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Tony & Joe's Seafood Place
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
100 reviews for Tony & Joe's Seafood Place
Review Highlights
"Great cream of crab soup."
(in 5 reviews)
"Being on the Waterfront especially during nice weather is..."
(in 33 reviews)
"The steamed mussels were scrumptious."
(in 4 reviews)
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100 reviews in English
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Review from John S.
Washington, DC
8/17/2011
Before the flood, this place sucked. It was over priced, terrible food that thrived because it has a fantastic location.
Times have changed. The kitchen was destroyed, and now they're cooking outside on grills. The menu is pared down. The food is simple and delicious.
I was a bad person and ordered swordfish*. My guilt aside, the fish was perfectly grilled. Served with a green salad, and a grilled ear of corn, the dish was simple to say the least. My girlfriend had the salmon salad. The salmon had seen a tad too much fire, but she likes things a little more well done than I, so it worked out. Enjoyed with a cold beer and a nice view of the river, life was very good.
*I try to eat only sustainable seafood, but the choice was farm raised salmon, catfish, or the swordfish. Sorry next generation. -
Review from Jen O.
Alexandria, VA
9/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
Debated whether to go here or to Sequoia's. Decided to go here since the prices were cheaper, and I haven't been overly impressed with Sequoia's in recent times.
Went on a Sunday. Sat outside. Everything is cooked on an outdoor grill. Took a long time for a server to come over and ask us what we wanted. I asked the server for his recommendation and he said the crab cake sandwich. So I tried it. It was served on a huge, bready, dry, flavorless bun - I took the top off and only ate part of the bottom half with my crab cake. The crab cake itself lacked flavor. I asked for Hot sauce to try to spruce it up, but that didn't help much. The fries that came with it weren't anything special either.
Server took a long time to come back with the check.
Overall disappointed with my meal. Other than being outside and having a nice view on the water, I don't see a compelling reason to go back here. Maybe the dinner menu is better? -
Review from Tibisay G.
Orange, CA
6/6/2011
After doing lots of research for places to go in DC, I decided to just join the crowd and follow a group of colleagues' lead to this place. I wished I had time to read the reviews beforehand!
The atmosphere is very nice. The outdoors face a fountain on one side and the Potomac River and yachts on the other. We went on a gorgeous Friday night around 7:30pm and though the place was pretty packed, we were able to sit right away.
I decided to splurge on one of the most expensive items on the menu: the $25 fish steak. it came on a disposable plate and utensils, with some cole slaw and corn on the cob. Both the fish and the corn were super dry and tasteless.
The menu did say that they were recovering from the recent flood, so maybe that had to do with it...For now, I'll just stay away... -
Review from leah r.
Middleton, MA
7/19/2011
Service was excellent, the food is good, but pricey and nothing
fantastic. Had the crab cake sandwich for $15 and I wasn't wow-ed.
However, they have a very limited menu right now as their kitchen is
still under construction from their flood, and everything is cooked on
an outdoor grill.
I'd go back once the restaurant was fully up and running again.
I -
Review from Anita L.
Was strolling by the Georgetown waterfront on a lazy Sunday morning (well, actually it was noontime by the time we got there), and my girlfriend suggest that we grab brunch at Tony & Joe's.
We were informed by the hostess that it is a AYCE Brunch inside the restaurant for $45, and if you would like to order A-la-carte, you would need to sit outside.
I love to eat, but I seriously doubt that I can stuff $45 of food down my throat so early in the morning, so the 2 of us opted for the outdoor sitting and got the following dishes:
- 1 dozen of Blue point oyster
- Steamed mussels
- Cream of Crab soup
- Crab Cake sandwich- loved it.
Oysters were nice and fresh, but the rest were just mediocre. The most disappointing dish was probably the Cream of Crab soup. Nothing too special about it. It is basically a Cream Soup with a dab of crab meat on top.
Probably not the most pleasant Sunday brunch I had considering it was only 50 degrees outside. This would probably be a better dining experience if the weather is a little warmer so that you can sit by the deck and people watch. -
Review from Kelly G.
2/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
I'm so glad I remembered this place! I haven't been here for years because my commute changed. But after a long day at the nearby movie theater, I needed something substantial to get me thru the last film. Thank goodness I remember Tony & Joe's Seafood Place at Washington Harbor.
Great cream of crab soup! The soup was super thick, creamy beyond belief, and full of crabmeat, corn, and flavor for days! I tried a drop or two of extra sherry, but I really didn't need it. The oyster crackers were as usual a great addition. My one tiny criticism, if I were to make one, would be on the temperature of the soup. A tad bit hotter would have been great. I was too busy enjoying every spoonful to request a re-heating. I had the Veramonte Sauvignon Blanc. It was, as expected, tasty, tangy, not too sweet, and perfect with the soup.
