Thirsty Bernie Sports Bar & Grille
2163 N Glebe Rd, Arlington, VA, 22207
Thirsty Bernie Sports Bar & Grille Menu
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Address :
2163 N Glebe Rd
Arlington, VA, 22207 - Phone (571) 982-6227
- Website https://www.thirstybernie.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :4:00 pm - 1:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Very Loud
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Best Nights : Mon, Fri, Sat
Coat Check : No
Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
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Biba B.
The collective 3 Star this place is receiving is fair. Nothing special about the place. Went there on a Friday after work. The food is OK, a little noisy, child friendly and overpriced for what you're getting. If you're looking to be impressed in any way, then this is not the place!
(3)Kanye M.
Just had an amazing burger for half off (mon/tues). The "Arlington Burger" hit the spot something fierce!
(5)Reid T.
This is my go-to neighborhood spot. Are there better places in Northern Virginia? Sure. But for a neighborhood joint in a strip mall this place is fantastic. They do a lot more than they have to, like carry an extensive beer selection, German food (not just standard pub fare), and a separate bar and dining area. Service can lag when they're busy, but if you're looking for a chill evening close to home or you find yourself in the neighborhood stop by.
(4)Todd G.
Good service and food. Local neighborhood sports pub where the staff remembers your name. Good specials and happy hour. Specials menu changes from time to time but I have never had something that I didn't like. Great for anyone ... Families, young professionals, couples. Moving soon but I will definitely come back whenever possible.
(5)Jesse W.
Place is good. I was in the are on business for a couple months and this turned into my local watering hole. Food is typical, if you want something with a little extra flavor go for the tacos (steak if they have them on the specials menu). It is a little pricey for what you're getting, but hey, it is Arlington so everything is a little pricey for what you're getting. Staff was always friendly and did a great job.
(3)Francis W.
Ever sit down at an eatery and know in the first two minutes you've made a mistake? But then you spend the next five minutes debating with yourself and your party whether to leave? And then hunger or laziness or not wanting to perform the awkward slink-away keeps you in your seat? Welcome to Thirsty Bernie. Now go somewhere else. Quickly. You won't miss much and you can have a better experience for less money at plenty of places within two miles. Yes, the old style Eurocentric menu is intriguing. But keep in mind that the original chef praised in the initial reviews has since left. The prices are high for a neighborhood casual restaurant and a recession, although to be fair, the pastrami is good. Not great. Good. Decide for yourself if a burger should be $12. If you've been to Ray's Hellburger in Arlington, the answer is a quick no. The wings, 12 for $10, were strictly average. Still, for something calling itself a sports bar and located in a strip mall, the beer is overpriced and cheaper entrees are few. Service, as noted in previous reviews, is a big negative. Our waitress just didn't seem like a professional one. Perhaps the owner's wife? She got several things mixed up but didn't seem concerned. And if you're told that the young man at the table is celebrating his 11th birthday, you might want to throw in a special something--a piece of cake if you're generous like the diner across the street, a balloon or high-five if you're not. Anything. Just don't ignore the fact that a family chose your place for a celebration. (OK, there was some fun interaction. The waitress had the time to discuss with the neighboring table her hair cut earlier in the day. And it was a nice doo.) When the waitress disappeared a few times, we did have a bus person stop by with some of our order. Unfortunately we had a few questions and English was not her strength. That's nothing against the employee but in that situation it says something about the employer. Adding to the vibe of the evening was an older gentleman tripping over Bernie's advertising sign for March Madness just outside the door. Thankfully a doctor was around and the man left after several long minutes on the sidewalk without needing an ambulance. And he was comped a bag of ice. Thirsty Bernie seems to have found its niche, thriving on the North Arlington crowd that accepts a $12 burger and almost-clueless service so long as there's good parking for the Tahoe. And the parking IS good. So when you start second-guessing your decision two minutes after sitting down at Thirsty Bernie, your Honda will be only a few feet away. Make a run for it. One and a-half stars if that were possible.
(2)Miriam M.
Hands down my absolute favorite neighborhood restaurant! Relaxed atmosphere, incredible service, and delicious menu (with daily specials!). I have been coming here once a week for the past couple of years because it's that good. The pastrami sandwich, the steak salad, the burgers, wings, the fried Oreos! It's all incredible. The food is fresh, and truly beyond what you might expect from a sports bar. Stop reading this review and go now!!! Don't forget to try their half-price burger night (Monday and Tuesday) and half-price wings on Wednesday. Phenomenal service, fabulous food, need I say more? Hmm...I'm getting hungry! See you there!!!
(5)Alan S.
I always like coming here. Good food. Good beer. Plenty of TVs. The staff are always friendly and attentive. My only complaint is it's à little on the pricey side for drinks.
(4)Simeon T.
Hey Bernie, Sorry about missing all of your calls last week, I kept meaning to return one, but you know how life is. I'm sure you're calling to try and meet up again for drinks with you being so thirsty and all. Unfortunately though I don't know if I have any time in the near future. I mean last week was nice and all, you had a lot to offer like all those TVs, but I'd be wary of the company you allow to watch your fine LCD luminated walls, like those obnoxious Giant and Patriot fans. But really Bernie, it just won't work. Yeah you are just down the street from my house but really the negatives outweigh the positives. You were over priced for what you offered, for the prices I paid I was expecting first rate food and you just couldn't deliver. Also you were a little too small for my liking, and frankly size does matter. You have some good things going for you, like your beer selection. That was nice. But it just can't compensate for all that you lack. Don't worry about it though, you seem popular, there are plenty of other happy drunks that will make you a happy bar one of these days. Keep your chin up kid, Simeon
(2)Lilly Y.
Pleasantly surprised by this find. Ended up going here with friends when we found a couple of the restaurants we wanted to go to in the area were not open at 3pm on sundays (geeze what gives). The place is a sports bar so honestly, I didn't expect much but wowo pastrami sandwich - outstanding.. that horseradish mustard sauce was killer onion rings - meh over-battered .. just avoid it bratwurst - omg cheesenrice ... soo good. Heavy but heavenly pickles - really fresh and crisp mussels with fries (moules frites) - who knew sports bars could do seafood so well? I really wanted to turn myself into a loaf of bread just so i could swim in the pot with the yummy juices.. (i know i'm weird) Tons of garlic in that great sauce.. not overwhelmingly garlicky just right. Fries.. nothing special.. just fries.. kinda got soggy at the bottom. Aventinus - a wheat doublebock beer on tap that is my new favorite beer at this moment. It's this deep ruddy brown color with a stunning aroma, great mouthfeel, with complex almost spicy flavors. For you beer lovers out there.. definitely try it.
(4)Ryan W.
With a name like Thirsty Bernie, you sort of know what to expect going in to the place. The question is: will be be a good bar & grille or a bad one? Turns out, Thirsty Bernie was pretty good. Lots of TVs, so it looks like a good place to go watch a game. Food was decent - my burger was actually quite good and the waitress insisted that practically everything on the menu was house-made. My wife had pirogies and there were good too. It's friendly enough to take kids too, and there are plenty of menu choices for them too. A decent beer selection rounded out our overall good experience there.
(4)Krissy R.
I really like this place! There is always something weird going on with the fountain drinks when I go here (a weird taste that makes me want to get something more flavorful than iced tea to mask the odd flavor of the water), but the food is really great and there are a ton of unique options on the menu. The servers are very attentive and the prices are reasonable. There is also a private parking lot right in front of the restaurant, which is a welcomed break from meter parking and walking in Arlington. I love going here for football games because it doesn't tend to get as loud as a lot of popular places in Clarendon or Rosslyn.
(4)Clara L.
I recently went here for dinner with a few friends on a random saturday night. We were initially meeting up in ballston for dinner, but most places were packed, so we hopped into the car and drove up glebe rd to try out Thirsty Bernie. I had been wanting to try it out for awhile and now had a good reason to. We got there and it was reasonably packed. Actually we got one of the last tables at the time and seated ourselves. The ambiance of the place was kinda nice... a sports bar, but not nitty gritty where the tables are sticky. They were showing a lot of soccer games, which I liked, as well as some college basketball and whatever hockey game was going on that night. It seemed more like a family/kid-friendly sports bar. Our waiter welcomed us and gave us our menus. He was pretty quick about getting our drink orders in. The beer selection was pretty nice here-- the tap selection included some belgium brews that I'm not too familiar with, as well as some more common ones (stella, sierra, chimay, bud light). However it was a nite that I was not imbibing, so I did not try anything new. Drafts were $6 (a little pricey). There was also a decent list of bottles available. The wine list looked long too, but I don't really know my wines to appreciate that. As for food, I ordered the Beef on Weck, which was basically a french dip type sandwich. It was HUGE! And quite good, though i couldn't finish it all. The bread could had been softer, but still not too bad. The fries were good and I liked the horseradish that came with my sandwich. My friend ordered the chicken sandwich and she said it was pretty good as well. The guys both ordered cheeseburgers and were both saying it was a "really really damn good burger" amongst other compliments. These guys aren't really the hardest to please in terms of food, but for both of them to rave about the burger throughout the entire meal, really makes me want to give the burger a try next time I come here! The downfall of the evening was the lack of service. The waiter as previously mentioned, was pretty good about getting our initial drink orders in... but he took forever about water refills, food orders, drink orders, bringing the food out, clearing the plates, bringing the check, bringing the receipt... you know... the rest of the dining experience aside from the initial drink order. Oh well... I still want to come back and try out this "amazing" burger and have a beer sometime.
(3)Becky C.
