Old Engine 12 Restaurant

After waiting almost 15 minutes at a table that we got sat at by the hostess we had barely gotten water. We ended up leaving. I wish I could review the food and drink… Not sure I will give them another chance

After waiting over an hour for our food, we had to just ask for it to go. The restaurant apologized and asked us if we’d like a free dessert. We said sure. .. and then proceeded to wait thirty more minutes for the dessert. It got to the point that I started wondering if we were on some comedy reality show where they see how long people will tolerate poor service before they blow up.
I’ve had pleasant meals in the past (hence the second star), but it was one of the worst dining experiences I’ve ever had in my life.

What the heck happened?
So per my last review you will see I gave Old Engine a solid 5 star review. I’ve been back time and time again and it has never disappointed, until recently. I am so disappointed that I am rectifying my review and making a point to tell everyone because service was unacceptable.
I had a Saturday brunch reservation for 4 at 1:30pm, this is right before brunch ends at 2. We had no intention of sticking around for bottomless drinks, so we were already making our server’s (Andrew) life easier.
We get there a few minutes before the reservation and were seated right away. The hostess told us our server would be right with us. 15 minutes later we asked the hostess if someone was going to help us… several additional minutes passed and finally Andrew came over. Without an introduction, he just stood there, meek. We did all of the talking and he hardly said anything. When asking for suggestions, he provided none and told us he worked the dinner crowd. Now I’ve been for dinner and I know several of the brunch items crossover, so he still could have provided a few suggestions.
We ordered everything at once: beverages, appetizer for the table, and our entrees.
We had to flag our waiter over once again and inquire about the coffee and appetizer. After leaving, he came back another time to confirm our entrees. Even after that confirmation they still came out wrong and cold.
We split the meatballs for an appetizer and this was the most redeeming part of our entire brunch.
When our entrees finally came out, one at a time, mind you: two of the burgers were cooked wrong and were doused in a sauce that was not mentioned on the menu. Even after disassembling the open face hamburger, it was a disaster and the fries were cold. It’s such a shame that brunch didn’t go better.

This edition of Excited about Eating takes us to the Bloomingdale neighborhood of Washington DC and to Old Engine 12 Firehouse Restaurant.
Constructed in 1895 as a firehouse, this beautiful structure housed firefighters for over a century until transformed in 2013 as a restaurant. «From the brass fireman’s pole to the Captain’s Loft we have preserved the legacy and character of the original firehouse that once served here.»
Dora here. Sorry for the blurry photo. A rescue unit was parked across the street, and the red lights reflected from both directions. Fitting for a converted firehouse, right? :) Oh, and their website indicates this restaurant is located in the Bloomingdale neighborhood, but it’s also only a couple blocks from Shaw.
The Grilled Brussel Sprouts appetizer with balsamic molasses syrup and sea salt was outstanding. With just the right amount of char and sweetness, these sprouts were delicious.
The Classic Lasagna, made with short rib Bolognese, ricotta and arugula, was huge, definitely large enough to share. The pasta was homemade and thin and mixed great with the sauce and massive amounts of ricotta. The star of this dish was the brisket short rib; tender, juicy, and something you would not expect in lasagna. The only negative was the layer of arugula. More than I expected and a bit overwhelming.
Dora here. Beautiful dish, though, right? It’s a stunner presentation, but I agree. One bite, and the pungent arugula took over for me. I’m glad I ordered the Firehouse Burger. lol. Meaty, thick and juicy, the special sauce jazzed up the flavor even more. Delish!
We rate this restaurant 4 forks out of 5 for a family friendly restaurant serving great food. Dora here. This restaurant deserves five forks for ambiance. As a converted fire station, how could it not? lol. We enjoyed the outside patio. Cool and breezy and quiet, easy for conversation. A perfect spot for dinner!
They score 5 forks for presentation and the burger, but the excessive arugula brings it down to 4 overall. ~Ernie & Dora Hiers, Fiction Faith & Foodies Blog

This restaurant was absolutely fantastic. From the fun, authentic vibe of the fire department theme to the variety of unique brunch options, there was not a thing I would change about this place. I went here for brunch with 6 friends and we each ordered different dishes. Each one was fantastic — but the breakfast lasagne was huge and delicious, making it the favorite dish for the day. HIGHLY recommended and will definitely be heading back to check out the dinner menu.

