decent sized bar!
Blackfinn Ameripub is a place that I have been wanting to try since it opened. Though it has not been open for too long, it's already gotten decent reviews on Yelp. I also did not realize that they are part of the Blackfinn restaurant family that is in DC. Yes, I experienced my "living under a rock moment for the day". But I was able to move on, once I finally got the chance to eat here.
My boyfriend and I came to Blackfinn on a Sunday evening in October. With Sunday Night Football and the RedSox playing, needless to say, Blackfinn was busy. The bar area was packed. I will say that their bar is a decent size; plenty of space to enjoy the game. Blackfinn also offers the Beer Towers that you can order with a group of people (really hope no one is out there working on this tower on their own...) with deals especially made for game days. Thougbh it was busy, my boyfriend and I were seated quickly and had a good spot in the restaurant area facing the games that we were interested in. Decent sized beer and wine list with a mix of local beers on tap as well as different bottled beers. I had the Star Hill Pumpkin Porter and the boyfriend had the Devil's Backbone. I was not a fan of the porter, I made the rookie mistake of not realizing it would be a really dark beer, which I am not partial to but I drank it. There are worst things and I wasn't about to waste the beer. My boyfriend enjoyed his beer of choice.
Blackfinn Ameripub is a good representation of how Amurica is a melting pot, in terms of the food. One look of the menu and you can quickly see food from different parts of the country. The options range from typical bar food, to Asian inspired dishes, Jambalya, burgers, and good ole' comfort food. It's an extensive menu too and we definitely took a few minutes to look over it. After the initial panic of what are we going to order subsided, we decided on the following: Mac and Cheese with Pulled Pork BBQ for me and Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf for the boyfriend. Ohh my goodness. The chefs at Blackfinn know what's up. We basically ordered comfort food which they brought to the next level. I mean Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf?? The meatloaf itself is good, comes out moist and full of flavor. But the bacon just brought the dish to a whole other level. With collard greens and mashed potatoes, my boyfriend was pleased. The Mac and Cheese is so rich and the iron skillet it comes in is deceiving. It does not look like a heavy dish but everything they put into the Mac and Cheese and you get stuffed. It's not just mad and cheese. It's mac and cheese and peppers and bacon, If that's not enough, there's the Pulled Pork on top- so good. You do get to choose between chicken or pork, I definitely recommend the pulled pork.
Service was good the whole night. Even though they were busy, we saw our waiter and he checked on us many times throughout our dining experience. It's a fun spot and welcome addition to Merrifield.
This is an update to my previous review. A couple hours later my boyfriend (who had given his number to the restaurant so they could text us when a table was ready) received a call from the General Manager apologizing for our experience. I also received a reply today to my early post from the Manager.
I appreciate that we were actually heard and I hope that they will learn from this experience. The fact that they are taking the time to reach out to us is why I have updated their rating to 3 stars. Any place that is willing to go above and beyond to make a bad situation better is okay in my book.
We just moved to this area and are still interested in eating here one day. We will give it another try.
So it may be pointless for me to update my review with the same star rating but I'll explain why I'm doing it. After attending a Yelp Elite event here I was really impressed by the food and attentiveness of the staff. They gave us a coupon for a complimentary flatbread so we had incentive to return. My husband and I probably made the mistake of coming on Friday night at dinnertime. We had to wait 20 minutes--which was totally understandable. I liked that they just offered to text us when our table was ready so that we could leave and walk around a little.
Our second experience was A-OK. We shared the buffalo chicken flatbread which was as yummy as I remember it being from the Yelp event. He got the ahi tuna sandwich and I got the ahi tuna salad. We both thought that our meals were OK--maybe not quite worth the $15 each price tag.
Our waitress was good about taking our orders, checking on our food, and refilling drinks. But, overall, we thought things felt super rushed and could have been a tad friendlier. I totally get that it was a busy night and that almost all of the tables were full, so maybe we just keep coming at bad times of the day.
Overall, I'd still come back for drinks and the flatbread. I keep forgetting about that $10 beer and burger deals sign that I mentioned in my previous review. We'll probably come back for that. Anyways, since my first review was really closer to 2.5 stars, I'm giving them the full 3 stars this time and saying they are A-OK.
Was visiting the DC area and stayed across the street from this place. Â The concierge at the hotel recommended it. Â
It was ok...nothing special. Â
I had a burger and fries. Â My mom had the fish tacos. Â The kids each had something on the kids menu.
