Image: You might miss the door, but you’ll know when they’re open!

Last Updated: July 2022

Current Status: Sit-down service in the dining room and outdoors out back. Take-out and Delivery also available.

Overview:

Bar Charley is low-key, bordering on inconspicuous.  Between the big corner patios of Lauriol Plaza and Pupatella, it is easy to miss.  For locals and others in the know, it is reliable favorite serving good food and well-made cocktails.

The menu is a combination of neighborhood bistro and old-school steakhouse.  The atmosphere is more in keeping with the neighborhood – not stuffy at all.  There are a range of steak options from the humble steak frites to a bone-in ribeye.  There are a couple non-steak meat options like a burger or pork-fried rice.  There is usually a vegetarian entrée (though it may be pasta so if you are GF beware), plus a few non-meat appetizers.  There was a time when Parker House rolls were a thing in D.C., luckily here they still are.  Catalan fries with romesco, chimichurri, cheese, and a fried egg is can dent the damage done in the nearby bars of Adams Morgan. They also do a good brunch service.

The cocktail list is extensive and a calling card since the place opened.  The beer and wine lists are limited but not boring. 

Other Guidance:  The mood is casual.  GF and vegetarians can pick around, pescatarians can do well.  The restaurant is located on the lower level of Dupont rowhouse building, and has tricky stairs. 

Summary:

Cuisine: New or Old American
Neighborhood: Dupont
Address: 1825 18 St NW, Washington DC
Website: https://www.barcharley.com/
Reservations: Resy

Other Critics/Voices:

Washington Post: Tom gave it a respectable 2 Stars in 2019. He also included it on an ode to neighborhood restaurants during the height of Covid restrictions.

Washingtonian: One of 8 Great Places around Dupont and Adams Morgan. Also where to go on a first date when, “When you want to impress your date without spending a lot of money.”