The Beer Mapping Project - Recent Location Reviews

The V

Menotomy - score: 81.7 — Wed, 22 May 2013 21:15:23 EDT

Beer Bar
Date and time reviewed: Wed, 22 May 2013 21:15:23 EDT

Overall Score: 81.7
Selection: 3.75 | Service: 4.25 | Atmosphere: 4.25 | Food: 4.5

Reviewer: Menotomy

Next to a hotel in a small restaurant strip at the edge of Ashburn with plenty of parking. There's a bar area to the left of the entrance which has several TVs including a large projector screen. The rest of the restaurant is typical seating with somewhat upscale decor. This place is also associated with Vintage 50 and Vintage 51. Vintage 50 is a brewpub although this restaurant doesn't carry any of their beers. The food here is pretty good, with nice appetizers as well as great main courses. The beer selection is decent, with only beers on tap, no bottles/cans. The list is decent, with some local and some of the easy-to-get beers from around the country. All the beers are good and taken care of as it seems like they are rotated regularly and I have yet to get a stale beer that tastes like it was fed through a bad tap line. For beer this is one of the better places to go in Ashburn.

Link to this Review at beermapping.com

Hard Times Cafe - Woodbridge

Menotomy - score: 60.0 — Wed, 22 May 2013 21:01:44 EDT

Beer Bar
Date and time reviewed: Wed, 22 May 2013 21:01:44 EDT

Overall Score: 60.0
Selection: 3.5 | Service: 3 | Atmosphere: 2.5 | Food: 4.0

Reviewer: Menotomy

This one is unique from the others that it has a very large area for pool, along with a large bar, that's separated from the rest of the restaurant. I assume that's what gives them most of their business because I haven't been here when it's been busy in the dining area. In fact it's usually quite dead, even on a weekend evening. There are TVs throughout in both the pool/bar area and the dining area. The beer selection is okay, with quite a few craft beers on tap but nothing extensive. The chili here is fantastic though.

The service at this particular location has been okay, but not the best out of the other locations. Service seems slow although the place is usually nearly empty.

Plenty of parking as it's in a shopping center. It's located with other restaurants and shops, with an Ikea nearby as well as the Potomac Mills Mall, so some shopping can be done before or after a meal and a beer.

Link to this Review at beermapping.com

Hard Times Cafe - Fairfax

Menotomy - score: 75.0 — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:54:31 EDT

Beer Bar
Date and time reviewed: Wed, 22 May 2013 20:54:31 EDT

Overall Score: 75.0
Selection: 3.75 | Service: 3.75 | Atmosphere: 3.75 | Food: 4.0

Reviewer: Menotomy

Located near the heart of Fairfax. You wouldn't expect to find a restaurant here, but there is one. Parking is available behind the building. There are two levels, one bar level and another level that's more like a restaurant. There is a decent selection available, along with a decent list of chili options. The cornbread is great, and is great at any location. This probably isn't a location you would go for a great experience with beers from around the world, but it does the job if you want a decent meal or to shoot some pool upstairs.

Link to this Review at beermapping.com

Hard Times Cafe - Alexandria

Menotomy - score: 78.3 — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:41:53 EDT

Beer Bar
Date and time reviewed: Wed, 22 May 2013 20:41:53 EDT

Overall Score: 78.3
Selection: 3.25 | Service: 4 | Atmosphere: 4.5 | Food: 4.0

Reviewer: Menotomy

This is probably a better place to go if you want Chili than if you want a beer. They have a modest beer list with some craft selections, including a Hard Times beer brewed for them. The restaurant is pretty narrow with a bar almost the length of the place with booths lining the rest of the restaurant. The location of the place isn't bad, as it's within walking distance of the river. King street is somewhat of a shopping district along with some restaurants, so you can plan to do other things along with your visit. So far the place has been busy and the service has been good.

Link to this Review at beermapping.com

Pizzeria Paradiso - Old Town

Menotomy - score: 91.7 — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:33:10 EDT

Beer Bar
Date and time reviewed: Wed, 22 May 2013 20:33:10 EDT

Overall Score: 91.7
Selection: 4.75 | Service: 4.5 | Atmosphere: 4.5 | Food: 4.75

Reviewer: Menotomy

This is the third installment of the Pizzeria Paradiso chain (first being in Georgetown, also known a Birreria Paradiso, and the other location being in DuPont Circle). The first one out of DC, located in Old Town along King Street which is one of the main streets for shops and restaurants. It's not located too far from the Potomac River. There's a large L-shaped bar with maybe about 20 stools. Tables are located elsewhere. Like the other locations, there are taps featuring beers from around the world, as well as fridges full of the same. A cask selection is available. The pizza here is great, with the same menu as the other locations. Outside of the pizza there are a handful of other Italian dishes.