None of us really raved about our meal, but we didn't complain either. Â I was hoping for something more...considering it was pretty busy for a week night.
My guest and I had a fantastic visit at Black Finn on October 5, 2013. We could not complain about our entrees at all. I had the  Blackened Chicken Alfredo -VERY tasty. My guest had the Parmesan Crusted Swordfish and he raved about it.
We started with the famous appetizer at most restaurants - the Spinach & Artichoke dip. If you are concerned about your heart arteries - be warned!! Though it was a guilty pleasure dish for me and my guest, we would not order it again. A ton of cheese and very little spinach or artichoke to be found. The flatbread compliments the dip well. I recommend trying this dip once and chalk it up as one of those things that tastes good but not good for your health - at all.
We also had a few rounds of drinks. No complaints there. We tried the Sexy Grandma.
I would recommend Black Finn for the large menu choices, we had great servers Chris and Chris, (one in training), nice bar.
Had dinner with a couple friends Saturday, October 5. It was pretty easy to grab a table    We ordered buffalo wings extra crispy however they were not prepared the way we requested. Also, the ribs were a bit chewy which had to be returned. I applaud the manager for fixing our order. We chose not to have the wings and ribs remade, however we had fantastic entrees. The burgers were amazing. Hand made perfectly prepared. And the bacon Mac and cheese was sinfully delicious.  The manager not only credited our bill but also
sent us a round of home made Icecream sandwiches! Â Dedelicious!!
been here a few times since they opened in merrifield
to my surprise, the food here is actually pretty decent; im used to bars having pretty horrible food; but no complaints here
the dining room is a bit odd; since the spot is on the lower level of an apartment complex, i guess they didnt have much of a choice
the bar is very large; they also have some outdoor seating lining the bar area of the restaurant
service seems to be hit or miss; bartenders are average.
if you're looking for a good happy hour spot in merrifield/mosaic, this isnt a bad choice
FYI - parking can be a nightmare at times..............
Had good experiences here so far. This is a typical American-style pub, as evidenced by their name.
The bacon-wrapped meatloaf is a standout here - it's got that rich ketchupy-spiced flavor, and the meatloaf is not dried out. I'd avoid the poke ahi tuna tacos, as they were fishy-smelling when I tried them.
They do have a lunch menu that is well-priced, and I can definitely recommend the lemon chicken with capers. Cooked well with lots of flavor, and a nice healthy side of rice and veg.
Oh they also do beer towers for anyone who wants to do that. You know you want to.
I'm giving this restaurant 3 stars as the food was great, but the server we had was very strange and somewhat insulting. Â This restaurant encourages you to fill out there surveys, so I did and I will see if my issue is addressed...
Since it was our first time there, we wanted to try what appeared to be the signature items, so we went Bacon Bloody Mary and pulled pork nachos. Â Both were incredible! Â I got the seafood salad and he got the buffalo blue cheese wedge as our entrees. Â My salad was tasty, but a little too wet for my liking. Â His salad looked really good, which he confirmed by giving me a bite. I should have ordered the same thing! Â The layout is nice, they seem to have great deals and a nice bar area. Â Again, I would consider going back, there were lots of things on the menu that looked good I would still like to try. Â I guess I will just have to see if the manager responds to my concerns.
My husband and I came here on a Saturday afternoon for drinks/cocktails at the bar. We didn't order any food, just drinks. The place was nice on the inside, menu looked like there were some good food choices and there was a decent selection of beers. We sat at the bar and I was provided a Mojito when I ordered a Skinny Margarita. The bartender gave us the Mojito on the house and made me a corrected drink, albeit it seemed to take quite some time.
We'll give them another try if we're in the area again.
This is my now favorite place in Merrifield. Â We've been here a few dozen times so I'd say we are regulars. Â The food is really good and the prices are pretty decent for the area. Â I really like the variety of choices and my favorites are the shrimp and grits, and the carrots. Â My son really likes the kids meals. Â Â My favorite thing is also that they remember us and feel like our business is appreciated. Â The managers definitely care about customer service and the team is well trained. Â We've had great service each and every time we've visited. Â
It does get a little noisy during big sports events but its a fun place to hang out and enjoy a drink or to have a nice dinner.