Egh is pretty much all I can say. I have been going to Thirsty Bernie since it opened, but each time I go I dislike the place more and more. My first visit, we were given pretzel bites with their homemade mustard to start off the meal. Our waitress was extremely attentive and helped us with the menu. We each ordered different things at our table becuase we were so intrigued by it all (mussles, perogies, pastrami sandwich, kielbasa, fried chicken sandwich) and loved them all. particularly the sandwiches, which were huge! now, the wait staff is less attentive and inconsistent. the restaurant itself is freezing (which, by the way, made my already soggy french fries cold). we asked the waitress if they had the old chicken sandwich on the menu, and she said they did not. not true, as we went about 2 weeks ago and special ordered it, and that waitress was able to do it. my usual order, the pastrami, was literally half the size that it used to be, and the pastrami was very dry. the fries that were usually hot and crispy looked like they had been sitting out for a while. bring the old thirsty bernie back, and then maybe i'll consider going again.
(2)Sal M.
I went to Thirsty Bernie during a Saturday evening of college football, and these are my thoughts: The layout of the place is unusual for a sports bar, but that probably made me like it. I like different. It was very open and had a "kitchen island" type of seating area in the center which I thought was cool when I first walked it. There are a lot of large hdtv's all around the place. I would describe the menu as a mixture of traditional sports bar American and German. I did not get an Irish vibe at all, like an another reviewer mentions. In fact, my friend brought me here specifically for the German food they serve. I ordered the Wiener Schnitzel. I have only heard of such a dish on tv, never seen it on a menu! So, of course, I had to order myself one. It was very good - $19 - but very good. I can't say it was a great price, but I did not feel ripped off. My friend ordered the Pastrami sandwich, which I tried - it was delicious and reasonably priced (I think around $9-$10). They have a pretty good beer selection - meaning they have a variety of non-standard beers, which my friends enjoyed (I didn't drink any). Our waitress was friendly and good. Overall, Thirsty Bernies left the three of us happy with our meals. The food is definitely tasty. I see no reason not too go back, in fact I look forward to trying a couple things from their bar appetizer menu, such as $2 pulled beef and coleslaw sandwiches and a $5 plate of lamb hot dogs with fries. Lamb hot dogs!!!! Who does that?!?! I gotta try that next time! (These were specials, so they may not always be available).
(3)Joe L.
Went again...and I just can't say enough about the food here. I had an incredible pastrami sandwich, my wife had a magnificent tuna salad. Both were fresh, and way above the norm for such things. I also had a superb Spaten Oktoberfest beer. We sat outside, which is basically parking-lot dining, but there are flowers, so it's better than no outside at all. I see a bunch of lousy reviews that seem to be more sports-bar oriented, and maybe they are valid (those folks should go to the 3rd floor of the Crystal City Sports Pub). But Bernie has some of the best food in Arlington.
(4)Lily Z.
I tried this place on two separate occasions. The food definitely warrants going back, however, there were also some kinks that need to be ironed out. We ordered the meatball sliders, grilled wings, and the Kielbasa sandwich. The meatball sliders were excellent. Good seasoning and good texture, not too firm, not too mushy. The grilled wings were mediocre. The sauce was flavorful, but the wings themselves were dry and bland. The Kielbasa sandwich was the star, nicely seasoned and bursting with juice, however the onion rings that came with it were not edible because it was cold. For some reason, there was a 40 min gap between the time our appetizers arrived and the time when the sandwich arrived. I had to feed my son, so it wasn't that big of a problem for me. We were also not thrilled at the price of the beer. Ten dollars per mug, it was a big mug, but I doubt it contained 2 pints. Lastly, the hostess was inexperienced and didn't do a good job of seating people efficiently. We arrived around 7:30 PM, and there was already a wait. We put our name down on the wait list anyways, but the way the hostess worded the wait, it really discouraged people from wanting to wait. I saw several potential customers left, but by the time we had our appetizer, only an hour later, there were already empty tables in the restaurant, and this was before 9:00 PM on a Friday night. The week after, I went there again for the happy hour and half price burger. The onion rings and fries were still underwhelming, and the burger although good came out medium well when we ordered it medium. However, the mussels were incredible in flavor and value. A Staub cast iron pot was filled to the brim with tender and garlicy mussels and a few slices of linguisa. I used the shell to scoop up the savory cream laced broth. Sadly, Jamie Stachowski's contract was not renewed and the restaurant is taking on a new direction. I don't think I will go there again. washingtonian.com/blogar…
(3)Dan S.
*this review is written from a non restaurant pov, btw i hear the food is pretty good if not over priced Yes a sports bar is supposed to have lots of tvs and yes, and sports bar should have lots of parking, but this place is really low on flavor. I mean, i guess it's alright, and i honestly can't even tell why everytime i go here I feel incredibly awkward, but i do. The bar is over-priced, but does have a very good bud light bottle special, so if a friend of yours makes your go, as mine sometimes does, make sure to ask for that. Otherwise i would just stay away, plus i hate the name. I really want to give it one star, but i don't have a black heart. Oh and it is no smoking so there the reason for the 2 stars. ALSO, i don't mean to sound too accusatory but I can't believe that the first review from Johnny H is a patron. With statements such as "I was looking at their Lance Armstrong Tour De France yellow jersey on the wall and all their other autographed stuff and found out it is all authentic." and "A chef driven elagant bavarian like sports tavern with the best brats east of Munich." It's pretty obvious that that was written by a non-objective patron. shame!
(2)Bro H.
Great homemade sausage, good pastrami, weird atmosphere. The pastrami sandwich I got was totally worth the 10 bucks or whatever it cost, and the kielbasa appetizer was delicious, but I've gotta say I probably won't be back due to the creepy atmosphere of the place. Our waitress had clearly blown an entire 8-ball of coke and insisted on having several long conversations with me while I was clearly on a date - hey, at least she was friendly and attentive, but it was pretty odd. The people at the bar sat there in almost total silence, and there was a weird altercation between the bartender and some guy that was trying to use the bathroom. If it weren't for the soulless, way-too-slick stainless steel look of the place, those things might have made me feel that I was right at home at some shitty dive, but the combination of Reston-esque decor and sketchy waitstaff and clientele just made me feel uncomfortable. I can't really explain it, but I would never consider having a beer here. I might be back for takeout if I really really want pastrami.
(3)Joey K.
Thirsty Bernie is a new addition to the Lee/Glebe area. It tries, I suppose, to be an upscale Irish pub and a sports bar at the same time, but it succeeds, at best, only at one of those. Inside, it's TV-overload, even for a sports bar. The space has been configured as one large room, so, instead of being a somewhat intimate bar, it's uncomfortably over-lit and open (and with few decorations to distract from the baren nature of it). Also because of the single open space, no more than one game on TV can have the sound turned on. I was expecting that this bar would try to act more as a neighborhood pub, but the food choices and prices make it an out-of-place Clarendon or Georgetown expatriate. The entrees and appetizers are surprisingly frou-frou and pricey, with very little comfort pub fare available (other than a burger). I think they may be tweaking their pricing structure, as the first two times I went in, I was charged six bucks for a Sam Adams (hardly justified for a "neighborhood" pub), but the last time I was there, that same drink came in at a very affordable $3. One bonus here, though: I'm not sure if it's standard or a special, but the few times I've been there, they've given out free soft pretzels at night.
(2)Elaine F.
Five stars for the beer selection. And for the staff who obviously know their beers (What's the beer version of sommeliers? That's what they were.) Four and a half for the food (CABBAGE! OMG. Yes, I said that about cabbage). Three stars for the service. One for the ambiance (I realize it's a sports bar, but I do not like having my dinner be secondary to massive televisions portraying sports I do not care about). Sometimes they have random hours, because they open around when games start/end. But usually it seems pretty normal.
(4)James O.
The sandwiches are fantastic! Ruben, Cuban, or pastrami, all are great. Beer's are all great! My favorite is Flat Tire. Great place to watch a game with TV's covering all the walls.
(5)Uncle L.
For what looks like a wings-and-sports joint, this place is definitely way above average. I wish all bars were like this. The beer selection is great, with a big German-style mug option. The quality of the food really, really surprised me. Everything I've had there is delicious and some of the best of its kind. The steak in the hangar steak salad rivaled the best steaks I've had in upscale steak joints -- clearly aged, and perfectly seasoned and cooked - and the rest of the salad was fresh and full-flavored. The "butcher's plate" is a generous assortment of old-school charcuterie -- keilbasa, pate, salami, smoked ham, pickles, etc which I later learned is all done either in the restaurant or by the founding chef (who doesn't work in the kitchen any more). These items were fantastic and worth a trip back just by themselves. The service is quick and friendly and they accommodate any request, for example my kids wanted to split the slider appetizer and we wanted one slider with cheese and one without, and they had no problem with this, brought an extra plate (for an app!), etc. I don't necessarily need 14 TV's staring at me when I'm at a bar, but I think this would be a great place to go for sports. But even without a sports event, it's a clean, friendly, place with great beer and food. What else do you want?
(5)Jeff S.
Wow, when we ordered a couple pints of beer I didn't expect the "special" to be $9 a pint!!! We later found out that special meant that the restaurant just started carrying the beer. This bar is in a strip mall in Arlington on Glebe Road...the prices are reminiscent of a hot spot in Paris, Las Vegas, or Miami Beach. The service was good, lots of flat screen t.v.s I would recommend the other neighborhood bars that have a much more reasonable price point.
(1)Matt S.
One star on principle. Last night was Monday Night Football. The place was 80%+ full at 10:05pm, and it was almost half time. Tried to order some wings and the bartender unapologetically said the kitchen closes at 10pm. Really Bernie? Closing the kitchen before half time? Weak weak weak. What gives?
(1)Frank W.
Great place to watch a match and/or to get some bar food. Their burgers and sandwiches are HUGE and tasty! Decent beer and wine selection.
(3)Robert P.
It's a sports bar with lots of TV screens that serves German food in addition to regular fare. Good food, good beer, great service. I meet friends there occasionally for lunch. We usually go earlier so we miss the sports crowd. I could never figure out the allure of watching flat screen TV with the sound turned off. WTF. But that seems to be everywhere and not just here. We visited for lunch. There were families with kids there. That was cool. Not sure you would want to have kids there for happy hour, but for early hours it seems like kids like this place too.
