Axis Bar And Grill

Came here for my bday dinner and drinks few months ago. Dinner was okay. I got the pasta and while it was good, it’s definitely not something I’d rush back to get.
The bar is fun, but it’s pretty small. We were pretty cramped in there. Luckily later on, we were able to get a few tables and get out of everyone’s way. Oh well, I still had a good time!

A plus beer on tap list, and B+ chicken wings. Go for the happy hour and save some money.
I went here for the wings because I was in that kind of a mood. I did not have to fight for a seat, nor did I have to wait to be served. it was cozy, the clientele was nice, and everything flowed pretty well.
I cant really speak about ALL the food, but I will say that the wings were pretty darn good. A nice spice too them without being too over the top. I recommend this to anyone who likes wings and likes a chill ambiance.

I LOVE this place. The pasta dishes are awesome and everything is nicely priced. My friend had duck and was still hungry, but he’s a boy, so that happens. Wait staff is normally pretty good and I’ve never had a problem finding a table.
Weird though, last Saturday we showed up here at 7ish, and it took the kitchen an hour and a half to produce two pasta dishes and the duck. Not the norm I guess, the waitress kept walking over shocked that we didn’t have our food yet. She did comp some beers which was nice.
I think this is my favorite Ust. spot.

Axis really is awesome. I made reservations for a UYE and the communication by e-​mail was excellent. We were able to lock down the upstairs space during happy hour and partake of the lovely beer menu.
We had to assemble the tables in sort of a Tetris let the pieces fall where they may sort of style, resulting in Bassey doing a sexy crawl under the table in order to use the ladies room. Rawr! Despite the craziness of the setup our handsome waiter was able to keep up not only with what we purchased but who purchased what and split the checks for each individual without asking. Now that is good customer service.
I had the grilled chicken sandwich with fries. Damn, those fries are good. I asked for a side of honey mustard and that was damned good too. The chicken sandwich wasn’t bad. It could have used a little more seasoning but it comes with a nice herbed sauce and red peppers not just the usual mayo, lettuce and tomato combination. Good one!
I’m not sure why it never seems to have a crowd. Maybe I come too early. I feel like it might have a different vibe if I wasn’t surrounded by fun Unilocalers and their acquaintances.
This is definitely a nice spot for a smallish gathering during happy hour. Thanks folks at Axis!

My Miller Lite was $ 5.
Is that normal? I don’t usually order Miller Lite, but have always associated it as one of the cheapest of beer, so I felt it was entirely too appropriate to order one for the purpose of chugging (as many super Unilocalers were that night.)
I made my way here just before Thanksgiving to join my fellow Unilocalers in the Thanksgiving Eve tradition dubbed, Drinksgiving. Also, entirely too appropriate.
When I showed up, our crew was spread out on both floors. The top floor was open and overlooked the first floor. Not too much space on either floor, but it made the restaurant seem more filled in than it actually was.
Dim lit with dark woods, the place was very cozy. I didn’t order any food, but the food that Shan and her boyfriend ordered looked delicious.
I’m still just a bit thrown off by the $ 5 Miller Lite? Maybe that was just their way of punishing me for ordering a watered down crap beer at a place with such a vast selection of quality beer to choose from.
Yes, that must be it?

This is kind of my boyfriend’s review of the food since he ate BOTH plates practically, lol.
He loved the Caesar salad, said that it was «properly made» — lol he loves his Caesars! When we go out to other places he complains about their Caesar’s. So YAY for finding a «suitable Caesar salad for the beau»
The wings were DELICIOUS but just too hot for my taste, again the bf loved it. He had the Filet Mignon, Mashed potatoes, veggies, in cabernet sauce. The Filet Mignon was cooked to perfection and was delicious — per the «beau»
I really like the layout of the place, though the group I was with literally took up the upper portion. It was great for us to basically have the place to ourselves for a few hours. The bartender was helpful and nice, the atmosphere was really attractive, as were the people using the space ;)
Loved every minute, this place is now a favorite of ours.

