Vibe 👍 Food 👎 However, the atmosphere outpaced the food and service. 😔 We were really looking forward to dinner here while venturing through one of our favorite cities. It came recommended by fellow foodies, but our experiences didn't compare. We may have just hit it on a bad night... But our experience left us wanting more. Baked oysters app tasted like a baked potato 🥔 Lobster risotto was pretty challenging to get through 😅 The roasted cod dish was definitely the shining light of the evening. Giving it 4 stars for potential

What's good? The brunch ... The chicken & waffle was excellent! Not too sweet. The devil eggs were tasty. The drinks were good. I think the brunch was moderately expensive for the portions. $15 for two alcoholic drinks when ordering an entree is not an amazing deal but not bad. I wish the devil eggs appetizer came with more than 2.

My husband and his friend visit Churchkey often for beers but we all decided to try out dinner at Birch & Barley since they just recently reopened since covid. I absolutely loved the ambiance and aesthetics in here! The atmosphere feels like a perfect date spot. Food was also great. We got the bone marrow, lamb carpaccio, Brussels sprouts, steak frites, and pork chop. Everything was very tasty. Also amazing service!

Good beer, and a great variety. The place has a nice feel to it, and was comfortable for a drink at the bar. The lady who served us had a good knowledge of the beer on offer. The only issue for me was that it was quite dark and I struggled to read some of the menu.

I loved this place when I came here with my sister and friend. We had so much fun trying a ton of different beers and ate amazing food. The pictures are pretty outdated, but I will definitely be returning soon!

We have been to Churchkey multiple times and love it, and we were so excited to finally eat at Birch & Barley. It's great to have the same beer and drink menu as Churchkey while having a quieter more intimate space to enjoy date night. The servers and bartenders were absolutely fantastic! We had the lamb ragu and the venison and both were awesome, highly recommend!

I had high hopes that fell very short. The lobster risotto was so bland I had to ask for salt, which only somewhat made it better-also leaving part of the lobster in shell made for a messy experience. I was with a group of six and everyone felt their food was badly seasoned and just okay. I would not go back.

Had a really wonderful NYE dinner here! The tasting menu was incredible. All of the dishes were outstanding and the portions were sizable. We started with a cocktail and then picked out a bottle of wine to share with our food. Salt roasted oysters were delicious. The grapefruit butter added some tasty tartness to the panko and pecorino. Shaved Brussels sprouts salad was fresh and crisp, and perfectly dressed. Cacio e pepe was great - not too heavy or overly salty. New York strip was cooked to a perfect medium rare, as ordered. And the pan sauce was delicious. Finished with the chocolate lava cake, which was tricky because I was very full by that point. But it was great. Not overly sweet and balanced with berries and espresso cream. The staff were all lovely and fun, especially Paul who brought over some tequila shots from the bar. My only suggestion would be to maybe leave water at the table. We found ourselves asking for refills quite a few times. It was very easy to get someone’s attention, though. Overall, a really great experience. Loved the atmosphere, too. Elevated but comfortable. We also appreciated the space - we were glad to find a place to celebrate the night that wasn’t super crowded.

This place was absolutely perfect! Came here for my SO birthday and everything was fantastic. The prefix menu was exactly what I was looking for. Each dish was delicious and well thought out with the beer pairing menu. There were some dishes that tempted me to visit from NY more often. Romantic atmosphere and very attentive service. Would absolutely visit again if in DC.

We went for the restaurant week menu. Overall decent but the saltiness of food is very inconsistent. The lobster bisque and the Caesar salad my friend got were waaaaay too over salted, but some other entrees were under salted and lacked flavor. Service was great and the vibe was nice.

My new favorite place for brunch!! A solid array of choices, and all the ones we've tried have been outstanding. But my fav is still Eggs Benedict. Sublte improvements in the ham and bread retain the classic elements but improve the overall effect and raise it to perfect. Perfectly cooked eggs and prompt service, too. Congenial chef Nathan constantly refreshes the menu with creative and seasonal changes. A winner!

The service and taste of the food were good, but the portions and menu size missed the mark a bit for me. The echo that others described in their reviews is accurate. It could be difficult to hear the guests at your table.

Our favorite restaurant in Washington DC. My wife has severe food allergies and the chef always is accommodating. Thank you for making good memories for us.

randomly walked in here on a quiet evening… what a find! I forgot this place was here. First, decor and lighting is implacable. While warm “mood” lights create a cozy feel, track and recessed lights highlight the table (and all the amazing food) perfectly. Food is IMPECCABLE! Delicious, beautifully presented and just … makes you wanna order a second potion of each dish. Tomatoes “tartare” dish was refreshing, yet very reminiscent of steak tartare. Duck was juicy, perfectly cooked and accompanied but some delicious greens and carbs. Would highly recommend. Service was very attentive and “just in time” without being overly intrusive.

We went for restaurant week! We tried to enjoy it but ultimately poor service really ruined the night. It was a three-course prefix, and they brought out my app without bringing my husbands. Then they brought out my entree—my husband still had not even gotten his first course. He had ordered a beer pairing, and not a single beer got paired correctly. His first beer arrived with his entree and his final one was brought after we pointed out on the check that he paid for a pairing he didn’t get. Timing was off throughout, my entree came out before I’d gotten a few bites into my app and the dessert came a solid 30 min wait later. Each individual issue was small and we usually wouldn’t mind it but it all compounded to be too much, especially for an expensive night out! The vibes here are excellent and it had so much potential. Honestly, the food was good too. My favorite was the salmon pastrami appetizer—delicious! But maybe avoid for a date night! It was really awkward!