(4)Clint A.
On August 29th, my wife, my brother and I had a late lunch here. Having been here on several previous occasions, I was eager to take my brother, who is from the Midwest. On my families previous visits the food had been very good. This time was an exception. I ordered the bratwurst with kraut. The kraut was inedible. It was mushy and had no flavor. My side was the onion rings. The breading had absolutely no flavor and much too much of the outer rings of the onion had been used resulting in very tough going. My wife ordered the fried seafood appetizer as an entree. The seafood was far from fresh. Particularly the shrimp and oysters. He calamari was tough and nearly inedible. My brother had the pastrami which was good as always. This is very disappointing as we had always found the food to be a cut above the average bar food. There was always attention to detail and things were fresh and well seasoned. I will have to think twice before choosing Thirsty Bernie's as a choice for out of town guests or for my family period.
(2)Monique C.
I am THE BURGER QUEEN, and this is by far the freshest, tastiest burger and bun in the CITY!!! On my way!
(5)Greg S.
Something is wrong here. Lot's of effort, little insight. That is my take on Thirsty Bernie's. To explain: The owners of TB have taken every element that should be in a neighborhood bar / grill and somehow distorted them to the point where it is joyless. Start with the food. It is interesting, not your average bar fare, and it has a definite perspective. (germanic) Which I think could be great in a bar, gives it a unique personality, but when you are done waiting an exasperatingly long time you are liable to get a plate of food which you really don't enjoy. I've been there twice, the first time we waited so long we almost left. But we stuck it out and chalked it up to being a new restaurant. A few months later we decided to try it again, and I think my brother said it best "they don't call it 'Hungry Bernie's' do they ?" Seriously, the food just isn't that good, it's high quality materials... but delivery falls way short. After the waitress recommended the butcher plate (unrecognizable pate like meats) as the best appetizer to share (5 people) - My wife and I made the mistake of listening to her again as she told us 'medium here is really rare, so if you want medium get medium well.' At this point I was ordering the burger as a safety pick hoping that I would get something edible, I was starving having waited so long to get her attention, the burger I got, and my wife's steak should never have been served. Period. It was truly borderline inedible, if that is medium well, i don't know what well would be like? A solid charcoal briquette? Send it back? And risk waiting another 40 minutes to get your food. My favorite moment was when the manager stopped by to ask how everything was... everyone looked at him like, are you serious, and he basically walked away with all of us just sighing... um, that was not a 'good' reaction. Now, the service... was actually better the second time around, except for it was still really bad. Some basics of bar serving should be developed here. They are not: quick, efficient, knowledgeable about their menu / beers, capable of making a quick light comment without making you feel obliged to speak to them... our waitress awkwardly inserted herself into our conversation several times. Forcing us all to pay attention to her... TMI TMI... eesh. Which brings me directly to the last issue, and maybe the key to understanding the whole problem. The space is just uncomfortable. Again, it's like they have everything you would want, it's just not well positioned or proportioned. The bar feels like it is well made, it has nice televisions and the tables / bar look high quality, but you have tables that are really jammed in together, and then jammed near the bar. So you have high bar level stuff next to lower seating which is not very good for spacial comfort. The TV's are very high and you are sitting very close to them, so you generally have to crane your neck to see, even though there are so many. Then the acoustics are harsh and you feel like you can't have your own conversation, because you can't. All of this adds up to most patron's feeling a bit uncomfortable. add that to a waitstaff that isn't nearly as effective as they should be, a menu that doesn't deliver and you have a generally bad experience, not worth repeating. Too bad, because I would love to have a great neighborhood bar with some international flair and some good beers on tap. The good: Good beers on tap. The Bad: everything else. What they should do? Add some better more comfort menu items for patrons who aren't interested in letting the kitchen experiment on them. Fix the menu items they have so they can be prepared better... (burned to a crisp steak is unforgivable.) Fix the acoustics / interior space to be less harsh / less box in a strip mall, more intimate. Train up the waitstaff, and make sure they are focused on their tables. Get more of a teamwork structure here where the host / runners / waiters are all chipping in on tables. and tipping out. This tends to really help restaurants that have a history of 'stranding' tables. They probably would need to close / reopen to get this done. i doubt I will be back to find out. Arlington has a lot else to offer.
(2)Joseph C.
I really want to like this place. The people who work here have alway been very nice, and in this area, that goes a long way. The beer selection is pretty good too, and that is a plus as well. But the food....I can't say many good things. I have eaten here twice and the food has left me underwhelmed. First time I had the sausage and it was not cooked all the way through--not a good way to eat your sausage. The second time I had the burger and it was dry and very burned. My friend I was with had the mussels, and he was not impressed either. So..I don't think I will give them another chance with the food. Finally, I find the price to be really high here, and others have noted the same. With my burger episode, I had 2 beers and the burger and the cost was $29 (w/o the tip). So, I will still go here to drink a beer and watch some sports, but shall pass on the food.
(2)Scott S.
Good meats, quality, you can really tell that from on bite. The burgers are good and the onion rings are very tasty. The beer selection is above average but not as good as its billed. The thing that happened that has kept me from coming more than twice, is how bloody expensive it is. A few beers and burgers, an appetizer and we end up with 80 dollars out the wallet. Too much for what it is. Really a shame too.
(3)David R.
I had high hopes for this place. A Buffalo, NY-themed bar MUST have Labatt's or Molson Canadian, or at least Moosehead and Genessee? No such luck. The layout of the bar is weird, as if they were aiming for a cross between a chic wine bistro bar and an Irish pub. There were kids in the bar area when I visited, which seems to be a trend (and a trend I'm not fond of). Their beef on weck is generous and you may go into cardiac arrest just looking at it, but it is delicious. Once a year can't hurt ya......the restaurant is inside a strip mall in a bland section of Arlington. Supposedly they have Buzztime trivia but it wasn't working when I visited.
(3)Shaun W.
This was a two star experience that easily could have been four stars with better management. My middle brother frequents this place and decided to have us accompany him there today for St. Patrick's day. We got there at around 6:00 p.m. It was fairly busy but not packed. We were brought menus quickly. My mom attempted to order a drink she'd had before called a "Lady Shamrock." Neither the waitress nor the bar tender knew what that was. She wound up ordering a beer. Ok, not a big deal..... but they didn't have my beer in stock either! I wound up ordering an English Cider..... on St. Patrick's Day! It took a good ten or fifteen minutes to get the drinks to us. My brother ordered a shot of Jameson and wound up waiting about half an hour. Apparently the only bartender there "stepped out." That's what we were told by the waitress. We ordered ski chips and pretzels as well. I loved them. My youngest brother didn't like them but he doesn't like blue cheese. Oh and some pregnant lady was in the (restaurant portion of the) bar with two or three little kids running around tripping up the wait staff. It was a typical loud cramped bar atmosphere. Service was poor because they were understaffed. I don't recommend this bar until and unless service dramatically improves. Finally, it's terribly overpriced. It was almost sixty dollars to get a round of drinks for four people (two rounds for my middle brother) plus an appetizer!
(2)Alexander S.
Went for lunch today and I'm writing this review hoping I don't get sick. After a long wait for our food, and I received a lukewarm Reuben sandwich that tasted...wrong. From the absolutely RANCID smelling oil dripping off of it, to the 3rd bite that tasted of putrescence. I couldn't finish it, or the cardboard onion rings that came along with it. I've had microwaved food that tasted better...and safer. Steer way the F*** clear of this place.
(1)J L.
I opted for Thirsty Bernie's for the VT-Alabama Game seeing as how it was a local sports bar. The night started off well with an excellent drink menu of various beer and wines. I opted for a Chimay while my gf went with a Franzenkaner (sp?). The only disappointment there was the lack of pricing on the menu. If I had known those beers were going to be in the $8.50 range, I would have went with something a little less extravagant. On to the food. We ordered 6 chicken wings, medium, and grilled. These were excellent. The wings were smoky with char marks and the sauce was fantastic. My gf went with the grilled chicken salad, another member went with the steak salad, and two of us went with burgers. The salads were large portions, so much so that by the end of the meal most of the salad was going home. I tried both salads and they were great. The chicken had great charring and the mix of rice, onion, and corn was ideal. The taste was similar to a delicious curry. The steak salad was just as pleasing if not more so. The steak cooked to a perfect medium rare matched well with the blue cheese and balsamic vinaigrette. The burgers were however lacking. They were cooked well and were juicy. The Angus patty was more than enough to fill me up. The extreme drawback was the bun. It was redicuously over sized and tasted almost sweet. It just killed the burger. The food aside, the atmosphere was not good. The restaurant setup has high tables along the front wall underneath a row of air conditioning ducts. I switched seats with my gf because she was cold. After 2 hours, I started getting cold. At one point, we asked to have the temperature increased however I think our request fell on deaf ears. The second request of putting the VT-Alabama game on one of the televsisons was met with "we can put in on this television" with our waitress pointing to one hanging on the wall next to the table. While this would have been ideal if our table did not butt-up against the wall, it did not allow two members of the party to view the game. When asked why it could not be on the bar, we recieved "people at the bar requested those games," response. I may be a little bias here having gone to VT but a #5 vs. #7 college football game should be on over Wofford College or French League soccer. The game was eventually put on several of the bar tv's after other patrons requested it, I mean it is Virginia after all. The last request was to have the game audio put on instead of the Sirius radio. Once again it was denied until the masses requested it. It was the biggest game of the day and one of the teams is in state... If you go here, go for food and drinks and leave the sports up to another place.
(2)Mark P.
Average food and service. Small place but maybe a decent place to grab a beer and watch some games but not for a meal. A little overpriced.
(2)Donald P.
