Lola’s Barracks Bar & Grill

We came here during snowzilla after cabin fever set in and honestly, regret the experience. First off, we weren’t greeted and when we were it was a quick «what do you want to drink?» They were out of quite a few beers but we finally found some that worked. When we went to order another round, the bartender literally just picked what he wanted to pour and not what we were actually drinking. We decided to order some food and both picked a grilled cheese– simple enough. WRONG. My fiancés came out with bread that wasn’t even toasted or warmed and mine came out without bacon and super burnt on the edges. He sent his back to be warmed up from a cheese sandwich and it came back completely burnt. The food was disgusting. Other patrons also sent back their food from my observation. This bar used to be a neighborhood favorite but this sad excuse for food and service will surely be its demise in the community.

solid bar
came here for hanging out with buddies
food
steak salad-​ok
burger-​good
grilled cheese-​good
drink
patron shots– what is there to complain about? ;)
beers– not sampled by me but were good
ambiance
vibe=nice, place is a bit tight, we sat at a table the whole time, aside from going out to smoke in the nice back area, they were nice about keeping our things at the table though, plenty of tv’s to watch the games, they have upstairs which i went to before for a drink and they
price
ok for what u get
parking
street
overall: good, not great, but it delivers

Showed up at about 6:15 (party of four) to grab a bite before the Marine Corps Evening Parade. Downstairs was crowded, so we took the bartender’s suggestion ans went upstairs. We ordered a round of drinks which were served promptly and cheerfully. Then we ordered our sandwiches… and the fun began.
After 20 minutes, I asked the bartender how the food was doing. «It will be right up.» Five minutes later, same question, and same reply. Another five minutes, and he sent another server down to see what was happening; we never saw that guy again. Ten minutes later, bartender said, «They are plating it now.» Another ten minutes, and I threw in the towel and asked for the check for the drinks. Five minutes later, and the waiter appears with our food in to-​go boxes.
Pfui. If this is the best they can do for $ 100, I’ll not be back.

This place is quaint, but I don’t think I’ll be back on my own free will. Two of us arrived at 2 on Sunday for brunch. No one greeted us. No biggie. We’re cool. Grabbed a seat. Ordered food ASAP: steak and eggs, medium rare. Simple enough, right?
Wrong!
The first steak came out with gravy. Whaaa? And no one noticed? Again, no biggie. I sent it back and waited patiently while my guest devoured his food. The second steak was damn near burnt. I mentioned it to the bartender after leaving ¾ of it on the plate. His response: a shoulder shrug and a measly apology. That’s ok… surely I won’t have to pay for this, right?
Wrong? I still paid for a burnt steak and that left a worse taste in my mouth than anything. No mas!

In a city where sports bars can be crowded dingy holes with standard bar food it’s nice to know there’s a place that’s a bit more classy. I know, a classy sports bar, it’s like the opening to some sort of joke, but no, this place is pretty sweet. The interior has a nice ambiance to it, and the bar is a great place to post up to watch any game.
The service has always been friendly, the drinks poured consistently, and the food has always been above average. Definitely a fan of their wings and I’ve munched on their chicken tenders on more than one occasion.
What’s really nice is that sometimes while other bars on this strip can be crowded Lola’s can be a safe haven. A place where it’s easy to go in and get a drink without fighting through any sort of congestion. I live over in Bloomingdale so I don’t make my way here too often, but it’s a great meeting spot when I’m rendezvousing with my friends who live on the Hill.

Great bar overall with a friendly staff, classic/​classy wood décor, a good crowd and good food. The TVs had elegant picture frames around them, which made watching the NCAA tournament a classy affair.
A few cons:
–The beer selection could be better and they were out of several of the beers on their menu.
–The entrees were fairly priced (for DC; always have to add that caveat!). However, the mozzarella sticks were a somewhat disappointing value. They tasted good, but we paid almost $ 10 for three.
Still, in a city that’s becoming very sleek, it’s nice to have an old fashioned bar with a few TVs, a competent staff and lots of wood paneling.

Disclaimer: I only drink here, never eat.
As far as a cute little bar to drink and enjoy friends, this is a great place. I love the little lamps on the bar! They also have a nice beer selection. This place can be overwhelming while drinking during happy hour with the number of folks, so get here early and claim some space. My experience with the bartenders has always been positive.

Lola’s is low key and has great bartenders, but it can get a busy during peak hours. I love going to Lola’s simply for the fact that they have shuffle boards in addition to pool tables. I may not be a pool shark but man, I can beast any one in a game of shuffle board.
Bring a group of your friends, grab a drink, watch the game, play a game or just relax at the bar. Tons of options at Lola’s.

I come here a couple times a week with friends and coworkers– bartenders are always awesome– super friendly! Its our go to spot after work. The kitchen stays open late, they have reasonable drink prices for the neighborhood and there’s a really cute «smoking section» with a fireplace to cozy up next to with a drink!