I've pretty much frequented the DC bar more than this one, since this is a recent addition to the chain's location. Lots of TV, bigger menu, nice bathrooms, etc. Â
On to the food..the calamari was nice and crispy, the chicken tenders were really good and even the flatbread pizza didn't disappoint. Â The waitresses were really friendly and they took care of my friends who were celebrating their birthdays by suggesting two desserts w/ candles so we could sing to them. Â Thank you for the the delicious sundae with some yummy peanut butter. Â They loved it! Â
Overall a great establishment, only wish there was a dance floor like the one in DC. Me and my friends always enjoy dancing the night away and watching the latest videos.
I was mistaken and thought this chain was somehow related to the Blacksalt folks, so I expected a strong emphasis on seafood. That is clearly not what they're known for; the focus is more on classic American cuisine, or what has become very American over the last two decades (ahi tuna, fish tacos, etc.). While the grilled fish tacos were saltier than desired, the black bean burger was good, if not wow. I think this is a dependable choice for what it means to deliver: "community gathering spot, serving quality food and drink in a comfortable, hospitable environment."
I don't think the food is meant to knock your socks off but to be better quality than your average American restaurant (and there are a slew of mediocre ones closer to home for me....).
I'm bringing my rating up slightly because I think the strong points might be the meat dishes and the brew. I'll come back to try one of their signature dishes someday and let you know how that goes.
The key is to not expect anything fancy or very creative. Think of Blackfinn as that comfy flannel shirt in the back of your closet: classic and comforting. Also, I think it's commendable that they don't serve gargantuan plates, as America obviously has a weight problem, and people with unhealthy habits shouldn't be encouraged.
This place has great happy hour specials on food and drinks. Whatever problems they were having when they first opened seem to have been fixed, so good work by management. In my opinion, the menu is too large, but what I've had has been pretty good. Very large beer selection which is nice though. Definitely good for group happy hour or sit-down dining. Solid 4 stars.
Review Source:This placed sounded promising because my roommates had gone an gave it a favorable review. I was there sat night. The wait was about 30 mins they kept seating parties of 2 before seating our party of 3. We would have fit in the seating where the parties of 2 were sat. After we sat down the waiter told us how tired he was and how overworked he was, this should've been a warning sign. We ordered our appetizers and drinks than waited 42 mins until the waiter returned to take our orders. The food tasted ok nothin out of this world. The manager Luis was running around not really helping talking to tables that had just been say down instead if those waiting a longer time. After getting our food we ate, than waited another 30 mins  to get our check.  I say pass this place up. Not worth the time.
Review Source:Please note that I am only rating the bar area as I've never been to the dining area...In my quest to find decent bars in suburbs that stay open past 9 p.m. and also serve food, I came across Blackfinn during their grand-opening. We liked it so much for the first time that we go back often. There are plenty of TVs to watch whatever sport you're into, the staff is usually attentive and the food is pretty good considering it's bar food. They have a great selection of beer and wine so you can literally pick your poison. Â It can get a bit crowded but we've never waited longer than 10 minutes for a table near the bar. Â The later you arrive, the less crowded it is so it's a great place for night owls. Overall, it's a pretty relaxed place to hang out, have a drink, pig out and watch some sports.
Review Source:Nothing special about their food, but a fun place to hang out at. It's really great that they opened in the Merrifield area because the ambiance, the bar area, and the service are all great. Its nice and spacious, and an entertaining place all in all. I honestly think it would be so much better though if they updated their menu, do something to set them apart from being just another higher end Fridays. If I was judging based solely on food, I'd rather go to one of the Great American Restaurants chains though.
Review Source:My girlfriends and I stopped in to try a new place in the neighborhood and we loved it! The atmosphere, the menu and service was excellent. We sat at the bar and both bartenders were very friendly and made excellent suggestions for food and drinks. There lasagna was surprisingly amazing! A regular was there buying the entire bar rounds of shots- it was like Christmas for a group of girls dressed in sweats! We can't wait to go back!
Review Source:First off, I love happy hours! Â The best part about a happy hour is the food and drink specials. Â Â We got here early, just prior to the Elite Yelp event. Â We grabbed a couple of bar seats. Â Â This new area is just across the street from the new Mosaic district. Â There is some street parking and nearby garages. Â They were all free parking.
