Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: menu (8) great (8) drinks (8) cocktail (7) ambiance (6) BABA (6) cleanliness (6) good (6)
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  • 5/5 Brittany S. 1 year ago on Google • 89 reviews
    We went here for a lovely date night, we planned to go to ambar upstairs which has more of a bright brunch vibe whereas baba feels more like a speakeasy. Prices really can’t be beat- I think it’s 45 dollars for an unlimited tasting menu per person and you can get a gin and grapefruit carafe called an angel and devil for like 35 dollars. The atmosphere is wonderful, there’s a gallery type wall of still lifes and pastoral scenes in a darkly lit area reminiscent of a theater. And an area adjacent to backlit windows creating an illusion of ground level ambiance. Pleasant, delicious food- have the steak tartar it was the absolute best I’ve ever had. Our waiter was charming and broke the proverbial 4th wall asking us for our opinions on new dishes etc. A fun experience and we’ve been back since.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Andrea M. 1 year ago on Google • 571 reviews
    In the cellar and through the mysterious door you enter into a great looking space with a lot of attention to detail. That detail stopped at the bar and the restrooms. The “craft cocktails” that were tried lacked flavor and I have never had a manhattan served in a martini glass. The bathrooms were really bad which surprised me based on the Google rating of a current 4.6. Also, the fact that the mens restroom door is backwards made me giggle- No one said- “fix it” .
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Nadia P. 5 years ago on Google • 68 reviews
    I’ve only been here once and it’s already my favorite restaurant. It’s perfect for date nights or for groups of friends or for everything. I was here with a group of friends and they brought us this really nice ginger drink that was on the house and later in the night they also got us champagne that was also on the house. Hands down the BEST restaurant ever. And the servers are really polite and just genuinely nice. Oh, there’s a DJ at 10 pm. So this place is literally everything. The food is fricken phenomenal.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Tatiana R. 9 months ago on Google • 212 reviews
    The place used to be the neighborhood cocktail bar when they first opened but the quality of the drinks and food both seems to have gone downhill. With the amount of competition bars face these days I hope they’ll be able to stay in business.

  • 2/5 Nurlan V. 5 months ago on Google • 165 reviews
    BABA, the cocktail bar nestled in [location], offers an experience that left me with mixed impressions. Positioned as a three-star establishment, BABA boasts a unique ambiance and a cocktail menu that reflects a certain level of sophistication. However, there were aspects of my visit that diminished the overall appeal of this establishment, notably in terms of cleanliness. Let's begin with the positive aspects. BABA's ambiance is undoubtedly a standout feature. The decor exudes a trendy and modern vibe, creating an inviting space for patrons to unwind and savor their drinks. The dim lighting and carefully curated aesthetic contribute to the bar's allure, providing a suitable setting for a night out with friends or a more intimate rendezvous. Moving on to the cocktail menu, BABA presents a diverse array of concoctions that showcase creativity and innovation. The mixologists behind the bar seem adept at crafting unique and flavorful beverages, offering a selection that caters to various palates. Whether you're a fan of classic cocktails or adventurous enough to try something new, BABA's menu has something to pique your interest. However, the luster of these positives is dulled by the cleanliness concerns that I observed during my visit. While the ambiance may suggest a level of upscale elegance, the actual cleanliness of the establishment did not align with this expectation. Tables appeared to have remnants of previous patrons' visits, and the overall tidiness of the space left much to be desired. Cleanliness is paramount in any dining or drinking establishment, and it's an area where BABA fell short during my experience. In conclusion, BABA is a cocktail bar that teeters between the allure of its ambiance and the letdown of its cleanliness standards. The cocktail menu and ambiance contribute positively to the overall experience, but the lapses in cleanliness detract from what could be a stellar destination. A concerted effort to elevate the cleanliness standards would undoubtedly enhance BABA's reputation and make it a more appealing choice for patrons seeking a refined and enjoyable cocktail experience.

  • 4/5 InFaith G. 5 years ago on Google • 129 reviews
    The drinks are made to perfection and are to die for! We were there on a Friday night and the ambience and crowd is awesome! The re was a DJ playing very good music, the service is great and all of them know their stuff. There was 3 of us and we had cocktails (my limit is always 3) and appetizers (chicken skewers, beef tartar, salmon tartar, risotto... ) they all come in small plates to share and tastes so good! Our bill was over $300 but we enjoyed everything and will definitely be going back!

  • 5/5 Megan 4 years ago on Google • 60 reviews
    Tried this spot out after a recommendation from a friend. Super cute atmosphere, great cocktails, and delicious food. Will definitely be back for brunch!

  • 5/5 Angela S. 5 years ago on Google • 17 reviews
    BABA was such a great place to have brunch. Love the decoration of the place and how the table were set up, not like a regular restaurant. The food was great, very tasty, and the drinks were on point 25cent drinks! The music was awesome and the DJ was great at taking requests and playing all types of genres, he didn't shy away from any which is great. The place can be a little difficult to find if you are looking for it from your car, and it is located in a basement I will be returning. I highly recommend this place. I had such a great time!

  • 2/5 A T. 1 year ago on Google • 5 reviews
    was there last night. the place was beautiful. service was good. however, drink were terrible. vesper martini was watered-down. it was probably shaken. the rest were imbalance; either too sour or too much fruit juice (probably the reason why they can set the prices that way). it looks like they want this place to have speakeasy's feel. they should to hire better bartender. i didn't have food, but i believe it probably good since it is ambar's sister. i want to like this place, but the drinks were just too bad.

  • 1/5 Corey 11 months ago on Google • 4 reviews
    I really wanted this place to be good as it is in my neighborhood but it turned out to just be downhill from the moment we arrived. Went in the front door and walked downstairs only to be told we had to go back upstairs to the hostess of a different restaurant to be seated which made absolutely no sense. Anyway, we played along only to get a ton of attitude from the hostess and told us our reservation was “annoying”. Finally, get back downstairs 5 minutes later to a lopsided table. We look at the menu…none of the drinks advertised online are on their menu which is the whole reason we went there. We don’t actually get a server until 30 minutes after the start of our reservation when we were just about to walk out. Finally order despite our better judgement which was telling us to leave, confirmed that nothing online is on their menu but so desperately wanted at least one redeeming quality to come from this establishment so we order a round of drinks which arrived two seconds after we ordered them and they tasted like they were out of a can. So glad we waited for that 👎🏻. Best part was how quickly we were able to be rung up for our bill. And we left for another bar nearby. So clearly neither Ambar or Baba are someplace worth going if you want anything of quality. If you want to go to an Applebees and can’t find one then this place might be for you. Honestly, that’s a dig at Applebees and they don’t deserve that shade, I would’ve rather eaten there. What happened to good service??? Or at least mediocre!!


Call +1 703-312-7978 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Payments
    • ✓️ Debit cards
    • ✓️ Credit cards
  • Offerings
    • ✓️ Beer
    • ✓️ Food
    • ✓️ Wine
    • ✓️ Alcohol
    • ✓️ Spirits
    • ✓️ Cocktails
    • ✓️ Food at bar
    • ✓️ Happy-hour food
    • ✓️ Happy-hour drinks
  • Accessibility
    • ✗ Wheelchair-accessible entrance
  • Service options
    • ✓️ Dine-in
    • ✗ Delivery
    • ✓️ Takeaway

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