This was my New year’s eve dinner choice and I most definitely did not pick wrong. I’ve been driving past this place for a while so i looked at the menu and figured I’d give it a try. The food, beer/​whiskey selection did not disappoint. There were so many yummy looking entrees coming out the kitchen I can’t wait to go back. I didn’t get to get after the beer selection like i would have liked but next time I will take a über so that I can enjoy a few cocktails and beers. Overall food was awsome and ambiance was very unique (it being a restored firehouse from the early 1900’s)

I gave two stars because the food really is so delicious. The problem with this place is managing to actually get service. I’ve been here four times in total and the service was seriously lacking in the last three experiences. I’ve always overlooked that fact before because the food is very enjoyable. The servers are nice and I’m sure it’s not their fault– the management must just be clueless when it comes to sufficiently staffing. I’m afraid after yesterday’s experience, we won’t be back. After being there for an hour, we only just barely got coffee and juice on the table. Meanwhile, a nearby table that sat down much later than us was already eating. I attempted to flag down our waiter to put in our food order after somewhere around 45 minutes and got a «Sorry, I’ll be over in a few. I’m very busy.» We didn’t see him again until 15 minutes later when we were asking for our check to leave and go somewhere else (To his credit, he was having to run the bar, serving all of the guests there and then come out and wait tables as well. As I said before, I am assuming this entire experience stemmed from management not properly staffing their establishment.) The restaurant was less than half-​full, and that’s being generous. I’m not aware if there was even a manager working at the time, as we were never approached.
I managed a legitimately busy craft cocktail bar & restaurant for over three years and because of that fact, I always give the benefit of the doubt and try to see both sides of the story when it comes to dining in restaurants. However, I can say without a doubt that if I would’ve ran our business in this manner, I would’ve been out of a job. It doesn’t matter how amazing your food is if your guests don’t even want to stick around long enough to taste it.

I went in thinking that it would be the best food ever. I was definitely wrong! I tried their bacon and egg pizza and there breakfast burger, they just tasted so flavorless. The potatoes with the sauce were good, that was about it. Services was alright, the waiters seem so uncomfortable serving people, but they were nice.

Great for vegetarians and meat lovers. Loved the Pico Eggvocado brunch starter. Lean staff worked very hard to ensure guests were well cared for. High quality ingredients and HUGE portions. They could only improve by upgrading the jam for their incredible toast.

One of DC’s best kept secrets is quickly being revealed. Old Engine 12 Restaurant, as the name suggests, is housed in a restored 1897 fire station (complete with a captain’s loft and brass fire man’s pole).
The menu offers a solid mix of contemporary American for any part of the day (brunch, lunch, dinner, happy hour, late night). While the menu is rather classic, I tried one of the classics — a pound of buffalo wings, and was very pleased. Our table ordered pizzas, the brisket sandwich, and mussels, all of which were really well done.
Our waitress was very friendly and laid back and provided us with attentive service and great recommendations. This is worth checking out if you are in the area or happen to be looking for a little history with your happy hour drink or evening nightcap.

Red Velvet Pancake. Delicious.
The Brisket… It’s been 3 months and I’m still salivating just thinking about the briskets.

Old Firehouse turned restaurant. No smoky flavors for me; I ordered the pasta primavera with mixed veggies. Tomato sauce was good and pasta was perfection, chewy with that fresh pasta rolled straight out of the pasta maker taste.

went here again for a Sunday brunch and had delicious omelet and egg dishes with great service and real fresh hot decaf coffee (and other drinks)… this is starting to be a regular place for us to eat! (and it’s wheelchair accessible although floor space and bathroom is a bit of tight squeeze –but definitely usable (also slight lip at the door but you can push over it!)

We all got burgers and I got a corn/​avocado salad. The burgers were good. I think above average. The waitstaff here seemed inexperienced. There is outdoor seating in a patio, and the firehouse door opens up too. Nice for warm days.

We went here for a quick bite before a Halloween party in the neighborhood nearby.
Everything was delicious. The standout was the Mussels — i’ve NEVER seen bigger mussels in my life! The Vietnamese broth was delicious, and it came with an enormous slice of crusty bread to enjoy it all with.
The brussels sprouts and meatballs were also delicious, and my friend who got the steak frites was also very happy with her pick.
The staff was great, very attentive, and even helped us get a few photos in our halloween costumes!
Its not a neighborhood i’m in a ton… but i would definitely go back if i happy to be in that part of the city :-)

The service at the bar was not the greatest. They were very very slow! It took over 10 mins to order my first drink. The concept of the place is cool but it doesn’t really offer anything special then any other American DC restaurant/​bar except it’s in a old firehouse with lame service.

As a self proclaimed happy hour queen, I’ll have to say, that I absolutely loooove giving reviews for new establishments. With that being said, being a DMV resident my entire life and attending undergrad locally (literally down the street from Engine 12) exploring new venues are a personal treat for me.
Anywho, a friend of mine who lives in the area raved about their brunch, and let me know that they offer happy hour too. so he suggested this place bc the food was so great. This is our weekly thing. Happy hour or brunch.
I arrived a few mins early and glanced over the menu. First thought «overpriced». 6 bucks for French fries!?! Whet?!? I expect these happy hour prices downtown maybe Georgetown not an up and coming neighborhood like Bloomingdale. After looking through the happy hour menu further, second thing, very limited. I believe there was a total of six appetizer options.
I was torn between three things Mac and Cheese, Eat Your Greens pizza, and the Navajo Fry Bread. I went back and forth for a while and finally settled on the Mac and Cheese.
Hands down the presentation was spectacular. Cheese gooing over and smelling the the smokey-​ness of the cheddar cheese. The Mac and Cheese was good but not great. If the entire bowl had as much flavor as the top half then this might be considered the top five best Mac and Cheese but it wasn’t.
On a positive note the drink I ordered was great. The Engine 12. Two thumbs up. I didn’t catch the bartenders name but he was nice. I recall him saying it was his third day.
Need to come back for brunch to see if my friend could back up his praise.