Read the reviews. Food great, albeit a little expensive. Good beer selection. Uneven staff. This was all correct except for the staff part. Our waiter was pretty much on the ball and around our table just the right amount. Even made a little extra effort to write down the names of the beer assortment because the drink caddy was numbered but we weren't close enough to the sign which indicated which drink was which. My keilbasa sandwich was good, but with onion rings it was a little too much to eat the bread; I would've been happier with just kielbasa. TV's are a little distracting for my taste. By the time we left at 8 it was getting a little noisy. In the future I probably wouldn't initiate going to TB's, but if a friend was interested in meeting there for lunch I'd be happy to go. It's also nice as an Arlington resident to see that parking lot full after all these years. Seems like a good place for families with teenage kids with appetites to go.
(3)Kevin M.
I have tried this place three times and the experience never improved. First, the decor is rather pleasing considering its location. Plenty of tv's to catch the games. Wood mixed with copper highlights the interior. But for some reason, the tables are placed very close together and some feel like they're just in the way of everybody. The service is so slow...I mean very slow. Also the servers I encountered really seem to have a chip on their shoulders. Not sure where the coldness is coming from but it is such a turn-off. The food is mixed. The burger is good, but stacked in that typical gourmet way that it is almost impossible to eat without some help from the jaws-of-life. The appetizers are mixed. I actually can't stand the wings. The sauce is so incredibly thick that I think it gave me a headache. Who wants creamy wings?? One of my favorites was the fried chicken sandwich - but the chef must have considered that a culinary sin and had to fancy it up by switching to some boiled chicken sandwich thingy. I think the hardest thing to comprehend about this place is that it portrays itself to be a sports bar, but it tries to eliminate all the fun comfort staple menu items that makes a sports bar complete and substitutes a lot of that froo-froo boringness in its place. It's just another "how funky can we make the food" establishment versus just trying to make some good ole fashioned edible items. Also, another pet peeve of mine...no website. I think its just inexcusable nowadays to not have a website.
(2)Kyle C.
I've been several times because my neighbors like the convenience of walking to a neighborhood restaurant and don't mind settling for less. Burgers are bland and the fries are never salted. I had the Reuben last visit (and believe me, it is the last visit) and wasn't too impressed. If you are lucky enough to get the lady server, things are usually good. Otherwise, you get what you get. I had to ask for water, then silverware, then appetizer plates from the young man on my last visit. He was more interested in hanging and laughing with his friends at the POS register than checking his tables. The guy on our visit before this was just as bad. Not sure if this is due to lack of good applicants, poor training, no active management or all of the above. The last tab was $50 which to too much for average food and less-than-average service.
(2)Cyndy K.
Cyndy's Bottom Line: Standard dive sports bar with fried food, cold beers and Guinness.
(3)Melanie M.
I come here after work every 1-2 weeks. I always get seated quickly and have a beer in my hand within 5 minutes. It is a simple local bar, so don't expect anything fancy. The beer is always cold and they have a decent selection. I like to always order the sweet potato fries. They are the best I've found so far. I also like the grilled cheese and tomato soup for those cold wintery days.
(4)James T.
Several friends and I had been going to Thirsty Bernie's for half-priced burgers for a least a year, typically every other week. They were $5.50 and not bad, or at least good enough for that price. A tiny salad on the same plate as the burger was an additional $1. I was just notified that an earlier review of this restaurant I wrote was removed from Yelp as "inappropriate." If I reveal here why, then this review would be deleted as well. It involved a comment about the culture of the owner and why that might explain the curious decisions that have led to my review. Enough said about that, but you might imagine where he is from - and it's not Asia. He must have read it and complained. I don't blame him, actually, given the state of the world. But quite apart from that matter, the facts of food and service associated with Thirsty Bernie's speak for themselves and put the place on any rational "do not stop here" list. On my final visit to Thirsty Bernie's, a dab of BBQ sauce, which normally would be included with the BBQ hamburger listed on the menu but was not mentioned with the same-priced regular hamburger on that menu, ended up costing me $.50 extra. Why? Because it wasn't part of the "regular hamburger" despite being the same price as the "BBQ hamburger." Egad! The beer one of us ordered was $7 for a draft 16-oz glass, with no mention made of the happy hour pricing that would have reduced the price by half. We didn't ask for the happy hour beer, alas. Egad again! I mentioned both the BBQ charge and the beer pricing to the waiter. The response was, "It's management." Also, the burgers were now $5.75, up $.25 at the half-price rate. The BBQ sauce then would have been $1.00 at any other time, it seems. None of these issues alone, i.e., the salad charge, the BBQ charge, the beer pricing, is a big deal - but when put together they do create a fairly strong impression, and not a positive one at that. There are plenty of other half-price burger places in the area that don't play these silly games. The nickel and dime theology over the BBQ sauce is the straw that broke the camel's back for me. I should note that I did not raise the pricing issues in an unpleasant way, but I did vow (with my friends agreeing) that it is illustrative of a philosophy of customer service that renders Thirsty Bernie's a non-starter going forward. Chef Georff's and McCormick and Schmick both have better deals. Moreover, they don't play silly games with BBQ sauce and disguised beer pricing. On the positive side, I must add, the sweet potato fries are a bit greasy but tasty and they come free with any of the burgers. But replace them with the miniscule salad and you are nailed with a $1 surcharge. Ask for BBQ sauce and, well, I've already noted that!
(1)Serena B.
I'm so happy to have found Thirsty Bernie! It's close-ish to my apartment and they have a decent selection of beer. I had a mug of Blue Moon and although not cheap, I knew I would just have the one beer so it worked for me. The warm soft pretzels were good and the dipping sauce was great, much better than Capital City Brewery. This is a nice neighborhood place with friendly bartenders and tvs for several games (3 different games were playing while we were there).
(4)M R.
I like going to this place with my husband, I can't really complain -- but I can't really rave either. I just don't understand the prices... I think that is the bottom line. Several people have mentioned that as well in their posts... I would have to agree. The burger is a GREAT deal on burger night (Monday) and if you miss it, you can go again the next night (Tuesday of course). Wings are also Wednesday and they are pretty good too. I like their special salads - they are delicious. Veggies area always super fresh too. I wouldn't go here to have more than 1 drink though. It's just too expensive... but then again so are SO MANY places in Northern Arlington. sigh. I will say burgers are MUCH better tasting then the Cowboy Cafe, just down the street that runs the same burger special but is a dollar cheaper. Again, love the food, hate when the bill comes - but the staff is really nice to us every time we go and we've never had an issue. PROS - parking - dog friendly patio - salads and burgers are good quality CONS - prices - drink prices especially - loud (we do not go to watch sports, but it's fun people watching!) Can I make a suggestion about the wine? We both know several of your wines are only 7-12 dollars a bottle (and not that special) yet the price per glass is 9-14 dollars. Can you just give a little and put something on the menu that is in the 6 dollar range? Or pick some better wines??? The mark up is unreal! Just curious.
(3)Eva E.
I am a big fan of Thirsty Bernie. It's a low-key, neighborhood bar that I would visit frequently if I lived in Arlington. I don't think they always succeed at their gastro-pub aspirations, but the food here is far better than it is at most sports bars. From what I've tried to date, the highlight of their offerings is the pierogies. I have watched a very petite person eat two servings of this in one sitting, that's how yummy they are! They have fresh hot pretzels, which I enjoy as a salty treat to accompany a very decent selection of not-commonly found beers on tap. My least favorite thing on the menu is the wings. I've only had them once, but they were very fatty and unappealing, so I'm afraid to try them again. My usual fare here is a salad, so I cannot speak to too many other items on their menu. All in all, the service is decent, the beers are great, and the vibe is very mellow. It's my favorite sports bar by far.
(4)Jim W.
The food was no more than acceptable, but the noise was excessive and the food and drinks way overpriced. It was our first and last visit.
(1)Drew M.
Great burgers, they also have half off burgers a few times a week. Their sweet potato fries are also really good. In a crowded town it's a perfect place to go for a good meal without tons of people. Definitely worth checking out
(5)Jody L.
This is our standby neighborhood restaurant and we are very fond of it. We eat here often; probably once a week with about a third of that being take out. I love the ambiance; the bar and its regulars on the right with tables full of families and couples. Its a sports bar with German inspired pub food -- and if that doesn't confuse you they have a great Cuban sandwich. The menu is is a mishmash and there are times the food isn't as good as others. I eat the chicken salad as my regular dish and i love it -- even though sometimes it is lettuce, some times it is spinach. Sometimes it has a few raisins, other times a lot. The dressing is great on it but a bit sweet so I have their balsamic dressing as well and mix the two. Their steak salad is also very good. My husband tries lots of things on the menu and while there have been things he hasn't been wild about, they have always been well prepared. Because of that, he isn't reluctant to try other menu items -- especially the specials. There have been comments that the place is a bit pricey and I agree. Their wines by the glass are too high among other things. But it isn't so high that I would say it isn't a good value. Would I go back? Yes, I already have, dozens of times. And we take friends.
(4)Jonathan G.
This really has become my standby in Arlington. On my last visit, our server (Jason) was pretty amazing. He gave us a ton of details on the beers we didn't know, and let us sample some before deciding. He also kept a bar full of people and five tables of customers happy all by himself. The food has really improved over the last year or so, and their burger and fries are really bacon-laden excellence.
(5)Donald P.