I’m tempted to only give two stars, but I think I’ve just ordered badly. I’m basing this almost entirely on food. Because I love food.
The burger was just God-​awful. Dripping everywhere, and just a horrid taste. I can put back some burgers, and I like them on the rare side, but this just tasted awful. The savign grace was the fries. I ate all of them, and left about ¾ of the burger.
The time before I had a grilled chicken wrap, I think. Nothing memorable, but not terrible.
The beer selection is decent – having Arrogant Bastard on draft is a plus. The atmosphere is pretty good. Service was slightly on the slow side both times, but the waitresses were pretty friendly.
I’ll definitely give it another try sometime, but man, that burger was NOT a winner.

There is absolutely nothing that I can complain about regarding this establishment. The food? Delicious (I got the roasted veggie sammich which was supposed to come with a salad. I got fries instead and they brought me a salad instead. Both were delicious). The beer list was absolutely awesome. The wait staff was superb and the background music was totally awesome as well.
I totally can not wait to go back.

Two words: shrimp. risotto.
Maybe the best bar food I’ve ever had! Seriously, this stuff was delicious. Sandwiches, also good — fries, damn good.
But the best part is the beer, because this place has some top-​notch brews on tap, and they are only 4 bucks during happy hour. One of the best deals on U Street, I think. I plan on making this place a frequent happy hour destination, for sure.

Location Location Location. Minus one star. If I have to walk by some guy peeing behind a car on my way to here from one block away, this location could be improved.
Décor: plus one
Service: plus one and a half
Cold beer: plus one
Total = 3 ½ stars… but we’ll give them the benefit of the doubt on food, which I didn’t try…
Grand Total: rounding up to 4 stars

In my limited U Street experience I’ve more often than not encountered hordes of people that are a nightmare for both parking and patronizing. At Axis, I was pleasantly surprised by how much of an opposite experience I had. I was dreading a tiny bar, bursting at the seams with patrons, but instead it’s like a very chill hangout for people that like beer. It’s very narrow and small, but we easily confiscated a table for our group of 9+ people. They also have a small upstairs area that wasn’t even needed due to the small Thursday evening crowd.
The staff is really really helpful, giving any info you could want about the draught selections they have. The beer list is superb and changes every few months. With so many strong brews I was expecting an inflated price tag but that wasn’t the case at all. If I remember correctly everything was right around $ 4 – 5 which is a terrific deal for strong microbrews from around the country.
The burger I had was excellent. Perfectly cooked and with great flavor. They have a decent selection of salads, dips, sandwiches and entrees, and I’d love to come back and try something else. While I would say the focus is more on the beer, the food is definitely more than just solid accompaniment for your liquid entrée. I’ll definitely come back.

Axis Bar & Grill receives high marks from me for being the calm in the storm of U Street bars and clubs. I’ve visited a few times in the evenings on weeknights and weekends and have never had a problem finding a place to sit and enjoy a drink.
The beer list happily deviates from the stale offerings most bars have, there are always happy hour specials, and service is always hassle-​free.
You’d do well to start, end, or spend your night at Axis.

How could I ever have simply walked by this delightful little gem? How? How???
I headed over for AW’s going away drinking fest (parenthetical: Someone please tell me why all my guy friends are moving to foreign countries. What’s up with that, yo? For real.) and was very pleased with the company, the ambiance, and the beer selection.
Yes. I said, «beer selection.»
This, my friends, means Vonetta Y has become a beer drinker. The end of the world is surely nigh.
I stuck with the cider, since I’d already had a couple of pints before getting to the bar. So tasty. Almost like carbonated apple juice. Now, I’ve never understood how beer could be refreshing, but with cider, it makes perfect sense: it’s crisp, it’s cool, it is, as they say, refreshing. Very much enjoyed. If I didn’t go back to Axis for the beer, I’d go for the ambiance: dim lighting, so chill and laid back, with friendly bartenders and a couple of well-​placed TVs so we could watch the Nats lose to the Red Sox. And the bathrooms were clean. That’s all I ask of an unpretentious bar, really.

For such an unassuming place, Axis sure packs a punch. It looks like your average bar, other than the upstairs table area; long wood bar, TVs hanging behind the bartender, stools, taps, bathroom.
Reasons I liked it better than an average bar:
* The happy hour specials! They run until 8, which is unheard of, and $ 4 buys you a delicious microbrew (I love that I had never heard of four of the ones listed on the menu) in a giant, manly ale glass. You can also get hummus or wings for $ 5 or less, and a burger with hot, crispy fries is $ 7.50, if I recall correctly.
* The service! Bartender guy (Jack) was on top of things the whole three hours I was there, asking if I needed another drink when my glass was low, and separating checks like a champ, with no complaint. He instantly made room when my party of 4 turned into 12, asked what newcomers needed as soon as they sat down, and tossed in a free shot at the end of the night (swoon).
* The bathroom. It was clean. CLEAN, I tell you.
I think I’ve found my pre-9:30 Club/​Black Cat watering hole.

