Iron Horse Tap Room

Dirty dive bar with a mixed crowd, big downstairs with bar games. Music selection was terrible the night we were in. You think they would play some rock music, but oh no..... It was trash dance pop music he entire time. They could really do more if they let the bars character develop. No need for me to go back.

Maybe I am just the kind of person who enjoys a place that's unpretentious, not too trendy, with great service, and excellent beer selection, but I ALWAYS have a great time at Iron Horse. When the rest of Penn Quarter is swamped during Happy Hour, Iron Horse manages to get you your drinks quickly and frequently. The place is full of people, but you don't feel crowded. They host a variety of beers on tap, but their printed menu, which changes daily, makes the selection feel accessible, not snobby. I get the feeling that to be popular in DC, you need to be the "Next! Big! Thing!"

Iron Horse is not that place. It's just consistently fun. If that's your jam, you should check it out.

Meh.

THE GOOD: the decor is pretty sweet. I liked the motorcycles mounted on the walls and the faux rough-and-tumble vibe they were going for. Beer list was respectable--props for including Brooklyn Brewery--but nothing out of this word.

THE BAD: Apparently the bar tender took massive issue with my ordering a lemonade at one point and proceeded to show some serious contempt. Annoying, not the kind of reaction you're looking for at the end of the day.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Good for a large group gathering/happy hour for professional groups, but if it's just you and some friends I'd go for somewhere with nicer staff and a better atmosphere somewhere farther from the Chinatown metro. I honestly wasn't that impressed, but then again I'm more of a oysters and cocktails/champagne person.