The bar has specials from 3-7pm daily. Â Food( several choices including flatbread pizzas) were $6. Â They have drink specials from $3 to $5. Â There's a huge draft beer selection! Â The bar servers were great, management was visible, and lots of tables in the bar. Â
We got the pretzels and nachos and the portions were HUGE. Â My only issue was the 'cheese wiz' type cheese on the nachos. Â But it was still very yummy with the bbq pork topped on the nachos. Â Their house wine($5) was also very good.
Would definitely come here again!
Ok...it had only been 2 days since the CMYE event here and I went back. Â I just had to have some more of that buffalo chicken flat bread and crab cakes! Â Maybe it is just me but I think they were even better tonight. Â I also stole a sample of the cheese sticks from my friend's plate - it was like an all mozzarella egg roll with a sweet and spicy sauce. Â VERY DELISH! Â Also, I sampled the angry orchard beer and that was good as well...I'm usually appalled by the taste of beer but I could probably finish a whole glass of this one. Â
Our server (Alex) was awesome and he gets bonus points for changing the tv to the game that we wanted to watch. Â This place has definitely made my list of places to frequent.
Blaclfinn is now a well known and reputable location. The staff is friendly and gets their job done right. The menu is full of options and delicious appetizers but the presentation of the actual plates were good. Â Be aware of the hostess's though, they are not customer friendly and will not make a positive entry atmosphere.
Review Source:I had the opportunity to check out Blackfinn for the first time this past week, and tried several appetizers, and came away generally impressed with the food, location, service, and ease of parking.
I hadn't really been to this part of Merrifield before, but I did find the free and plentiful parking to be a welcoming sign of things to come. The layout of the Ameripub itself is great because a large portion of the restaurant's space is devoted to the bar and high-top tables, which lends itself well to enjoying HH specials, and good times. The beer selection was great (I think better than their wine and cocktails), and the $4 "Beltway Brews" (local beers) at HH are great - a pint of Dogfish Head for $4, among others, is great, and a better deal than their "house wine" for $5 for a light pour.
As for food, I tasted several items. Spice Fiend approves the Bacon-Wrapped Meatlosf Bites - there was an awesome bite to the chipotle ketchup and the perfectly crispy bacon was awesome. I also really enjoyed the Queen City Chicken Bites - a meaty trifecta of bacon, chicken, and sausage! The flatbreads were also quite good and neither too greasy nor too thick or filling. I felt the Margherita and the Roasted Vegetable were quite tasty, but I found the blue cheese on the Buffalo Chicken to be a bit strong - I know it's blue cheese and it's pungent by nature, but it came off as particularly overpowering.
I also tried the Crab Cakes, which were good in the crab department, but I felt a little too heave on the mayo and should be served on something a little crustier than plain-jane white bread. Still tasty though! I also found some room for improvement in the Tuna Poke - I guess it just seems a bit odd to serve sushi-grade ahi tuna in an (upscale) sports bar. The tuna was a little too fishy for me to feel good about ordering it again.
Overall, the service, atmosphere, menu variety and selections, plus parking, were all wins in my book. I would definitely be down for trying a full meal with entrees (and MORE of that amazing meatloaf app) again soon!
Had a little set back here today. Â I ordered the Ultimate Bacon Burger. Â This comes with double Bacon. Â Who could not like this? Â The server we had was pretty inattentive so when my burger showed up with only two pieces of wilted Bacon I knew I might not get f ar with her. Â We never saw her again until we were basically done eating. Â When I brought up the Bacon she said normally a burger gets one piece of Bacon so my two pieces with a double Bacon. Â I think she could tell by the look on my face that I didn't believe a word she said. Â Point here is to not order this burger.
I should add that no Bacon should be placed on a sandwich or burger if the cook or management wouldn't eat it. Â This was some pretty undercooked bacon.
I had dinner here with family recently. We parked in a garage that was pretty close to the restaurant and the short walk was no problem. We were greeted and seated immediately after walking in. The dining area wasn't too empty, but the noise level in there was fairly quiet which was nice. Didn't have trouble hearing each other talk.
The service throughout was great. I liked that the menu was large. I didn't find it overwhelming. It is hard to find a restaurant that everyone in my family will enjoy, and no one had any complaints. I got the Kickin Creole Catch which was seasoned haddock with apple glaze and mashed sweet potatoes and steamed broccoli as sides. The haddock was good - a mix of sweet and spicy. I was a little worried the apple glaze would be too sweet, but it was more like a hint of apple with emphasis on the spice. I think I enjoyed the broccoli more than the sweet potatoes but really they were both flavorful.