Francisco, my bartender, was so knowledgeable, attentive, and interested, without being pushy or too touchy feely. Just the right balance.
On Saturday, 2/5/11 at 6:23pm, Francisco got me in, got my soup, and got me out in time to catch the next movie. I'm a fan. And I'll be back!Listed in: Crab Soup
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Review from Venu N.
8/22/2010
2.75 stars. Here are two things I would not have expected to happen at this derivative seafood restaurant located on the Georgetown waterfront:
1) Some bachelorette party brought in a small blow up doll with an enormous penis to the bar. Note that Tony & Joe's is located in what otherwise could be described as a relatively family friendly area of Georgetown. Unfortunately, I could not convince any of the girls in our group to do anything nasty with said blow up doll. I'm losing my touch. I briefly considered making a scene, but then I thought better of it.
2) A dude hit on my married friend and then less than one minute later immediately started hitting on her sister. Numbers game, brah. What was awesome about him is that he introduced himself as "Creeper" and subsequently showed us his "creeper" football jersey on his i-Phone.
...
While those two situations did not necessarily seem par for the course at Tony & Joe's, it did speak volumes as to the type of people that generally go here. If you are looking to get a bit crazy while enjoying the gorgeous view that can be had from the Georgetown waterfront, this is probably one of your better choices. -
Review from travel g.
Boston, MA
4/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
This restaurant offer $45 all you can eat breakfast brunch on Sunday. It is way too expensive for what it is. So I end up sitting outdoor and order their own menu.
Oyster: Great.. Mussel so so, their famous cream of crab soup: not so good. Crab sandwiches.. is alight...
I generally think this place just over price for what they are. -
Review from Mick A.
Fairfax, VA
6/13/2010
always laugh when people talk about the food at this place. TONY & JOE'S IS FOR DRINKS ONLY. EVERYBODY KNOWS THIS. ONLY TOURISTS EAT HERE. WHAT KIND OF HICK COMES HERE FOR MUSSELS? ARE YOU FROM NORTH DAKOTA? PLEASE HELP ME I CAN'T STOP USING CAPS.
(ahem - let's take it down a notch) As I was saying, just come here for drinks and people watching. That's all. The drinks are fine and that's all that counts (AND NO I'M NOT AN ALCOHOLIC! YOU'RE THE ALCOHOLIC - I'M NOT BEING DEFENSIVE) sorry, it's been a long weekend, maybe I should make myself a drink..... -
Review from Chelsea M.
Upper Marlboro, MD
1/30/2011
I first visited this place on Jan 9, 2011 and came again today for brunch.
I am still not impressed with the food. The only thing I enjoy here are the waffles of which I dress up myself with raspberries, shaved coconut, whipped cream and chocolate syrup.
They also have a nice crab dip. -
Review from Tara L.
1/30/2010
I wanted to bathe myself in the crab bisque here. I wanted to caress it. Finesse it. Tap that bisque.
On a cold, Friday afternoon it was the perfect fix during the otherwise abandoned lunch crowd. Smooth, creamy, flavorful and topped with crab meat, I could have eaten a bowl of it twice the size, but I'm glad they had portion control, under control.
I also ordered the Caprese Salad, topped with grilled chicken for an additional couple of bucks. It wasn't quite what I expected: diced cubes of chilled, grilled chicken, tomato, balls of fresh mozzarella and slivers of black olives for a salty little kick complimented the rest of the salad well.
I liked the salad, although it was not my favorite rendition of a Caprese Salad. My dining companion ordered the Caesar Salad topped with grilled salmon. It looked delicious and was twice the size of my own.
The servers were friendly and attentive without being disruptive or too anxious. It was a very relaxing lunch.
Quite honestly, I was surprised to read all of the horrid reviews on Yelp, because my experience was pretty solid. Granted I went for lunch in the middle of the winter and ordered pretty basic menu items, but overall I really enjoyed the food, service and views of the water. -
Review from Krsna V.
4/22/2008
A suburban oasis in the city. If I wanted to feel like dining in the suburbs, I will go to MD or VA. But, being the good family member that I am, I obliged. I guess this is where all the suburban people in DC go, for after work dinner and drinks.
I was in DC for a conference and my family who lives in VA took me to Tony and Joe's for dinner. It was a beautiful spring evening and I wanted to be outside. The first thing I said when we approached the place was 'holy cr*p, that's a lot of people" (it was a beautiful evening, after all)
We decided to sit inside because the wait for outdoor seating was too long. The menu looks like a typical sea food restaurant, just one notch above Red Lobster. You have the typical fish, shrimp, and crab cakes. I said one notch above is because they have whole crabs, bouillabaisse, and a few specials. Nothing exciting.