Think of the best dive bar you know...This place is almost the opposite. I don't know why people like to hate on this place, but I didn't think it was that bad. Perhaps it had a lot to do with the good company though. With 15 large flat-screen TV's mostly playing different channels, nice, spacious, clean, interior, and a large assortment of fancy import beers. The service was friendly and engaging, but perhaps we got extra attention since my friend considers himself a regular here, although he's only been there a hand full of times. The food was decent too. Not the best but not bad....except for the Belgium style fries. What is the difference between regular French Fries and Belgian Fries? Paper cone and mayo? Perhaps just a tribute to where fries are said to originate, while France get's all the credit? Regardless, they were strong on the flavor but weak on the texture. Fries were as soggy as a sponge, and despite being thick cut fries, they still drooped over when you picked them up. It's really a travesty for fries. The 12 wings fried and BBQ'ed ($10) were a-okay. Onion rings were more like Onion Hemispheres...that is to say they were HUGE...aside from that they weren't anything out of this world. The soft pretzels with guiness cheese dip ($8) was piping hot and the dip good. Only came with 4 medium sized pretzels though. I used to live in Philly so I was not very impressed. The disappointing part of the evening was when it came time to pay the bill. $100+ between 3 people for happy hour was a bit steep. Not a bad watering hole to come to every once in a while with important company though.
(3)Natalie M.
Great place! Lisa, Mike, Lauren, thanks for another great football Saturday - we love the neighborhood feel and the awesome food - you rock!
(5)J M.
Motrya introduced this place to me and last night, we finally made it in. It's a small neighborhood place, which we really like versus the restaurant chains (ala Glory Days Grill, The Greene Turtle, etc.). They had plenty of sports on so there were options. Our server, Melissa, was attentive. I think she was the only server because I don't remember seeing anyone else on the floor. She recommended the fish tacos with sweet potato fries. I should've went for that instead of the chicken pasta with garlic bread. It was still ok, but I liked Motrya's choice better - the grilled chicken sandwich with bacon and bbq sauce. If you see me there sometime, please walk up to me and say, "Order the fish tacos with sweet potato fries" in case I forget.
(3)Nicole V.
Food was great! However, the service was so exceptionally poor that it overshadowed the good food. They seem to have a good crowd or regulars who seemed to be getting good service. Hopefully it was just an off day for them but it seemed to be the norm. If you go with a group, please note that they will not split the check and providing more than one credit card is the same as splitting the check. They did process our payment but not without a lecture and attitude from our server. So sad, this place could have been great!
(2)Daniel B.
Great beer selection. The food menu is ok. The mussels and fries for 2 is a pretty good deal. We found the menu was overall ok, though none of the dishes were anything that warrants a return trip. My dish was brought to me incorrect (covered in a mushroom sauce that was not mentioned on the menu) that they quickly corrected and then offered a free dessert or beer. Overall a great place to stop in for a beer (and maybe some apps to go with it) but not a place I see myself revisiting.
(2)Derek H.
Hey Thirsty Bernie. Just a tip: if a girl at a table table tells you there is hair in her food, you don't pull the hair out, squint at it, say it's a blond hair and that nobody in the kitchen has blond hair, and then discount the complaint because they had eaten 3/4ths of the food before finding the hair. That's like sleeping with your best friend's girlfriend and then saying "Nah, it's cool" because your friend never explicitly told you not to. (give it 2-stars simply for having some vaguely interesting beers on tap)
(2)Rob R.
I have to say that everything that's been written so far has been pretty right on.... Good quality food.... stuff you just don't see too often elsewhere. My beef on weck sandwich w/ onion rings was really good. Lackluster service.... we had to run over to the bar to get some cream for our coffee. I guess asking the server repeatedly for some just wasn't enough. The place was not overly busy by any means, so there really isn't any excuse. I don't know if I'd go here again. I would go along if someone else wanted to, but I certainly wouldn't offer it up as my own idea. This review would have been 3 stars if it wasn't for the service.... or lack of.
(2)John A.
I won't knock them down to a "this bar is horrible" one star, but I've just about had it with this place. I've continued to give them chance after chance with their food, and it's never risen above "meh." But the thing that has ground my gears the most is their beer prices. I can sort of stomach paying $7 for a pint of Franziskaner (and at least it appears that they do use glasses that hold 16 ounces, so kudos there), but charging $11 for a 24 ounce glass of the same thing? Can't they do math? Or do they just assume their customers can't/won't do the math and figure out they're paying more per ounce for a larger glass, which is the opposite of what one would expect? But the thing that has really put me in the mood to rant was ordering a Chimay and having it served in the smallest Chimay glass I've ever seen, 0.25L. I have never before had Chimay served in anything smaller than their standard 0.33L goblet. And it's not being given what almost amounts to a sample size that nearly made me choke, it was the price of that child-size portion: $9.50. The bartender actually apologized to me when I asked how much it was. And by the way, can you please post your freaking beer prices somewhere so I don't have to either ask the bartender or be surprised/shocked when the bill comes? Oh wait, I get it, posting your outrageous prices might deter people from actually ordering anything besides Bud Light. But I digress... So for everyone's information, here is a little primer on what Thirsty Bernie is charging for beer: - Chimay: $38.00 per liter (a keg of Chimay from Westover Market works out to about $13 per liter) - Franziskaner (and other premium beers): $15.50 per liter in the large glass, $14.80 per liter in the pint (a retail keg of Franziskaner works out to about $3.33 per liter) I can deal with the middle man adding a premium to stay in business, but at a certain point it becomes outrageous. And this establishment has definitely reached that point.
(2)Holly B.
This is one of my local bars, meaning, I can stumble home from it. I really want to give them a great review. Unfortunately, since they've opened they have had a revolving door of staff (except Lisa who is amazing) including chefs that have made it hard to really fall in love with this place. They have a ton of TV's so if you're just interested in a place to watch a game, cold beer and ok service - this is your place. It is fun watching a game here. If you're coming for food the food and service ranges from ok to pretty good, nothing that will make you wish you could have more. The hours can be unpredictable - they vary based on how slow things get on any given night. They do have a huge parking lot so it is easy to get in and out.
(2)Shirley R.
Like most reviewers, we live in the area and wanted to try out this new local restaurant. What a disappointment! The waiter was surly and slow, the tables were too close together (excuse me sir, can I untangle our arms so I can drink my beer), our food took over 45 minutes to arrive, and once it got there, it was not tasty. Big downer.
(1)Next G.
The food was ok. They need to add more appetizers and bar menu foods if they really want to be a sports pub. It is a good place to watch football because they have many tv screens with most of the games. Ample parking. But if I am going to watch games, I like to have more things to pick at.
(2)Mariah V.
Instead of giving us some lame mugs for staff appreciation day, my company decided to organize a get together at Thirsty Bernie. We ordered a some food beforehand, so it would be ready once we got there. That was kind of useless, because it wasn't ready right away like it should have been. The buffet-style food was pretty unremarkable. We had sliders and the steak salad. The sliders were alright, but the steak salad was soggy. There were some things served in chafing dishes: a potato dish that was decent, some other dry chicken dish. We were also able to order off the menu. I'd have to say the wings were the best thing I ate, and most of my coworkers would agree. Someone else ordered shrimp scampi, and she said it wasn't very good. Their beer list is the best thing about this place, and it has a bunch of German brews. I had the Aventinus wheat Dopplebock. It had a nice, huge head, medium brown coloring, but was surprisingly light. I definitely recommend it. Afterwards I had the Franziskaner Weissbier, which was good (better than Blue Moon and Shock Top). No orange slice necessary, because the beer had a nice orange-y flavor to it already. Both those beers were on tap, and most of their bottled beer is German. I guess their going for the whole Bavarian thing, but I would've liked to see American craft beers beyond Magic Hat and Harpoon. This is seems like one of those places where you could probably walk in at any time of the day, and there would be a few guys sitting at the bar. They don't need very quick service, and that sort of attitude seems to carry over to times when it is busier. We came before 5:30pm, and there was only one waitress. She'd hang out behind the bar, and sometimes she'd wander over to our large (30ish people) group to see if anyone needed anything. Once she got our orders, she was pretty quick about getting those out, though. Overall a "meh" experience. The place is pretty small, but the parking is plentiful. I've driven by this Lee Highway/Glebe intersection a million times, and I've never noticed Thirsty Bernie. Now that I've been introduced, I probably wouldn't come back here on my own.
(2)J K.
We've tried with Thirsty Bernie's -- gone back a few times. And each time I wonder why I come back. Most recently this past Sunday for brunch. There were only two other tables with people seated -- plenty of staff -- but the greeting was non existent. Then it still took time to get a menu. Bartender was coughing into her hand then handling glassware -- ick. I ordered coffee and then watched the server back by the cash register, checking mugs and putting dirty ones back on the shelf. She finally got one she liked, cleaned it off with her finger -- then tried to find a clean spoon. Same routine, picked a few, put them back, evidently found a clean one. (as an aside, the mug was sticky on the handle). I asked if it was difficult to find a clean one -- she said laughing "yes -- but at least I checked them!" as if that was the right answer. I asked if anything came with the omelette (normal question right?) she said "I don't know. Sometimes they put toast on it, they put toast on everything, do you want toast if it comes with it?". (It came with toast and some cold potatoes). She carried the two plates to her table so awkwardly that the food on my plate was sliding off and touching her shirt. Never asked if we wanted drink refills. Never offered drink specials. Never coming back. Cowboy Cafe, Cassatt's, all in the neighborhood, all 100 times better.
(1)Christina C.
Unfortunately I had a very disappointing experience here this evening. I took my younger sister and a friend for dinner. When we were seated, the waitress didn't help us for about 5 minutes, even though at the time she had only one other table she was working. We ordered an appetizer to share, which never made it to our table. Upon delivery of our dinner meals, I noted that we had never received this appetizer, and just asked her not to bring it now, since we were just getting our food. I had ordered a salad for dinner - they brought me completely the wrong type. None of us had silverware and I needed to point that out to the waitress, since she was about to walk away again and hadn't yet noticed. And I told her it was the wrong salad, since she didn't notice that either. She didn't apologize and just walked away with it. It took a while for my new salad to come up, but I could see the waitress just sitting down in the back, chatting with co-workers instead of checking on her tables. I would've appreciated a beverage refill during this time, while I waited. Then my second salad came out, and it had the wrong dressing all over it. Since we were already delayed from all of this and needed to leave shortly, I ignored it and just informed her, after she finally came to check on us ten minutes later. She did apologize this time, and said that this salad would be comp'ed. Upon getting the bill, I noticed I was still charged for the full amount and only had had a small discount (20%) taken off of my bill... About $4 short of the amount of my salad. After mentioning this to her, she said the manager only wanted to give 20%. Why would you tell your customer it'd be comp'ed, if you couldn't do it and you made so many other mistakes?! Very disappointed in the customer service here tonight. It's a shame - the food was pretty decent, except the appetizer... I can't comment on that since we never had the chance to taste it.