Others in my family tried the pulled pork sandwich, Parmesan chicken, and meatloaf. They all said they enjoyed their meals.
I definitely want to come back to try out the bar area and drinks. They seemed to have a pretty extensive drink menu. Seems promising for happy hour...I'll be back to find out.
Amazing and fantastic! Â Blackfinn is a superb new watering hole located inside the newly constructed Halstead Square commercial area near Dunn Loring Metro. Â Exclusively modern and exciting, it's but one of the many wonderful and trendy businesses emerging from all that construction that we endured and affectionately called the "Merrifield Mess".
This is a classic bar with a familiar American feel - thus the title: AmeriPub. Â The bar area is separate from the restaurant seating and it basically splits the establishment into two parts. Â With that layout in mind, the ownership has obviously decided to make a large commitment to their bar patrons. Â It's somewhat unique to have such an extensive and high quality menu while still providing ample seating for those who enjoy drinks and the singles scene.
The bar serves a great mixture of ales and lagers, IPA and local brews. Â They have an entire page of signature mixed drinks and wines of all shapes and colors. Â Multiple flat screens adorn the ceilings for viewing with something to watch for everybody. Â I sampled the "Dark Storm" and "Moscow Mule" drinks and they were excellent.
Now the food. Â A full, deep menu with typical bar-snack appetizers, sandwiches, salads, burgers, steak and seafood. Â Each item served to order and delivered with presentation in mind. Â The kitchen chefs at Blackfinn provide the most delectable creations and everything is absolutely delicious. Â
I personally went with the Ginger Tuna and was wowed with both the look and taste... Delicate little ahi tuna filets cooked just right and layered artistically over aromatic sticky rice, complimented by a medley of snap fresh vegetables and a dipping cup of citrus-infused soy sauce. Â What an amazing journey to happy belly land.
The only blemish is the location. Â They do not have their own parking, so patrons must venture to the parking garage a couple blocks away. Â Even this could become an adventure as the garage design is not very straightforward and can become a little confusing. Â The price is just a tad high - but the quality of the food is fair to the numbers.
All in all Blackfinn is a great addition to a much revitalized Merrifield neighborhood, and should be a popular hangout, especially among the young 20 somethings living around area. Â I can imagine that the traditional bars for the area (particularly Velocity 5 and Greveys) will suffer a loss of business due to this and the other new spots in Mosaic.
I was a little hesitant to come here when I got asked by a friend. I'm really not a huge fan of sports bars. My theory is that the more televisions in the bar, the lower the quality of drinks it will have. For the most part this is true...it's also true to the quality of people. Blackfinn really isn't the exception to this rule either. The herd of frat boys clogging up a good portion of the bar, sporting neon pink wife beaters and chugging Buds fit my expectation of the place pretty perfectly. Thank goodness for the segregated dining room is all I can say!
Because I refuse to waste money on cocktails at sports bars, I opted for beer. Although the selection at Blackfinn presents itself at first glance as very substantial, it will transform quickly to beyond limited if you're like me and love wheat beers. There are only about 5 peppered among the huge list of hoppy beers. Sad...kind of a fail. At least they have my faithful backups: Blue Moon and Shocktop. They never fail to please. :)
The food menu is very VERY large. Scary large. Like Cheesecake Factory had a baby with Outback and they gave that baby to Olive Garden. Nuts. Surprisingly, however, from the things I had, the kitchen knows how to pull it off.
For an appetizer my guest and I order the blacked brie. It sounded so interesting that we just couldn't pass it up. Honestly, it was great. It could have been a little warmer, so it would have stayed runny a lot longer than 5 minutes. Beside that, the flavor was pleasing. Creamy brie, bitter blackening seasoning, buttery crustini (which didn't break my teeth!), and sweet cranberry "chutney". For a sports bar, that appetizer lands high on my list of favorites.
The entrees were also very well prepared and flavorful. My haddock was flaky but not dry, and I really enjoyed the sweet and peppery apple glaze that accompanied it. My side of mashed sweet potato was also pretty good. For my preference I would have pressed it through a fine mesh strainer just to smooth it out a little more, but other than that I was happy with it.
My guest really enjoyed the meatloaf, and the taste I had of it was really good. Even though it was wrapped in bacon and looked like it was around 3/4lb of ground beef, the loaf was actually quite light. I imagine it had a lot of eggs beaten into it and was a bit over mixed, two supposed meatloaf no-nos, but I really liked what it did to it. It was like a meat souffle.