We ordered half a dozen mussels and the crab dip for appetizers. The mussels looked as if they just survived a famine. Tiny and sad. The crab dip was good.
I ordered the wahoo for dinner. Our waitress recommended I order it grilled and I obliged. It was grilled and covered with a caper butter sauce. How original....not! I thought caper and butter sauce was the rave in 1999. I didn't know restaurants were still doing it (at least not the ones that charge an arm and leg for your dinner). I guess the chef got too grill-happy because my fish was grilled too much. It was hard and chewy. I mean, how hard is it to grill a fish? It came with steamed vegetables (read: three slices of yellow squash, three slices of green squash, and a couple of bell pepper slices) and rice pilaf. Forgettable, to say the least.
My sis-in-law ordered the seafood platter. I ended up eating most of her food because my dish was unsatisfying. The clams and shrimp were good but, the tilapia was overcooked. Her husband ordered the stuffed shrimp which were stuffed with a lot of stuff. It was ok.
Overall, it felt like I was eating at a suburban chain restaurant surrounded by the people. Our waitress was attentive and professional, came back to check on us often. The food quality is what you would get at a Red Lobster, only double the price.
I have decided that, next time, I am not letting my family choose a place to eat. I have been burned twice now. First it was Mimi's in VA and now it is Tony and Joe's.
Not worth for the price. Not at all.Listed in: Capital-istic
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Review from Lydia P.
Washington, DC
7/16/2009 2 photos
What to do this Sunday?
Well, I have an idea for you!
The answer is, go to Georgetown and have Brunch with Live Jazz Music at Tony and Joe's.
This past Sunday, the owner of this 'funtastic' restaurant that I happen to know, had been very kind invited me and a group of friends to experience a splendid afternoon Brunch with Jazz after Church.
Not the first time for me to dine at this restaurant, perhaps about third or forth brunches, many dinners and as well as numbers of times cocktail hours.
I absolutely love Tony and Joe's, the whole experience, the food, the music,and the service is exceptional.
In my opinion, compare to other restaurants around it, Tony and Joe's so far has the best food and quality of service.
Even though I also like the other two restaurant that belong to the same owner nearby around the water. My best pick is Tony & Joe's.
The Brunch start at 10 am until 3 pm for $ 45 per person.
It's a nice deal for the amount of food and great meal selections for what they provide.
Accompany with an exciting group of extrovert like me, complete with the Jazz music background, after spending my morning at Church, I indulge my fabulous Sunday by enjoying the variety of seafood delicacy and other delicious selections brunch buffet, steak, oyster, various selections of fish, crab meat, omelet, pancake, other breakfast stuff and off course mimosa!
And not forget to mention, I satisfy my sweet tooth indulgence addiction with 'the yumster' orange pound cake, 'the deliciously wicked' chocolate covered strawberry cake and my number one desserts addiction Crème Brulée!
Il est merveilleux!
Will I come back for more?
To dine and have brunch at this funtastic restaurant that make me feeling so ecstatic for the next whole week?
Definitely! I will! Come back for more.
That is why you should try too! (wink)
Bon appétit! -
Review from Brianne C.
Arlington, VA
2/20/2008
Something about brunch at Tony and Joe's feels like brunch at a large corporate hotel. The sprawling dining room, while purporting to afford its patrons a fabulous view of the harbor, instead manages to feel like a conference center with expansive windows. And I hate places with low-slung ceilings.
The brunch isn't much better, and it is expensive! The table closest to the restaurant entrance was overflowing with seafood, but the fish was overcooked and the shrimp were a bit mushy. There were waffle and omelet stations, which I always enjoy, but they were not enough to make up for the pretty but flavorless desserts, chewy bacon and sausage, and generally uninspired hot dishes.
And I'll be needing a bit more champagne in my mimosa, please. -
Review from Michael H.
Washington, DC
6/16/2007
This must be one of those places that is incredibly different at various times of the week or day. Friday night... oh boy. I don't even know where to begin.
The Georgetown/frat-tastic scene is certainly not mine, so you might want to take this review with a grain of salt. Everything about this place was hilarious. Here are a few notable observations:
1. Large groups of 20-50yo preps go up the Potomac in their boats and drink in their boats next to the boardwalk in front of the bar.
2. The macho bouncers told my friend that his shirt was too tight. They also seem to make a lot of comments about the asses of women.