If you’re looking for a happy hour spot where you can actually hear your fellow attendees, take menu advice from a friendly bartender and still walk out with a full stomach, moderate buzz and bar tab less than $ 20, Axis may be your place.
Though it might not be great for business, it seems like any time is a good time to hit up Axis. You can always find a seat at the bar or get a table on the floor or up in the loft. And your ordered food is usually out before you can finish your first pour.
With a decent beer and wine list, $ 4 drafts at happy hour, good fries and good food specials, it’s a great place to go with good friends… or go at it alone. It’s definitely a place where you don’t feel uncomfortable if you just need to get out and get a beer by yourself. You might even be able to get a decent amount of work or studying done during a weekday happy hour.
But either way, with friends or alone, if you get the wings you might want to ask for some dipping sauce… good, but on the hot side.

I went here last night with my best girlfriends from college hoping for a relatively quiet place where we could have a bite to eat and some drinks. The food was very good– I had their spicy chicken penne– but the place was way, way too loud for my liking. We were practically screaming at each other just to be heard.
So the food and the beer is good, but the sound– not so much. I’d go back, but probably just for lunch or drinks.

I stumbled upon this place while wandering U st on a late Saturday afternoon. I think it used to be a coffee shop in a previous life. Your first impression is the long bar, dark tones, and wood. The bar reeked of pretentious Manhattan wannabe but I found the sever to be very polite and the beer selection impressive. To me, this bar seemed like it was trying too hard or maybe just lacking some creativity. I got the feeling of textbook sophistication, rather than creative design. The menu was standard issue bar food, served quickly, and designed to not blow you away but nothing to complain about either. This seems like a quiet U street getaway with your friends but nothing to go out of your way for if you have other plans.

I’ve been here a couple of times now, and always end up satisfied. Martin loves the beer selection, and I’ve been pleased enough with the wine.
They serve some seriously tender and tasty bbq ribs, which Martin can’t seem to resist. I’ve tried a pasta dish (a tad salty) and the burger (mm tasty, though prone to collapse).
The servers have always been friendly and sincere in their efforts — they actually seem to care about our experience.
We come over to this block regularly, since we have business directly upstairs. It’s nice to know we can rely on Axis for pleasant booze and food after we’re done working.

Although the food at Axis is solid, that is not the reason to go there. The beer list is top in the city. They have a small selection of rotating micro brews that are amazing. The wait staff is very knowledgeable on all the beers and will help you find one you like.
The bar itself has a very cozy feel with exposed brick walls and is very unpretentious. It is a great spot to go with friends and actually talk with them, while not having to worry about talking over bad techno music. Overall it is at the top of my book for bars in DC for both price and quality.

I had the pleasure of discovering Axis bar the other night, and I was most impressed, I must say! The atmosphere really drew me in — exposed brick and cozy dining. It was busy on a Friday night, yet not uncomfortably crowded.
The menu offers dinner fare a step above the typical «bar and grill.» While they do serve a standard selection of sandwiches and burgers along with some salads and pasta, the flavor and quality is better than most bar food. The wine and beer list boasts some interesting selections.
The service was a little… quirky. She called my bf a «dark ale man» and then said, «well I’ll start you on this and then we’ll see if we can move you up to something else a little later on.» Drugs?
Well…we ordered the calamari as an appetizer, and I got a salmon sandwich with a salad. I was pretty happy with the calamari, and the lemon rind and olive garnish was tasty. The salmon sandwich didn’t disappoint either.
But…there was an auspicious lack of salad on my plate. Instead there was a heaping of fries. Hmm. I mentioned this to the waitress and she quickly had a side salad brought out to me. I guess it worked out for me, since I was debating fries or salad anyway. Sweet. But why couldn’t they get my order right?
Anyway, food and drinks were great, and it’s a cozy spot in a fun part of town. Can’t go wrong there :)