(2)Gigi H.
Love their pretzels and our service was decent. That's where the good stuff ends. Will sum it up w this: whoever called out that they toast their bread "because it's probably stale" was dead on. Ordered a PB&J off the kids menu for my 18 mo old. Bread was super stale. Made us all not want to eat our sandwiches.
(2)Ross M.
Reuben sandwich is probably one of the best in the area. I'd go back just for that sandwich. Like others have said, the beers are overpriced! $10 for a mug! It's kind of sporty, kind of neighborhoody, kind of divey, kind of Germany - but the wait staff was really friendly. It's calm and easy to get to, food fills you up. I'd go back.
(3)Jesse C.
Food is a bit overpriced, but the bratwurst was very good. Had decent specials on bucket of beers so no complaints. Not on the metro so probably won't spend too much time here though.
(3)Sara B.
BF wanted to find a new fav wing joint so we went out on a whim to Thirsty B's. It is much nicer and updated then I would have thought. Pretty small, but I like the cozy feel. I don't know what I am seeing with people's reviews on the menu. It is WAY more unique then any regular bar! Of course they have the normal stuff but tons of neat stuff like white bean soup, cold cut platters, and lost German/Bavarian entrees like schnitzel. I wasn't too hungry (weird) but some reason got the mussels and frites for 2 - pretty tasty. And as said, the bf needed some wings and he loved them. They were a little too hot for me since they were heavily sprinkled with red pepper but I'm sure that could be nixed ahead of time. Server suggested some beers for me to try and though he looked busy he was very nice; would have appreciated a hand hug on my side of the table after the bf got one, since I was the one paying, but hey, no one is perfect. ;) I thought that was a nice personal touch.
(4)Ted M.
UPDATE, Feb. 2013: I've been going there regularly the last couple of years despite my poor review of them in 2010, mainly because of the very good German food. But every time I've gone there, I have tolerated the bad service. Well, not anymore - I think even their food doesn't justify the consistently bad (one of the worst) service for any restaurant above fast food. Their food comes out slow, their bartender is indifferent and makes you feel like he did you a favor for filling your glass, and their manager is a nasty old woman who never apologizes and is never wrong, even when it takes an appetizer 20 minutes to appear. I will miss their food but will never go back. One of my buddies lives very close to this place and to grab a bite, catch up, and watch some preseason NFL football, went over there. I know my friend is a fan and his ex-neighbor is a server there so it is even more disappointing to me. Despite it not being very busy for a Friday night, we had to practically light ourselves on fire to get noticed and get service. Then, the server messed up our order (forgetting the appetizer) and was so rushed to get out of there that she never even bothered to ask how I would like my burger. When the burger did arrive, it was ok at best but I was too damn hungry to care. The old Wendy's commercial with Deacon Jones where he talks about the bun to patty came to mind when the burger did arrive. "When I want bread, I go to a bakery..." This burger had the biggest buns this side of J Lo! I ended up doing a semi-"I'm on Atkins" and ripping off about half the bun to get the ratio right. Afterwards, since the game was still going on and we never got our appetizer, I wanted to try one of their desserts. Again, had to practically beg to see the menu again as our server was in such a hurry to get the F out of there. Maybe she should not have taken that shift? Anyway, the "Sunday" was functional, nothing to write home about or you couldn't do at home. I also agree with the prices seemingly a little high for the quality but then again it's probably b/c of the squatters who watch a three hour NFL game here on Sunday afternoons in the fall. They have a lot of big screen HD TVs and a lot of German food items on the menu which I would go back and try had the service been better. At this point, I'm more likely to get the great Texas 3 way chili at the Hard Times not far from this place next time I want to go watch games with friends.
(1)Tom N.
Loved the craft beer selection; lots of good choices. The food menu looks really ambitious, but don't get your hopes up. I've had better chicken wings at a Chinese restaurant. Mussels were overcooked in the moules-frites. It was likely forgetten in the oven for too long. Sit at the bar if you can, because service is spotty sitting anywhere else. Seated by the door, I had to walk across the dining room to the bar to ask for napkins and utensils. Random guy from the kitchen drops off our appetizers and quickly disappears. I again have to get back up and walk the length of the restaurant to ask for plates (I figured tossing the chicken bones and mussel shells on the floor would have been unsanitary.) There were plenty of friendly staff around, but they weren't too helpful.
(2)art f.
Food - worth a visit. I had the butcher's plate - house-made dark bread,an assortment of pate, salami, and venison sausage with pickles. Everything was good and not easy to find elsewhere.My Caesar salad was $8 and ordinary but easily enough for 2 except it was an effort to get my wife a fork. Service was below-average. They seem to have a hostess who does nothing but sit people, one waitress, and several runners who deliver food. It was hard to get the waitress's attention. Tables almost touch each other, so you become part of your neighbor's conversation. I understand they want to maximize revenue from a small area but the noise and lack of privacy is a problem. And the multitude and brightness of all the TC screens showing sports was distracting.
(3)Michael C.
Went here with a few buddies for a happy hour and had some mildly exotic beers and food. The apps were okay, but not great. The popcorn shrimp was soggy and the pretzels were a la high school cafeteria (SoftPretzel Brand). My friend seemed to enjoy his sausage sandwich, but this is also a guy who thinks that having a nice steak dinner means getting a sirloin and a baked potato at Chilis. Overall the food is nothing to write home about. Another thing, I usually love surprises. Surprise parties. Surprise toys in cereal. Surprise visits from wacky relatives. But not surprises when it comes to the price of my beer. Bernie, if you're going to have a beer list put a damn number next to it that indicates the beer's cost. If you have a designated discount period, list how many pesos you take off said indicated number for a defined period of time (This is what we drinking folk call a "Happy Hour") Finally, the server/bartender we had was horrible. I've had her before and both times I've had to convince myself that "she must be having a bad day". This last time she put down the Latin American food runner in front of our table because "sometimes they don't understand what you tell them". She was also abrasive and walked over to another table in the middle of taking our order. So when you go to Bernies make sure you're looking for average food and shoddy service. They'll definitely quench your thirst for that.
(2)Loesje T.
Wonderful food but the beer is sky high. That's why our local crowd goes somewhere else. We'd go back because the menu is so interesting and delicious but the prices are a big deterrent. They should extend the happy hour and forget the posting on the wall which most people overlook (and then get whacked with a huge bill). I like the place but probably won't go again.
(2)Paul S.
Thirsty Bernies is not very large inside but the layout is good with a long bar, a triangular communal table and dining tables. The "old world" beer selection and ample flat screens are bonuses. I normally don't hold bars to a very high standard on food. However any place offers sandwiches at $11-$15 price points has to deliver. My Beef on Weck was a mixed bag. The beef was fresh and moist. The roll was completely stale - which seems to be a them among the reviews of this item. I'm also baffled that they neutered the horseradish as it had no kick whatsoever. My friend had a similar experience the Kielbasa. Overall just not much flavor. I don't live or work particularly close to Thirsty Bernie so I don't know that I'll be back. I'd give the place 2.5 stars - they have the potential to rise to 3 stars if they paid more attention to all their ingredients. Meat can be the star of a sandwich but the supporting cast matters.
(2)Alisa M.
Casual no frills sports bar. Dudes love it. Food is okay. Burgers n fries- stuff like that is good. Price is good. Parking out front in the lot. Hours are weird. We have been there sometimes for Sunday brunch and it's not open with no signs or anything.
(2)Kevin C.
I frequent this sports bar for Sunday brunch. They have the best eggs benedict in the area. Beers are overpriced, but the atmosphere is great for a sports fan (lots of TV's). Lunch and dinner food is okay and portions are huge.
(3)Ricky B.
Food is decent but overpriced and so are the drinks. We always had to track down our waitress to order and the service was slow. If you are going to go make sure it's half-off burger night.
(2)Jeff C.
So I found myself up in the foreign land of Arlington, trying to inch my way up through a snarling traffic jam that is NOVA driving. We looked over and spotted a small oasis that looked perfect for a quick beer and restroom break. Yup, Thirsty Bernie was just what the traffic Gods ordered, but I must confess that my real reason for popping in here was that I was in desperate need of directions. Although we didn't eat here, I was impressed with how kind and on point everyone was behind the bar. Our bartender Virginia was very cool and I would have to give her an individual rating of five stars, for she even took the time to draw us a map to make our way back to Rt. 66. The bar itself was very nice looking neighborhood bar, and I would certainly give Thirsty Bernie a higher rating, but as we didn't eat here or stay longer, I just don't feel feel right giving a higher rating. However, who knows, perhaps the NOVA traffic Gods will one day pull me into Thirsty Bernie for a longer layover, and I will be able to give it all a higher rating....But for now, with a very cold beer and friendly staff, you could do far worse, fellow traveler.
(3)Dan T.
Food is surprisingly good. The staff is friendly and the parking is easy. Very kid friendly if you go at reasonable time. It is a bit pricey or it would be 5 star. Decent beer selection.
(4)Ron V.
So I was up here on a Sunday night the bartender Rob I think his name was, was great. The wings were awesome. I would've given 5 stars but the the TV was blury almost 3d looking. Hoping it's fixed by football season. Deff will go back for football and hockey hopefully the TV is fixed!!
(4)Jess C.