3. The beer is served in small plastic cups and is not cheap.
4. On a nice night, the patio is shoulder to shoulder. You feel a little like cattle when you're outside where you could find all the space you want - but you're penned in by a velvet rope.
The best part about this place, though, is to watch the absurdity. I have two overheard conversations to share with you:
25-year old woman, speaking to three 40-year-old men: Yeah, I'm thinking about getting Lasik, 'cause I'm tired of my contacts and glasses.
40-year-old-man: Yeah, I'm thinking about getting Lasik too. No, wait, I'm thinking about getting laaaaaiddd. Hahahahahaha
25-year-old-woman: (giggles coyly)
And the other one:
Two 35-year-old women are talking to a 35-year-old man carrying a baseball.
Woman #1: Why are you carrying a baseball?
Man: It's my ball. I take it everywhere I go. See? (holds up baseball)
Both women: Oh. OK.
Man: It's a hard ball. Do you want to hold my ball?
Woman #1: (Giggles).
Man, turning to woman #1: So, what do you do?
There weren't a lot of screaming girls or chest-thumping guys, so it could have been worse. I guess.
This was a geurilla queer bar location in July 2007. http://www.geurillaque... -
Review from Eurry K.
Washington, DC
1/20/2008
After listening to a friend about the great bar atmosphere, I decided to drop in for Restaurant Week. Reservations were widely available (which should have been a warning sign), so I made one at the last minute.
After a bit of wandering, another buddy and I came upon an amazing area with a fountain and a front-row waterfront view. Then, Tony & Joe's immediately came into view. After walking into the restaurant, I dreaded my reservation. The place was so empty. Additionally, the bar was small and sad. Once we were sat, I realized that the restaurant was masquerading as a nice DC restaurant that serves regular political clientele. No. It was more like a fairly clean restaurant catering to Office Space types. I see this place as a meeting ground for sad internet blind dates. Nice views to compensate for other potentially unattractive things. Hehee...
I can't say much more about the food. The Restaurant Week menu started us off with a green salad with a balsamic vinaigrette. The greens turned out to be overdressed and the tiny croutons were from a box. I had the surf and turf entree which came with a piece of sirloin and three shrimp. I should've known... sirloin isn't the greatest cut of meat to begin with, so I set myself up for disaster. But I would've been OK if the meat was at least cooked correctly, which it wasn't. Medium rare doesn't mean gray and 10 minutes over-rested. The accompanying bernaise wasn't particularly stellar either. The shrimp were pretty good. There were noticeable grill lines, which contributed a yummy smoky flavor. Mmm... char. To finish, I opted for the key lime pie, which was alright. Nice buttery crust, tart and fresh filling... I love pie.
I don't think the place is worth it for the trek. I took a bus from the metro to get there. And walked three blocks in freezing weather to get there.
My friend who had recommended this place for the bar ended up telling me that it's only good during the summer. NOW you tell me. -
Review from Adrienne O.
Houston, TX
7/6/2010
You're paying to people-watch on the waterfront when you go here. (You may also have a drunken jerk throw a mostly-empty beer cup at you, but hey -- it's Georgetown). While their hot crab dip is some of the best I've ever had, I dislike their $6 split plate charge -- especially when the portions are huge and pricey on their own. My friend and I shared the stuffed shrimp, which were just OK. We were really grateful that our waiter brought over the shaker of Old Bay, because we went to town on the french fries.
But let's be honest: You're going down to the waterfront to people watch and sit by the water, right? This is a great place for that. -
Review from Andrew K.
San Francisco, CA
5/26/2008
Not as bad as I was expecting. Reminded me of Shooters in Fort Lauderdale - where I used to hang when I was younger.
I mean the location/views are outstanding.
The menu was just typical bar food.
My chicken tenders were decent - as were the fries. My diet coke was a little off and came in a plastic cup.
All in all, I wasn't traumatized, but you could easily do better. -
Review from Vishal S.
9/14/2008
I have NEVER eaten haere - just had hours and hours of drinking sessions here. Bartenders are excellent and cocktails are very good.
For diner go to Fileomena next door.
Seating is difficult to get in outside patio during summers, but that is a testament to the popularity of the place. I would rather drink here than at Sequoia next door. -
Review from Donald P.
9/22/2008
Seemed more like a place to drink than a place to eat. Sat outside on a Sunday night. Dinner menu looked really expensive so we ordered 5 entrees for 6 people and drinks too.
Really disappointed to see beers being served in plastic cups. I felt like I was reliving my college days. Not to mention the nauseating smell of spilt beer everywhere and a little bit of second-hand smoke.