Parking is limited to metered parking along the street. It's not a bad walk from the King St station on the Metro.

Link to this Review at beermapping.com

Granville Moore's

Menotomy - score: 86.7 — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:16:48 EDT

Beer Bar
Date and time reviewed: Wed, 22 May 2013 20:16:48 EDT

Overall Score: 86.7
Selection: 4.75 | Service: 4 | Atmosphere: 4.25 | Food: N/A

Reviewer: Menotomy

This is a beer bar along H street in DC, part of the "up and coming" area, although this place may pre-date that movement. There are two levels to this place. The upper level feels more like an attic with a bar in it. It's narrow, only about 10 seats, but there is a chalkboard that lists a decent number of beers above some tables. I'm not sure if the same selection is available upstairs and downstairs. I only caught a glimpse of the lower level but it seemed like it had some more space, but also more crowded on the weekend night. I never had any food so I can't comment.

Link to this Review at beermapping.com

barleymash

Menotomy - score: 80.0 — Wed, 22 May 2013 19:42:18 EDT

Beer Bar
Date and time reviewed: Wed, 22 May 2013 19:42:18 EDT

Overall Score: 80.0
Selection: 4 | Service: 4 | Atmosphere: 4 | Food: N/A

Reviewer: Menotomy

Somewhat calm in the afternoon, but get ready to shout in the evening. The place has a decent selection of beer on tap but the place turns into a night club after dark. Not necessarily a bad thing unless you value your hearing. There is an oval bar in the middle plus a bar in the back, both serving beer. TVs are all over playing sports in the afternoon and evening and videos that accompany the music at night. Didn't try much of the food but they advertise themselves as a place to get an above average meal. The service was okay, but it depends on the time of day. Once it turns into a night club, expect that type of service.

Link to this Review at beermapping.com

Tilted Kilt - San Diego

Menotomy - score: 76.7 — Wed, 22 May 2013 19:28:12 EDT

Beer Bar
Date and time reviewed: Wed, 22 May 2013 19:28:12 EDT

Overall Score: 76.7
Selection: 4.25 | Service: 3.5 | Atmosphere: 3.75 | Food: 3.5

Reviewer: Menotomy

Pretty much a Hooters but with Kilts. I will say the beer selection is much larger though, but it's hard to say how much turnover the location has so you may get a stale pour. The food is decent, pretty much bar food, but not the worst. there is at least a wide variety of food. There are other places to get beer if that's what you're looking for, you're coming here for the plethora of TVs and/or the "view."

Link to this Review at beermapping.com

Meridian Pint

Menotomy - score: 86.7 — Wed, 22 May 2013 19:14:38 EDT

Beer Bar
Date and time reviewed: Wed, 22 May 2013 19:14:38 EDT

Overall Score: 86.7
Selection: 4.75 | Service: 4 | Atmosphere: 4.25 | Food: 4.25

Reviewer: Menotomy

Can't add much more than what others have posted. I enjoyed my time and I hope to make it back. Not exactly metro accessible as there is a decent walk, but that's probably the preferred path as the street parking is spotty since it's just metered parking along the streets or trying your luck in a residential area.

Lots of local taps available which I always enjoy. I hate going to a bar and finding nothing but choices from everywhere but here, especially when there is a great selection of local breweries in DC now.

Link to this Review at beermapping.com

Franklin's Restaurant, Brewery

Menotomy - score: 81.7 — Wed, 22 May 2013 19:08:52 EDT

Brewpub
Date and time reviewed: Wed, 22 May 2013 19:08:52 EDT

Overall Score: 81.7
Selection: 4.5 | Service: 3.75 | Atmosphere: 4 | Food: 4.5

Reviewer: Menotomy

I love coming to this place. The food is decent and the beer is good. Service is iffy, but I'll put up with that to get a decent fresh beer in my hand. By iffy I mean that it depends on who you get for how quick and attentive they are.

There are usually a good amount of beers on tap for a brewpub, 8-10 depending on the night, with a selection ranging from light to dark, malty to hoppy. They usually have a unique beer on tap that's not just the standard porter, for example.

The food also has a good variety as well. You're covered if you want a salad or burger, or even something else.

The nice thing about this place is it's also attached to a general store which has a good variety of beer as well from all over, not just what the brewery makes.

Link to this Review at beermapping.com