Uggghhhh. This is only a few blocks from home so would be a walkable frequent dinner/​drinks spot… if only. We showed up at 8ish for Friday night dinner/​drinks. As the Nats played I expected some crowds would be filtering into the bars on 8^th, however, I think the lonely bartender upstairs was half in the bag when we arrived. It took WAY too long to be noticed, despite the fact that there were only 6 – 8 people at a bar that seats 20 – 30. As we were ordering drinks/​food/​requesting the game on the (black) TV in front of us he actually said, «WOAH woah let’s do one thing at a time please!» Um, if we hadn’t already been waiting 15 mins maybe we’d be less hungry/​thirsty/​concerned about missing the game. In the THIRTY more minutes that passed before he actually turned on the TV in front of us we saw him down a liquor drink and do a large shot. Ok… guess this wasn’t the place to grab a dinner with my guy. Add to that: we were never offered or given water, which should be standard with wine, appetizers, and entrees; my fried tilapia arrived grilled; the (again, drunk) bartender sent back our calamari before we could grab him and remind him that we HAD ordered that. I guess there’s a good reason this was the least crowded bar on Barracks Row.
1 star for drunkenly pouring very full wine glasses. 1 star for not being crowded (not good for the biz, fine by us).

There’s a playoff baseball game happening right now, yet all six downstairs TVs are on the same thing (not a game). Earlier, there was a high school football game on on the third floor while a different baseball game wasnt being shown. Bartenders could do a better job of thinking ahead about what games are on and ensuring a good «mix.» This place has a nice décor, service is pretty decent (the upstairs bartender on Friday night was awesome), but it doesn’t really stand out.
Beautiful pool tables, but quarters tables would fit this kind of bar’s character (and be more fun) than pay-​by-​the-​hour.

I figured we would give Lolas a try. We live nearby but never come down to that part of Barracks Row. we ordered the chicken and waffles. When we got the plate it had three waffles pieces and 2 hot wings plain fried no breading or coating. And a piece of pounded tenderloin. No seasoning, nothing. Chicken and waffles are typically served with a nice chicken breast and its coated like southern fried chicken. I was shocked to see the wings to be honest not to mention it was so dry. I honestly have had better wings at the carryout. Someone else with ordered the burger and it was okay. I’d come back for the bar because it looks nice inside and its clean but for brunch no.

Atmosphere is quite desirable here. Dark and relaxed inside with some patio seating on the outside.
the beer selection is good and the food is also good. Their appetizers are okay, I haven’t had a bad one, just not something I’m dying to have again.
Fish tacos and sweet potato fries were very very good.
Service: had an issue where I was overcharged. brought my receipt back a few days later and it took longer than necessary to correct it, but it was taken care of at least.
Not a destination bar/​restaurant, but a good neighborhood one. Definitely a good place to enjoy a drink when the patio is open.

This may be one of the bars worth going to on Barracks Row. The décor is nice and the food is pretty decent for bar grub. They have the standard beer selection and they have Allagash White, so that’s kind of a win in my book. If you’re looking for a decent, not-​so-​crazy bar option, Lola’s is a good bet.

Had chicken & waffles for brunch. Waffles were cold. Chicken was over cooked and under seasoned.

Great location and cool ambiance. I got a chicken salad and it was decent. Next time I return, I’ll try something that better represents their menu.

I wish there was more to love about Lola’s, because the atmosphere is right up my alley. Dark, leathery, comfy chairs, and good music. Those are things that I’m a fan of. So sometimes I might wander in just because that’s what I’m looking for.
But their happy hour is so-​so, and I’ve never had awesome service here. Considering how small of a place it is, it shouldn’t be hard to manage the crowd. While I’ve only eaten the fries (and they were good), it would be awesome if there were food on the happy hour menu.
I’d come back here, but with Cava and Ambar down the way it’s hard to justify.

Our EDM group meets here before shows so were here on Saturdays. It’s a typical bar & grill. Nothing fancy but not disappointing. Bartenders are nice and they have billiards and shuffleboard with a good amount of tvs for sports. Haven’t had their food but heard it’s good and open till late so I’ll try it on my next visit.

It was a grilled cheese and tomato soup kind of day.
The biting cold of DC winter nipped on my coworker and I’s nose as we pressed on against the wind on Barracks Row. There, like Gandalf coming back from the dead was the Lola’s menu which promised grilled cheese and tomato soup. The luscious simplicity of the acidic tomato soup with cheesy goodness filled my mind as I envisioned myself dipping that bread in the hot liquid. We were won over as easily as drunk girls in a bar with their beer goggles on.
It wasn’t just a grilled cheese and tomato soup kind of day — it was mainly cheese and tomato products kind of day. We decided to start our meal off with mozzarella sticks which were OK. Nothing special and were more than likely frozen a mere 15 minutes ago. No worries, I’m here for the sandwich and soup. The tomato soup came out and it was hearty, slightly spicy and had a creamy base. A delectable pick me up for this warm day. The grilled cheese came out later and it kind of a cacophony. There was tomato, bacon and cheese on rye bread — I found that the tomato, bacon and rye really clashed with each other. The rye just really took away from the grilled cheese, I think a nice sour dough would have been better.
Ah well, it was still hearty and filling. We put our coats back on and drudged back to the office where I continued to lapse into a food coma for the next hour.

I really liked this place. It feels worlds away from the bars in NW. The crowd is older, classier, but still fun. The bar is will appointed and the service was wonderful! There even seems to be an outside portion for smoking, if that is your thing.
I went on a Wednesday night, after getting dinner on 8^th street. The bar wasn’t packed but it definitely was not empty. My date and I were able to find seating easily and received table service.
All in all, Lola’s is fun! I would definitely go back if I am even on the Hill.