Once our food was served we were delightfully surprised the food wasn't as bad as I expected based on yelp reviews. My guess is because of the food is pricey.Listed in: Beautiful Views
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Review from Angela G.
7/4/2010
I expected eating at the Georgetown waterfront (which I'd not done in ages) wouldn't mean stellar food or even fantastic service--whether it be Tony & Joe's or another place--but more a wide range of outdoor seating options with a fantastic view of the Potomac Waterfront, Kennedy Center, and DC skyline. Try to keep that in mind and you won't be too disappointed. It's a great people watching atmosphere also.
Also expect the requisite tourists, mixed in with hordes of overdressed often fake looking females in heels that they can't walk in (some of whom should be wearing spanx), with the occasional under-dressed guy in those ubiquitous baggy khaki cargo shorts.
But I digress, onto the actual restaurant...
Tony & Joe's started out great, as despite the large crowds in a fabulously mild summer evening, they actually had a table for two outside ready without any wait time--a miracle. There was a 50 minute wait next door at Sequoia's--though it probably had better views of the water as their seating was higher up, and more comfortable seating--but it was already 8:30pm and we were too hungry to wait.
Both of us started out with drinks. The lemon iced tea vodka, recommended by Anthony our waiter, was pretty good (and just a tad over 6 bucks), and my friend's cosmo was fine, although a bit small in size. Take note mojito lovers, the waiter specified they basically made all the standard cocktails, EXCEPT for mojitos.
When our drinks arrived, we put our order in...started out sharing an appetizer of five jumbo macadamia-crusted shrimp with a pineapple salsa, which were good. However they failed to bring any plates, and as my friend remarked, "They could have given us two lemon wedges." This was quickly remedied once brought to a passing waiter's attention, with plates and a whole cup of wedges provided...but was indicative of the service to come.
For the main course, it was Grilled Mahi Mahi,Hawaiian style for me, with pineapple-mango salsa and sun-dried tomato orzo. The fish was somewhat bland and I needed a lot of the salsa with it. The orzo was even blander. My friend got the lobster and ribs special...a huge amount of food, that also came with a choice of sides...she got the baked potato. The ribs seemed fantastic, they melted off. The whole lobster, as my friend said, "could have been partially shelled," as it was difficult to eat, but it was pretty tasty.
Service-wise, what started out good, with the quick seating and quick delivery of drinks, became slower and much less attentive. We started to rarely see our server, and when we did, he obviously showered much more attention on the group of 5 over-dressed girls in too short of dresses, and over-straightened hair, who were showing the effects of their drinks (they got very loud and obnoxious, and began chain-smoking, a lovely touch). My friend had to flag another waiter down to get a knife to help with the ribs and potato,and to get another fork when her's dropped. They took forever to take away our appetizer plate (I know they were busy, but again, our server had time to spend with that obnoxious group of girls next to us).
There was what seemed to be a party boat nearby on the water, which provided plenty of dance/club/top40 type music (at a distance) and some flashing lights...not bad entertainment when combined with the various types of people sauntering by on the walk in front of the water.
We were not going to stay for dessert however. The kicker for me, was when we provided our credit cards to pay the bill, our server started to go process them, but when the obnoxious group of girls flagged him down to just chat about the boat party going on nearby, he actually turned back around to carry on a conversation with them for a while about it, right in front of me and my friend, while holding our cards...they were not ordering anything, not starting to pay, etc...just chatting about the music, people, being turned away from the party boat, etc....that definitely lowered his tip.
So I guess for Tony & Joe's...it is what it is...the weather, view, and drinks were the highlights. (And girls, if you can't walk in the heels, don't waste your money on them, although the short dresses and annoying behavior may get you better service.) -
Review from Liam D.
Washington, DC
7/15/2007
Nothing new to add that hasn't already been said here...T+J's is, as with most GTown waterfront establishments, a fantastic spot for people watching and sunny day beverage consumptioning (they feature fantastic bloody mary's and margaritas), but eating there is ill advised. I can totally relate to other yelpers in claims that the people crowd is somethin' else....A whole lotta EGO at this place. The dudes are typically preppy and full of themselves; and the gals are the type who gobble that up. That being said, everyone who goes there is looking to have a good time and generally the mood can be pretty relaxed and chatty - just this weekend there were a bunch of bachelorette parties and they were having grande ol' times. It was fun.
All in all - the waterfront is a better "cold beverage in the afternoon" place, vs. a "going out and getting trashed all night long" place. If you've never been, it's definitely worth the trip. -
Review from Lauren R.