Blackfinn was a nice surprise. If I ever need to compromise with a friend who insists on having a television in front of them while they drink, this will be my go to. At the very least I'll have a decent meal.
#60
Great vibe for the Halstead area. Ladies.. there are guys everywhere... definite man fest. Our waitress was definitely friendly and offered her tips on food and drinks.
Went here after eating at Lost Dogs Café for dinner. We wanted the night to keep going so my friends and I stopped by here for a drink and an app. Yes- to ALSO eat more.
I think the number one bonus about this place is it's convenience. My friend lives in the Halstead apartments and so it's so easy to just come downstairs and stop by this place. It is also off the Dunn Loring metro (about a block). So for those not wanting to hit the bustling streets of Clarendon or downtown DC, I would think would opt to come to this area. Mosaic District happens to be about 2 blocks away as well. CONVENIENT!
I would say the food and drinks were A-OK! We got the appetizer platter which had fried shrimp, chicken tenders, chicken wings, and calamari. My mistake was getting this hunk o' junk thinking my friends would help out. But nope! The health nerds took like a bite and were done! Im not even a huge fan of fried foods! I took it like a champ and ate like 60% of it. Overall I wasnt a big fan but would consider coming back to try other foods.
For drinks, I got a Martini, and my friends opted for a Manhattan and a beer. I'm sorry I dont know what kinds but I remember enjoying mine. :)
I'll be here for a yelp event  in a few weeks. Hoping for a great experience and to up this rating!
I've become such a fan of Blackfinn, I came here 3 times within the week. Â Yes, THREE times -- twice to pregame and once for happy hour.
When it comes to drinks, this place earns 5 stars. Â They have a variety of different beers on tap, which come in 3 sizes -- the mini, a pint, and a Big Boy. Â For the Big Boy, you have to pay $16 for the actual container and $17.95++ for the beer -- but you can bring the container back to refill whenever you want to! Â As for mixed drinks, they have a variety of different drinks, but my personal favorite is the Blackfinn Iced Tea -- it's basically an Arnold Palmer with alcohol... Yum.
On the other hand, the food earns 3 stars. Â I must be ordering the wrong things because I thought the food was mediocre and nothing really memorable both times I've dined here. (FYI, I've ordered: bacon cheeseburger, loaded nachos, buffalo flatbread, pretzels, spinach and artichoke dip, calamari, cookie sandwiches)
The service has been a hit/miss. Â Although the service all three times was friendly for the most part, we felt rushed to order each time and were barely checked on.
I'll definitely be back to drink and give it another chance for food since it's closeby to work and a great spot to pregame before heading downtown.
My experience there with my wife and friends was one of the worst I've ever had. Â
It started out okay with a some good nachos and a good selection of beers, the issues started when we ordered our main courses. Â I got the fish and chips, which was oily and soggy. Â My wife's order didn't even arrive and when we asked about it, there was a mistake by the server. Â This wasn't that big of an issue since the manager stated that they would rush the order, but after another 30 min. and still no food, I doubt there was any rush. Â We eventually asked to have the order cancelled.
The server after taking our order didn't even check on us, we had to flag them down just to get their attention. I don't think that we would ever go back for a sit-down meal, probably just get an appetizer and some beer.
Packed bar area but a bit empty seating area. Great crab cakes with broccoli, garlic parmesan wings and hangover burger (yes, it has ham and fried egg on the top).
Awesome bartenders and good crowd. I like the big screen TVs and just the easy going atmosphere. I normally stay at the hotel right across and walk over.
I shall return soon.
I've been here 5 times now and live right across the street, so it's time for a review.
Time 1: Party of 5, in a nice comfy bar booth, on a weeknight, with billions of TV and projection screens playing sports. Crab cakes + Grit Cakes (I subbed for fries.) Both were incredibly delicious, and their tartar sauce is ON POINT. Great Sweet Tea + Lemonade cocktail on tap.
Time 2: Party of 8, in dining room, with family, on a Saturday night. Long wait but great service. Ying-Yang Shrimp and Pulled Pork Quesadillas were both delicious apps. Ginger Tuna entree-- the rice cake was good and interesting, but all of it just felt straight up greasy. As you'll see repeatedly in my Yelp reviews, I can't stand grease. It makes me literally sick, and there was no reason for ahi tuna or rice and vegetables to be oil-laden.