Where to begin? From the moment you walk through the door, you are greeted with smiles from the hostess and servers. Once seated, our server, Mallory, came over to us with a trainee she was working with. She went over the menu, and then took our drink order. She was back so soon, we still needed a minute to pick an appetizer. We decided on the crab cake app, and then the Foie Gras. My wife is not one to try things, especially ones that are more exotic to her, but she had some of the Foie Gras and really liked it- I loved it! And the crab cake was all meat, no filler, good size for sharing- delicious! Next, for dinner, I ordered the duck and my wife ordered the Sea Scallops- to say that both of us were blown away is an understatement. The scallops were cooked to perfection, as was the duck, duck being something that can go wrong very easily. About half way through our dinner, Chef Nate Gawron came out to talk to tables. He stopped by our table to see how we liked the food, and after telling just how much we were enjoying our food, he talked to us about some possible ideas for new dishes he had, all of which sounded amazing. Dessert on a full stomach? You bet!!! Not a big bread pudding fan, that being said, theirs is pretty awesome, and so is their strawberry shortcake (enough for 2 to 3 people easily), the blueberry crumble is one to write home about. Match that with great beers, the selection will impress true beer lovers. From beginning to end, Birch & Barley definitely impresses. Looking for something a little less quiet, more of a bar feel with great food? Try upstairs at ChurchKey, worth the stop-by!

Had a really wonderful dinner here! The tasting menu was incredible. All of the dishes were outstanding and the portions were sizable

great beer selection, and the staff was nice. the restaurant was a little loud/echoey, even at less than 50% capacity. unfortunately there weren't any vegan options.

Complete waste of time and money. The drinks were not carbonated, the food was incredibly sub-par considering the price. No management and next to no service. The steak was underwhelming, the crab was way overcooked. A shame considering the cool interior, but the restroom area was extremely dark which was not great. My worst dining experience in DC that I’ve ever had, and I have visited nearly yearly for the last decade. Avoid!

I went a few times, to Birch & Barley for dinner; and it was a great experience. Birch & Barley offers good choices of beer as well as a variety of American fare for appetizers and entrées. The restaurant offers a nice cozy, tavern- like atmosphere and is full of never-ending ambience. One can feel the other dinets enjoying themselves as well. And the Staff delivers attentive service. I continue to recommend Friends to go to Birch & Barley when in town (DC). [Birch & Barley reached out to acknowledge my review...very cool].

This is the first restaurant that I’ve reviewed where giving five stars was not enough. Not only did we have amazing food, not only was the atmosphere cool and comfortable, not only did the bartender nail my Old Fashioned making it one of the best ever but the staff treated us better than any other restaurant we’ve ever been to. Our wait-person was Nija and she was wonderful. Friendly, outgoing, funny and efficient. Such good service that made us feel so welcome that I felt like we were coming there for years. Nate was the Sous Chef who visited us several times to make sure everything was done right and to our satisfaction. Well, needless to say, it was. The food: Let’s start with my breakfast sandwich which was bacon, scrambled eggs, arugula and cheddar on an everything croissant. I inhaled it. Fantastic. We had homemade tater tots which now has spoiled me so I don’t know if I can go back to the usual ones you get. Fresh and crispy on the outside and nice and mushy on the inside. My daughter had the fish and chips which were top notch. My wife went for the grilled cheese made with apple butter. The slight sweetness that the apple butter added put it over the top and made it much better than your ordinary grilled cheese. For desert we had the deep fried Oreos which were amazing. The experience was one of the best we’ve ever had, maybe the best. Get your butt over to this restaurant as soon as you can.

I had dinner here with a friend of mine. From the selections from wines to small plates to mains- Absolutely artistic!! Perfection. Delicious. Mushroom Tart is a must try!! Greg - OP Director - Gem of a guy. I will be back for more!!!

This cozy restaurant has left the best impression! Hospitable hosts and staff, delicious dishes (the salmon, cod and short ribs are to die for! and definitely get the Brussel sprouts and beet salad as a starter and order all the desserts and share with friends because they’re all so good you’re going to want to try them all- the crème brûlée is so so so good!), the beer list is extensive and alway changing. I’ll definitely be back again and again because there seems to always be something new to try. I am so happy it’s reopened. Definitely go upstairs to Churchkey for after dinner drinks. It won’t disappoint.

Top notch! Food was excellent and the beer menu was extensive. I am a big beer nut and they had beers I never heard of. We were recommended to this place and it was our first stop after checking into our hotel. Our waitress Emma was not only delightful but helpful in picking out beers to go with our food. This will be a must anytime we come back.

They have a great beer selection, a decent cocktail menu, and some pretty cool decor. There is plenty to share and enjoy. The menu isn't very large but everything we had was delicious. It's a well known establishment that has earned it's place as DC mainstay.

The food is cool. Chicken and waffle sandwich is good, but steak and tot hash is just OK, a Sunday healthy option. The brunch donuts are a little dry for my taste, not very moist. Bloody Marys are cool, but I've had better, but that sweater weather was delicious. Service child have been better. We asked for syrup, coffee, and to cook the eggs harder, and the waitress asked that we"remind" her of our request. Pretty much we should do her job for her.

Great food and staff. Adorable assistant waitstaff brought out unexpected appetizers with bright fresh flavors. Nicely adorned petite filet and fantastically dressed mushroom sauté. Nice Gluten free menu selections, bread substitutions, and accompanying beer options!

Great restaurant! The oysters are AMAZING - definitely worth the money to get for a starter. The birch burger was delicious and came with small crispy fries. The “Crispy Hen of the Woods” was an interesting appetizer but not anything special. It’s basically just a very thinly sliced piece of chicken battered and fried. The garlic butter that comes WITH the crispy chicken is great with the bread though! Service was friendly and fast.