Arlington, VA
8/3/2008
While at dinner at Tony & Joe's last weekend, the waiter did something we didn't like... or there was some dish that we particularly didn't care for (grrr, I can't remember what). And my dad joked sarcastically - as if he was starring in a very important undercover tasting session for a famous culinary publication - "don't worry, we'll make sure to include that when we write the review". Of course, my unassuming dad doesn't know just how close to the mark he was! He had no idea that as of late, his own daughter has been in the habit of amateur not-so-famous pseudo-culinary review authoring. So, here goes.
Tony & Joe's is pretty accurately described by the "Meh. I've experienced better" two star rating description. But it's not all that bad, really, so I'm going to be generous and give three stars. Food is alright, It's just not anything worth writing home about. As an outdoor bar and dining patio, this place is about as good as it gets in the city. Just be prepared to foot the overpriced bill. We chose dinner here over Capital Grill primarily for cost reasons after briefly scoping the menu at the latter. And honestly, CG probably would have been almost equally as hard on the wallet.
The atmosphere, of course, is great - you can't beat the location on the Georgetown waterfront. Enormous outdoor patio, fab view of the water and rich people on boats, perfect spot for yuppie DC people watching. Though getting there, and parking, is a pain. I recommend opting for the underground garage, at $6 for two hours (and $8 max) on weekends, it's worth the few bucks to avoid pulling your hair out trying to find a street spot (and for the ladies, killing yourself trying to cross the cobblestones in sandals or heels).
The halibut-with-lobster daily special was excellent, as was the calamari, and I liked the potatoes au gratin (super rich) and cole slaw (just right). Avoid the stuffed shrimp, they're not much flavor-wise and the crab-to-spinach ratio in the stuffing was disappointing. -
Review from Aisha J.
Washington, DC
6/26/2007
what a GREAT spot for Sunday brunch! Be sure to get there when it opens to get a table - the food is phenomenal!!
I sometimes go with my family after church and we just have a blast every time. The view is wonderful as well - you can walk off some of that food (seafood, breakfast items, dessert, fresh fruits anything you can imagine) or linger at your table for awhile and listen to the jazz music while watching the boats go by (or watch the fountain if you have that view).
I love Tony and Joe's on a Sunday! -
Review from Danielle W.
Arlington, VA
6/2/2010
Never eaten here, but on a beautiful day, nothing beats sitting outside, enjoying a drink or two and taking in the scenery along the waterfront (and the people watching's good too!) Haha.
Depending on the night, you may have to wait for a table/seating outside or deal with a drunken crowd, but if you come with a group of friends you should have a good time regradless. -
Review from alexis g.
Falls Church, VA
8/18/2006
The brunch here is $40, which seemed a bit excessive to me for what you get. I could have lived with $25, but not $40. I guess they make you "pay for the view" because the food here is just OK. I got a hamburger and it was pretty standard.
At night, Tony & Joe's can get very packed. Its outdoor bar area is partitioned by a rope, and I always see people packed in like sardines, trying to saddle that rope. Though the preppy pink shirt boys are seen here often, I feel like there's a good enough mix of people to even things out. Overall it's a younger crowd, either in college or a few years out.
Hanging out by the waterfront during warm weekends is fantastic no matter how you cut it though. The people watching opportunities are endless. It's just a really nice way to unwind before another work week. -
Review from John K.
Rockville, MD
8/24/2008
This place is wayyyy overrated. The beers cost $5, but they serve it to you in a plastic cup that's about 8-12 ozs. The average dish costs around $30-40 and although the food is decent, you expect a little more for what you're paying.
I guess you gotta charge high prices for a location like that. If you end up going, the cream of crab soup was pretty good (recommended). -
Review from Julian V.
5/25/2010
Went here with the family on a friday night. Talk about an interesting crowd.
And by interesting I mean not interesting at all.
Unless you're into the Jersey Shore kind of crowd.
But maybe Jersey Shore isn't the perfect way to describe it, because most of these people/kids are either Georgetown folk, or tourists.
Tourists are easy to describe. You can spot them a mile away, and they hear that the Waterfront is a nice place to take your family. On a sunday, this might be the case, but on a friday night, there's an influx of yuppies, which would be the other crowd. But it's not your typical high falluting yuppies. I think yuppies have evolved into some hybrid of yuppie/jersey shore/douche kind of crowd.
I apologize in advance if this is your scene. Even if it isn't, it's kind of fun to watch, which Tony and Joe's is good for. I expected a place like Tony and Joe's to be god-awful touristy, devoid of flavor, and way overpriced. Well, two outta three ain't bad.
Tony and Joe's is pricy, especially for the type of atmosphere. Seafood ranges between $20 and $40 a plate. There are many tourists who dine there.