Time 3: Party of 3, bar booth, on a Friday night. BBQ Chicken Flatbread, free with coupon I signed up for before they opened. Way better than expected and not bad price wise. Skinny margarita  was insanely nasty and like nothing I've ever had. The server kindly brought me a sangria instead, which tasted like Sprite. Sangria is not supposed to be carbonated. I just blame whoever the bartenders were that night. Hope I can avoid them in the future.
Time 4: Party of 2 in the bar, 3:30 pm, on a Thursday, aka the $10 Beer + Burger + Fries day. What a freaking deal! It's also burger month (Jun 28-Jul 28) so we asked if we could upgrade from the classic burger in the deal to a specialty burger. The server informed us just to order the classic but then to add whatever ingredients from the classics we wanted, which was awesome, because for $10 I got a Craft Beer, Grit Cakes (again, subbed these for fries. freaking awesome), and a Burger with Bacon Jam and Cheddar Cheese on it.
Time 5: Party of 4, 12 noon, Sunday morning, in the dining room. I was literally shocked to see maybe 3 tables in the entire restaurant with people at them. I figured those brunching people would be all over the Bacon Bloody Mary and assorted other brunch items. Looks like they may have some trouble competing with the $30 all you can drink Mimosa deals in DC. Crab Cakes Benedict + Hash Browns + Bacon Bloody Mary + Side of Bacon Jam BECAUSE I CAN. Stuffed, but the priciest time at Blackfinn yet, at $22 per person after our bill came. Ouch!
Long story? Yes. Bottom line? Go. to. Blackfinn. now.
1st Visit:
Right as you enter their establishment, to the left is a busy bar area and to the right is a quieter sit-down dining area. This review is strictly for the dining experience.
Our waiter seemed a little frazzled but his efforts to be accommodating was duly noted. They've only been opened for about 2-weeks so I'm sure things were hectic.
Appetizer: Shrimp Rolls
Good portion, and all the veggies were fresh. Shrimp was sliced in halves. Your Americanized version of Vietnamese summer rolls.
Entree: Salmon Spinach Salad
Again, good overall portion. Spinach was very fresh. Comes with a balsamic vinaigrette dressing that is not overwhelming.
Bf fully enjoyed his naked (bun-less) turkey Hangover hamburger.
2nd Visit:
Came on a Wednesday night for half-off wine bottles (until 9pm). Service was still excellent except my friend wanted a lighter and they didn't carry any BUT the server did ask his other co-workers and found one for my friend.
Definitely will be making my rounds here.
I first visited a Blackfinn in Richmond, Va and it appears that they not only got to DC but to the new and upcoming "Mosaic District" (I still call it Merrifield) as well.
With outdoor seating and an extensive menu of food and beer, I see some staying power here. The beers are good and they do a great job of telling you what's a local brew. Fries are the crispy kind I like and you have your endless variety of bar food done at a better quality than most dives.
This would've been 4-stars if it had better parking options. They have two garages for retail space only it probably fits 60 spots between the two and with Lost Dog, Dunkin Donuts and some other places, it's a challenge. DO NOT park in the gravel lots across Lost Dog for they tow. I'm a victim and Blackfinn should've put a nice big sign out front.
I came here for happy hour with my friends and I had a great time. Like mentioned in the tip, not all of their beers are happy hour price, you should ask for the ones that are. Their appetizers are decent. I liked the chicken tender. But I didn't have anything spectacular. The waitress was very nice and fun. She got my drink wrong at one point when I switched from beer to wine, she gave us the beer free of charge. We didn't have to wait anything. The space is big enough that we didn't have problem getting seated. There are tv everywhere. Great for a game night.
I definitely will come back here! And I think this is the best happy hour location in the area.
Based on a few check-ins from Yelp buddies I bookmarked Blackfinn and had it in my mind to try in the near future. When an occasion arose to catch up with a good friend I decided this would be the ideal venue for a 2 person reunion. The decision was a good one!
I arrived early, 3:30pm on a Friday, and the restaurant and bar areas were just beginning to fill. Â The overall vibe at Blackfinn was excellent, large amounts of laughter, smiles, and sexy people all around genuinely enjoying their happy hour time. Â Our server was attentive, engaging and easily forthcoming with options and suggestions for us 'newbies'. She frequently passed our table and only stopped when she saw an obvious need (beverage refill) or made eye contact that warranted a visit for something not as noticeable.