Decent food, service, and prices. Kids are welcomed, which is clutch for this neighborhood pub. Overall a standard sports bar/grille kind of spot. Would definitely stop here to wait out traffic and grab a bite/pint.
(3)Eric N.
Happy hour is actually a bit expensive here! This was the first stop for my buddy's birthday yesterday. He suggested we go to Thirsty Bernie for drinks and I kind of see why I end up always just driving past here. If you're not getting a miller or yeungling (served in a 24oz glass), you're looking at spending about $9 a beer. And that is during happy hour. Bartenders were friendly though. Stick to the cheap drafts, they are only $2.50 each. If you're near Lee Highway, you're better off going to Cowboy Cafe down the street. Better happy hour deals.
(2)Robert M.
Sports bar plain and simple with GREAT I mean. GREEEEEEAAAAAATTTTT! Burgers. Service was good lot of hd tvs.
(4)Linda L.
My boyfriend and I have come here for dinner and drinks a few times because we like the big bar and lots of TVs for sports watching. The food is good, but the drinks are pricey. The biggest issue we always have though is that there never fails to be extremely obnoxious and rude drunks lurking about the bar. Sadly, that discourages us from coming even for a nightcap.
(2)Tom M.
It's absolutely amazing that this place is still in business with the attitudes of some of the servers and bartenders. Really - amazing. I'll share that I have been here a dozen or so times and usually not too bad. There's a lady that works the bar on Monday and Tuesday nights who is really awesome. Unfortunately - she is either the owner or the only one who gives a damn. I came in tonight and sat down at the bar to get a beer and a burger. I looked down the bar at a female bartender with a pony tail fixing a drink. She needed to open another bottle of booze and was standing right in front on me with a scowl on her face and never acknowledged I was alive. I continue to sit here waiting for a beer watching three guys hold the wall up with their asses. Some of them even look down here and see me waiting but don't budge. Eventually someone else sits down next to me and the guy with the shaved head comes down and offers him a beer and asks what he needs. I threw a nasty look - like what the hell - and then he asks what I want. I ordered my beer and a menu. Got the beer, not the menu. The guy who sat next to me offered me his since he already decided. I was asked what I wanted to eat, but at this point I'm just to mad to waste another penny here. It's a shame, too, cause the food is actually pretty good for bar food. I've had multiple appetizers, burgers, wings, brunch, Reuben, and specials. All of it is usually well seasoned and tasty, served hot. None of that matters though when you're treated like crap. Of to the Cowboy Cafe I'll go as soon as my beer is done and I've paid the bill. Final analysis - if I could give 0 stars I would. I live in the apartments next door and would rather drive somewhere else than spend another penny here. I could walk home drunk but I'd rather pay for a cab. When you drive by this place and think about stopping - keep driving. Save your money and time. Try paying attention to your guests - that's what we are!! One last nail in the coffin - once I finished my beer and finally got shaved head dude to come with the check and let me pay my bill - he dropped my credit card off and didn't even say thanks. Attention owners of TB: keep this crew working together and ignoring your customers and there won't be any left!!
(1)James B.
The basic bar foods are ok (Savory foods, and decent tacos in occasion; dessert is not as good as it used to be -see pub sundae). Brunch is awful; I'd rather eat biscuits and gravy for the Travel Lodge because it doesn't taste as aged. They mess up Eggs Benedict too (how do you forget the Canadian bacon for crissake). I tried to get the waiters attention but that's hard here... The service is hit or miss, more on the miss side. I've had ok experiences, and experiences where the waitress felt it necessary to correct my foreign beer pronunciation - I was incorrect I expect, but seriously, you're in the service industry, you don't do that. And there are times when I just sat there with my family for 15 minutes and left because 10 customers were apparently too hard to handle and I sat there with nothing on my table until I decided to just walk over to Metro 29. As I think back they really, on average, have the worst service I've experienced in the dmv (for places I've hit more than a few times; it got many chances due to proximity). It's disappointing. When it opened I was a fan. Food was good, friendly service. Now it's basically the meat in a sucks sandwich. Hit for wings and pretzels only (the beer cheese is one redeeming quality), assuming you have time to wait.
(2)Jim S.
Sorry Bernie, I'd have to be awfully thirsty to go back. I've been there a few times, because it's simply the most convenient place to grab a beer. The food is meh and pricy-- lots of $10-12 appetizers. However, the service is poor and frankly rude. The most recent time we visited was a snow day, when I went with several other parents and our kids. We knew that we were off to a rough start when the kids (who were fresh off a sledding outing on a slightly muddy hill) went to the bathroom to wash their hands. The owner/manager came over to tell us they needed to stay seated, (good hygiene is apparently a no-no to Bernie). Then they forgot to take one of the kid's orders, and didn't apologize when no food showed up (mind you the kid was seated in her seat the whole time after washing her hands). In general, the service was slow that day, and the food was as always meh. As we were leaving, one of the parents commented back to the manager/owner that we were not pleased with the service, and as local families, they might want to treat us a bit nicer. She said she didn't really care, and that "we should have a good life". Seriously, what ever happened to customer service. I can promise you that most parents at Glebe Elementary, the elementary school our kids all attend two blocks away from Bernie's have it on the "do not visit" list. We've since found plenty of places happy to take our money and treat our families civilly and have better food and cheaper beer (Cowboy Cafe, Lost Dog, Westover Beer Market to name a few). Hope that you, too, have a good life Bernie!
(1)Jeff S.
The manger Lisa is very rude and the service was poor. I do not recommend. I would stay away from this place.
(1)Nikki B.
Don't be fooled by the location - stuck in the middle of a downtrodden strip mall - this restaurant is much more. Thirsty Bernie has a great brunch! It may look like a bar - but the food is genuinely good! Great place to watch games, always good service. Food is a bit pricier than expected - but worth it. One of my favorite neighborhood spots--- usually our go-to on Sundays--- it's rarely crowded.
(5)Mari A.
#79 Came here to watch the Dallas/ Redskins game. DEFINITELY a Redskins Bar. Good thing im not a Dallas Fan ;). Anyway, I LOVE THE VIBE of this place. So much energy! BUT the reason for this review: Their GRILLED CHICKEN SALAD. Oh.My.G! Light and delicious dressing, avocado, and juicy tender grilled chicken. The bartenders and waiters are nice and they have a great selection of beer. Another bonus?? Just a couple miles from my place and not over powering with people!
(4)Jay B.
Came in during a playoff game to watch sports and drink beer. The bartender graciously agreed to turn the fights on one of the tv's despite having a bar full of Patriots fans. Beer was reasonably priced and cold and a fresh one was always put in front of me when I went dry. A night spent watching football and fighting while drinking beer with buddies is awesome. Thirsty Bernies gets it. Would come back A+++
(5)Roger P.
Service was good but be ready to pay ballpark prices for beer (~$7 for a small pour). Happy hour isn't a great deal, either.
(2)Stephen M.
If you want a restaurant experience that serves up plate fulls of nasty attitude this is the place for you..tonight left me feeling no less disgusted with the service..except tonight takes the cake..the owner..blond hair and short shorts was serving up her usual nasty attitude and oh by the way..did I tell you "I'm the owner..and yes I wrote the menu ". As a neighborhood bar and gathering place..I'd say go anywhere but here..If the owners don't care about customer service, I wonder if they care about the quality of food they serve. This place gets the thumbs down in very big way!
(1)Grace B.
Meh. meh. meh. I read the reviews here before I went. I don't know what the big deal is. I ordered a dry cheeseburger for $12. Belgium fries were indeed soggy. correct. The husband had the bratty - i didn't have a taste but the mushrooms that came with were just soaked in butter. I didn't like that but perhaps others do like their mushrooms soaking in butter. Kind of foul to me. perhaps if i was a dude, i'd like it -- they have lots of tvs. but the food is a FAIL for me. Ive head better burgers at the Chilis.
(2)Amanda B.
We received a coupon in our mail for 50% off the price of an entree with the purchase of another entree. My roommate and I live across the street, and were in the mood to order something for pickup so we could veg out in front of the tv and relax. We called to place the order and were told that it was for dine-in only. We explained that the coupon did not specify that, and that we were really interested in just take-out. When I expressed my disappointed and confusion about why they couldn't give us the discount that the coupon promised, the woman on the phone literally yelled at me. Like not just a rude retort, but yelled, saying "FINE! But don't EVER ask me to do this again. We do-" and then I hung up, shocked and outraged. In hindsight I wish I had asked to speak with the manager. No paying customer should be treated that way. The last time we were there 5 months ago, it was the slowest service EVER. Needless to say, we'll never go back, and neither will any of our friends.
(1)Chris W.
Pros: -Very good draft beer selection (Aventinus, Spaten, Dopplebock, etc.) -Meats seem very fresh, and come in good-sized portions -Ample parking Cons: -Service is hit or miss -Small place, so finding a table or seat at the bar may be difficult -A bit overpriced When I first found out about this place (saw it while driving by), I looked at the menu online, and was instantly intrigued. German-themed food and beer, at a local neighborhood bar? My girlfriend and I first tried it out last winter, during the Olympics. The US Curling Team was "throwing stones" on the TVs, and everyone in the bar was happy and enjoying themselves. Luckily we got the last 2 seats at the end of the bar. While sitting at the bar, service is usually not a problem. However, there aren't enough wait staff to service the tables, which became apparent when people from the tables were coming to the bar to get service/drinks. We had a beef on weck and pastrami sandwich to go with our beer. Beef on weck was good, pastrami sandwich was excellent. We decided it would definitely be worth coming back. On our second visit (over the summer), we sat outside on the patio, and had a good/attentive waitress. We had entrees (mushroom and brie strudel) with a few draft beers, and while it was quite good, the bill was more than I initially expected. The last time we went was just a few weeks ago, and we brought my family along. It was relatively crowded (Tuesday night), and getting service was a challenge. Turns out, the lady behind the bar was also servicing all of the tables in our section, so getting drinks and placing appetizer and food orders was not easy. The bartender/server seemed a bit frazzled, but by the end of the night she had a smile on her face. If we had been in a hurry, we probably would not have been happy, but since we were on no set timetable, it was an enjoyable and relaxed evening. We had a variety of things (butcher's board appetizer, multiple wiener schnitzel entrees, bratwurst), and there were no complaints from the group. I would say that the wiener schnitzel stood out as the best entree of the evening. In conclusion, I think the food/beer selection and quality at Thirsty Bernie's is quite good. They do need to work on the wait service (from what I can tell, that could be accomplished by simply adding staff). The other thing that could be a concern is the price. If you are getting a full dinner with drinks, be prepared to spend more than at a typical neighborhood bar. If you're just grabbing a beer at happy hour, then definitely give the Dopplebock a try.
