VA
8/4/2011
beer.
hipsters.
crowds.
apples to apples.
elvis movies.
rooftop. -
Review from Aaron G.
San Diego, CA
8/7/2011
Man Do I like Red Derby! They have a great brunch on the weekend. 2$ mimosas and bloody marys. The marys had olive and celery and old bay around the rim. The food is pretty cheap ranging from 7$-9$. I have the breakfast burrito which was well seasoned. I wish it would have been a bit bigger. The inside has very good ac which is a plus in the summer. The roof had a bar on top and a bunch of shaded seating.