As with any new spot for me I try to get in as much variety as possible with looking like a weirdo so between my company and I we ordered an appetizer (Spinach Dip), the Pork Mac 'n Cheese, and the Parmesean Crusted Sword Fish. Â The execution of each offering was perfecto. The one downside I saw was the lack of a 'complete' plate with regards to the Sword Fish. Â I think they could have added a little more veggies, the plate was 1/2 empty.
Overall, way above average service, excellent vibe and nice menu options! Â I will be returning soon.
**2.5 stars**
Just got back from a huge group (20+ people) celebration at Blackfinn. I'm finally done with grad school classes (yay)! The inside is super roomy/new/nice. We got there right when it opened so we were the only people there.
Although the food took a while, it was awesome that they could get everyone's out at the same time. I ordered the Goat Cheese, Strawberry, and Pecan salad that was a "Lunch Special" for $10. It was not much bigger than the side salad portion (which are only about half the price) and was too drenched in the strawberry vinegarette. Also, instead of pieces of goat cheese throughout the salad, it was just 1 big chunk of cheese in the middle... weird. I didn't really enjoy it, but oh well.
I was excited that they had Crispin (hard apple cider), my favorite beer on tap! However, it came out tasting watered down and as if there wasn't enough carbonation in it. I was disappointed again.
Luckily, the staff was very friendly and accommodating to our big group. Since I live less than 2 minutes away, I will definitely be back to try other things such as their HH and other food, but as of now, this will have to remain a 2.5 star.
*Wednesdays is half off wine night!
I've been to Blackfinn about 4 times and I can't find one bad thing to say. Â All of my experiences have been in the bar area so I cannot speak to the horrible service that has been noted in a lot of these reviews in the dining area. If you can snag a booth in the bar area, you are golden! Â The service, at least in my experience, has always exceeded expectations. Â We have never had an empty drink and the servers come by to check on you often.... always with a smile on their faces. Â As for food goes, I've tried the following:
T-Bird - blackfinn secret recipe turkey burger, chive aioli, bacon bits; Â Very good burger with nice seasoning. Â I'm always looking for the healthier options so this was perfect for me.
BBQ Chicken Flatbread Pizza - chicken, bacon, caramelized onions, bbq sauce,
cheddar jack, parmesan and green onions; We actually ordered Buffalo Chicken but they brought this out instead. Â It was so busy and we didn't want to throw away a perfectly good pizza so we didn't complain. Â It was just ok because it loses it' crispiness pretty fast.
Salmon Spinach Salad - apple bbq glazed salmon, baby spinach,
carrots, red peppers, red onions, chopped egg and balsamic vinaigrette; The salmon is quite thin. Â We ordered medium rare and because it was so thin, it came out more medium well. Â The pieces of spinach are huge and everything mixed together was very flavorful, delicious, and healthy.
Hong Kong Style Chilean Sea Bass - broiled and served with coconut curry rice cake, citrus ginger soy and snow peas; Â My FAVORITE!!!! Â Saw John D's review so I figured I'd try his recommendation. Â SO SO good! Â The crispy rice cake was such a nice pairing and the fish was very flavorful. Â
Hot Chocolate Dessert - fallen chocolate and peanut butter souffl éserved warm with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream and a caramel drizzle; oh good lord Jesus this was so damn good!  Large portion and very heavy so make sure you share.
Cookie Sandwich - Skip it.
Happy Hour is from 4-7 and on Thursday nights they offer a burger and craft beer for $10. Â For you health nuts, the menu is coded by Blackfinn Specialty, Gluten Free, Available as Gluten Free, Vegetarian and Lighter Side. There are a lot of NICE TV's so I would definitely recommend it for watching the game. Â I can't wait for football season! Â I think a lot of the bad reviews are from opening night/week. Â They seemed to have worked out a lot of the kinks.
Amazing food for a pub. We had the apps, parmesan crusted swordfish, and the sea bass. The sea bass was amazing, and paired so well with the rice cakes. The service both at the bar and with the wait staff was unreal, it seemed like I was at a five star restaurant. I hope that they can maintain this level once they open to the public.
They had a ton of beers on tap, many of which I'm fond of. They didn't have a Belgian selection, but that was OK. The prices were great for the food that we got. The Sea Bass was $22, and the Swordfish was $20, so they're not gouging compared to other restaurants.
Excited to go back!
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