The kicker? It's actually pretty good. Mussels were cooked surprisingly well (not over, not under, well seasoned). I want to say that I got the rockfish or something. Either way, it had potatoes, tomatoes, and artichokes, and it was delicious. The skin was crispy, the meat tender. The trout was also delicious.
It's a shame the food is good, because I want to hate this place so bad. -
Review from Heather W.
Washington, DC
7/28/2007
Greaaate location, but the food is abhorrable. All kinds of types in the waterfront, but the crowd at the bar seemed to be mostly clicks grabbing drinks after work. Service was too slow for my taste even for just getting drinks at the bar, kind of a mad house. Great place if you can grab a table with some friends and enjoy the last gasps of summer. Definitely would not waste your money on food in this place.
H -
Review from Hagan B.
Manhattan, NY
6/8/2009
Didn't have the food, but boy, they sure make a stiff drink.
Their logistical situation is kind of screwy with the outdoor neighbors on the weekends, closing an hour before the rest of the bars outside.
The place has a good crowd. Since there is no fire code for the porch, the place is usually packed as all hell. It's pretty tough to get a drink outside, but easy to get one inside. If you are down here for food, you should probably hit Sequoia. If the bathrooms are backed up, you should probably hit Sequoia. If you want a place that's a bit more classy and still has that great waterfront feel, you should probably hit Sequoia.
The moral: if you are down here before midnight, start at Sequoia. -
Review from Trenessa S.
Riverdale, MD
3/23/2011
Beautiful scenary. Good food and drinks. Service was good even with it being crowded. I have my official waiter next time I go back. Good after work, warm day spot.
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Review from Paul K.
San Francisco, CA
6/11/2007
One important thing to note: I had the misfortune of going to this restaurant on prom night, where highschoolers overflowed with prom dresses that wouldn't pass in the '80s.
It's been a while, but I remember that the chowder was quite good. Other than that, the seafood was downright mediocre. I got something analogous to a cippino, and the sauce was bland and reminded me of a runny tomato sauce. My girlfriend also did not like her entree at all---something that had way too much creamy spinach. The portions were fairly large, but the quality was not top notch. In addition, the service was well-intentioned but amateur. All this while I dropped about $150 for two (including one of their cheaper bottles of white wine, which wasn't that good either... also, the waitstaff was not knowledgable about the wine selection).
I got the distinct impression that this place rests on its long-standing status as a toursit/suburb trap. Coming from the west coast, I expected something better from a restaurant that benefits from the mid-Atlantic's touted shellfish. -
Review from Mia K.
Baton Rouge, LA
6/21/2007
Delicious! A group of 10 of us went here for a birthday lunch and everything was amazing! From the service to the outdoor seating to the food!
At 2 o'clock we asked for an outdoor table for 10 of us around 3. Although they weren't able to hold anything, they said they would keep us in mind while seating others - and they did. Around 320 we got a table for 10 on the deck.
With gorgeous views of the Potomac, how could lunch be bad right?
The food and service totally lived up to our expectations. Everyone loved their food (this is where I plug the Cream of Crab Soup - amazing!) and our server was friendly, funny, and accommodating. He even put the birthday cake in the fridge for us during our meal.
Definitely a great lunch in DC and I will totally be back for more cream of crab soup and calamari!Listed in: DC baby!!
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Review from Jason R.
New York, NY
4/1/2010 1 Check-in Here
Tony & Joe's is a great place to hang out (weather permitting) outside and enjoy some drinks on the Georgetown Waterfront. This was my go to place when I lived in Gtown for drinks by the water.
Unfortunately last Saturday it was still a bit brisk out to sit outside. We had to sit inside (my first time inside). The decor of the place is a bit dated. Reminds me of a trendy place in the 90's. The atmosphere inside is a little more formal than the relaxed atmosphere of the outdoor patio.
The food here is good. I had the fried fish sandwich, it was lightly battered and fried, and fresh! If it wasn't for the bun holding the fish it would have probably fallen apart. I also enjoyed their home made tartar sauce.
The service here was a bit slow, that's what cost this place a 4 star review. The waiter was a bit of a ghost. It took us about 10 mins to call the waiter over in order to get our bill.
*I really wish it had been a bit warmer to have sat outside.
**Thanks Christine for paying for lunch!Listed in: Washington, D.C.
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Review from Christina L.
Redondo Beach, CA
6/17/2008
Ok. My Friday night started with two shots of jack daniels and the crab dip river side with my girlfriend. Afterwards, we high tailed to the bar where hence we proceeded to receive free booze from every direction we looked. We aren't the type of chicks to be bought free drinks left and right but I guess all the yuppies of DC were feeling a little generous that night. HAH. Actually the ratio was definitely not in their favor that evening. Which was unfortunate for them, fortunate for us. Meanwhile sometime before midnight things got a little hazy.