(3)Jennifer G.
4.5 stars! I had to round down because I don't give my 5 stars out to just anyone. Not that Bernie's can't attain a coveted 5 star review from me in the future! It's Saturday evening. We're not starving but we're at the point where it is time to make a decision on what our plans for the evening will involve because I'm a girl and it takes me like 2 hours at a minimum to get ready to go out. Any longer than that and R will have drunken himself into a stupor and we're stuck staying home and ordering pizza ;) We decided on three elements we wanted our evening to revolve around: cold tasty beer, yummy food that's different from the usual stuff, and Buzztime trivia. Thirsty Bernies seemed to fit the bill, so off to Arlington we went. This was our first time in the area and the GPS took us directly to Bernies without a problem and we had no issues with finding it. Parking was good- there was a lot in front of the restaurant. I did indeed see the outdoor TV for the smokers so they don't miss any action while they're out having a puff. I thought that was a cool touch. Once inside we saw that weird triangular group table, that was also a cool and unique touch. As we walked in a server offered to seat us at a table, but we opted for the bar. The bar is big and set up in a way that you can have your meal there without feeling like you're on display or anything, it's sort of cozy. Shortly after taking our seats a bartender took our drink order. R got his usual Stella Artois and I went with a Hefeweizen. R wasn't necessarily happy with his Stella. I was sufficiently pleased with my choice though. If the bartender asks if you want a mug, only say yes if you've been doing some extra workouts on your drinking arm! These mugs are enormous! Next we placed our meal order. The menu had a lot of tempting options, but R went with a burger with pepperjack cheese, onions and roasted red peppers. I went with the St. Moritz Bratwurst. We asked if the bartender would mind putting the trivia on one of the many TVs (many of which were playing the same game, even though the TVs are big and it's an open space that affords you a view of multiple TVs). After some delays and nasty looks we were told the trivia wasn't working. Bummer. I wasn't bummed for long though because dinner arrived quickly. R's burger was massive! And came with a basket of potatoes done "frite" style. He loves his taters and was extremely pleased with the fries. He liked the burger too but thought the size of it was a bit excessive. Huge burgers seems to be a big thing in these parts. He was a happy camper though. My bratwurst was amazing. I felt like I went into a trance while I was eating it. It comes out on a hot cast iron plate. The size of the bratwurst is surprising! It sits on a pile of sauteed onions and peppers and on the side you have shredded potatoes that are browned and topped with mushrooms in an amazing cream sauce. The dish is accompanied with a dipping sauce that I couldn't identify (maybe a remoulade of some sort?) but really enjoyed and a pickle. Eat the pickle! It's so good, tangy and garlicky and I could eat jars of them..... Last but not least, the bratwurst. It was amazing. Sometimes bratwurst can be pungent, or the skin can be tough or something else that just puts you off it....not this bratwurst. The flavor was delicate and pure, you could taste the meat and it wasn't overly seasoned. It was cooked perfectly and the skin was tender. Two beers and our two entrees came to $47. Not cheap. However, my beer was $10, and I think R's was $8.50...but they were huge! They'll last you for quite a while so I'm cool with paying that much for it. I think my entree was $17, and I would gladly pay 2 or 3 times that to have it again. It was that good. I don't remember what R's burger cost, but it wasn't bad for a burger that big. I don't necessarily agree with those who think Bernie's is overpriced, to me it's good food and well worth the price. Same with the beer, it's a good selection for a decent price for the amount you get. Bernie's doesn't seem to me to be portraying itself as a college sports bar. I doubt they'd be offering the sort of menu they do if they were. It was a diversified crowd there on Saturday night and it was not overcrowded, but certainly not empty. I'm looking forward to coming back soon for some more exquisite food and to see if they sell those pickles in bulk to the public.
(4)Heather B.
This place is one of my biggest pet peeves... Number one: The price. Call me crazy but if you name any bar with the name thirsty in it and open it up down the street from a college (of which their mascots name IS BERNIE!) think of who your primary target market is going to be....with that being said if you sit down and order a beer and a sandwich you're already looking at a $20 tab. I believe the cheapest sandwich is $11. On a positive note they have lowered their beer prices since they opened up. Number two: The quality of the food. I agree with many of the previous posts that the meat is absolutely fantastic and it is probably because of the wonderful chef. However the bread is always toasted and in this case I believe it was because it was stale. Being from Buffalo I decided to order the Beef of Weck sandwich (which is one of Buffalo's specialties!) I was SO excited to find a place that served this sandwich but once I ordered it was AWFUL. The bread is supposed to be served on a soft roll and mine was a stale, rock solid weck roll on top and an onion soaked bottom that fell apart with every bite. Number three: The service. We decided to sit outside because they had just built a new patio, the server completely forgot about us. We had to walk in every time we needed something. Her excuse was that she had another table....news flash in the food industry you are more than likely to have more than one table at a time. Number four: The location. I think this is the reason why this place is my biggest pet peeve. They have the potential to be one of the best bars in Arlington and they completely abuse it. This bar from what it projects is trying to be very upscale but the placement (across the street from a late night diner and a gas station) as well as being next to a bait and tackle shop...won't get you there. The location of this place is right in the middle of a neighborhood which is obsolete these days. Please take advantage of that! As this point I feel awful for the owner, when you walk into this bar you can see how much money he has poured into this place with the slate counter tops at the bar (which is ridiculous because you serve drinks in glasses...hello?), several flat screen TV's, brand new outdoor patio, high end tables and bar stools, and a SERIOUSLY fully stocked bar. I'm really pulling for this bar and would like to see it at it's full potential but I honestly do not see it lasting more than a year at this point in time. :::Please take note of some positives as this is not a one star review::: -They have a no smoking policy but provide a TV with audio for those smokers who have to go outside -Parking is fantastic!! -If you do ever get hungry you're right next door to a Rite Aid...grab a bag of chips!
(2)Sean P.
Ate/drank here with some friends on a Fri night. Crowded but luckily found a few seats at the bar. Solid beer selection - stuck to the Ranger IPA & was a good choice. We had a mix of soft pretzels (great!!) and fish & chips (decent). Service was good and ambiance was good. Overall better than most bars in the area but not quite good enough for 4 stars.
(3)Chris g.
I really, really wanted to like this place. In fact, the review in the Post was so good that my girlfriend and I had heightened expectations for a chilled-out place with good food, close to home. We're big fans of the "double fried" belgian/french technique for frittes (Les Halles, Granville Moore's, Argonauts), and big fans of the Belgian/Euorpean style bar food. But those places are all downtown -- we wanted one near home. So we came in with really high hopes. Price wasn't a big concern for us. The atmosphere is sports bar and there was a lot of activity. Our waitress was nice, the beer was good, wine could have been chilled a bit more. Luscious, the manager, came by and seemed pleasant, so we were excited to experience what Bernie had to offer. Then our food arrived and our heightened expectations plunged like a led zeppelin. The "double fried" frittes looked like they had been sitting under a heat lamp for about 30 minutes -- soggy and limp with zero crunch (if you read the post article, the exact opposite of what was described). The muscles were served in a mini cast-iron pot -- but when the lid came off, there wasn't a release of steam -- ie, they had been sitting around for who knows how long -- not a good sign. Flavor was great, but the food should be hot. Take note Bernie -- something even I can accomplish in a kitchen. My girlfriend had the burger with carmelized onions and swiss cheese, "medium, just a little pink in the middle." It looked great on the plate, but when you cut it in half it was hard to distinguish the meat from the red tomato sitting on top of it. The carmelized onions were nowhere to be found and the onion rings were cold. We sound picky, huh? We're really not, but this place is new and if they screw up they should know about it. We told the waitress about the burger and asked if they could take care of it. She came back about 7-8 minutes later with pretty much the same piece of meat that was slapped back down on the grill. You don't have to watch the BBC's version of Kitchen Nightmares to know this shouldn't happen. The carmelized onions were flavoreless and nearly tranparent -- overcooked or just bad produce, because there was nothing to them (as my girl said, "You make better carmelized onions than Bernie"). But the onion rings were hot and not bad -- a sing of hope!? Luscious, the manager came by again to check on the status of the "new" burger and we told him it was "fine" but it seemed like they just slapped the old one back down on the grill. He seemed somewhat concerned, but we couldn't tell. We ate our food, still soaking in the atmosphere, but disappointed -- like when you want that one gift for Christmas, but it never comes, and you sit their in your new sweater with a forced half-smile Bernie, we want that feeling of joy and excitement with the gift of a new local place with good/distinct food. Bottom line, for a good burger in Arlington, go to Whitlow's. If you want a good Belgian/Euro experience -- go to Granville Moore's. Bernie needs to get his act together and put out consistently good food. I really wanted to give this guy props, but I can't. I've never written one of these before, but the bad experience forced me into it. Sorry Bernie -- I want you to be a success and I do hope you will read this. Luscious did give us a glass of wine on the house and that might -- just might -- get us back through the door someday, but that won't be until sometime in 2009.
(1)