Still coming here pretty much every time I’m in DC, which is frequently. The BF lives in the neighborhood and this is one of our favorite places in the area, which is certainly becoming a restaurant/​bar hotspot.
This place is the whole package. Fun ambience, nice bar, great and friendly service that goes above and beyond (bartender literally ran to the chef from the bar my last visit to change my order), drinks are great, and most importantly… the food is consistently excellent. They have such a variety and I’ve tried at least half of the menu — the lasagna, burger, steak, scallops, pizza, mussels… and even brunch multiple times and it is all just absolutely delicious, presented well, and with great portions.
I highly, highly recommend. One of my favorites. Let’s support this newer neighborhood restaurant!

Just visited Washington firehouse for the first time last night. It’s a charming old firehouse that’s been converted into a casual dining restaurant & bar. I liked the look of the exposed brick and they have a fire pole in middle of the dining room! We had a large group there for happy hour to celebrate my cousin’s birthday. Overall it was a good time!
The happy hour special was good… $ 3 off drafts, $ 5 wine, $ 5 mixed drinks, and low priced appetizers that could feed several people. A bunch of us shared the calamari, fries, and brick oven pizza. The margarita pizza was excellent! It had fresh mozzarella and and a nice sauce/​crust. I would definitely get it again. We had a great, attentive bartender and the wine pours were pretty heavy! They brought Italian donuts with dipping sauce and a birthday candle to my cousin (so sweet)!!
Only negative was the freezing cold bathroom! Brrrrr… Very uncomfortable in there…
I’m excited to come back to this place to try their Saturday/​Sunday brunch and to sit outside on the front patio when the weather gets warm!

Ever walked into a restaurant and before you’ve even been seated you’re thinking up of a million reason to come back?
«Oh, this would be a great place to bring so and so when she visits next month!»
«Parking was so easy, next time my parents drive in I should just have them meet me here for dinner.»
«Look at that cute bar, perfect for a happy hour date!»
And of course my excitement and curiosity led me to ask what was upstairs… where holy crap… I’m gonna get married.
I don’t even know how to adequately describe this building. For 25 years it was an abandoned firehouse. Then 2 years ago it was purchased and after permits/​construction/​etc they finally opened it a few weeks ago in what I understand to be a neighborhood excited to have a hot-​spot restaurant of their own.
The first floor is this spacious, dark/​rustic/​industrial style that I can’t say I’ve seen anywhere else in DC. Then their second floor has this incredibly high ceiling and beautiful bar to the side (on weekend nights they have a DJ/​dance party). And then, at the end of the wall, 10 feet up, is a private dinning area that can only be accessed by a spiral staircase. The manager told me he envisions proposals and other intimate events happening up there. I got chills as he described it. And then, there was a third floor. There are plans to have a cigar bar there that will probably be too cool for me to visit. But with both the second and third floor all I could think was — private events! private events! — this is the place to have a private event. Now before anyone else hears about it and they get too booked up…
So back to the first level I went, where we were seated and greeted by who had to be one of the nicest and actually, coolest servers I’ve ever had. Cannot for the life of me remember his name, but all of my friends kept engaging him in conversation so much so that we’d forget we were keeping in from doing his job. At one point during dinner I was having a little too much fun and shattered my wine glass. He jumped to save us from the shards and repeatedly insisted that I not feel bad. Guys… I’m a clumsy patron, I’m always breaking things. No one has ever been this nice to me.
And the food. Everything was a little extra good. For example, the Charcuterie Board — the prosciutto on it was mouth watering. And the Wagyu Sliders — were unbelievably juicy. And the Roasted Sweet Potato Risotto — which made my gluten free friend so happy — that was so good at the end of dinner we were complimenting our waiter so much he offered to call the chef over. And he came! We talked to him a bit and found out he spent some time working in California, then at Shaw’s Tavern (also own by the same folks who own Firehouse). He was incredibly passionate and humble about his food and it was so kind of him to come say hello during a busy Friday night shift.
My experience at Washington Firehouse was exceptional considering it is a new business. So here is my advice to anyone planning a visit — engage with your waiter, ask to speak to the manager — learn about the business, their vision for what it’ll become. You’ll have more respect for the hard work that’s going into serving you a meal, and you’ll probably get some special treatment.
I really can’t wait to come back!