Bottomline: Place is good for the outdoor drinking atmosphere. I gave it an extra star because i had an extra good time, maybe not b/c of tony and joe but b/c of chip, dale and all the other idiots that were there.
PS My crab dip was awesome. -
Review from Simeon T.
Washington, DC
5/13/2009
I've been here for 2 occasions, happy hour and brunch. For the sake of it, happy hour is a happy hour, overpriced drinks beautiful setting. Not that much to review there, so this review will be about brunch.
The food is good, I mean really good for a brunch buffet. First off all you can drink mimosas already perk my ears up, add the carving station, fresh seafood, rawbar, and waffles to kill over (especially if eaten with that fresh whip cream and berries) and you had me at hello. They offer some decent bacon and sausage, small dessert bites, and other standard brunch fair. So food was practically a 5 star for me when it comes to brunch...but why the 3 star rating you may wonder?
Service, crowd, and price! When you get all you can drink, and a raw bar, I'm not expecting cheap, so the price didn't bother me too much until I took into account the times when I was shoved/nudged out of the way...by WAITSTAFF! yes I know you're busy, and swamped, but pushing me out of your way is still no acceptible. Our personal waiter was wonderful, and on top of things, so I may be only digressing about a few bad apples, but still. On top of it all, the space they have there is too crowded for the amount of people they were trying to fit in. When you pay to eat out I think its reasonable to assume that you are not only paying for food but for service. And that is where T&J's failed miserably for me on this day. -
Review from Carolyn V.
Arlington, VA
8/19/2008
I went to Tony & Joe's this past Saturday night to go out. I hadn't been out on the Waterfront yet, but it seemed pretty "swanky" upon arrival. The drinks weren't as expensive as I had imagined ($5 for a draft beer, $6 for a rail drink) and the outdoor atmosphere was a nice change up from the typical places we go.
The crowd that night wasn't exactly "my crowd" and there weren't any people that my friends and I wanted to go out of our way to talk to, but I would definitely be willing to go there again. I'd also be curious to try their food sometime. -
Review from Greg D.
College Station, TX
5/4/2009 1 photo
Can't really give much of a high rating for Tony and Joes, as it's owned by the same company/mobsters as Nick's Riverside Grill. (See my review of that dive and you will see what I am talking about.)
Right here near Foggy Bottom, it's all about the view. Absolutely fantastic place to get drunk, which is what it seemed everyone was doing at 6pm. Someone said "dressy attire" and I dispute that. I was in shorts and a T-Shirt.
When is the last time you dined surrounded by security? This isn't a night club. But you will find at least half a dozen burly pricks in yellow shirts with SECURITY emblazoned across the back. I'm not really sure what their role is. I guess to tackle people leaving without paying (as it is an outside mainly seating situation) or leaving with a drink? Who knows. I don't want a bunch of SECURITY while eating and enjoying watching the boats go by and planes land and take off from Reagan. If that doesn't bother you and you are walking home (or taking a cab), this is a great place to get jack-hammered.
Do they serve food too? -
Review from Michelle B.
Fontana, CA
5/27/2010
I came here on a Sunday afternoon to grab some food before going on a boat tour. The scenery outside is beautiful! However, if you want a beautiful view, you'll have to wait an hour for it. Being pressed for time, my friends and I opted to sit inside in the bar area.
Our waitress was fast and very friendly. She assisted us in choosing a local beer (Well, as close to local as possible...a pilsner from Pennsylvania if I recall correctly) to go with our meal. To start with, I had the steamed mussels which were VERY fresh and delicious! I always judge a restaurant by how fresh their seafood is, and being on the waterfront I had high hopes for this place. For an entree I had the mahi mahi with mango salsa. The edges were dry and a bit overcooked, and the rice it came with was a bit generic. In all, it was tasty but I wouldn't call home to my mama about it -
Review from Mary Kay S.
Washington, DC
2/5/2007 1 photo
Hmm, I pondered giving it just one star, but Mom thought their crab cake sandwich was very tasty. Plus it's hard to beat that view.
I brought Mom here for lunch one spring -- it was a bit blustery out, so the patio was closed (bummer). We were seated inside, and ignored by our waiter long enough for us to see how really seedy and unkempt the interior has become. Blech. Our waiter evidently had many more important things to do than wait on us, his only table.
So, in the end we paid way too much money for some tasty crab cakes in a crappy setting, with dismal service. Hmm. I haven't been back since, though I can probably be persuaded to have a drink on the patio in the summer.
